Street Survivors

Last updated

On October 20, 1977, only three days after the release of Street Survivors, and five shows into their most successful headlining tour to date, Lynyrd Skynyrd's chartered Convair CV-300 ran out of fuel near the end of their flight from Greenville, South Carolina, where they had just performed at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium, to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Though the pilots attempted an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane crashed in a forest five miles (8 km) northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi. [2] Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray, were killed on impact. The other band members (Collins, Rossington, Wilkeson, Powell, Pyle, and Hawkins), tour manager Ron Eckerman, [3] and road crew survived, but suffered serious injuries.

Following the crash and the ensuing press, Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album and reached No. 5 on the U.S. album chart. The single "What's Your Name?" reached No. 13 on the single airplay charts in January 1978.

The original cover sleeve for Street Survivors had featured a photograph of the band standing on a city street with all its buildings engulfed in flames, some near the center nearly obscuring Steve Gaines's face. After the plane crash, this cover became highly controversial. Out of respect for the deceased (and at the request of Teresa Gaines, Steve's widow), MCA Records withdrew the original cover and replaced it with a similar image of the band against a simple black background, which was on the back cover of the original sleeve. An urban legend has long claimed that only those band members touched by flame in the photograph were killed in the crash, but this is not true (flame appears to touch nearly all band members). [4] The original "flames" cover was restored for the Deluxe Edition.

Critical reception

Street Survivors
StreetSurvivorsFlames.jpg
Studio album by
Lynyrd Skynyrd
ReleasedOctober 17, 1977
Recorded Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida, April 1977; Studio One, Doraville, Georgia, July–August 1977; Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Genre Southern rock, boogie rock
Length35:26
Label MCA
Producer Tom Dowd; Jimmy Johnson & Tim Smith (track 3)
Lynyrd Skynyrd chronology
One More from the Road
(1976)		Street Survivors
(1977)		 Skynyrd's First and... Last
(1978)
Alternate cover
StreetSurvivorsNoFlams.jpg
Cover image used following the plane crash
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Christgau's Record Guide A [6]
The Daily VaultA [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Robert Christgau stated: "Some rock deaths are irrelevant, while others make a kind of sense because the artists involved so obviously long to transcend (or escape) their own mortality. But for Ronnie Van Zant, life and mortality were the same thing--there was no way to embrace one without at least keeping company with the other. So it makes sense that 'That Smell' is the smell of death, or that in 'You Got That Right' Van Zant boasts that he'll never be found in an old folks' home. As with too many LPs by good road bands, each side here begins with two strong cuts and then winds down. The difference is that the two strong cuts are very strong and the weak ones gain presence with each listen. I'm not just being sentimental. I know road bands never make their best album the sixth time out, and I know Van Zant had his limits. But I mourn him not least because I suspect that he had more good music left in him than Bing and Elvis put together." [9]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What's Your Name" Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant 3:30
2."That Smell" Allen Collins, Van Zant5:48
3."One More Time"Rossington, Van Zant5:03
4."I Know a Little" Steve Gaines 3:26
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Got That Right"Gaines, Van Zant3:44
2."I Never Dreamed"Gaines, Van Zant5:21
3."Honky Tonk Night Time Man" Merle Haggard 3:59
4."Ain't No Good Life"Gaines4:36
Total length:35:26
2001 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Georgia Peaches" (from Legend (1987))Gaines, Van Zant3:15
10."Sweet Little Missy" (from Legend)Rossington, Van Zant5:10
11."You Got That Right" (alternate; previously unreleased)Gaines, Van Zant3:26
12."I Never Dreamed" (alternate; previously unreleased)Gaines, Van Zant4:55
13."Jacksonville Kid" (from Collectybles (2000))Haggard, Van Zant4:03
2008 Deluxe Edition bonus CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What's Your Name" (original)Rossington, Van Zant3:33
2."That Smell" (original)Collins, Van Zant5:29
3."You Got That Right" (original)Gaines, Van Zant3:19
4."I Never Dreamed" (original)Gaines, Van Zant5:22
5."Georgia Peaches" (from Legend)Gaines, Van Zant3:14
6."Sweet Little Missy" (original)Rossington, Van Zant5:16
7."Sweet Little Missy" (from Legend)Rossington, Van Zant5:11
8."Ain't No Good Life" (original)Gaines5:02
9."That Smell" (complete original)Collins, Van Zant7:30
10."Jacksonville Kid" (from Collectybles)Haggard, Van Zant4:09
11."You Got That Right" (live)Gaines, Van Zant4:41
12."That Smell" (live)Collins, Van Zant6:05
13."Ain't No Good Life" (live)Gaines5:01
14."What's Your Name" (live)Rossington, Van Zant3:28
15."Gimme Three Steps" (live)Collins, Van Zant5:09

All tracks were previously unreleased except where noted.

Live tracks recorded at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California on August 24, 1977.

Personnel

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1977-1978)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [10] 68
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [11] 3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [12] 38
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 13
US Billboard 200 [14] 5

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [15] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [1] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynyrd Skynyrd</span> American rock band

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom, and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent five years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1969. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), in 1973. By then, they had settled on a lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". After releasing five studio albums and one live album, the band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed, killing Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines; and seriously injuring the rest of the band.

