Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets

AN UNDERRATED SKYNYRD CLASSIC ! (amidst chaos and transition, Lynyrd Skynyrd rolls on)

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gimme Back My Bullets (1976) is the original band's one and only album with a two-guitar lineup, instead of the usual three. Guitarist Ed King left the group during their Torture Tour prior to the recording sessions and had yet to be replaced by Steve Gaines. Mostly, it was Allen Collins who stepped up to the plate for this album and, along with Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant, wrote this collection of solid southern rock songs that includes several Skynyrd classics (Collins co-wrote seven of the album's eight original songs). Collins and Rossington also handle the added guitar responsibilities with no problem.

The songs include some of Ronnie Van Zant's most personal lyrics. The heavy touring and hard partying seemed to bring out a weary need to escape the craziness, and keep the greedy cut-throat metropolitan world that he didn't trust at bay.

Roll Gyspy Roll:
Riding on a Greyhound, countin' those white lines
Destination I don't know and I'm feelin' like I'm dyin'
Well, ten years on this road, my it took it's toll
But the man with the plan says the band's got to go

All I Can Do Is Write About It:
And Lord, I can't make any changes
All I can do is write 'em in a song
I can see the concrete slowly creepin'
Lord, take me and mine before that comes

The title track and Searching are the most recognizable songs on the album, and both have become classics that are essential to the Lynyrd Skynyrd legend. Double Trouble is a great rocking tune that keeps the Skynyrd swagger in tact.

Eleven times I've been busted, eleven times I've been to jail
Some of the times I been there, nobody could go my bail
Well it seems to me, Lord, that this ol' boy just don't fit
Well I can jump in a rosebush and come out smellin' like...

A cool and funky version of J.J. Cales' I Got The Same Old Blues is included, and Every Mothers Son, Trust, and Cry For The Bad Man are solid rockers with lyrics that follow the generally disillusioned and defiant theme of the album. Everything here measures up to the Lynyrd Skynyrd standard.

Gimme Back My Bullets is a solid Skynyrd album, even though it sold less than the other albums by the original lineup. Of course, any Lynyrd Skynyrd album with Ronnie Van Zant at the helm is a classic, and is essential to any Skynyrd collection. I wouldn't start a Lynyrd Skynyrd collection with this one, but I most certainly wouldn't leave it out, either. And you gotta love this album cover with the rowdy group lined up and defiantly drinking cans of Coors beer, too.

Give 'em hell, Skynyrd!

August 22, 2008

More like four and a half, really

"Bullets", Lynyrd Skynyrd's fourth album, wasn't a great succes back in 1976. And many reviewers, professional and amateur, apparently consider it the original Skynyrd ensemble's "least great" album. Generic. Uninspired. Mediocre.
Not me, though. I think it's a wonderful, varied collection of songs, hard rockers, melodic slow and mid-tempo grooves, and effective ballads...better than "Street Survivors" and better, certainly, than "Nuthin' Fancy" as well.

I love the clanging pianos and the crunchy riffs, and with the exception of "Searching", which I've never really learned to love, I don't see a single clunker here. "Double Trouble" is a bit too predictable, but everything else is top-notch. "Trust" and the title track in particulat provide some tough, riff-driven hard rock, and songs like "Cry For The Bad Man" and J.J. Cale's "The Same Old Blues" groove along on a great combination of effective riffs and a supple rhythm section. Slower tunes like "Every Mother's Son" and the semi-acoustic country ballad "All I Can Do Is Write About It" are equally excellent, and "Every Mother's Son" in particular provide a terrific showcase for the talents of singer Ronnie van Zant.

You may well argue that a few of these songs seem more powerful and vibrant on the live "On More From The Road", which was recorded during the tour that Skynyrd undertook in support of "Bullets". And some live versions of "The Same Old Blues" do indeed outshine this one as well. But the songs certainly don't suck here either, and the two bonus tracks, previously unreleased live recordings of "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "Cry For The Bad Man", are a welcome addition, even if the live version of title track can't match the version found on "One More From The Road". The live "Bad Man" makes up for it.

Don't let negative or mediocre reviews scare you away from this album (and don't pay any attention to the otherwise excellent Allmusic guide either). Give it a try. There is a lot to love here. April 25, 2008

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Decent Album But Not As Good As The First Three

Another major lineup change takes place prior to the recording of this album. Guitarist Ed King leaves the group and is not replaced leaving the band with only two guitar slingers instead of the three pronged attack that made them famous. Personally I don't think this album stacks up with the first 3. All the material is decent and has all of the normal trademark Skynyrd attributes, but the songs in general seem to be a step down for some reason. The title track was a big hit for the band and opens the album, although it was never one of my personal favorite singles. The middle of the album is just so so. The last two songs "Cry For The Bad Man" and "All I Can Do Is Write About It" end things on a high note however. The album is notable for somewhat moving in a more country oriented direction which would in turn be the influence for countless country rock bands of today. Overall this is not a bad Skynard album, but does not rank up with their best either. September 12, 2007

A key ingredient in Skynyrd discography

This CD, and Nuthin' Fancy, show that good 'ol Shorty Medlocke influence with the diverse,but very southern music songwriting. Bullets is a must have if you are a Ronnie Van Zant fan first,the Skynyrd band second. This is "gone fishin" and sitting on the porch music at it's finest.
If you are a new Skynyrd fan,get One More From The Road,Pronounced and then Street Survivors. Also consider Gold and Platinum and the boxed set,if you want a major portion of the whole pie.
Enjoy . March 2, 2007

Put 'Em Back Were They Belong

Give Me Back My Bullets is the only reason I purchased this CD for that song alone it is worth the price of the CD. The rest is fine, but not my favorite from Skynyrd. January 29, 2007

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