Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd [Expanded Edition] [Digipak]

Performer: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Producer: Al Kooper; Ron O'Brien; Ron O'Brien (Reissue)
Distributor: n/a

Notes: Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals); Ed King (guitar, bass); Gary Rossington, Allen Collins (guitar); Billy Powell (keyboards); Robert Burns (drums). Additional personnel: Steve Katz (harmonica); Roosevelt Cook (mandolin, Mellotron, organ, bass, bass drum, background vocals); Robert Nix (drums); Bobbi Hall (percussion). Engineers include: Bob "Tub" Langford, Rodney Mills, Danny Turbeville. Recorded at Studio One, Doraville, Georgia. Personnel: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals); Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Ed King (guitar); Roosevelt Gook (mandolin, organ, Mellotron, bass drum); Steve Katz (harmonica); Billy Powell (keyboards); Robert Burns, Robert Nix, Robert Burns (drums); Bobbye Hall (percussion). Audio Mixer: Al Kooper. Audio Remixer: Al Kooper. Liner Note Author: Hideki Masubuchi. Recording information: Studio One, Doraville, GA (03/27/1973-11/??/1974). Photographer: Thomas Hill. More rock than Little Feat, but with a similar Southern boogie feel and absolute top-notch musicianship. [sentence fragment okay with Muze?] Al Kooper produced this record, which explains the sensitive use of strings and piano. Although tracks such as "I Ain't The One," "Simple Man," and "Tuesday's Gone" are outstanding, the one to wait for is "Free Bird," a song that rivals "Stairway To Heaven" for hard rock credibility. The nine-minute epic starts with organ and slide and builds in a similar way, but at 4:44 it changes into fifth gear and the air guitars are out in force. More rock than Little Feat, but with a similar southern boogie feel and absolute top-notch musicianship. Most of the members of this record are now dead even though the band plays on. Al Kooper produced this record, which explains the sensitive use of strings and piano. Although tracks such as "I Ain't The One," "Simple Man" and "Tuesday's Gone" are outstanding, the one to wait for is "Free Bird," a song that rivals "Stairway To Heaven" for hard rock credibility. The nine-minute epic starts with organ and slide and builds in a similar way, but at 4:44 it changes into fifth gear and the air guitars are out in force. Known simply as Pronounced by most enthusiasts, this is the debut long-player for Southern rock gurus Lynyrd Skynyrd. This edition has been expanded to include five demos, three of which are available here for the first time. Likewise, Pronounced would introduce several seminal entries into the Skynyrd catalog: "Gimmie Three Steps" and "Simple Man," as well as their most enduring contribution, the epic rocker "Free Bird." Lynyrd Skynyrd had in fact released several 45s dating as far back as 1968 on the regionally distributed Shade Tree label out of their hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Not only was Pronounced their debut album, it also contained notable contributions credited to Roosevelt Gook, who was in reality Al Kooper. After spotting the band in an Atlanta, GA, bar called Funochio's, Kooper signed them to his MCA Records-distributed vanity label, Sounds of the South. The influence that Kooper had on the band has infinitely more to do with presentation than style, as Lynyrd Skynyrd's own distinct brand of sonic Southern comfort pervades every note of this swamp-rocking release. Even the lilting and melodic arrangements worked up by Kooper for "Tuesday's Gone" and "Mississippi Kid" can't disguise Ronnie Van Zant's edgy lead vocals and the punchy, aggressive fretwork of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and former Strawberry Alarm Clock member Ed King. Although normally relegated to bass, King's distinctive lead guitar licks on "Mississippi Kid" prove beyond doubt he was a master blues player as well as a thumping bassist. This expanded edition deserves high marks for the infinite improvement in sound quality -- going so far as to best even the pricey gold-disc version. No longer does the orchestrated synthesizer accompaniment in "Tuesday's Gone" sound harsh and brittle. Likewise, the unmistakable opening guitar riff to "Gimmie Three Steps" now sounds clean and raw with the attack delivered with previously unheard precision. The bonus demos -- recorded with the advance monies given to the band from MCA -- were also produced by Kooper with a more hands-off approach needed to accurately assess the band's strengths and weaknesses. Standout performances include non-album tracks "Down South Jukin'" and "Mr. Banker." The latter was actually released as a B-side on the 45 rpm issue of "Free Bird." Enthusiasts interested in other primitive Lynyrd Skynyrd recordings should check out Skynyrd's First: Complete Muscle Shoals Album as well as Skynyrd Collectybles -- which contains a not-to-be-missed live six-song radio simulcast from WMC-FM on October 30, 1973. ~ Lindsay Planer

Q (May 2002, p.132) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...Skynyrd sound full of fire and whisky on their debut set....but...these guood ol' boys weren't above shedding a tear..."

During their 1970s heyday, Lynryd Skynyrd emerged as the preeminent practitioners of Southern rock. Their triple-guitar attack and country-tinged songs carved a permanent spot on the playlists of classic rock radio. Since its first release in 1973 their epic hit "Freebird" has received more airplay than anything this side of "Stairway to Heaven." The tragic deaths of visionary lead guitarist Steven Gaines and lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zandt in a 1977 plane crash cut down the band at its peak; but after parting ways for several years, the surviving members re-formed the group, with Van Zandt's little brother Johnny at the helm.

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