The history behind the song is that, during the writing sessions for Street Survivors, both Gary Rossington and Allen Collins were involved in serious Automobile accidents. Ronnie Van Zant wrote most of the lyrics aimed at them, but included his and the band's past alcohol and drugs problems into this song. Most of the band, including Rossington, cleaned up their act. Unfortunately, the band, crew and pilots of the airplane they were using for the tour, were involved in a very tragic crash killing both pilots, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, Ronnie Van Zant, new guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines almost instantly. The surviving members, after two years recovery from their severe to life threatening injuries, formed The Rossington Collins Band, who released only two albums before disbanding (Allen Collins' wife died while pregnant, sending him further into a drug and alcohol induced spiral, which ended up with his involvement with another crash that paralyzed Allen from the neck down and injured his girlfriend in 1986). Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed, initially, for a 1987 Tribute tour which featured the surviving members of Skynyrd, with original third guitarist Ed King returning and Ronnie's younger brother, Johnny, on vocals.
Gary has said that there's one line in the song he knows was aimed directly at him:"Now they call you Prince Charming/Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes".
It's A Warning Against The Addiction!!! Also 1 Of My Favorite Song's!!! When It First Came Out, I Was So Very Strung Out on Methamphetamine, Yes I Stuck Alot Of Needles In My Arms from the Time I was 16-48 Yrs Old, I Am Doing Well, At 66 Yrs Old!!! I have been able to See Lynard Synard 2× in Concert. First time w Ronnie, Second w Johnny. Whom Resemblance to his Brother Was So Fuckin'Creepy but I Had Such A Great Time!! Thanks So Very Much For Ur Reaction to This Song, Blessings Always, Take Care Of Yourself, Peace Love & .... ... ...☮️
The best anti-drug song ever! So sad and ironic that on their last album before their plane crash. The song has the line of the smell of death being around them! I love this entire album! Good job. UA-cam didn't block this and thank goodness for that! Love your reaction videos! Love to you and please keep it up! 💖💖💖💖
Ya, I think a lot of people think the lyrics are "the smell that's around you!" (Like pot, booze, etc). But when you understand that he's saying "the smell of Death surrounds you!" It hits a little deeper!
Stuart W Ross bruh i crashed a bike sank a boat and pushed my vette to 187 mph then got arrested all in one weekend in a drug fueled rampage i did all this while in the military lol. Still didnt get kicked out lol
And then 10 years later guitarist Allen Collins had his 2nd drunk driving accident, which killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. This paralysis was also indirectly responsible for his death 4 years later from chronic pneumonia.
I have always been a big fan of Skynyrd and thought them to be a highly underrated band. I think the lyrical content fits great with the music, and it paints a dark picture of the struggles of addiction. With regards to the musical performance, it is a masterpiece of the blend of excellent drums, bass and three guitar solo tapestry. The solo near the end with the two guitars playing off each other to me evokes the good/bad side struggle of wanting to give in to and wanting to quit the substance in question. Also the very last guitar note that holds out and the end of the song makes me think of a heart monitor ringing out a flat line signal, indicating the loss of the battle with addiction. Probably thought way too much into the song but there you go. Lastly, within a week of the release of the album with this song on it, the band had a fatal plane crash killing 3 members and severely injuring others. The album cover showed the band engulfed in flames and was later changed after the crash. That also adds an extra eerie vibe to the song. Enjoyed the video, thanks for posting!
I liked your reaction to this. This is my dad’s favorite band, I had an aunt who was in 38* who Johnny’s brother led and actually and a lot of the music from this time has a strong message. I recommend aqualung by Jeothro Tull and it’s about the homeless. Buffalo Springfield’s for what it’s worth is powerful too and I think that is very applicable today
It's Gary doing the opening solo, Steve doing the next two, then Steve and Allen doing the next battle, with (I believe) all three doing the closing feedback.
This takes me back to the winter of 77. I saw them do this song in concert from the 40 yard line at Solder Field. The home of the Chicago Bears. July of 77. They came on stage right after REO Speedwagon and just before Ted Nugent.
@@suecook1326 I agree! But they do highlight the piano in the Oakland version, show more of the drummer, and the video quality is superior. But the guitars at Knebworth win it for me!
Molly Hatchet was kicking when they had Joe Brown yeah dreams is kick-ass so another one of my favorites is 4 to go to take what is it going to take but of any of you guys ever hear of Blackfoot oh my gosh if you haven't you need to look up Blackfoot look out the Tomcat album song called Foxchase by Blackfoot if you like southern rock that's southern rock at its core.
@Night Train lol..I like Artimus too Yeah I dont know why the rift happened but I think Artimus is truthful, Dont get in cars with strangers and dont trust smiles you dont know 😀👍 No offense to Lisa Michelle intended
Yeah some and Jacksonville's been almost two years ago now but that would be nothing there would be nothing when I had Ronnie and Steve Gaines Allen Collins some mean don't get me wrong I went it was a good show but it's just you know there's no there's not any comparison
Alice Milling, I’m just seeing this. LOL. Never a good idea to ride with strangers. I am trustworthy though. Just a down home North Georgia mountain girl.
