Lynrd Skynrd - Sweet Home Alabama

This is a live performance by Southern rock band Lynrd Skynrd playing their song "Sweet Home Alabama" live. The song originally appeared on the band's second album titled "Second Helping" which was released in 1974. The song was the second single released from the album, prior to this "Don't Ask Me No Questions" was released and the third single of the album was "Free Bird".
The song was surrounded by controversy due to the fact that it was written as a reply to a song by Neil Young. Also the lyrics were interoperated by the public media to "support" or at least reference a former governor of Alabama who was pro segregation. I could write much more about this, but I don't feel like it's necessary. I'm not American nor was I around when this controversy occurred. To me it's always simply been a good song with lyrics that you can sing along to and a great instantly recognisable guitar riff. Now that's the recipe for a good song in my book.

Enjoy ; )

JJ Cale & Leon Russel - I Got the Same Old Blues

This is a live performance by the two rock and blues legends JJ Cale and Leon Russel. They play Cale's classic song "I Got the Same Old Blues" from Cale's 1974 album "Okie". This song got very popular and it was covered by a large number of well renowned artists such as Lynrd Skynrd and Freddie King.
Cale's style had been described as laid back. It is part of the so called Tulsa Sound that draws loosely on the genres of rockabilly, blues, country and jazz.
Leon Russel is a very well known and respected musician in the music world. In his early career he did session work for artists such as: Elton John, George Harrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton and Willie Nelson to name a few. He then later got a solo career that he maintains to this day. In 2011 he was also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
This is a very good song and it has a nice laid back session feel to it.

Enjoy ; )

Brian Setzer - Run Rudolph Run

The song "Run Rudolph Run" has become a Christmas classic, and is one of the most recognizable rock 'n' roll Christmas songs. The song was popularized by Chuck Berry, and it was originally released in 1958 as a b-side to Berry's version of "Merry Christmas, Baby".
The song has been covered by an endless list of performers, including: Lynrd Skynrd, Sheryl Crow, Keith Richards, Foghat, Billy Idol, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and a supergroup consisting of Lemmy Kilmister, Billy Gibbons and Dave Grohl, to only name a few.
I think that Brian Setzer and his orchestra do a fantastic job with the song, they play it like straight forward happy 50's rock 'n' roll which fits the song very well.
Below is the Lemmy, Gibbons and Grohl version embeded, it's a good version too, but I still prefer Setzer's version, but they're both good.


Enjoy ; )

Lynrd Skynrd - Free Bird

This is a song by southern rock band Lynrd Skynrd. Alongside "Sweet Home Alabama" it's one of their most famous songs. The song is known for its build-up, it starts out very slow with a slide guitar intro by Gary Rossington and then starts of with a slow nice melody, as the singing begins. Towards the middle of the song there's a musical break, and the song starts picking up speed, it accelerates. It's a grand instrumental finish, and it's by far one of the longest songs in recording history. The album-version is about 9 minutes, but some live version reach a length of about 14 minutes, now that's improv guitar soloing!
It's a great and legendary song. Lynrd Skynrd would often use it to close their live sets, and it has become known as the ultimate closer. For a period at the top of the song's popularity, fans would scream Freebird (it's not really clear how people spell the title), even if it wasn't Lynrd Skynrd performing it.
It's a legendary 70's songs, and one of a kind. There aren't a lot of songs that in live versions run into 14 minutes. This live version is about 10 minutes. It's a great song, and a great performance.

Enjoy ; )