Skynyrd Asserts Their Status As International Icons With U.K. Performance Of ‘Same Old Blues’
on Mar 02, 2016
On February 2, 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fourth studio album, Gimme Back My Bullets. The album included now-famous songs such as “Double Trouble” and the album’s title track. But one of the most unique tracks on the album is a cover of a song written by J.J. Cale.
Over the years, Cale wrote many songs that were later covered by other artists, including Skynyrd. The band decided to record Cale’s bluesy tune “(I Got the) Same Old Blues” to include on Gimme Back My Bullets.
The narrator learns his former love is seeing someone new, which leaves him feeling sad and confused, singing, “Have you heard that rumor that’s goin’ around/My baby’s got a man, lord way across town/Its the same old story/Tell me where will it end.”
Shortly before the release of Gimme Back My Bullets, Skynyrd made an appearance on the British television music show The Old Grey Whistle Test. While they were on the show, the band performed “Same Old Blues” since it was going to be featured on their new album.
Skynyrd opened their performance by playing a groovy, bluesy rhytmn, before Ronnie Van Zant jumped in. Ronnie played with the volume of his voice throughout the song, and would nearly whisper some parts and loudly growl through others. With the styling of his voice, Ronnie was able to add a clear level of emotion to the lyrics.
The performance also featured a wealth of instrumental talent, including one out of this world keyboard solo by Billy Powell. Overall, the tune is a fun one to watch Skynyrd perform, so tune in to the video below.
You won’t be able to stop yourself from grooving to the beat of this one!
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