Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping

Southern Rock That's Worth A Damn

especially this Second Helping M.C.A album,from that legendary band,from Alabama,you know the one,this being more or less a greatest hits for the group,obviously at their high peak very best,showcasing all the versatility and influences,song after song,as in the blues when you hear,The Ballad Of Curtis Lowe,and I Need You,revealing Ronnie Van Zant's true colors,then moving full steam ahead is the potent rocker,Call Me The Breeze or the keep to yourself,Don't Ask Me No Questions,and of course the signature song,Sweet Home Alabama. This classic southern rock recording,1974,will stand the test of time,introducing the one and only Lynyrd Skynyrd. July 18, 2008

Old but good

Birthday gift- Hard to find CD. But at Amazon there was no problem finding it. July 6, 2008

Second but not second best....

For my money, this release is their strongest and most consistent all the way through--no weak songs at all. "Sweet Home...", "Don't Ask Me No Questions", "Ballad of Curtis Loew", "Needle and the Spoon", "Workin For MCA", "I Need You" and on and on.They would not be as consistent on an album again until "Street Survivors". This is probably the best album to come out of the Southern Rock movement.Pure gold. May 16, 2008

"Sounds like ol' Son House singin' the blues..."

Well, not really, but it's such a nice line from the song "Swamp Music":
"...When the hound dogs start barkin' / sound like ol' Son House singin' the blues!"

I lean towards "Pronounced" being Lynyrd Skynyrd's best album, but this one is certainly not far behind. It may require a bit more time in order for the listener to truly appreciate it, but "Second Helping" is well worth it.
Yes, "Sweet Home Alabama" is here, and needs no introduction, I suspect, but this is not one of those album where one mega-hit completely dwarfs everything else. Three more tough riff-rockers, "Workin' For MCA", "Don't Ask Me No Questions", and "The Needle and the Spoon", are almost as memorable, and lesser-known songs like the New Orleans-R&B of "Swamp Music" and the melodic folk-blues pastiche "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" deserve much praise as well.

Skynyrd's popular, up-tempo cover of J.J. Cale's rollicking "Call Me The Breeze" is here as well, as is the seven-minute slow rock number "I Need You". The latter is the least memorable song on the album, which means it's only pretty good.

This remastered edition adds three bonus tracks, the single version of "Don't Ask Me No Questions", which is pretty much like the album version, and two nice demos, the low-key ballad "Was I Right or Wrong", and the swaggering "Take Your Time".
They're both fine songs, especially the latter, which has something of an "Elvis sings swamp blues" quality to it. But you should get it for the original eight tracks, really, because this is such a unusually strong collection of songs. Great, great music, and some really fine songwriting as well. The band is tight but very much on fire, and the production by Al Kooper is excellent.
4 3/4 stars - highly recommended! May 2, 2008

Fantastic follow up!

The question was "Could Lynyrd Skynyrd produce the goods again after the 1st album?". You bet they could. This is a brilliant album and one I have been playing for 30 years or so on a regular basis and never ever got tired of listening to. Nor will you. April 22, 2008

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