Lynyrd Skynyrd-Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973): The Debut album of Jacksonville, FL Rock Band Lynyrd Skynyrd, bringing a lot of classic rock to the air waves. We start with I Ain’t The One is a swampy powerhouse rocker with a solo by Allen Collins about an obsessive woman. Tuesday’s Gone is next, a somber farewell to a woman departing on a train with the solo performed by Gary Rossington, who performed most of the solos on this album. This song was later covered by Metallica on their Garage, Inc. album, with Gary Rossington playing the solo again. Gimme Three Steps is next, an upbeat rocker about a man who is threatened by an aggressive man who thinks our narrator dancing with his girl at a club called The Jug. This is followed by Simple Man, a ballad with a solo by Gary Rossington about practical life advice from your parents. This song’s lyrics were apparently thought up when Ronnie Van Zant took a shower after a conversation with Gary about their parents and grandparents. Things Goin’ On criticizes the Nixon administration and still works for the current one, especially with the song’s barbs about careless attitude to war, spending and pollution. Mississippi Kid, an acoustic number, is next, about a tough son of a gun who should not be messed with as he heads to Alabama. Poison Whiskey follows it, a grungy rock song about the dangers of drug use, something that became a recurring theme in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music, with the next album’s “The Needle and The Spoon” and Street Survivors’ “That Smell.” Last, but definitely not least, in fact, it is most, is Free Bird, is an epic ending with a wailing solo by Allen Collins, driving you to the highest heights of excitement that rock can bring.
Ringo Starr-Ringo (1973)-Ringo Starr has had the most fascinating solo career of all the members of The Beatles to me, mainly because of the guest appearances of so many other famous musicians on his albums. On his first solo effort after the breakup, the first track, “I’m The Greatest,” was written by and features backing vocals and piano by John Lennon. George Harrison provides guitar and Billy Preston, who was on The Beatles’ “Let it Be” and “Abbey Road” sessions plays keyboard. Klaus Voorman, who was on John and George’s solo albums, provides bass and John has Ringo refer to himself as “Billy Shears,” a name he was referred to on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The 3rd track, “Photograph,” was written by Ringo and George, and due to its somber tone and lines like “Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go/But all I’ve got is a photograph and I realize you’re not coming back anymore,” the song has become a tribute to George Harrison. “You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine,” (written by the Sherman Brothers of Disney fame) features a kazoo solo by Paul McCartney, while Ringo Starr wrote “Step Lightly” and shows off his tap-dancing skills in the song. Paul also contributed the love ballad “Six O’Clock” and sang backup and played synthesizer on it. To me, “Ringo” almost feels like the lost last Beatles album, and with it ending with Ringo thanking everyone who helped him, including John, Paul and George, it feels like a better note for the best band in history to end on than Phil Spector ruining “The Long and Winding Road.”
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