@Night Train well I don't know either who knows that I would say Artemis and the band are really the only ones that knows all of it but I did hear Gary say how are you now already was drunk and failing to his drums and you know some of his drums hit Gary outside that really did piss him off or not use this one of my buddies off the plane in the van but another thing I think that already said something for some reason about Gary's wife and you know that don't work
I think most people know at least one person like that... so embedded in their addiction that the smell of death lingers around them. I've had the unfortunate experience of encountering it 3 times. Once with a uncle who drank himself to death. Once with a childhood friend that got hooked on cocaine, and once again with a stepson who is currently hooked on opiates. No matter how much they showered and put on nice clothes, you could still sense the smell of death around them.
@Possumlove The song was written due to Gary Rossington's partying. Allen had his crash 9 years after Ronnie died in the plane crash. In '86, Allen crashed a brand new T-Bird, it killed his girlfriend and paralyzed him. He died in 1990 after getting pneumonia due to his weakened lungs.
I got the first album.... Bought it shortly after release... Was planning ( with my cousin ) on getting tickets to their upcoming concert but they never made it.
They were a band of roughhead real down home guys that kept it pretty street level out there & made some great music. I never cared for Skynyrd as a younger person , In the last 10 years I have really seen thru the southern boy image & understood their music better, and the lead guitar is top notch, right up there with the greats.
Ronnie Van Zant was born here in Jacksonville, FL and after his tour of this life ended we took him back home and buried him and several other members of the band who also lost their lives. His sound, his name lives on.
This song was written as a direct result of a car accident that involved guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington . Nobody died , but Gary was severely injured .
This song is about Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who bought a new car (a Ford Torino), got drunk, and crashed it into a tree, then a house ("whiskey bottles, brand new car, oak tree you're in my way"). The band was supposed to start a tour in a few days, but had to postpone it because of Rossington's injuries. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins wrote this song. They were not pleased with Rossington, whose drug and alcohol problems were affecting the band. The band fined Rossington $5000 for holding up the tour. Skynyrd made an effort to stay sober on this tour. Drugs and alcohol were banned from the dressing rooms. Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines were killed in a plane crash a few days after Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1977 tour started. Some of the lyrics in this song refer to death, and the cover of the album, which had just been released, showed the band enveloped in flames. This song features the famous whistle of Ronnie Van Zant. He learned to whistle very loud so he could call the dogs when he went hunting.
this jam reminds me of two years ago on a weekend binge, just looking at the people at my house and being disgusted with everything around me. I had a moment of clarity.
@@alrivers2297 it has , thank you. I got married and now live a very different life. I look around around and see a home not a house, and all those people stopped coming around as soon as I hit rock bottom. Now im on top while they are still in their trance. thanks Al
As with most of Ronnie Van Zant's songs, he is telling a story and in this case sending a message. What was read does not cover the full story behind this song. It was Gary Rossington AND Allen Collins that both got in car crashes on the same weekend. I don't remember if it was labor day or memorial day of 76, but it was one of those and both guitarists crashed their cars. Ronnie fined both of them $5000 for their antics. But, it was Gary who caught the brunt of the Ronnie's ire. Gary had a brand new Ford (Torino?) and hit an oak tree that still bears the scar of that crash to this day (as well as a few others since it's been hit a few times...dangerous curve). Although he came out with only minor injuries, Ronnie had had enough. He wrote the song from not only a point of directed frustration at Gary, but also from self reflection from his own personal experiences. As for the lyrics, they are poignant and timeless...."Whiskey bottle, and brand new car. Oak tree your in my way. There's too much coke, and too much smoke, look what's going on inside you. Oohh that smell. Can't you smell that smell. The smell of death surrounds you". Ronnie was sending a clear message that this was no longer acceptable and if you keep it up, you're gonna kill yourself with your fool actions...."ohh ya fool you. aww stick them needles in your arm. You're just a fool just a fool, gimme one more blow, one more blow for my nose yeah" (during the end lead sequence). And Gary had/has this "aww shucks" persona. I suspect that's why Ronnie dubbed him "prince charming"...."now they call you prince charming. Can't speak a word when you're full of ludes. Say you'll be allright come tomorrow. But tomorrow...might not be here for you (yeah you)". This song was one of my personal Skynyrd favs because it's I believe a lyrical and guitar masterpiece. Steve Gaines comes right out of the gate with 2 lightening fast dynamic solos followed by Allen going into the bridge where Gary finishes it off with a killer solo coming back into the last verse. Then when Ronnie starts to ad lib we hear Allen screaming way up on the bridge of the guitar and Steve dueling with him staring lower (or higher on the fretboard) until they come together and meet and echo each other. Then...they duel in harmony staying together note for note!! Incredible!! And Gary finishes it off with that run and his classic amp drive feedback squeal to fade out. This was actually their second studio recording. Their first one they completely scrapped and started over. As far as "that smell". It was the smell of death and not drugs. "Angel of darkness is upon you. Stuck a needle in your arm". Angel of darkness implying death...thus the smell of death surrounds you.
This was their last album with the original band that we in the 70s remember them. They tried to continue on with other members going back and forth and stuff and still calling themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd when they really aren't
Gary Rossington and Ricky Medlocke are orginal. Ricky left and formed Black foot and came back. The lead singer is Ronnie's younger brother. They made new albums and the music is good. One of my continued favorites
I know BUT they lost some later due to other things. But they have the heart and soul. I saw them two years ago and they were great. I love the story of how Johnny was asked to take the lead after Ronnie's death. He first wanted their parents and Ronnie's widow's blessing. He looks and sounds so much like his brother.
