Lynyrd Skynyrd Twenty CD

The song "Travelin' Man" features one of the final live vocal recordings of Ronnie Van Zant mixed with a new studio vocal by younger brother Johnny Van Zant.
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant, Johnny Van Zant (vocals); Rickey Medlocke (acoustic, electric, & slide guitars, dobro, background vocals); Hughie Thomasson (acoustic, electric & slide guitars, background vocals); Gary Rossington (acoustic, electric & slide guitars); Billy Powell (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Leon Wilkeson (bass); Owen Hale (drums, percussion).
Big Dance Horns: Chris Dunn, Doug Moffet, Denis Solee, Vincent Ciesielski, William Fanning.
Additional personnel: Josh Leo (acoustic guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); John Catchings (cello); John Hobbs (Wurlitzer, Hammond B-3 organ); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer); Randy Cutlip (keyboards); Tom Roady (percussion); Dale Krantz-Rossington, Carol Chase, Vicki Hampton, Kimberly Fleming (background vocals).
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound, Sheffield, Alabama on January 28, 1997 and live at The Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on July 7 and July 9, 1976. Includes liner notes by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Personnel: Rick Medlocke (guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, dobro, background vocals); Hughie Thomasson (guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, background vocals); Gary Rossington (guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar); Josh Leo (acoustic guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); John Catchings (cello); Chris Dunn, Doug Moffet, William Fanning, Vinnie Ciesielski, Denis Solee (horns); Billy Powell (piano); John Hobbs (Wurlitzer organ); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer); Owen Hale (drums, percussion); Tom Roady (percussion); Dale Krantz-Rossington, Vicki Hampton, Kim Fleming, Carol Chase (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Ben Fowler.
Recording information: Muscle Shoals Sound, Sheffield, AL; Quad Studios, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Mark Weiss.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Gary Rossington; Hughie Thomasson; Leon Wilkeson; Rick Medlocke.
Arranger: Chris Dunn.
Twenty marks the twentieth year since Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut album, but perhaps a more relevant yardstick is that it is the fifth record the group has released since reuniting in the late '80s. Prior to recording Twenty, the group added two new members -- ex-Blackfoot Rick Medlocke and former Outlaw Hughie Thomasson -- virtually making the band a Southern rock supergroup, and that's part of the problem. There are too many egos involved to make the album truly captivating -- especially since the songwriting is usually undistinguished -- but occasionally, the star power gels and results in some hot rock & roll. In other words, specialists and aficionados will find plenty of stuff to enjoy here, but most casual fans will think that it's all been said before. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
TWENTY, the title of Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1997 release, was a reminder that 20 years had passed since the tragic plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmembers Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines. It also marked the first time that ex-Blackfoot guitarist Ricky Medlock appeared on a full Skynyrd studio album as an official member (he was actually an early member of the band prior to their '73 debut). Highlights include the guitar jamfest "Bring It On," "How Soon We Forget," and "None of Us is Free." While not a classic like Skynyrd's '70s output (SECOND HELPING, STREET SURVIVORS, etc.), TWENTY showed that the band was still alive and well in the '90s.