To commemorate the release of Fyfty, a four-CD collection marking the 50th anniversary of the Southern rockers’ 1973 debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘néd), Lynyrd Skynyrd has debuted a new animated video for the timeless 1974 song “Sweet Home Alabama.” Fyfty includes 50 Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, from the group’s earliest recordings in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to a live recording of “Gimme Three Steps” taken in November 2022 during founding guitarist Gary Rossington’s final performance.
The group’s final surviving founding member, Rossington, passed away in March of this year at the age of 71. In addition to early hits and fan favorites like “Simple Man,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Back My Bullets,” “What’s Your Name,” and “You Got That Right,” the career-spanning compilation also includes songs from the group’s later incarnations following the tragic 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of original Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines. Fyfty also includes a number of live cuts, two of which are previously unheard renditions of “Free Bird” and the previously mentioned 2022 version of “Gimme Three Steps.”
The Fyfty box set includes a 40-page booklet that includes liner notes, a track-by-track analysis written by esteemed rock writer Gary Graff, a number of never-before-seen photos of the band from throughout its lengthy history, and an introduction written by renowned rock journalist, screenwriter, and director Cameron Crowe.
Exclusive to uDiscoverMusic.com, Fyfty is available in a limited edition that comes with a signed lithograph.
Rossington made a comment about Lynyrd Skynyrd’s enduring and wide-ranging popularity in the liner notes. “We just kind of notice what’s going on around us and write songs so people can relate to them,” guitarist Rossington said. “That’s always been how we do things. We learned how to do it from Ronnie, who always had a fantastic knack of taking a topic and creating a fun tale around it that allowed people to relate. After Rossington passed away, Lynyrd Skynyrd said that it would carry on with its present lineup. In addition to performing at Nashville’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the group will make one confirmed headlining appearance on their tour on December 28 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
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