They still had the best concert of any band I've ever seen, I posted on the other lady when she listened to Freebird. Saw the original members about 2 months before the crash, they crashed on my 20th birthday, October 20, 1977. Bad day, not going to say anything else about it, love me some Skynyrd. 25 + years later I saw them with Johnny and they tore it up, down, and around. In the other post I mistakenly called Greg, Duane. My sincere apologies to the Allman family and fans. The music was great but the fans were done after Skynyrd, just like with Ronnie 25 years earlier. Johnny gives all credit to Ronnie but it was like Ronnie was in him that night. It was great except for the band that followed sorry but you could feel it and you could see it. We didn't have anything to give back Mr. Allman and bands music was great, everyone was spent though. You just don't want to follow Skynyrd. They are some bad men.....
I have heard from a lot of people/seen/read that RVZ and several other guys in this band were attempting to stop drinking whiskey around the same timeframe as the crash happened and were actually afraid to fly in that plane because they had seen the pilots sharing a bottle of Jack. I think Cassie Gaines tried to outright refuse getting on the plane.
The song was written by Ronnie Van Zant to Gary Rossington after Gary nearly died in a car wreck after his latest drunk driving episode. Rossington was "Prince Charming." Weird that Rossington is the only surviving member.
You should listen to Artemis Pile describe the plane crash in 1977. He left the wreckage and was shot by a 17 year old when he wandered onto a remote farm covered in blood. He just yelled “plane crash” as the bullet spun him to the ground. The shot wasn’t fatal and the kid went for help. Had he not left the plane, everyone likely would have died.
Yes, in the original pressings which lasted 3 days(?) before being pulled. The old cover is again being used in reissues, Mobile Fidelity, etc. But if you got an original, you got gold.
Long story here---I love this song but it seems to be some sort of omen to me. Literally every single time it's came on while I was in a car, we have 'almost' wrapped it around a tree. First time, as a teen in Michigan-myself, my BF, my best friend, my older brother, and some other kids from the neighborhood all out smoking on some Sensi, flying in our friends lil car, just as it got to 'oak tree you're in my way' we went round a sharp curve, almost hit a huge old oak tree. Didn't help the road was a sheet of ice. Made it hard to straighten it out. Scared the crap out of us. Second time, a year or so later, I was with my older sister and 6 of our friends in a huge old Caddy doing 95 on an old curvy road in Kentucky going to the drivers house for a party. Same thing, soon as it got to those words, we went round a very sharp curve, almost wrapped it around a tree about a blocks distance from his house. Third time, same year, same exact sequence of events, with my future daughters father, same event on a different hilly, curvy road in Kentucky in a 75 Barracuda pedal to the metal. We laughed about it but we could have been killed. Fourth time, with my older brother, his wife and daughter, me and my daughter. 1981, Kentucky again. 110 speed, same words, same event, almost wrapped it around a tree. Actually happened with that brother twice. Second time with him was with his second wife, an Audi, doing high speeds on these Kentucky roads. That would be the fifth time. Sixth time was with my younger brother wife, their two kids, two adult friends, coming from Michigan to Kentucky and she'd never driven down here and was flying and before I could spit out the words to tell her there was a sharp curve ahead the words of the song came on and she almost hit an huge old magnolia tree, did a doughnut before she could get it stopped in a cow pasture on the other side of the road. Then, literally on 3 separate occasions with my baby sister speeding, turning in to the road to her place in the woods she almost hit the oak tree at the turn off. That's numbers 7-9. Number 10 was my older sister and me in an old Station Wagon, in Michigan, same song/words, same event. I haven't touched any Sensi in 40 years and won't and I will never again ride with anyone who's been drinking. Haven't in decades. I'll also never drive while this song plays!
The album cover with the flames on it is something of a collector's item, since it was replaced shortly after release with the flames removed and replaced with black background... because three days after this album was released, the group's chartered plane crashed, killing three band members including the vocalist.
That picture was going to be the album cover of that album, and the band's plane crashed and killed several members. Only a few of the albums with this cover exist.
I have one of each. I'm from Jacksonville and they were kept like gold. Just for info that smell is freebase cocaine. My pops knew they band from hunting with them before they got big. They used to play at the hunting camp while they were cutting their chops in town probably saw them 10+ times when I was little. Every once in a while you end up running into the remaining members around town still driving beat up old hunting trucks. Good guys.
All of the street survivors that whole album is gold it's every song on it is damn good the yeah listen to the same old blues sometimes that's that's just an awesome song coming home like I say the whole album is very good
this album is so prolific on so many levels and for very sad reasons. they like SRV, were starting to get clean and turn their life around behind the scenes and die weeks before that album cover came out. if you listen to people who knew Ronnie well when he was growing up, knew he was going to die very young (relatively speaking.) I could be wrong but I believe this is also the album that has Freebird on it.
I have the original cover as I bought the album before the crash and before they changed it. I think they've gone back to the original cover now since so much time has passed.
There was no fire. They ran out of fuel so...no fire. They ditched the flame album cover out of respect for Steve's wife who was shaken. Steve's head was engulfed in fire on the original cover. They pulled it and then blacked out the flames. But the crash was a horrific impact crash. The pilots were trying to make the adjacent field but miscalculated and they nose dived and started clipping trees. One engine flamed out which they were having trouble with and the plane was due to be fixed where they were originally headed. Then the pilots dumped the fuel to the other engine by accident and that engine quit. The plane in hindsight should have been grounded because of that bad engine.