<i>One More from the Road</i> 1976 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

One More from the Road is a live album by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, capturing three shows recorded in July 1976 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd had supported rock promoter Alex Cooley so that the theatre could be saved from demolition. This record was the band's first live album, and the only live album from the band's classic era of 1970 to 1977, prior to the plane crash that killed lead singer and songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backing singer Cassie Gaines. The album was released in September 1976. It was certified gold by the RIAA on October 26, 1976, platinum on December 30, 1976 and 3× platinum on July 21, 1987.

<i>Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991</i> 1991 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 is the sixth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the band's first new studio album since 1977's Street Survivors and the first following a 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of three members of the band.

The Rossington Collins Band was an American Southern rock band founded in 1979 by guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins following the 1977 plane crash which killed three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, of which both had been members. The band included two other surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson. The band wished to develop their own sound rather than being regarded as a reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd, and toward that objective they hired a female lead vocalist, Dale Krantz, who later married Rossington. The Jacksonville-based band released two albums before disbanding in 1982. Their biggest hit, "Don't Misunderstand Me," charted in late 1980.

<i>Lynyrd Skynyrd</i> (album) 1991 box set by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the first box set by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It features outtakes, demos and live versions of songs from their first six albums. It was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1997.

<i>Twenty</i> (Lynyrd Skynyrd album) 1997 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Twenty is the ninth studio album by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1997. The title of the album refers to the fact that it had been twenty years since the plane crash which killed original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines.

<i>Skynyrds First and... Last</i> 1978 compilation album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Skynyrd's First and...Last was the original name of the posthumous compilation album first released in 1978 by the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. In 1998, it was repackaged, renamed and re-released as Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album, being expanded to include eight additional tracks – four of which were previously unreleased and four which would be re-recorded for (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). As the renamed title suggests, the album was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. Originally intended to be their debut album it was shelved, making (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) their actual debut. The album was certified Gold on September 8, 1978 and Platinum on November 10, 1978 by the RIAA.

<i>Legend</i> (Lynyrd Skynyrd album) 1987 compilation album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Legend is a posthumous compilation album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that was released in 1987. It contains previously unreleased demos from the albums before the 1977 plane crash as well as non-LP B-sides. Since Legend was released, most of the tracks have also been included on other albums. The album was certified Gold on July 27, 2001 by the RIAA.

<i>Southern by the Grace of God</i> 1988 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Southern by the Grace of God is a live album by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, recorded during the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour in 1987. These live concerts were a 10-year anniversary tribute by Lynyrd Skynyrd to the members of the band who had died in a 1977 plane crash. The plane crash killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick.

<i>Lyve from Steel Town</i> 1998 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lyve from Steel Town is a live album by the 'post-plane crash' lineup of American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It has two discs; the last two tracks on the second disc are exclusive interviews with the band. The concert was also released as a live VHS and DVD. The tracks were recorded at Star Lake Amphitheatre in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, on July 15, 1997. Both the album and the video were certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>Gold & Platinum</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gold & Platinum is a 2-disc best of/hits compilation by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was released in 1979. The compilation spans their peak years from 1972–1977.

<i>Old Time Greats</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Old Time Greats is a two-disc compilation album by American rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. Released in 1997, it documents the original 1970s run of the band before the 1977 Convair 240 crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash</span> 1977 aviation accident in Mississippi, USA

On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 passenger aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area near Gillsburg, Mississippi, United States. Chartered by the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from L & J Company of Addison, Texas, it was flying from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, crashing near its destination.

<i>God & Guns</i> 2009 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

God & Guns is the thirteenth studio album by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on September 29, 2009.

<i>Live from Freedom Hall</i> 2010 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Live from Freedom Hall is a live album by the "post-crash" lineup of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on June 22, 2010, after their eleventh studio album God & Guns. The set includes a CD with 15 live tracks and a DVD of that concert. This is the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album produced by Evan Haiman. Both Ean Evans and Billy Powell died before the release of this album, and it is also their last live album with the band.

The Street Survivors Tour was the sixth major concert tour by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977 and their last before the 1977 plane crash that abruptly halted their touring. The tour took place in North America, Europe and for the first time Asia.

The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour was a tour that was undertaken to pay tribute to the original band members who died in a plane crash in 1977. The tour began in the fall of 1987, in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the plane crash. A number of surviving members reunited for the tour. Original members Gary Rossington, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson were joined by Ed King, Artimus Pyle, Randall Hall and Johnny Van Zant.

The Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 Tour was a tour in support of the band's first post-plane crash album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991. The tour took place in the United States, Canada and Europe.

<i>Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash</i> American musical survival drama film directed by Jared Cohn

Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash is a 2020 American musical survival drama film directed by Jared Cohn and written by Cohn and Brian Perera. The film stars Ian Shultis, Taylor Clift, Samuel Kay Forrest, Rich Dally III, Neill Byrnes, Anthony Rocco Bovo and Mark Dippolito.

References

  1. 1 2 "American album certifications – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Accident report, N55VM (10/20/77)". Aviation Safety Network . Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  3. ↑ Smashwords — Turn It Up! — A book by Ron Eckerman. Smashwords.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-15.
  4. ↑ "The 'Lynyrd Skynyrd' Crash". Check-Six.com. May 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Street Survivors - Lynyrd Skynyrd | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 1, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  7. ↑ Thelen, Christopher (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Street Survivors". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  8. ↑ Hiatt, Brian (2011). "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors [Deluxe Edition] : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ↑ Robert Christgau: CG: Lynyrd Skynyrd
  10. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5478a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Charts.nz – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Lynyrd Skynyrd Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Lynrd Skynrd – Street Survivors". Music Canada.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.