20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Lynyrd Skynyrd CD

Producers include: Al Kooper, Tom Dowd.
Compilation producer: Andy McKaie.
Engineers include: Al Kooper.
Recorded between 1973 and 1977. Includes liner notes by Joseph Laredo.
This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series.
Liner Note Author: Joseph F. Laredo.
Recording information: Criteria Studios, Miami, FL (03/1973-08/1977); Record Plant, LA, CA (03/1973-08/1977); Studio One, Doraville, GA (03/1973-08/1977).
Photographer: David Gahr.
This compilation, which compiles pretty much all of the group's best-known material, provides the casual fan an excellent entry point into the work of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the quintessential Southern rock band. While Skynyrd was fully capable of writing anthems for the unreconstructed South (the pro-Nixon, Neil Young-baiting "Sweet Home Alabama"), it often transcended the macho breast-beating of its peers. "Gimme Three Steps," for instance, finds the narrator studiously sidestepping a barroom brawl, while "Saturday Night Special" details a blatantly anti-gun stance, about as common in '70s Southern rock as drum machines and hair spray.
Skynyrd's undeniable mastery of Southern boogie is what keeps the whole thing moving. Of course, this collection ends with the ultimate power ballad and bane of cover bands worldwide, "Free Bird"; without this and "Stairway to Heaven," the "classic rock" radio format as we know it might never have existed.
Like any record company worth their salt, MCA knows a good gimmick when they see it, and when the millennium came around -- well, the 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection wasn't too far behind. Supposedly, the millennium is a momentous occasion, but it's hard to feel that way when it's used as another excuse to turn out a budget-line series. But apart from the presumptuous title, 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection turns out to be a very good budget-line series. True, it's impossible for any of these brief collections to be definitive, but they're nevertheless solid samplers that don't feature a bad song in the bunch. For example, take Lynyrd Skynyrd's 20th Century volume -- it's an irresistible ten-song summary of their MCA years. There may be a couple of noteworthy songs missing, but many of their best-known songs are here, including "Sweet Home Alabama," "What's Your Name," "Gimme Three Steps," "You Got That Right," "Saturday Night Special," "That Smell," and "Free Bird." Serious fans will want something more extensive, but this is an excellent introduction for neophytes and a great sampler for casual fans, considering its length and price. That doesn't erase the ridiculousness of the series title, but the silliness is excusable when the music and the collections are good. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
This compilation, which compiles pretty much all of the group's best-known material, provides the casual fan an excellent entry point into the work of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the quintessential Southern rock band. While Skynyrd was fully capable of writing anthems for the unreconstructed South (the pro-Nixon, Neil Young-baiting "Sweet Home Alabama"), it often transcended the macho breast-beating of its peers. "Gimme Three Steps," for instance, finds the narrator studiously sidestepping a barroom brawl, while "Saturday Night Special" details a blatantly anti-gun stance, about as common in '70s Southern rock as drum machines and hair spray.
Skynyrd's undeniable mastery of Southern boogie is what keeps the whole thing moving. Of course, this collection ends with the ultimate power ballad and bane of cover bands worldwide, "Free Bird"; without this and "Stairway to Heaven," the "classic rock" radio format as we know it might never have existed.