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Lynyrd Skynyrd


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Now, I've loved the Southern rock group, Lynryd Skynyrd, since I bought their first album, "(pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd)," in junior high school, ten years after its initial release. Of the mere 7 tracks on their 1973 release, 4 of the songs -- "Tuesday's Gone," "GimmeThree Steps," "Simple Man," and their most famous , and oft-requested song, "Free Bird," are, along with nearly 20 other hit songs from their 5-year, 5-album career, sill in regular rotation on radio stations across America.

In fact, out of all the 70's hard rock and roll groups, each with their one defining ballad, with its gentle lyrics and inevitable sprawling guitar solo Aerosmith - "Dream On," "Led Zeppelin - "Stairway To Heaven," The Eagles - "Hotel California," Blue Oyster Cult - "Don't Fear The Reaper," etc.), "Free Bird" remains to this very day my favourite song of this particular category. It is the only song who's lyrics speak not only to me, but for me.

Ironic, however, that it was another Lynyrd Skynyrd song that brought me to seeing them live and hanging out with them in their hotel suite after the concert.

From the age of eighteen until I was twenty-one years old I had one of the best jobs there is for a guy that age -- working at the local video store. So, there rings just a hint of irony that through a job associated mostly with Hollywood movies I would land a chance of not only seeing rock and roll legends Lynryd Skynyrd live in concert for free, but attending the after partyat a suite provided by DC 101 in a hotel just outside of Washington D.C.

It all started one Wednesday afternoon at the video store. Almost as if it was staged, the Assistant Manager, "B", informs me she's going in the back to have her lunch while a normal-looking guy in his late twenties walks in. I had only been working there for a month or two so while I was tried to place his face, he bee-lined over to the counter where I was leaning.

He put his hands up on the counter in front of me and with an-almost [bleep]-eating grin asked "Do you like music?" "Yeah, of course." "My father works for MCA Records. I come in about once a week, if I bring you records and tapes, can you slip me a porno no charge." "Well...family members get free rentals. What's your name?" "Dave." "From now on, your my cousin, Dave." We both smiled, and shook hands.

Dave turned around and walked out of the store. Two minutes later he walked in carrying a big cardboard box and dropped it on the counter. Christmas had come early. The box was filled with stacks of lp's and cassettes. Some really good ones, like the soundtrack for what was then, and still is, my all time favourite film"Sid and Nancy," and really bad ones, like the soundtrack for "Howard the Duck".

While I rooted through the records, taking them out, looking closely at the front and back of many, Dave slipped into the Adult Section. He emerged and was just about to the counter when "B" shot out of the back room.

"This is my cousin, Dave." Dave smiled and nodded, a little bit apprehensive.

"You cousin? Well, then you can't charge him," she announced, gung-ho as always. "Family members get free rentals."

Dave and I traded knowing smirks with each other, while I copied Dave's information from his video card.

"What's this?" Bette asked when she spotted the box of records.

"Oh, look what Dave brought me. My uncle works for MCA Records."

So, when my "cousin" Dave came in one day and asked if I wanted to go see Lynyrd Skynyrd on their first tour together since the plane crash ten years earlier that took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zandt, guitarist Steve Gaines, his wife, singer Casssie, along with their road manager not to mention seriously injuring the rest of the band and crew), I didn't waste a second in accepting.

"Hell yes!"

As legend has it, Lynyrd Skynyrd were replaced as the opening act for The Who, by the headliners themselves, when Skynyrd reportedly blew the British concert-goers away with their tight, powerful performance. In The Who's own United Kingdom, no less.

That night's show was no different. With Ronnie's younger brother, Johnnie, now singing for the band, they proved they can still rock harder than anyone. For the encore, the bic lighters came out in full force, as Johnnie dedicated "Free Bird" to his brother and stepped aside to let the audience sing the lyrics.

We were invited back to their hotel after the show. The after party, hosted by DC 101, proved they call still party hard, too. Chasing girls from room to room, the essential bottle of JD being passed around, whatever else was available in rooms I dared not enter, these guys were and still are rock and roll legends.

So, what's the Lynyrd Skynyrd song that brought this all together? I'll give ya a hint: It's a song on their 2nd album. Here's another hint: A variation of the title is in the first thing Dave says to me.

"Workin' For MCA"

(Copied from my AOL Journal: http://journals.aol.com/goodsoulbadboy/DidIEverTellYouAboutTheTimeI/entries/351

:rockon: )
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  • 2 weeks later...

I don't know how many of you watch CMT or get into the crossroads segments, where they take a rock and country artist and pair them to do each others songs together with differnet takes on them. Right now CMT is running crossroads Lynard Skynard with Montgomery Gentry. Montgomery Gentry are good ol boys, young, that grew up listening to Skynard. It's a very cool concert, they appreciate each others music and played well. It's definately worth watching.

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MUSICAL INTERLUDE:

Well I dig you Georgia peaches

Makes me feel right at home

Well now I dig you Georgia peaches

Makes me feel right at home

But I don't love me no one woman

So I can't stay in Georgia long...

Well now they call me the breeze

I keep blowin' down the road

Well now they call me the breeze

I keep blowin' down the road

I ain't got me nobody

I don't carry me no load

Oooh Mr Breeze

:rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

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I was changing my daughter the other day, which is like trying to hold onto a greased pig. I was almost through except for snapping her onesie. I found myself singing to her...

Gimme three snaps

Gimme three snaps Ally

Gimme three snaps and we're done

Gimme three snaps

Gimme three snaps Ally

And I won't bother you no more... ::

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That is just too cute. Can you do a rendition of simple "girl".

Mama tells you, since you are young

Come sit on my lap, my little one

Listen closely, to what I say

And if you do this, it'll help you, some sunny day

... be a simple girl...

Oh take your time, don't grow too fast

Hard poops will come, but they will pass

Find your mommy, and you'll find love

And don't forget baby, when you crawl, to always look above

And so on and so forth...

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