Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors

Lynyrd Skynyrd had already fulfilled a good deal of its promise on definitive Southern-rock albums such as Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd and the live One More From the Road when they stepped up their ambition a few more notches for this October 1977 release. Fueled by new member Steve Gaines, the Florida band produced its best album. Gaines, Gary Rossington, and Allen Collins interlocked on guitars as if they'd learned it all in the womb together, while singer Ronnie Van Zant came up with his most evocative lyrics yet. The shadow of death he detected on "That Smell" was closer than perhaps even he thought, however: three days after the record's appearance in stores, he was killed along with five others in a Mississippi crash of the group's tour plane. Street Survivors remains as a classic of American guitar rock. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com essential recording

Skynard rocks!!

I loved the album when it first came out years ago, and the cd does not disappoint. It was great the hear all thoses songs again, brought back so many great memories. September 1, 2008

Steve Gaines...

This album was DEFINITELY Steve Gaines coming out party...His influence was ALL OVER this album...whether it be his playing or songwriting /vocals.( I know a little) was an older song he had been doing since the early 70's...And "Ain't no good life" was the ONLY Skynyrd Song in history that RVZ didn't do the lead vocals...Man, I was in 10th grade when this came out...Still sounds as great today as it did back then...One can only imagine what the Steve Gaines inspired Skynrd would have become..Because he definitely scared Gary Rossington and Allen Collins into playing better than they had in years...What a shame... July 27, 2008

Very good, although it's not their best

The original line-up's last album opens with the Chuck Berry-like rock n' roll romp "What's Your Name", followed by another of the band's best-known songs, "That Smell".
Lynyrd Skynyrd were tighter than ever on this their fifth album, and there are several excellent songs to be found here. The swinging, mid-tempo "One More Time" was originally recorded back in 1971, six years before "Street Survivors" came out, but never released, and if it isn't one of the band's best-known songs, it is nevertheless one of their best.
"You Got That Right" is okay, it's not one of my favorites, but I know that a lot of people feel differently. And the melodic country-rock ballad "I Never Dreamed" is easy to like as well.

It's not all joy, though..."I Know A Little" isn't particularly memorable, and Skynyrd's version of Merle Haggard's "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" is too much Okie from Muskogee for me. Guitarist Steve Gaines' "Ain't No Good Life" is good enough, but no more than that. And I'd have really liked a rougher vocal on "That Smell", but that's a minor complaint, obviously.

This 2001 reissue features five bonus tracks, three alternates and two non-album tracks, "Georgia Peaches" and "Sweet Little Missy". Both are good, neither is great.
But the alternate "You Got That Right" is actually quite interesting, a little faster and more hard-hitting than the one originally issued, and the alternate and slightly shorter "I Never Dreamed" is very good as well, although not much different from the original.

Lots of great stuff here. "Pronounced..." remains Lynyrd Skynyrd's best studio album, and I would put "Bullets" and "Second Helping" before this one as well. But being Skynyrd's third-best album isn't half bad at all. Fans will certainly not want to be without this one. April 26, 2008

What a crying shame...

that this album had to be the swan song for a great lineup of a great band.The addition of Steve Gaines to the band gave them a shot in the arm both creatively and instrumentally and if not for the unfortunate accident that ended it all, I believe they would have soared to new heights.I was , along with friends , set to go see them in concert(would have been the third time for me) when the plane crash occurred just three days prior to our going. This album ranks with their best("Second Helping")and I never tire of listening to it.RIP Ronnie, Allen and Steve. April 5, 2008

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Enter Steve Gaines

When "Street Survivors" first came out in 1977 the cover depicted the band standing in a street filled with flames. 3 days after the album was release the band was involved in a horrific plane crash that took the lives of lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, new guitarist Steve Gaines, and seriously injured the rest of the members of the band. The album cover (which in particular showed Steve Gains engulfed in flames) was pulled immediately and replaced with a cover without the flames. The original vinyl album became quite the collector's item and is to this day. The album itself was a new beginning for Skynyrd. Stalwart guitarists Allen Collins and Gary Rossington were augmented by the new kid Steve Gaines to bring the band back to it's patented three guitar lineup. Gaines brought a fresh vitality to the band and he either writes or co-writes some of the best material to be found here. The album had 3 big hits "What's Your Name", "That Smell" and "You Got That Right" all great songs. The rest of the album is solid southern rock as well, with the highlight being Gaines bluesy closer "Ain't No Good Life". "Street Survivors" ranks up with the band's first two albums as the best they had produced. It would certainly have been interesting to see how far this version of the band could have gone had tragedy not struck in a Mississippi swamp. September 13, 2007

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