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(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)

Where the lyrics of (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) take you, and where it was really made.

The title is a phonetic spelling of how the band's name is pronounced, and the bassist quit before recording began, then rejoined before the cover shoot.

Key places

Studio One, Doraville (1973)

Recording site Studio One — The album was recorded at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, after a long period of rehearsals. Producer Al Kooper oversaw the sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Main Street, Jonesboro (1973)

Album cover Main Street, Jonesboro — The cover photograph was taken on Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia. The point marks the town centre, not the exact spot where the photo was shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) is the debut studio album by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Released 13 August 1973 by MCA Records
• The title is a phonetic spelling of how the band's name is pronounced
• The album peaked at 27 on the Billboard 200
• It includes 'Gimme Three Steps', 'Free Bird', 'Simple Man' and 'Tuesday's Gone'

Background

• Most of the songs were already in the band's live repertoire before the album was conceived
• The band rehearsed for a long time in a rural space near Jacksonville, Florida, which they nicknamed 'Hell House'
• The songs were run through endlessly there in the intense Florida heat until they were perfected
• Bassist Leon Wilkeson left the band a few months before the recording sessions
• Ed King, ex-Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist, was invited to replace Wilkeson on bass
• Once the sessions were wrapping up, Wilkeson was persuaded to rejoin and King moved to lead guitar
• The line-up of three guitars with Allen Collins and Gary Rossington became the band's trademark

Recording

• The album was recorded at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, produced by Al Kooper
• The recording sessions ran from 27 March to 1 May 1973
• Kooper was struck by how well prepared the band was, with no improvisation allowed
• Robert Nix played drums on 'Tuesday's Gone'
• Van Zant had the producer wait in his car while the band recorded 'Simple Man' without him

Cover

• The cover photograph was taken on Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia
• It shows Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Bob Burns, Allen Collins and Ed King
• Wilkeson was back in the band by the time of the cover shoot
• The photo was the last of a long day's shooting, and Rossington vomited on the sidewalk seconds after it was taken
• As of March 2023 all band members pictured are deceased

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964 as My Backyard, with Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums).
• Adopted the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1968, partly as a mocking tribute to P.E. teacher Leonard Skinner.
• Debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) released in 1973, produced by Al Kooper.

Members

• Core lineup in 1973: Van Zant, Collins, Rossington, Leon Wilkeson (bass), Billy Powell (keyboards), and Ed King (guitar).
• Burns was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974; King was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976.

Career

• Popularized Southern rock with "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird".
• Career halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered plane crashed, killing Van Zant, Gaines, and Cassie Gaines.
• Reunited in 1987 with Johnny Van Zant as lead vocalist and continued touring for decades.
• Gary Rossington, the last founding member, died in March 2023.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006; Rolling Stone ranked them No. 95 among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rock journalist Robert Christgau praised the quality of the songs
• Christgau gave the album an A rating and called the band a 'staunchly untranscendent band'
• The album immediately put the band on the rock-and-roll map
• Al Kooper, a close friend of Pete Townshend, secured the band a spot opening for the Who on their American tour
• After that tour Lynyrd Skynyrd reached audiences far larger than any they had seen before

Reappraisal

• The album brought the band to the forefront of the Southern rock genre in the 1970s
• Rolling Stone ranked the album number 403 on its 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
• Rolling Stone ranked the album number 381 in its 2020 edition
• The album has appeared on several editions of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list

Records

• Peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200
• Received gold and double platinum certifications from the RIAA
• Sales through 2014 were an estimated two million units internationally
• 'Gimme Three Steps' and 'Free Bird' were released as singles to promote the album
• 'Simple Man' and 'Tuesday's Gone' are among the band's best-known songs

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The band had already been playing most of these songs live before the album was conceived.
• Ed King had been impressed with the band after an earlier incarnation of Lynyrd Skynyrd had opened for Strawberry Alarm Clock.
• Van Zant ordered the producer to wait in his car until 'Simple Man' was recorded.
• Kooper recorded the band's demos in a single long day.
• 'Free Bird' guitar solo by Allen Collins is placed third on Guitar World's list of the 100 greatest guitar solos.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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