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Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Surviors MCA
8-Track Program One |
Thank to Gary Kemper of Farmington, Missouri for donating the "in flames" version of this tape to the 8-Track Heaven archives.
Thanks to Dave & Wendy evilwoman@worldnet.att.net, Glenn Connell, and Ron Owens a.k.a. "Vlad the Impaler" for answering my cry for a scan of the "no flames" tape.
Southern Rock was a staple of any self-respecting 8-tracker in the 70's.
Just about everyone had at least one in their car box: Allman Brothers, Outlaws, Molly
Hatchet, or this month's feature: Lynyrd Skynyrd. This particular tape -- Street
Survivors -- is one of those interesting collector's items with a morbid
tale behind it. In October 20, 1977, three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a
plane crash in Mississippi. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his
sister, Cassie, a backup singer, died in the private plane that crashed while carrying the
band between shows in Greenville, SC and Baton Rouge, LA. Three days earlier, their sixth
album Street Survivors had been released. The cover showed the
group standing amid flames, and inside was an order form for a ``Lynyrd Skynyrd Survival
Kit.'' (I assume there was no "Survival Kit" with the 8-track release.)
The album was quickly recalled and the cover was replaced with a similar shot from the
same photo session. The flames version of this tape has become a fairly sought-after
collector's item in recent years.
The album went on to become the group's best selling album, and generated the top 10 hits
"What's Your Name" and "That Smell." The remaining members of Skynyrd
disbanded shortly after the crash. Collins, Rossington, Powell and Wilkeson formed the
Rossington-Collins Band in 1979. In 1987, Rossington re-formed Lynyrd Skynyrd with Powell,
Wilkeson, King and singer Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's younger brother.
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