Una recensione piccola piccola per un disco che non è indispensabile, non è una pietra miliare, non è neppure rappresentativo del periodo migliore della band che lo incide. Questo disco nasce da un’emozione ed è registrato su decine di palchi in mezzo ad un’emozione grandissima, e questa emozione testimonia ancora oggi a chi lo ascolta.
Siamo nel 1987 ed i superstiti dei Lynyrd Skynyrd sentono il bisogno e il dovere di offrire un tour celebrativo del decennale dallo scioglimento. Gran brutto colpo, cantante e chitarrista solista: pensate se Page & Plant, o Blackmore & Gillan avessero lasciato le rispettive bands; colpo mortale per i Lynyrd e brutto colpo per tutto il southern rock, che già viveva nel mito di Duane Allman. In occasione dell’anniversario, Johnny Van Zant prende il microfono del fratello e vengono reclutati amici e vecchi comprimari per riformare il famoso fuoco di fila delle tre chitarre, visto che anche il povero Allen Collins è definitivamente fuori gioco per un incidente d’auto dell’anno prima. L’idea è di fare un breve tour celebrativo con la bandiera sudista sugli scudi, lo Stetson orgogliosamente sulla testa, una manciata di classici e tanto sudore e commozione sul palco e tra il pubblico. I primi concerti avranno in realtà un tale successo da spingere la band ad allungare il giro, e l’anno successivo ad organizzare una reunion definitiva, che si dimostrerà ben più che dignitosa tra ottimi ed onesti album di studio e concerti sempre molto infuocati.
L’anno successivo gli acquirenti di dischi trovano tra gli scaffali questo doppio live, pieno di classici della band (e quindi di classici del southern) e di ospiti riverenti, Charlie Daniels, Steve Morse, Toy Caldwell. Un set notevolissimo, muscolare, commosso e ruggente (incredibile “Call Me The Breeze”), che trova la logica ed attesa conclusione in una orgogliosissima versione dell’immortale ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (introdotta dall’inno sudista ‘Dixie’) per poi offrire la catarsi finale di una ‘Free Bird’ da non potersi dimenticare. Non dovrebbe essere necessario spiegare cosa sia ‘Free Bird’ per la musica americana e per il rock in genere. La più memorabile cavalcata chitarristica di ogni tempo, introdotta da una ballad meravigliosa per pianoforte, organo e slide guitar, si consuma in questo 1987 in un rito commosso e commovente che sfiora i quindici minuti. Il brano inizia e la gente si esalta di brutto, e Johnny Van Zant innalza ancora una volta la bandiera sudista e rivolge tutti i microfoni verso la platea, perché Ronnie è morto dieci anni prima nell’incidente aereo e ora “quella” canzone la deve cantare il pubblico. Come testimonia l’album dal vivo, per tutto il tour saranno i fans a cantare in un coro fierissimo e stentoreo tutto il famoso testo, prima che le tre chitarre si lancino come dieci anni prima in una tremendissima jam su tre accordi altrettanto famosi, le chitarre sfoderino tutto il virtuosismo ed il dolore delle dita che fumano e del tempo implacabile che si è portato via tanti amici, e tutto esploda in un finale grandioso e trionfale.
Come ho ammesso, non è “il” disco da avere dei Lynyrd Skynyrd – comprate prima ‘One More From The Road’ – ma l’emozione dell’ascolto è grande ed ogni fan che si rispetti ha certamente dedicato una posto particolare a “Southern By The Grace Of God”.
