Chattanooga Choo Choo

Although the roots of Lynyrd Skynyrd go back as far as 1965, it was not until 1973 that they released their first album, having then only recently settled on the name that would take them through their lengthy - albeit at times tragic - history. Along with their debut and its stand out classic Free Bird, further fame and huge exposure came the group's way via their securing of a support slot on the Who's 'Quadrophenia' tour of the USA the same year. Skynyrd's follow-up escaped the notorious sophomore album slump by employing strong song-writing and including the evergreen hit single Sweet Home Alabama among its riches. But it was in 1975 that the real success of the group came to the fore following the release of their 'Nuthin' Fancy' album - Lynyrd Skynyrd's first top 10 Billboard album - and the tour that followed in its wake. The group's first major headlining shows and their first ventures overseas, carried out across 14 months of solid gigging, led to an explosion in the popularity of the group. It was during this extravaganza that the recordings on this CD were captured as part of a radio broadcast made from their Chattanooga, Tennessee gig in March of 75, along with three bonus track recorded while at the LA Forum a few weeks later. During these superb broadcasts the public at large were allowed to sample the goods along with those already dedicated enough to have purchased a ticket, and thus, the word spread farther and wider and by the conclusion of this incredible road trip Lynyrd Skynyrd were musical superstars. How tragic therefore that little more than two years after these shows were performed, three of Lynyrd Skynyrd - lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, vocalist Cassie Gaines - were all killed (along with their assistant tour manger and two others) when the plane in which they were travelling ran out of fuel and crashed in the woodlands of Gillsburg, Mississippi.