James Barrett Yes James they did consider it. But to put it very bluntly, they saw it was a pos and said "ummm, no thanks". Im not aware of it having anything to do with the pilots. That certainly doesn't mean that what you say does not have merit. It may very well have. I personally with all the time I put in on this crash and LS band, have not heard that. But then again I didn't search for that aspect specifically. Quite frankly I don't think we will ever know the complete story. With accounts being walked back about crash events, some things just don't add up as to why some lied. I have my own personal opinions but they really don't matter. I just miss what could have been with Steve Gaines with them. Sad.
Great song Choice. This Band was anti drug abuse, hand guns and Racism way before is was accepted by the main stream. They just looked around and wrote songs about what we see every day. Their lyrics were just off the charts good and the guitar army they had were Great . My favorite by far, keep checking out other songs and you will see why.
It wasn't the smell of the drugs and the smoke but the combination of all of them brought on the smell of death. The song is a warning as is the Needle and the Spoon.
I Just watched a tour about this band showing where the Van zants lived as kids where they went to school and where they are buried they named their band after their teacher named Leonard Skinner he didn't like their long hair and he is buried in the same cemetery Cassie Gaines in buried with her parents and Steve is in another location not far from them.
Just letting you know, really enjoy your reaction to all kinds of music. Haven't seen anyone react to Marilyn Monroe. Thank you. Could you please play some Janis Joplin....Move Over, Summertime. You're doing great.
This tune deals with heroin and coke addiction. Leaning heavily on the horse. Further reference is “The Needle and the Spoon”. Neil Young wrote a ballad, Skynard wrote a fact based horror story. Some of you may or may not get this. It’s beyond my control.
![Couple First Reaction To - Lynyrd Skynyrd: That Smell [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/trs-Tl-_T00/mqdefault.jpg)
![Couple First Reaction To - Lynyrd Skynyrd: That Smell [Official Audio]](/img/tr.png)
Not many bands around like this one. They put heart and soul into the music ... no auto tune... just real musicians. 🤘🏻💕
The greatest Southern Band ever
it's close but i might give the allman bros. a vote or two.
There’s a strong argument for The Marshall Tucker Band in there as well.
The history behind the song is that, during the writing sessions for Street Survivors, both Gary Rossington and Allen Collins were involved in serious Automobile accidents. Ronnie Van Zant wrote most of the lyrics aimed at them, but included his and the band's past alcohol and drugs problems into this song. Most of the band, including Rossington, cleaned up their act. Unfortunately, the band, crew and pilots of the airplane they were using for the tour, were involved in a very tragic crash killing both pilots, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, Ronnie Van Zant, new guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines almost instantly. The surviving members, after two years recovery from their severe to life threatening injuries, formed The Rossington Collins Band, who released only two albums before disbanding (Allen Collins' wife died while pregnant, sending him further into a drug and alcohol induced spiral, which ended up with his involvement with another crash that paralyzed Allen from the neck down and injured his girlfriend in 1986). Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed, initially, for a 1987 Tribute tour which featured the surviving members of Skynyrd, with original third guitarist Ed King returning and Ronnie's younger brother, Johnny, on vocals.
Gary has said that there's one line in the song he knows was aimed directly at him:"Now they call you Prince Charming/Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes".
It's A Warning Against The Addiction!!! Also 1 Of My Favorite Song's!!! When It First Came Out, I Was So Very Strung Out on Methamphetamine, Yes I Stuck Alot Of Needles In My Arms from the Time I was 16-48 Yrs Old, I Am Doing Well, At 66 Yrs Old!!!
I have been able to See Lynard Synard 2× in Concert. First time w Ronnie, Second w Johnny. Whom Resemblance to his Brother Was So Fuckin'Creepy but I Had Such A Great Time!! Thanks So Very Much For Ur Reaction to This Song, Blessings Always, Take Care Of Yourself, Peace Love & .... ... ...☮️
I always loved the guitar work in this song.
Wow. The lyrics are so POWERFUL.
Man, that band was just sooo good
I am a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. I learned some things today thank you for your appreciation of music and videos.
The best anti-drug song ever! So sad and ironic that on their last album before their plane crash. The song has the line of the smell of death being around them! I love this entire album! Good job. UA-cam didn't block this and thank goodness for that! Love your reaction videos! Love to you and please keep it up! 💖💖💖💖
"The smell of death surrounds you."
Yeah; I'm not sure she caught the word "death" in the song. I think the overall idea is still fairly clear, but the word "death" is important.
Yep
Ya, I think a lot of people think the lyrics are "the smell that's around you!" (Like pot, booze, etc).
But when you understand that he's saying "the smell of Death surrounds you!" It hits a little deeper!
Next anti drug song by Skynyrd would be "The needle and the spoon"...
Anti drugs? Who you kidding? They lived for the drugs, woman whisky rock n' roll.
Actually, ronnie just had a kid and he wanted to straighten his life up so he could be around to raise her. They quit the drugs and booze
Guitarist and founder Rossington drove his car into a tree in a drug induced trance. It was a wake up call for the band who wrote this song about it.
Stuart W Ross bruh i crashed a bike sank a boat and pushed my vette to 187 mph then got arrested all in one weekend in a drug fueled rampage i did all this while in the military lol. Still didnt get kicked out lol
And then 10 years later guitarist Allen Collins had his 2nd drunk driving accident, which killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. This paralysis was also indirectly responsible for his death 4 years later from chronic pneumonia.
