One
More for from
the Road
One
More From the Road was recorded live at the Fox Theater in
Atlanta , GA during July 1976.
Just one month prior, Steve Gaines joined the band as the
third guitarist. Listening to this album it is obvious that it did
not take long for him to blend in and contribute materially to the
band.
One
More From the Road contains the best songs from their first four
albums, and in most cases
in better versions. In addition to playing their best material, they
perform a Robert
Johnson blues classic, “Crossroads,” with success.
Rather than mimic the original, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
interpretation is more closely copied from Cream’s version;
guitarist Allen Collins solos do sometimes reflect Eric
Clapton’s influence on his playing. Steve Gaines, the new guitarist, has outstanding
contributions throughout the disc.
His blues skills are showcased on “T for Texas,” and his
solo on “Sweet Home Alabama” is blazing.
The arrangement of their anti drug classic “The Needle and
the Spoon” includes a closing drum section that was not on the
studio version that improves the song.
The
concert concludes with “Free Bird.”
This is their most dynamic song opening in ballad mode, which
highlights gorgeous piano and slide guitar, setting the background
for Ronnie Van Zant’s singing.
The song of course picks up speed and goes into a series of
sizzling guitar solos. The
guitar frenzy builds the pace of the song to an incredible climatic
peak that perfectly segues back into a rhythm section to conclude
the song. The stunning
finale is not on the studio version.
One
disappointment with the 25th Anniversary reissue of One
More From the Road with bonus tracks is the price.
The album includes several additional versions of the
same songs that do not vary much from what is included from the
original album. These
additions resulted in a single disc being two discs.
Rather than pricing this as two-disc release, they should
have taken after Deep
Purple. That is, when they reissued the 25 anniversary reissue
of Machine
Head with alternative takes that includes a second disc, they
only charged a marginal amount more than a single disc. As the
bonus tracks do not reveal much that isn’t covered on the original
we think this album is slightly pricey. Still this music is
awesome. If One More From the Road was a single disc it
would easily earn an A +; it is essential for all Lynyrd Skynyrd
fans. by Barry Small ©
Grade A
Also
of interest
Lynyrd
Skynyrd - Freebird The Movie / Tribute Tour