Elenco tracce e testi
02 Swamp Music (00:00)
Going down to the swamp
Gonna watch me a hound dog catch a �coon
Well, I'm going down to the swamp
Gonna watch me a hound dog catch a �coon
You know the hounddog make-a music
On a summer night under a full moon
Lord, fetch my cane pole mama
Gonna catch a brim or maybe two
Lord, fetch my cane pole mama
Gonna catch a brim or maybe two
And when the hound dog start barkin�
Sounds like ol� son house singin� the blues
(chorus)
Hound dog sing that
Swamp, swamp, swamp, swamp music
Swamp, swamp, swamp, swamp music
When the hound dog starts singin�
I ain't got them big ol� city blues
Well, hey pretty mama
Lord, just take that city hike
Said go ahead pretty mama
Lord, just take your city hike
Well, I'd rather live with the hound dogs
For the rest of my natural born life
(chorus)
Singing that
Swamp, swamp, swamp, swamp music
Swamp, swamp, swamp, swamp music
Well, I'd rather live with the hounddogs
For the rest of my natural born life
Well, I'd wanna live with the hound dogs
For the rest of my natural born life
03 Call Me The Breeze (00:00)
Call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry me no load
Ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
Well there ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin' from nobody
Nobody's hidin' from me
Oh, that's the way it's supposed to be
Well I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin on
Well I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin' on
Well I might go out to California
Might go down to Georgia
I don't know
Well I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
Well now I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
But I don't love me no one woman
So I can't stay in Georgia long
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry me no load
Oooh mister breeze
05 Free Bird (00:00)
If I leave here tomorrow
would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on now
'cause theres too many places I've got to see.
…but, if I stayed here with you, girl,
things just couldn't be the same
'cause I'm as free as a bird now
and this bird you cannot change…
and this bird you cannot change…!
and this bird you cannot change!
Lord knows, I can't change.
Bye-bye, baby, it's been a sweet love,
though this feeling I can't change,
but please don't take it badly
'cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
…but, if I stayed here with you girl
things just couldn't be the same
'cause Im as free as a bird now
and this bird you'll never change…
and this bird you cannot change…!
and this bird you cannot change!
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.
Lord, I can't change…!
Won't you fly high, free bird?
Yeah...!
08 That Smell (00:00)
Whiskey bottles and brand new cars
Oak tree you're in my way
There's too much coke and too much smoke
Look what's going on inside you
Ooh, that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Angel of darkness is upon you
Stuck a needle in your arm (You fool, you)
So take another toke, have a blow for your nose,
One more drink fool, would drown you (Hell, yeah)
Ooh, that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Now they call you Prince Charming
Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes.
Say you'll be alright come tomorrow
But tomorrow might not be here for you (Yeah, you)
Ooh, that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Aw, you fool, you.
You stick them needles in your arm
I know I been there before
One little problem that confronts you
Got a monkey on your back
Just one more fix Lord, might do the trick
One hell of a price for you to get your kicks (Hell, yeah)
Ooh, that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Ooh, that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Oh, you fool, you
Don't stick those needles in your arm.
You're just a fool, just a fool, just a fool.
09 I Know A Little (00:00)
Yes sir
Well the bigger the city, well the brighter the lights
The bigger the dog, well the harder the bite
I don't know where you been last night
But I think mama, you ain't doin' right
(Chorus)
Say I know a little
I know a little about it
I know a little
I know a little 'bout it
I know a little 'bout love
And baby I can guess the rest
Well now I don't read that daily news
'Cause it ain't hard to figure
Where people get the blues
They can't dig what they can't use
If they stick to themselves
They'd be much less abused
(Chorus)
Play me a little, oh yeah
Yeah
Well if you want me to be your only man
Said listen up mama, teach you all I can
Do right baby, by your man
Don't worry mama, teach you all I can
(Chorus)
Well I know a little 'bout love
Baby I want your best
11 You Got That Right (00:00)
Well I've heard lots of people say
They're gonna settle down
You don't see their faces
And they don't come around
Well I'm not that way
I got to move along
I like to drink and to dance all night
Comes to a fix not afraid to fight
You got that right
Said, you got that right
Sure got that right
Seems so long I been out on my own
Travel light and I'm always alone
Guess I was born with a travellin' bone
When my times up, I'll hold my own
You won't find me in an old folks home
You got that right
Well you got that right
Said, you got that right
Sure got that right
I tried everything in my life
Things I like I try 'em twice
You got that right
Sure got that right
Travellin' around the world, just singing my song
I got to go, Lord I can't stay long
Here comes that ol' travellin' jones once again
I like to drink and to dance all night
Comes to a fix not afraid to fight
You got that right
Said, you got that right
Well you got that right
Sure got that right
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