When guitarist, singer, and songwriter Steve Gaines joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in May 1976, he instantly became an influential member of the group. He was one of the main songwriters on the band’s 1977 album Street Survivors, writing or co-writing a total of four tracks.
However, Steve didn’t get much of a chance to see how fans responded to the album he had contributed so much to. On October 20, 1977, Gaines was killed in a plane crash along with his sister Cassie and Skynyrd’s lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Street Survivors had been released only 3 days prior, and after the crash it went on to become the band’s most successful album on the charts to this date.
One of the songs on the album that Steve wrote is called “I Know a Little,” which tells the story of a man who suspects his lover has been cheating on him. Although the narrator admits he doesn’t everything his lady was doing, he knows a little, singing, “I don’t know where you been last night/But I think mama, you ain’t doin’ right.“
In 1997, the band performed the song during a show at the Coca Cola Star Lake Amphitheater in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The song opened with a two minute instrumental introduction, which showcased some of Skynyrd’s always-amazing guitar work.
All throughout the introduction, the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement, and by the time lead singer Johnny Van Zant joined in he seemed to be just as pumped up. Since the song is naturally fun and kind of jazzy in style, Johnny couldn’t help but groove along to the music while he sang.
You can just tell from watching this performance that Skynyrd was having a blast playing Steve’s classic song on stage! Tune in below to see them perform “I Know a Little,” and don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing along.
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