Gold

Product Description:

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals); Ed King (guitar, bass instrument); Gary Rossington, Allen Collins (guitar); Billy Powell (keyboards); Robert Burns (drums).

Additional personnel: Steve Katz (harmonica); Robert Nix (drums); Bobbye Porter Hall (percussion).

Recording information: 1973 - 1991.

Featuring most of the tracks on THYRTY, GOLD is another addition to the pack of two-disc Lynyrd Skynyrd best-of collections. What distinguishes GOLD from the earlier compilation is its relative brevity, featuring 25 tracks by the beloved Southern rock band instead of the latter set's sprawling 30 songs. Along with live and studio versions of that evergreen ode to personal liberty, "Freebird," GOLD presents many other 1970s Skynyrd classics, including the defiantly proud, Neil Young-knocking "Sweet Home Alabama" and the lustful, horn-laden "What's Your Name," along with lesser-known gems such as the laid-back "I Never Dreamed" and the country-blues ditty "Four Walls of Raiford." Ultimately, preference for this anthology over the aforementioned one depends on individual taste, but it's difficult to go wrong with GOLD.