I have always been a big fan of Skynyrd and thought them to be a highly underrated band. I think the lyrical content fits great with the music, and it paints a dark picture of the struggles of addiction. With regards to the musical performance, it is a masterpiece of the blend of excellent drums, bass and three guitar solo tapestry. The solo near the end with the two guitars playing off each other to me evokes the good/bad side struggle of wanting to give in to and wanting to quit the substance in question. Also the very last guitar note that holds out and the end of the song makes me think of a heart monitor ringing out a flat line signal, indicating the loss of the battle with addiction. Probably thought way too much into the song but there you go. Lastly, within a week of the release of the album with this song on it, the band had a fatal plane crash killing 3 members and severely injuring others. The album cover showed the band engulfed in flames and was later changed after the crash. That also adds an extra eerie vibe to the song. Enjoyed the video, thanks for posting!
I liked your reaction to this. This is my dad’s favorite band, I had an aunt who was in 38* who Johnny’s brother led and actually and a lot of the music from this time has a strong message. I recommend aqualung by Jeothro Tull and it’s about the homeless. Buffalo Springfield’s for what it’s worth is powerful too and I think that is very applicable today
The guitar work in this song is insane! Sounds like most of it is Steve Gaines. Shout out to Allen Collins, great guitarist too.
It's Gary doing the opening solo, Steve doing the next two, then Steve and Allen doing the next battle, with (I believe) all three doing the closing feedback.
Awesome SONG. Love this jam
ROCK on. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
This takes me back to the winter of 77. I saw them do this song in concert from the 40 yard line at Solder Field. The home of the Chicago Bears. July of 77.
They came on stage right after REO Speedwagon and just before Ted Nugent.
Saw the them live for this album in April of 1977 with Nazareth at the University of Dayton arena. My first concert I was seventeen.
LUCKY YOU! They are one of the bands I always wished I could have seen live.
I saw them in '77 also st Soldier Field in Chicago, great memory
August 27th 1977 Anaheim Stadium with Ted Nugent for me. Amazing concert.
Awesome that you are doing another Lynyrd Skynyrd. Please react to Lynyrd Skynyrd Free Bird live at Knebworth 1976. Its epic!
My favorite! Love the focus on the guitar players. In the Oakland video, they're too busy shooting all the girls in the audience.
@@suecook1326 I agree! But they do highlight the piano in the Oakland version, show more of the drummer, and the video quality is superior. But the guitars at Knebworth win it for me!
Whiskey bottle, brand new car, oak tree you're in my wayXD
That refers to Gary Rossington being totally wasted drunk when he crashed his brand-new car - Corvette I believe - into a big, old oak tree.
Dana Reynolds think it was a Gran Torino but either way you’re right lol
I think needle in the arm might’ve been directed at Alan Collins. He looks wasted on the cover
I assume you're referring to the look of his eyes; try vitamin deficiency, unless he's been wasted since infancy.
@@danareynolds1786 Cadillac I believe
Some people just don’t feel it. And she’s one of them.
I loves me some ol' Molley Hatchet. " flirten' with disaster"
Bounty Hunter or Gator country
I actually prefer MH's version of "Dreams" (in 4/4 time) over the ABB 3/4 version. Both both are great.
Molly Hatchet was kicking when they had Joe Brown yeah dreams is kick-ass so another one of my favorites is 4 to go to take what is it going to take but of any of you guys ever hear of Blackfoot oh my gosh if you haven't you need to look up Blackfoot look out the Tomcat album song called Foxchase by Blackfoot if you like southern rock that's southern rock at its core.
Skynyrd rules, in my opinion. Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother, Johnny is singing with them now. They’re on their farewell tour now.
The Artimus Pyle band still playing
The skynyrd music 👍
@Night Train lol..I like Artimus too
Yeah I dont know why the rift happened but I think Artimus is truthful, Dont get in cars with strangers and dont trust smiles you dont know 😀👍
No offense to Lisa Michelle intended
Yeah some and Jacksonville's been almost two years ago now but that would be nothing there would be nothing when I had Ronnie and Steve Gaines Allen Collins some mean don't get me wrong I went it was a good show but it's just you know there's no there's not any comparison
Alice Milling, I’m just seeing this. LOL. Never a good idea to ride with strangers. I am trustworthy though. Just a down home North Georgia mountain girl.
@Night Train well I don't know either who knows that I would say Artemis and the band are really the only ones that knows all of it but I did hear Gary say how are you now already was drunk and failing to his drums and you know some of his drums hit Gary outside that really did piss him off or not use this one of my buddies off the plane in the van but another thing I think that already said something for some reason about Gary's wife and you know that don't work
I think most people know at least one person like that... so embedded in their addiction that the smell of death lingers around them. I've had the unfortunate experience of encountering it 3 times. Once with a uncle who drank himself to death. Once with a childhood friend that got hooked on cocaine, and once again with a stepson who is currently hooked on opiates. No matter how much they showered and put on nice clothes, you could still sense the smell of death around them.
"Oak Tree... You're in MY WAY"
“The smell of death surrounds you”
Their best. Hands down
Hes talking about how drugs will kill you
@Possumlove The song was written due to Gary Rossington's partying. Allen had his crash 9 years after Ronnie died in the plane crash. In '86, Allen crashed a brand new T-Bird, it killed his girlfriend and paralyzed him. He died in 1990 after getting pneumonia due to his weakened lungs.
The Album that you showed is a collector's item, with a fire background. That was released just before their crash.
They pulled that album cover after the plane crash and went just with them minus the flames.
MCA simply moved the back cover photo to the front, and put "This album was previously released with different artwork" across the back.
