Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping (1974, 2009 Audio Fidelity Gold CD)

Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Title Of Album: Second Helping
Year Of Release: 1974/2009
Label: Audio Fidelity, 24K+ Gold CD Series
Country: US
Genre: Southern Rock
Audio codec: FLAC | lossless

Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote the book on Southern rock with their first album, so it only made sense that they followed it for their second album, aptly titled Second Helping. Sticking with producer Al Kooper (who, after all, discovered them), the group turned out a record that replicated all the strengths of the original, but was a little tighter and a little more professional.

It also revealed that the band, under the direction of songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, was developing a truly original voice. Of course, the band had already developed their own musical voice, but it was enhanced considerably by Van Zant's writing, which was at turns plainly poetic, surprisingly clever, and always revealing.

Though Second Helping isn't as hard a rock record as Pronounced, it's the songs that make the record. "Sweet Home Alabama" became ubiquitous, yet it's rivaled by such terrific songs as the snide, punkish "Workin' for MCA," the Southern groove of "Don't Ask Me No Questions," the affecting "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," and "The Needle and the Spoon," a drug tale as affecting as their rival Neil Young's "Needle and the Damage Done," but much harder rocking.

This is the part of Skynyrd that most people forget -- they were a great band, but they were indelible because that was married to great writing. And nowhere was that more evident than on Second Helping.

Tracks
1. Sweet Home Alabama (Ed King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) - 4:43
2. I Need You (King, Rossington, Van Zant) - 6:55
3. Don't Ask Me No Questions (Rossington, Van Zant) - 3:26
4. Workin' For Mca (King, Van Zant) - 4:49
5. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew (Allen Collins, Van Zant) - 4:51
6. Swamp Music (King, Van Zant) - 3:31
7. The Needle And The Spoon (Collins, Van Zant) - 3:53
8. Call Me The Breeze (J. J. Cale) - 5:09

Personnel:
Ronnie Van Zant - Lead Vocals
Gary Rossington - Rhythm, Acoustic Guitar
Allen Collins - Guitar
Ed King - Guitar, Slide Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass
Billy Powell - Keyboards, Piano On "Sweet Home Alabama"
Leon Wilkeson - Bass
Bob Burns - Drums Except "I Need You"

Additional Musicians:
Mike Porter - Drums On "I Need You"
Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews - Background Vocals On "Sweet Home Alabama"
Merry Clayton And Friends - Background Vocals On "Sweet Home Alabama"
Bobby Keys, Trewor Lawrence , Steve Madiao - Horns
Al Kooper - Backing Vocals, Piano