Maps of Music

Vicious Cycle (2003)

Where the lyrics of Vicious Cycle take you, and where it was really made.

The bassist who died before this album was made still plays on two of its songs, and "Mad Hatter" is a tribute to him.

Key places

Recorded at Cartee Day Studios in Nashville (2003)

Recording site Nashville — The album was recorded at Cartee Day Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, between November 2002 and January 2003. The pin marks the city centre, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Vicious Cycle: twelfth studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 2003
• Produced by Ben Fowler and the band
• 14 tracks, plus the bonus track "Gimme Back My Bullets" featuring Kid Rock
• Johnny Van Zant handles lead vocals

Background

• First album recorded by the band after the death of original bassist Leon Wilkeson
• Wilkeson died on 27 July 2001 and still appears on "The Way" and "Lucky Man"
• "Mad Hatter" is a tribute to him
• First album to feature bassist Ean Evans
• First mainstream album with drummer Michael Cartellone, who had previously appeared on Christmas Time Again
• Last album guitarist Hughie Thomasson played on before he died

Recording

• Recorded between November 2002 and January 2003
• Main recording at Cartee Day Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
• Additional recording at Emerald Sound, The Rec Room and The Castle
• Mixed at the Rec Room
• Mastered at Sterling Sound

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

• The album included the single "Red, White & Blue", written by Donnie Van Zant, J. Van Zant, Brad Warren and Brett Warren
• "Red, White & Blue" peaked at number 27 on the US Mainstream Rock charts
• Most tracks are credited to Rickey Medlocke, Gary Rossington, Hughie Thomasson and J. Van Zant
• Johnny Van Zant sings lead vocals on the album
• Kid Rock shares co-lead vocals on the bonus track "Gimme Back My Bullets", a Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant song

Records

• Billboard 200 in the United States: number 30
• Best chart placement for a Lynyrd Skynyrd album since Street Survivors in 1977
• US Mainstream Rock singles chart: "Red, White & Blue" at number 27

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

Trivia

• Kid Rock shares co-lead vocals on the bonus track "Gimme Back My Bullets".
• Leon Wilkeson was a big fan of all kinds of hats, and the song "Mad Hatter" is dedicated to him.
• Michael Cartellone had appeared on Christmas Time Again before this album, which was his first mainstream album with the band.
• Hughie Thomasson played on this album before he died, making it his last record with the band.
• The album is credited with Ean Evans as the band's first bassist to appear on a studio album after Wilkeson.

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

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