I got the first album.... Bought it shortly after release... Was planning ( with my cousin ) on getting tickets to their upcoming concert but they never made it.
Watch the VH1 Behind the Music on Lynyrd Skynyrd, You;ll laugh, youll cry, you;ll become a fan and wear their shirt with pride.
They were a band of roughhead real down home guys that kept it pretty street level out there & made some great music. I never cared for Skynyrd as a younger person , In the last 10 years I have really seen thru the southern boy image & understood their music better, and the lead guitar is top notch, right up there with the greats.
Best opening lines of all!
After the plane crash that killed half of them they pulled the album off the shelves and re did the cover with out the flames
Ronnie Van Zant was born here in Jacksonville, FL and after his tour of this life ended we took him back home and buried him and several other members of the band who also lost their lives. His sound, his name lives on.
This song was written as a direct result of a car accident that involved guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington .
Nobody died , but Gary was severely injured .
The heart of the South, our music can’t be compared to
This song is about Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who bought a new car (a Ford Torino), got drunk, and crashed it into a tree, then a house ("whiskey bottles, brand new car, oak tree you're in my way"). The band was supposed to start a tour in a few days, but had to postpone it because of Rossington's injuries.
Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins wrote this song. They were not pleased with Rossington, whose drug and alcohol problems were affecting the band.
The band fined Rossington $5000 for holding up the tour. Skynyrd made an effort to stay sober on this tour. Drugs and alcohol were banned from the dressing rooms.
Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines were killed in a plane crash a few days after Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1977 tour started. Some of the lyrics in this song refer to death, and the cover of the album, which had just been released, showed the band enveloped in flames.
This song features the famous whistle of Ronnie Van Zant. He learned to whistle very loud so he could call the dogs when he went hunting.
Skynyrd really great band
RIP RVZ,CASSIE &STEVE 🙏❤
great song congrats on 20,000
That’s the jam!!
this jam reminds me of two years ago on a weekend binge, just looking at the people at my house and being disgusted with everything around me. I had a moment of clarity.
Good for you, hope it's lasted.
@@alrivers2297 it has , thank you. I got married and now live a very different life. I look around around and see a home not a house, and all those people stopped coming around as soon as I hit rock bottom. Now im on top while they are still in their trance. thanks Al
@@kaiseralexander4968 that's great, sounds like you're an awoken person, evolving.
As with most of Ronnie Van Zant's songs, he is telling a story and in this case sending a message. What was read does not cover the full story behind this song. It was Gary Rossington AND Allen Collins that both got in car crashes on the same weekend. I don't remember if it was labor day or memorial day of 76, but it was one of those and both guitarists crashed their cars. Ronnie fined both of them $5000 for their antics. But, it was Gary who caught the brunt of the Ronnie's ire. Gary had a brand new Ford (Torino?) and hit an oak tree that still bears the scar of that crash to this day (as well as a few others since it's been hit a few times...dangerous curve). Although he came out with only minor injuries, Ronnie had had enough. He wrote the song from not only a point of directed frustration at Gary, but also from self reflection from his own personal experiences. As for the lyrics, they are poignant and timeless...."Whiskey bottle, and brand new car. Oak tree your in my way. There's too much coke, and too much smoke, look what's going on inside you. Oohh that smell. Can't you smell that smell. The smell of death surrounds you". Ronnie was sending a clear message that this was no longer acceptable and if you keep it up, you're gonna kill yourself with your fool actions...."ohh ya fool you. aww stick them needles in your arm. You're just a fool just a fool, gimme one more blow, one more blow for my nose yeah" (during the end lead sequence). And Gary had/has this "aww shucks" persona. I suspect that's why Ronnie dubbed him "prince charming"...."now they call you prince charming. Can't speak a word when you're full of ludes. Say you'll be allright come tomorrow. But tomorrow...might not be here for you (yeah you)". This song was one of my personal Skynyrd favs because it's I believe a lyrical and guitar masterpiece. Steve Gaines comes right out of the gate with 2 lightening fast dynamic solos followed by Allen going into the bridge where Gary finishes it off with a killer solo coming back into the last verse. Then when Ronnie starts to ad lib we hear Allen screaming way up on the bridge of the guitar and Steve dueling with him staring lower (or higher on the fretboard) until they come together and meet and echo each other. Then...they duel in harmony staying together note for note!! Incredible!! And Gary finishes it off with that run and his classic amp drive feedback squeal to fade out. This was actually their second studio recording. Their first one they completely scrapped and started over. As far as "that smell". It was the smell of death and not drugs. "Angel of darkness is upon you. Stuck a needle in your arm". Angel of darkness implying death...thus the smell of death surrounds you.
India, I know another woman named Asia. 👍
Chk out 'Saturday Night Special' too. Its along the same lines.
This was their last album with the original band that we in the 70s remember them. They tried to continue on with other members going back and forth and stuff and still calling themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd when they really aren't
Gary Rossington and Ricky Medlocke are orginal. Ricky left and formed Black foot and came back. The lead singer is Ronnie's younger brother. They made new albums and the music is good. One of my continued favorites
@@julielovelace7189 yeah they have two original members. That's still not Lynyrd Skynyrd.
@@julielovelace7189 yeah I saw Blackfoot in concert with Def Leppard. They left Def Leppard in the dust
I know BUT they lost some later due to other things. But they have the heart and soul. I saw them two years ago and they were great. I love the story of how Johnny was asked to take the lead after Ronnie's death. He first wanted their parents and Ronnie's widow's blessing. He looks and sounds so much like his brother.
