Untitled Document

LYNYRD SKYNYRD KNEBWORTH 1976
Traduction Y. Philippot-Degand

The release of this multi-format concert is an event for all fans of the legendary Jacksonville combo.

Of course, large extracts from this show were included in the feature film "Freebird, the movie". But here we are entitled to the full English performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd. In addition, we can see the musicians evolving on stage between each song. For example, we can admire Ronnie Van Zant drinking from the neck of a bottle that closely resembles a liter of white wine.

The release of this multi-format concert is an event for all fans of the legendary Jacksonville combo.

And then, we revel in "Freebird", obviously appreciated by the British public of the time after close-ups of the spectators. Ronnie can even be heard dedicating the song to Duane Allman during Billy Powell's piano solo.

We can also check the anecdote of the advance of the stage. Throughout the concert, the group hardly moves a millimeter forward, being content to pace up and down the stage. It must be said that this advance is supposed to represent the tongue of the logo of the Rolling Stones, star formation of the festival. The Stones and their manager demanded that no musician step on them, even to get close to the audience. The guys from Skynyrd seem to obey like good boys. But at the end of “Freebird,” Ronnie literally pushes Allen Collins and Steve Gaines on the tongue, as far as the jacks can go. He then gestures to Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkeson to join them for the final. Only poor Leon stays behind because his jack is too short. But as soon as the last chord is dropped, Ronnie brings the whole group back to the edge of the famous tongue to greet the spectators. No, even the Stones won't dictate their law to a Ronnie Van Zant!

All of this is therefore very nice and constitutes an essential document of what Lynyrd Skynyrd was in the great days. A show that must absolutely have any fan of the band.

However, if the image is correct, we can still deplore the flaws in the mix. For example, on the intro to "Working for MCA," Leon Wilkeson's yelling covers everything else. Or suddenly we hear the choristers much louder than necessary.

Well, there are minor flaws that don't prevent you from enjoying the show.

But there is much worse. Many people will undoubtedly say that this concert is exceptional because Allen Collins lets loose in improvisation on the traditional solo of "Freebird". But there is a mistake!

I will first clarify that what follows engages only me and that my reasoning is aimed more particularly at guitarists.

Come on, make way for the scoop!

The final solo of "Freebird" is not that of Allen but that of Steve Gaines! And that, I am over 99% certain!

After watching the end of this song several times in a row, a conclusion comes to mind. After the break, only one guitar emerges from the set (we don't even hear Gary Rossington's rhythm anymore). This guitar was "isolated" in the mix and what you hear doesn't match what Allen is playing at all. As usual, he jumps in place, swinging his high notes in unbroken windmills. However, some of the solo notes are more widely spaced between them and are played in the middle of the neck, which perfectly matches the position of Steve's left hand and the movements of his right hand.

The proof is made, the images do not lie. Now, if anyone has another explanation, don't hesitate to come forward.

Everything returns to order at the end of the song with the three guitars becoming audible again. This mixing error seems to be original because we see the same problem when watching the music video for "Freebird" at Knebworth released years ago (of very average quality) and listening to the audio "bootleg" of this concert.

Well, it's pretty rare to be able to hear Steve Gaines' prowess on "Freebird" so clearly. So one more reason to get this show.

Apart from that, we are not going to be difficult and we will enjoy these images which now belong to the legend.

Would you still remember me ? Yes, we do!

Olivier Aubry