Song 521 ( Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird )

-


This morning I learned that yesterday Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell passed away at the age of 56; a heart attack is the suspected cause. Apparently he suffered from heart problems for a while and the day before his death he missed an appointment with his cardiologist. My thoughts and prayers go out to him, his friends and family. This leaves one pre-plane crash member alive that is currently playing in the band: Gary Rossington.
The reason that I chose this song is because the keyboard is easily one of the most memorable; the live versions of this song showcase his playing ability quite a bit more. While he played on many other songs that I love, I could not think of a better time to choose this iconic anthem.

Here is a fan video with the song on YouTube.

+

Comments

Post a Comment

Comment on this post:

Popular posts from this blog

6827. Michael Martin Murphey - Desert Rat

-
Image
From: Blue Sky - Night Thunder ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Country Been reading a lot about a musical movement that happened in the tail end of the '60s and early 1970s that is called progressive country . Whilst admittedly was unaware of the sub-genre, I do know about the music and I generally like it quite a bit more than the mainstream country; always assumed wot I heard was part of outlaw country , but more of a close cousin to it so to speak genre wise. A lot of the rebellious nature of outlaw was indeed a part of it, and many artists wrote and recorded songs in both. However in the case of progressive country, like progressive rock it was all about expanding, (progressing), music into something new and/or fusing other forms of music with country. It's not a surprise at all then that I just happened to like many of the songs under the genre before I knew it existed. Anyway, as you probably surmised, Michael Martin Murphey was one of the founders of prog-country and ha...
Read more

6831. Cameo - In the Face of Funk

-
Image
From: In the Face of Funk ; Year: 1994; Genre: Funk/Hip-Hop Dang, I ain't kiddin', this Friday really did some sneaking up on me this week. Instantly when I saw it was time to make my song pick for today there was no other band on my mind but Cameo; like I need a reason to go with one of their tracks.   Hear In the Face of Funk on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tag Team - Whoomp! (There It Is)     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Nightwatchman - A Wall Against the Wind     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - When Push Comes to Shove   My song pick 4 years ago today: Depeche Mode - A Question of Time   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veins   My song pick 6 years ago today: Weather Report - The Moors   My song pick 7 years ago today: Stratovarius - S.O.S. My song pick 8 years ago today: Asia - Without You My song pick 9 years ago today: Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead) ...
Read more

6830. The Grateful Dead - Estimated Prophet

-
Image
From: Terrapin Station ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock ¡Doh! I cannot believe that I missed my Memorial Day Grateful Dead pick; I guess better late than never. For some reason unbeknownst to me I just felt like putting on Terrapin Station again; immediately was welcomed by this rather strangely made track. I love the overall reggae feel, but that's kind of an illusion I suppose with Bill Kreutzmann's drumming in the modified 7/4 meter, (technically he's doing something like a 14/8), gives it a swinging reggae feel.  Anyway, it is definitely a great weird one, which I absolutely adore, that fits an overall tardy pick such as this.   Hear Estimated Prophet on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - What's Your Problem?     My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - I Am...You Are     My song pick 3 years ago today: Tina Turner - Private Dancer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Onward   My song...
Read more

6829. Sonny Rollins - I Wish I Knew

-
Image
From: Here's to the People ; Year: 1991; Genre: Cool Jazz/Jazz Fusion Most into jazz and associated genres are most likely aware of the passing of jazz giant Sonny Rollins a couple of days ago. It is just so mind-blowing to think of all the music, musicians, and history he experienced in his 95 years on this Earth, let alone all of the decades he was active. To think, that he took a large part in and saw all the new forms of jazz and the people he played with. It is a rarity to see an active musician touring for so many years, especially in jazz live so long. He definitely will be missed and then some. Anyway, I had a lot of music from many eras to choose from for this song pick. My thoughts went to the '60s or '70s, but then I have noticed that jazz, overall, at least here in the U.S. was kind of in the background by the 1990s, so I checked out one of his albums from the early part of the decade. I have to say, I am overjoyed that I did so. This one in particular I found a...
Read more

6828. Rush - Hope

-
Image
From: Snakes & Arrows ; Year: 2007; Genre: Folk Rock After watching some recent interviews with the two surviving members of the band I thought that I would revisit Snakes & Arrows once again. Still, it is difficult for me to comprehend that Neil Peart is gone... but a least Alex and Geddy are about to embark on a tour with Anika Nilles filling in on drums. Anyway, this is one of the three instrumental songs on this record and, if I remember correctly, when I saw them live for their tour promoting it, it was one of a handful of tracks they'd play whilst Neil rested after one of his epic drum solos. Whilst being a brief piece, Alex Lifeson, on his 12-string guitar really plays his heart out on it.   Hear Hope on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street     My song pick 2 years ago today: Boston - To Be a Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars - T.A.P.O.A....
Read more

6832. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Woman, Woman

-
Image
From: Woman, Woman ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock/Pop Had this one bouncing around my cranium every now and then for the last couple of weeks, so, just now am getting around to picking it. Whilst I knew I had not added this song yet, I kept thinking that I had already done so with this band for another song, but was mistaken. Probably due to some other bands with a Gary as the leader of another "& the" band name. Anyhoo, those who are into older classics or grew up back when this one was on mainstream radio will immediately recognize it. Gary Puckett's soul-filled powerful vocals are one of the most prominent aspects along with the orchestration.   Hear Woman, Woman on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marcus Miller - Rampage     My song pick 2 years ago today: Dead Meadow - This Shaky Hand is Not Mine     My song pick 3 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Kiss on My List   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grateful Dead...
Read more

1102 Eisbrecher - Mein Blut

-
Image
1102 Eisbrecher - Mein Blut Pick #2 in my "Also Known as Rammstein" theme week, i.e. bands who have been mislabeled as Rammstein here in America. I first found out about Eisbrecher's music a little over 5 years ago; this was the first song of theirs that I heard; it was also their first hit single. Almost immediately everywhere I looked people were attributing this track to Rammstein. Other than it being another German act in the Neue Deutsche Härte genre I have no idea how people could mistake this for being a Rammstein track. First of all to my ear Alexander Wesselsky's vocals are just as distinctive as Till Lindemann's and secondly, Eisbrecher's music, at least on their debut album, contains much more electronic synth. Anyway, long story short, this track got me into the band's music and made me a fan. Although, admittedly, I haven't closely followed them since their '06 Antikörper album; I have heard material off of their two album...
Read more