8 Tracks, cassette tapes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and me....

As I said in my previous blog I recalled listening to Lynyrd Skynryd's "One More From the Road" when I was around five or six years old.  I can say that I've always been a fan of Skynyrd.  I've seen the reunion band, which now has been around longer than the original, numerous times.  They are still out there touring and pleasing crowds wherever they go.  I have to say I've seen videos of them, and they still have great musicians in the band.  Gary Rossington is the only surviving original member, but longtime members Johnny Van Zant, Ricky Medlocke, and Michael Cartellone provide a stable core with newer members Mark Matejka, Johnny Colt and Peter Keys doing a good job replacing legends.  I haven't seen them since 2004 in Paducah, Kentucky, but they are still putting out some good music and touring every summer.  People argue all the time about this being a "scab" Skynyrd, basically out there for living off the songs that Ronnie created.  They have recorded plenty of albums since 1991 and they have put out a good solid catalog of "new" Skynyrd songs.  Of course they haven't had the "Freebird", or "Sweet Home Alabama", but they have been great at keeping the memories and music alive.

When I was a kid, I was going through phases of different music, I usually listened to whatever my parents or siblings were listening too.  We had a bunch of albums that were mostly country, gospel, or blue grass.  I remember listening to Elvis Presley's "Separate Ways" album that my mother had.  We also had some eight tracks like Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, and the one that stayed with me the most, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "One More From (For) the Road".   This was my introduction to Skynryd and planted a seed that laid dormant for a few years until one fateful day.  I remember this day pretty well, school was out and my parents had took me and my best friend Rob to Old Settler's Days in Galatia, Illinois.  We rode in the back of my Dad's pickup with our little jam box, I should note that back in the eighties riding in the back of the truck didn't seem dangerous and I don't believe it was illegal then, but anyway.  On the way back home we stopped by WalMart in Harrisburg, and Rob had some money and was looking to buy something, we walked back to the music section and after some discussion he bought Skynyrd's "Second Helping".  We listened to it none stop.  Although my favorite song of Skynyd's and my favorite song of all time is "Freebird", "Second Helping" has got to be the best album of theirs.  It was that particular day and that particular cassette that rekindled my love for Skynyrd.  After that the hunt was on for more and more music of Skynyrd.  To say I was obsessed with them would've been an understatement.  Outside of Rob, I was the only kid my age who liked, or should I say, loved Skynyrd.  I learned all I could about them.  Then in 1987 they reunited with Johnny singing lead, and Ed King back on guitar, of course I got the tribute album.  Then word came out that that the reunion band was putting out a new album.  Of course I had to get it.  Then I was working pushing in carts at Big John's in Eldorado, Illinois when I heard an ad coming from the radio about Skynyrd coming to Evansville, Indiana with the opener being The Jeff Healey Band, I asked the guy what day was and he said that hadn't told yet, then I heard it, August 20th, which just happened to be my 18th birthday.  I went in, marked a day off on my schedule and waited to buy tickets.  I got the tickets, my brother, and my cousin went, the only bad thing was that Drivin' and Cryin' had took Jeff Healey's place as opener, which was a downer, but I was going to see Skynyrd!  This was my first "real" concert, I mean I'd seen country stars at local festivals, but no big rock show.  Drivin' and Cryin' was alright, but Skynyrd was absolutely phenomenal.  I couldn't believe that I got to see them.  Within the next few years I saw them numerous times, sadly more originals passed away, and even replacements passed away.  They will always be my favorite band, and "Freebird" will always be my favorite song. 

Recommended Albums:

From the classic Skynyrd, I recommend them all.  I can't say any of them is bad.  A good place to start is Gold and Platinum, which has the live versions of Freebird and Gimme Three Steps.  Pretty good compilation album, also the box set is great with some alternative versions of songs.  But seriously, you can't go wrong with any of the albums.

As far as the "new" band, I would go for Twenty with the guitar lineup of Hughie Thommasson, Ricky Medlocke, and Gary Rossington.  I think this was the strongest lineup that the new band had.  1991 and The Last Rebel are also pretty good albums.

So here we go....

I have been kicking around the idea of doing a blog about music for awhile now.  Just trying to find time to do it was the one thing holding me back.  For those that know me, knows that I have loved music and have been singing since I was a little child.  I started playing guitar at around 15 or so, and started a band a few years later with my best friend Rob Oxford, Dave Conley, and Billy Irby.  We played for a few years with different members thrown in here and there, also a few different names.  But music was instilled in me long before the band, it always seemed there was music in the house, whether it be my Dad playing his guitar, or my mother listening to the country countdown while getting Sunday supper cooked, or the numerous different records or tapes that my older brothers and sister had brought home.

I remember very fondly when I was four or five and seeing the 8 track, yes 8 track, of Lynyrd Skynryd's "One More From (For) the Road".  The one thing that I have never forgotten is Ronnie Van Zant asking, "What song is it you want to hear?"  Then hearing the crowd shouting back "FREEBIRD!"  It still gives me chills to this day.  The range of different music in our house was great and varied.  From country to bluegrass to rock to gospel, just about everything was played, and growing up in the 70's and 80's there was some great music out there.  I always seemed to be about 10 years behind on my music, while most of the kids in my junior high and high school was wearing Poison, Bon Jovi, or any other rock/metal band (hair metal is a term that wasn't used at the time), I was wearing my Skynyrd tribute shirt. I listened to that music also, but I was more about Skynyrd, the Eagles, ZZ Top.

I'm just giving you a little background on me and some of my tastes in this blog.  I am going to try to update this every week or two.  I am not an expert by any means, but I listen to a range of different music.  I plan on talking about different musicians, genres,  and what I love about them.  As I've gotten older, I find myself at 40 listening to things that I would've never turned an ear to at 16.  So just a little bit to expect, and I hope whoever read this enjoys it, and maybe discovers new and old music to enjoy.