Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors [Flame Cover Reissue, Black Vinyl LP]

Description

Released on October 17, 1977, Street Survivors stands as the fifth studio album from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the last recorded by original members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, along with guitarist Steve Gaines. This 180-gram gatefold reissue restores the album’s infamous original cover artwork, featuring the band engulfed in flames. The image was shot at Universal Studios and was quickly withdrawn after the tragic plane crash that occurred just three days after the album’s release, claiming the lives of Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines. The album achieved gold certification just 10 days after its release and later went double platinum, peaking at number 5 on the charts.

The album showcases the band’s triple-guitar attack at its most formidable, with singles “What’s Your Name” and “That Smell” driving the Southern rock assault. “What’s Your Name” became a top-20 hit with its infectious hooks and swaggering rhythm, while “That Smell” delivers a cautionary tale about drug abuse with shrewdly written lyrics and ominous tones. “You Got That Right,” co-written by Gaines and Van Zant with shared vocals, adds soulful swagger to the mix. The album also features “Ain’t No Good Life,” a bluesy showcase that gave Gaines rare lead vocal duties in the Skynyrd catalog, demonstrating the depth of talent within the band’s final lineup.

This 180-gram gatefold pressing reproduces the original flame cover artwork to retain authenticity. The pressing captures the album’s blend of blues, rock, country, gospel, and soul influences with dynamic clarity, from the organ-backed shimmer of “I Never Dreamed” to the hard-driving guitar interplay throughout. Recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, and Muscle Shoals Sound in Alabama, the production showcases the band’s tightest performances and most polished songwriting. This reissue preserves the raw power and Southern rock authenticity that made Street Survivors a landmark release.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: “What’s Your Name,” “That Smell,” “You Got That Right”
• Pressing details: 180-gram vinyl, gatefold jacket with original flame cover artwork
• Genre/style: Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock
• UPC: 600753550199

This pressing serves as both a musical triumph and a poignant historical document, capturing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s original lineup at their creative peak in what would tragically become their final studio recording together.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. What’s Your Name
2. That Smell
3. One More Time
4. I Know A Little

Side B:

1. You Got That Right
2. I Never Dreamed
3. Honky Tonk Night Time Man
4. Ain’t No Good Life