They still had the best concert of any band I've ever seen, I posted on the other lady when she listened to Freebird. Saw the original members about 2 months before the crash, they crashed on my 20th birthday, October 20, 1977. Bad day, not going to say anything else about it, love me some Skynyrd. 25 + years later I saw them with Johnny and they tore it up, down, and around. In the other post I mistakenly called Greg, Duane. My sincere apologies to the Allman family and fans.
The music was great but the fans were done after Skynyrd, just like with Ronnie 25 years earlier. Johnny gives all credit to Ronnie but it was like Ronnie was in him that night. It was great except for the band that followed sorry but you could feel it and you could see it. We didn't have anything to give back Mr. Allman and bands music was great, everyone was spent though. You just don't want to follow Skynyrd. They are some bad men.....
I always loved this song. Plus I LOVED Southern Man and The Ballad of Curtis Low.
Another honest lyric writing example of Ronnie Van Zant. Just being real ...that is the magic of them.
Love those background vocals too
I don't comment often but I am really enjoying your channel.
Written about one of the band members. Van Zant may have been a hard drinking hard lovin’ kind of guy but he was serious about his music. RIP.
I have heard from a lot of people/seen/read that RVZ and several other guys in this band were attempting to stop drinking whiskey around the same timeframe as the crash happened and were actually afraid to fly in that plane because they had seen the pilots sharing a bottle of Jack. I think Cassie Gaines tried to outright refuse getting on the plane.
Gary Rossington was drunk and high and slammed his car into an oak tree.
The song was written by Ronnie Van Zant to Gary Rossington after Gary nearly died in a car wreck after his latest drunk driving episode. Rossington was "Prince Charming." Weird that Rossington is the only surviving member.
Artimus Pyle, the drummer, is still living.
You should listen to Artemis Pile describe the plane crash in 1977. He left the wreckage and was shot by a 17 year old when he wandered onto a remote farm covered in blood. He just yelled “plane crash” as the bullet spun him to the ground. The shot wasn’t fatal and the kid went for help. Had he not left the plane, everyone likely would have died.
Ronny's little brother is now the singer for the band.
I love your videos - please keep them coming.
The original LP cover is the ones with the flames which was released before the plane accident. After that the lp cover changed.
Yeah.. I have the original... They moved the photo from the back of the original to the front of the newer album cover version.
Three Steps! You will love it!!!
The smell of death followed me many yrs , lost friends but somehow I survived and been clean for 7 yrs .
Prophetic song and album cover. That cover was pulled after the plane crash that killed several members of the band. 👍👍
Listen to the lyrics. This hits hard.
One of the most famous (and rarest) album covers ever made.
Yes, in the original pressings which lasted 3 days(?) before being pulled. The old cover is again being used in reissues, Mobile Fidelity, etc. But if you got an original, you got gold.
Gary Rossington(lead guitarist) wrote the song after he was in a car accident & he said all he could smell was whiskey.
Long story here---I love this song but it seems to be some sort of omen to me. Literally every single time it's came on while I was in a car, we have 'almost' wrapped it around a tree. First time, as a teen in Michigan-myself, my BF, my best friend, my older brother, and some other kids from the neighborhood all out smoking on some Sensi, flying in our friends lil car, just as it got to 'oak tree you're in my way' we went round a sharp curve, almost hit a huge old oak tree. Didn't help the road was a sheet of ice. Made it hard to straighten it out. Scared the crap out of us. Second time, a year or so later, I was with my older sister and 6 of our friends in a huge old Caddy doing 95 on an old curvy road in Kentucky going to the drivers house for a party. Same thing, soon as it got to those words, we went round a very sharp curve, almost wrapped it around a tree about a blocks distance from his house. Third time, same year, same exact sequence of events, with my future daughters father, same event on a different hilly, curvy road in Kentucky in a 75 Barracuda pedal to the metal. We laughed about it but we could have been killed. Fourth time, with my older brother, his wife and daughter, me and my daughter. 1981, Kentucky again. 110 speed, same words, same event, almost wrapped it around a tree. Actually happened with that brother twice. Second time with him was with his second wife, an Audi, doing high speeds on these Kentucky roads. That would be the fifth time. Sixth time was with my younger brother wife, their two kids, two adult friends, coming from Michigan to Kentucky and she'd never driven down here and was flying and before I could spit out the words to tell her there was a sharp curve ahead the words of the song came on and she almost hit an huge old magnolia tree, did a doughnut before she could get it stopped in a cow pasture on the other side of the road. Then, literally on 3 separate occasions with my baby sister speeding, turning in to the road to her place in the woods she almost hit the oak tree at the turn off. That's numbers 7-9. Number 10 was my older sister and me in an old Station Wagon, in Michigan, same song/words, same event. I haven't touched any Sensi in 40 years and won't and I will never again ride with anyone who's been drinking. Haven't in decades. I'll also never drive while this song plays!
I’ve met them up close and personal and got johnnys autograph.
A great skynyrd song for to check out would be " every mothers son " such a great positive tune
India! U do such different songs !! Ty!!
The album cover with the flames on it is something of a collector's item, since it was replaced shortly after release with the flames removed and replaced with black background... because three days after this album was released, the group's chartered plane crashed, killing three band members including the vocalist.
I loved them so much.
