Review: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Celebrating 50 Years: Live At The Ryman
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Celebrating 50 Years: Live At The Ryman
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Blu-ray – Digital / Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Release: 2025
Text: Martien Koolen
Way back in 1976 one of the best Southern rock bands ever recorded their iconic live double album ‘One More From The Road,’ featuring fourteen amazing tracks played by the classic Lynyrd line up, consisting of: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Steve Gaines (guitar, vocals), Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Leon Wilkeson (bass guitar, vocals), Artimus Pyle (drums) and Billy Powell (keyboards).
Now forty-nine years later Lynyrd Skynyrd will release a new live album called: ‘Celebrating 50 years – Live At The Ryman,’ featuring fifteen tracks with an almost completely different line up, consisting of Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals), Michael Cartellone (drums), Mark Matejka (guitar), Peter Keys (keyboards), Keith Christopher (bass guitar) and special guests: Donnie Van Zant (vocals), John Osborne (guitar) and Marcus King (guitar).
This is of course a special album as Live at the Ryman features the final performance of founding member Gary Rossington who died in 2023. The setlist is of course more than excellent, featuring fifteen Skynyrd classics, of which seven can also be found on their best live album released in 1976! So, you can enjoy more than excellent versions of Southern rock gems like: Saturday Night Special (featuring Marcus King), Tuesday’s Gone (featuring Jelly Roll), Gimme Three Steps, Call Me The Breeze and That Smell.
But, again, just as on their previous live albums the absolute musical highlights are Sweet Home Alabama and of course the Lynyrd Skynyrd milestone Freebird. This album is a must for Southern rock fans, marking the end of an era; but the musical legacy of Skynyrd will forever stand as a testament to the pure and sheer power of rock and roll.
Play it LOUD and bring out your air guitar, but most of all enjoy this Lynyrd Skynyrd celebration!!
Tracks:
01. What’s Your Name
02. Workin’ for MCA (ft. John Osborne)
03. You Got That Right
04. I Know A Little
05. Down South Jukin
06. That Smell
07. Cry for the Bad Man
08. Saturday Night Special (ft. Marcus King)
09. Tuesday’s Gone (ft. Jelly Roll)
10. Red White and Blue (ft. Donnie Van Zant)
11. Simple Man (ft. Brent Smith)
12. Gimme Three Steps
13. Call Me the Breeze
14. Sweet Home Alabama
15. Freebird
16. Celebrating 50 Years of Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary
Line-up:
Gary Rossington: Guitar
Johnny Van Zant: Vocals
Michael Cartellone: Drums
Mark Matejka: Guitar
Peter Keys: Keyboards
Keith Christopher: Bass
Damon Johnson: Gioptar
Dale Rossington: Vocals
Carol Chase: Vocals
Stacie Michelle: Vocals
Dale Kranz Rossington: Vocals
Steve “Boxcar” traum: Harmonica
Special Guest:
Donnie VanZant: Vocals
John Osborne: Guitar
Jelly Roll: Vocals
Marcus King: Guitar
Brent Smith: Vocals
Website: https://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/