One More From the Road: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

by

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Edit

I have my uncle's copy of the original reissue (on loan), the 1996 reissue, and I recently got this one. Comparing the original to the 1996 showed me that the 1996 edition was indeed a fine reissue. However, this new reissue completely destroys both of them.

The packaging is incredible (so beautiful that you have to see it to fully appreciate it), the sound quality is absolutely outstanding (the 1996 reissue was very hissy and wasn't as "warm" as this), and the bonus tracks are extremely cool.

When I first picked my copy up, I thought I was stupid for spending all that money (in Australian dollars it's a bit on the expensive side) on an album that I already had. Sure, I thought the bonus tracks would have been nice, but I didn't think the sound quality or packaging could get any better than the 1996 release. Well, as soon as I opened it up and saw that the way the cover was done, and when I saw the cool crowd photo inside, I knew that I had made the right decision by buying it.

The sound quality is so good because it was remastered from the original masters and remixed on vintage equipment (tube-based, I'd assume, which would explain the "warm" feeling that these CDs have). Who did the remixing? Skynyrd's original live sound engineer. Also, if you have the 1996 version you'd know that during "Gimme Three Steps" the sound dies on one channel. Well, that's gone now! Although that may seem minor, it was an annoying glitch that took away from the album.

Extra audience response and speech have also been added to this new reissue, making it more like being at a Skynyrd concert than ever. Remember how Ronnie makes a "grrrrr" noise before "Tuesday's Gone"? We now find out that he did that because the piano broke. Little things like that really do make you feel like you're at the Fox Theatre in 1976.

The bonus tracks are outstanding. In fact, some of them are as good as -- if not better than -- the cuts that were used on the album. That's my opinion; you can be the judge if you buy this. The album cut of "Free Bird" actually contained a solo later overdubbed by Allen Collins. Because the original master for that wasn't available, we instead get the original version. The "Free Bird" solo on this is actually BETTER than the overdubbed one. Sure, there are a few mistakes, but it sounds more "authentic" than the overdubbed version. And it's a bit like having an extra bonus track because it's the first time we've heard it.

If you've been thinking, "I already have the other reissue -- it'd be a waste to buy this one," then you'd better think again! For any Skynyrd fan, this is an essential purchase, and if you aren't a Skynyrd fan but want to get into this great band, then this is even more essential. You just won't find a better Lynyrd Skynyrd album than the deluxe edition of "One More From The Road."

FLY HIGH, FREE BIRD!

First off, I'm an accomplished guitar player. Not some 1st year guitarist who listens to the Freebird solo and thinks he's found the Gods of rock and roll. Second, I was a HUGE Skynyrd fan during the seventies and eighties. I learned ALL their songs. That said, this is NOT the album to buy if you are either just getting started as a Skynyrd fan or want to buy a collection of hits. As a live concert recording, it's sloppy in both recording and musicianship. Don't get me wrong. I loved seeing Skynyrd in concert and they could jam with the best of them. This was not their best performance. The songs themselves are not the best choices you could have on a collections CD. I recommend you instead buy Second Helping, Pron Lynyrd Skynyrd, or one of the complete collections CD's which contains the many fine works from this great southern rock and roll jam band.