This song portrays the smell of death the consequences of drug addiction
That picture was going to be the album cover of that album, and the band's plane crashed and killed several members. Only a few of the albums with this cover exist.
I have one of each. I'm from Jacksonville and they were kept like gold. Just for info that smell is freebase cocaine. My pops knew they band from hunting with them before they got big. They used to play at the hunting camp while they were cutting their chops in town probably saw them 10+ times when I was little. Every once in a while you end up running into the remaining members around town still driving beat up old hunting trucks. Good guys.
@@ronaldowens5025 that's awesome
The scary part is who the flames are surrounding in the picture
All of the street survivors that whole album is gold it's every song on it is damn good the yeah listen to the same old blues sometimes that's that's just an awesome song coming home like I say the whole album is very good
this album is so prolific on so many levels and for very sad reasons. they like SRV, were starting to get clean and turn their life around behind the scenes and die weeks before that album cover came out. if you listen to people who knew Ronnie well when he was growing up, knew he was going to die very young (relatively speaking.) I could be wrong but I believe this is also the album that has Freebird on it.
Rory Bisson freebird is on their first album pronounced. This album came out around September of 77
They changed the cover of this album after the plane crash .They changed the part of the cover because of the fire
Look up the News footage of the crash .Its heartbreaking .
I have the original cover as I bought the album before the crash and before they changed it. I think they've gone back to the original cover now since so much time has passed.
There was no fire. They ran out of fuel so...no fire. They ditched the flame album cover out of respect for Steve's wife who was shaken. Steve's head was engulfed in fire on the original cover. They pulled it and then blacked out the flames. But the crash was a horrific impact crash. The pilots were trying to make the adjacent field but miscalculated and they nose dived and started clipping trees. One engine flamed out which they were having trouble with and the plane was due to be fixed where they were originally headed. Then the pilots dumped the fuel to the other engine by accident and that engine quit. The plane in hindsight should have been grounded because of that bad engine.
@@jammin_J64 I read that Aerosmith's mgmt team was considering using this same plane but backed out due to concerns about the pilots' safety records.
James Barrett
Yes James they did consider it. But to put it very bluntly, they saw it was a pos and said "ummm, no thanks". Im not aware of it having anything to do with the pilots. That certainly doesn't mean that what you say does not have merit. It may very well have. I personally with all the time I put in on this crash and LS band, have not heard that. But then again I didn't search for that aspect specifically. Quite frankly I don't think we will ever know the complete story. With accounts being walked back about crash events, some things just don't add up as to why some lied. I have my own personal opinions but they really don't matter. I just miss what could have been with Steve Gaines with them. Sad.
They died leaving my hometown. Greenville SC.
Great song Choice. This Band was anti drug abuse, hand guns and Racism way before is was accepted by the main stream. They just looked around and wrote songs about what we see every day. Their lyrics were just off the charts good and the guitar army they had were Great . My favorite by far, keep checking out other songs and you will see why.
now that is music rock and roll man
It wasn't the smell of the drugs and the smoke but the combination of all of them brought on the smell of death. The song is a warning as is the Needle and the Spoon.
Do more of this group, you won't be disappointed. Try " One More Time " from the album "Street Survives "
Gimmie three steps by Skynyrd is a fan favorite.
That fella' with the hair colored yella'! Luv it!😃
... "the smell of death surrounds you " all of them had an issue...... Heroin weed coke ludes booze everybody was into something
You got man...I with they made it through it.
This was their biggest FM hit and came out just before a plane crash killed several musicians including the singer.
I Just watched a tour about this band showing where the Van zants lived as kids where they went to school and where they are buried they named their band after their teacher named Leonard Skinner he didn't like their long hair and he is buried in the same cemetery Cassie Gaines in buried with her parents and Steve is in another location not far from them.
Just letting you know, really enjoy your reaction to all kinds of music. Haven't seen anyone react to Marilyn Monroe. Thank you. Could you please play some Janis Joplin....Move Over, Summertime. You're doing great.
A band member's substance abuse was out of control and he hit an oak tree with his car. Voila! Another Skynyrd hit.
This tune deals with heroin and coke addiction. Leaning heavily on the horse. Further reference is “The Needle and the Spoon”. Neil Young wrote a ballad, Skynard wrote a fact based horror story. Some of you may or may not get this. It’s beyond my control.
Love your hair! I am completely serious!
This song was all about The smell of “death”.
I always thought this song was about partying too hard.
The smell of danger, the 'smell' that warns you something ain't right with the scene.
The Original is Lynyrd Skynyrd ! You don’t need to listen to anybody else singing Skynyrd songs !
Always loved to drive so fast to this one! So fine...
Love That Smell.
You are the first I've heard to really know what they were talking about
The smell of DEATH
Southern mans intervention! ✌️❤️🍑
Another song that brings back a lot of memories.
BTW..... Do you have any idea just how cute you are. 😊
“Can’t speak a word when your full of ‘ludes ...”
Try "Green Grass and High Tides" by The Outlaws!
Free bird is awesome do it live. We saw them couple year's ago never sat once
Breach - It's me god
Perfect song for the opening of the original longest yard!!! The one staring Burt Reynolds.
Saturday night special was playing when Burt stole the car!
I know...you are correct! Two seconds after I posted it, I realized I made a mistake. I am 67, and I get a bit confused sometimes.😂😂😂😂🤪
Skynyrd is my favorite,Saturday Night Special or That Smell are great songs to play when driving away in a stolen car
Street Survivors is the best album they put out.