Classic Rock Bottom

ALBUM OF THE WEEK #21 - LYNYRD SKYNYRD - SECOND HELPING (1974)


Side One:


1. Sweet Home Alabama

2. I Need You

3. Don't Ask Me No Questions

4. Workin' For MCA


Side Two:


1. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew

2. Swamp Music

3. The Needle And The Spoon

4. Call Me The Breeze


CD Bonus Tracks:


1. Was I Right Or Wrong (Demo)

2. Take Your Time (Demo)


This week's offering for your consideration is Lynyrd Skynyrd's Second Helping. Released in 1974, it was the band's second album. This track list reads kind of like a greatest hits. No less than 7 of the
tracks are considered classics by all of the "free birds" in the world.
The only exception that I see would be I Need You. This is the first
Skynyrd album to feature the famed 3 guitar attack, and those guitars
are amazing. It seems like many folks cite the debut (Pronounced) or the
final album before the plane crash (Street Survivors) when speaking of
Skynyrd's greatest, but you don't see this one mentioned that often (at
least I don't). But I was listening to it the other day when it struck
me how good it really is, so I started a thread about it in the Lynyrd
Skynyrd fan group. Since it didn't get much attention, I though I'd
force it on you by featuring it here.


Obviously, everybody knows Sweet Home Alabama, which has one of the most recognizable intros ever. It's simple but brilliant, and although the song has been played 200 billion times, I still don't change the
channel when it comes on the radio. For me, I have a tough time deciding
between Don't Ask Me No Questions and Workin' For MCA as the overall
best song on side one. If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably go with
the latter, but just barely. They are both great tunes. And they both
are so real from a lyrical standpoint. The song I Need You is a good ole
southern rock blues trip, featuring more stellar guitar work and vocals
by Ronnie. While probably not their best "unknown" song, it's certainly
not bad at all.


The four songs on side 2 are all Skynyrd classics, with my least favorite being Swamp Music. That doesn't mean it's bad, just my least favorite. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew and The Needle And The Spoon are
outstanding tracks that again sound like real life to me. Call Me The
Breeze is right behind these two, a fast juke joint special.


Although the remastered release that I have came with 3 bonus tracks, I'm only including two of those. The one I'm not including is just a radio version of Don't Ask Me No Questions. The other two, as far as I
know, never made an appearance on a proper studio release from the
original band. While the last one, Take Your Time is okay (not special
to me), I really like the demo for Was I Right Or Wrong. This is a great
song that eventual came out on a compilation album in a more completed
form (I think). I'm sure they had to cut certain songs due to time
constraints of vinyl, but I would love to have seen this on the original
album.


Hidden Gem:  Hard to choose this week 'cause most of these songs receive airplay on classic rock radio stations.  So I'm gonna pick the one I think I hear the least out of those, and that would be The Needle And The Spoon.


So there's some Skynyrd for ya. I love the title, but the artwork leaves a lot to be desired. The album is still in print and you can buy the reissued version with the bonus tracks for a ten spot. Not bad.


Next Week:  The 3 previous weeks I've featured albums that have meant something to me and that I played a lot at some point in my life.  I changed it up this week because I listened to this album and I was moved to feature it.  Next week I'm going in a different direction.  I'll feature a classic album from the 60's that I only bought recently and I've only listened to a time or two.



***Click the following link to listen: LYNYRD SKYNYRD - SECOND HELPING

Views: 32

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I'm looking forward to listen to this one!!

RSS

Question Of The Week

CRB Features (Click photo to visit)

CRB Staff Members

 

In Memory Of

Norma Jean Fox
(11/30/1945-9/7/2010)

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

Badge

Loading…

© 2024   Created by RJhog (Admin).   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service