Even though the UK has produced some great rock bands the simple fact is that a lot of my personal favourite bands are from the USA …, don’t get me wrong, I have many albums by UK bands and I’ll come to those later. But my collection is full of music by bands who play fantastic electric rock/blues…, and Southern Rock, I really do have a liking for bands who play that particular genre of music. It’s mainly the 70’s stuff, the Allman’s, Blackfoot.., all those, and also Lynyrd Skynyrd… probably the ones I like the best.
I’ve been an avid collector of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music for many, many years…, in fact right from my teens, a fantastic band full of very talented musicians.., as everyone knows I’m sure. I have all their albums, every single one from the first to the last and then all the compilations that followed. I know the whole story of the band, where they recorded, what they recorded.., and when.., felt sad when some of the band where killed in that terrible plane crash, then followed the surviving members careers right up to the present day. So when it comes to Lynyrd Skynyrd, I’m a fan….., sad thing is I never got to see them play live…, had the chance but didn’t go… that was a long time ago, but I do regret not going.
Listen to the radio here in the UK and their music is still played.., however, you’d think they only ever recorded one song because that’s all they ever play.., Sweet Home Alabama… not that it isn’t a good song, it’s a great song, but they made so many better ones. Mention their name and most people here will say the name of that song, or Freebird…. “what song is it you want to hear?”… everyone recites that line. And I remember buying that album, the one that line is from.., One More From The Road, a double, live album. It was 1976, a really long, hot summer here (obviously why I remember it so well, we don’t get many)…, and I played it over and over, especially the 13 minute version of Freebird. It was on all the jukeboxes in the bars around where I live…, and it never seemed to stop playing, incredible.
But the two songs I’m posting here are neither of the aforementioned, great songs that they are, because they’re not my favourite tracks from that tremendous live album.., no. These two songs are just how I imagine them playing… only not in some huge stadium, but in a bar on a Saturday night… that’s where I’d like to have seen them play, in a bar. A smokey bar with plenty of beer, and Lynyrd Skynyrd playing on a small stage in the corner…, lettin’ rip on a Saturday night… the perfect Saturday night.
As for the two songs, well…, the whole album is full of great songs but my favourite is Searchin’… I just love it, the sound of the guitars, the voice.., everything. So that’s my first choice.
… and then my second choice is Whiskey Rock a Roller…, the two songs I’d have loved to have seen them play…, preferably in a bar, and at full volume. Not everyone’s favourite Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, I know… but they’re mine … and the one’s I’d most certainly want on my desert island. Brilliant.
