Most Lynyrd Skynyrd albums are great, but "Street Survivors" was truly their finest hour - the greatest southern rock band (sorry Allman Brothers fans) reaching their peak. This album shows a fiercely experienced unit, having survived the ups and downs of success, ready to go for the throat with renewed vigor. Yet the disc's original artwork, featuring the group surrounded by flames, turned out to be a chilling omen of the plane crash that took three members' lives. Suddenly it was all over.

What an epitaph they left behind. Songs like 'What's Your Name' (arguably the best road/groupie tune ever penned), 'I Know a Little' and 'You Got That Right' are right up there with Skynyrd's best. Not only are they rocking harder than ever, but the band is swinging, rumbling, hurtling down the tracks like a runaway locomotive, destination unknown. The three-guitar interplay is locking in like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle, every note fitting perfectly.

'That Smell', though, is the best track, and it still stands head and shoulders above any other warning of the evils of drugs and drink. Truthful, eerie, and ironic in retrospect, this song's power remains staggering.

Being from Georgia and now residing in Los Angeles, I often get asked by friends which recordings I would recommend for an introduction to southern rock. My response is almost always the same: "Well, you really can't go wrong with any Skynyrd." Of course, I also bring up The Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, etc., but I tell them if I were going to buy only one recording from one band, it would be a toss up between "Street Survivors" and "One More From The Road." The latter is one of the best live recordings you'll ever hear and is a great summation of Skynyrd's music up to that point. "Street Survivors," on the other hand, served notice that a revitalized group had emerged from the studio and hinted at more exciting music to come. Sadly, that was not to be the case. The plane crash that took the lives of front man Van-Zant and talented newcomer Steve Gaines extinguished the group that was the cornerstone of southern rock. "Street Survivors" showcases the band at the height of their talent and after hearing it one can only imagine what might have been.

This album is Skynyrd at their absolute finest. While some might argue that pronounced was their best work, the addition of Steve Gaines has quelled any of those notions in my mind. Songs like I Know A Little, Ain't No Good Life, and my favorite, I Never Dreamed showcased a band that had been to hell and back, a group of musicians who had earned the title of Street Survivors. In my mind, there is none finer than the Lynyrd Skynyrd of the seventies. The loss of Cassie Gaines, Steve Gaines, and Ronnie Van Zant shortly after the release of this album is a blow that fans around the world are still trying to come to grips with. Enjoy this album and the rest of Skynyrd's music. We love you Ronnie!

The primary change to the Skynyrd lineup on this album is the addition of guitarist Steve "Roy" Gaines, taking the spot left by Ed King after Nuthin' Fancy. Gaine's playing shows a lot of country swing influences, he was a real picker. His playing adds a fine gloss to Skynyrd's sound when combined with Rossington's smokey blues/rock and slide and Allen Collin's blues laced arena rock energy. When you put these three guys together you're in trouble if you're expecting anything other than full blown southern fried music. Steve Gaines sings Ain't no Good Life. His vocals aren't on par with Ronnie Van Zant's, which makes this the weakest track, if there is one. But it's inclusion shows the guys really enjoyed having Gaines in the band. That Smell is the track that sounds most like earlier Skynyrd, and it was the big hit of this record, along with What's Your Name, which has a great understated rhythm guitar feel. I Know a Little (about love) is a high point; a fast, happy, danceable, country swing flavored song that showcases the guitar playing talent in this lineup. If there's a single place to throw in a tastefull guitar lick, they do it and they never miss. And check out Honky Tonk Night Time Man too. This album is so filled with southern influence that you expect sweet mollasses to start running from your speakers; country blues, swing, Dobro, slide, barrelhouse piano, you name it. For the aspiring guitar player wanting to learn about southern style pickin' and songwriting this is a high water mark. Then just TRY and track down all the guys Gaines, Rossington, Collins, Van Zant and the rest listened to.

Wow - slightly overrated album here. Due to the overly glowing reviews I felt compelled to write one myself. Firt off, while it is a very strong skynyrd album, it does not deserve 5 stars. How about 4? I listened to Nuthin' Fancy and that is a decidedly better album with better songs and a superior sound quality. I like Skynyrd better when they had Ed King instead of Steve Gaines. Don't get me wrong, Gaines is a fantastic player but Nuthin' Fancy is a better "band" album and Gaines tries too hard to purposely outplay Rossington and Collins. But that is understandable considering he literally joined the band off of the street (back-up singer's brother), and he undoubtably was the best guitarist in the group. I believe most talented people probably would have done the same, given the opportunity. He also sings lead on songs and that takes away from the value of having a Van Zant and it seems slightly egotistical on Gaines' part. One may argue that he was expected to showcase his talents, as well as the other members. That's fine but remember, there is a difference between showcase and showboat. First and foremost, Lynyrd Skynyrd was a cohesive band, and secondly, a band that showcased it's members talents. That being said, I must admit his vocal in the song You Got That Right is right on - a true Virgo perfectionist.

However, when things are too perfect in music, it sounds too technical (guitar playing too) and somewhat lacks feeling, that's just my opinion. But again, you must cut some slack here, it was his very appearance with the band on a studio album. It was literally his oppurtunity of his lifetime, he would be the first one to tell you that. But, you can't really take away a guy's effort who obviously was just trying his best. I just think it negatively effected the band and most likely gave the other mates a feeling that this new guy was trying to steal the whole show. You can literally hear it in the music. Maybe they liked it or encouraged it, but I doubt it. These are just personal observations and not really why I'm giving it 4 stars.

The bottom line is that this is a four star album because a couple of songs are noticeably forgettable and plain: I never Dreamed and Ain't No Good Life, although the latter is where Gaines "shows off" his high range vocals, again trying to out-do his band mates. Not really a true critisizm since most everybody else would have done the same thing possessing the enormous talents he held. But it just feels like it lessens the value of having a complete band unity and harmony as well as agreement in feeling/musicianship which, by the way, oozes out of Nuthin' Fancy.

Still a very strong album and I recommend it. Strongest tracks are One More Time, You Got That Right, That Smell, and I Know A Little. Pick it up along with Nuthin' Fancy.