A few weeks ago, I lauded the debut album of Snoop Doggy Dogg as being an explosive entrance into popular music.
Maybe Snoop wasn't alone. Lynryd Skynyrd's first release was probably as good if not better than most debuts, including Snoop.
It's basically a greatest hits record. "I Ain't the One," "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man," "Tuesday's Gone" and "Free Bird. Gigantic, bulging and face-melting guitar rock anthems that are played a trillion times on classic rock radio.
Leon Wilkeson, bassist, left the band after laying down two tracks. The band brought in Ed King from the band Strawberry Alarm Clock to complete the album. Wilkeson returned to the band just in time to shoot the album cover and go on tour.
Wilkeson first joined Ronnie Van Zant's first band while in high school. Unfortunately, Wilkeson, in a very un-rock 'n' roll way, had to back out due to poor grades. Upon recording this album, Wilkeson quite because he felt he was too young and got cold feet about recording and touring. He left to stock shelves for an ice cream company.
Wilkeson was in the famed airplane crash that killed Van Zant and others. He severly broke his arm to the point that it was almost amputated. From then one, he played bass in a very upright position because he couldn't bend his arm. Maybe he should've stayed stocking ice cream.
He died at age 49 due to liver and lung disease. At 49, his body said "fuck it."
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