I bought the new Skynyrd tribute album on my lunch break today. For the initial release, it's only being sold through Wal-Mart (and I assume Sam's Club as well). It's an eight-song EP that features various newer, but popular country artists. Eric Church covers "Curtis Loew", Jamey Johnson covers "Four Walls of Raiford", and Randy Houser covers "Simple Man" - just to name a few. Eric Church is my favorite country artist, so maybe he'll begin adding "Curtis Loew" to his concert setlist this summer and fall; he already puts on a kick ass live show and this would make it even better.

=AlabamaSkynyrdFan17 said:I bought the new Skynyrd tribute album on my lunch break today. For the initial release, it's only being sold through Wal-Mart (and I assume Sam's Club as well). It's an eight-song EP that features various newer, but popular country artists. Eric Church covers "Curtis Loew", Jamey Johnson covers "Four Walls of Raiford", and Randy Houser covers "Simple Man" - just to name a few. Eric Church is my favorite country artist, so maybe he'll begin adding "Curtis Loew" to his concert setlist this summer and fall; he already puts on a kick ass live show and this would make it even better.

Eric's version isn't good...his voice gets annoying when he keeps making it quiver. It's not the way the song was written and it gets grating after awhile. I wouldn't say its the best track...nor close to it...on the cd.

I like Ashley Ray's version of "Sweet Home Alabama" and LOVE Uncle Kracker's version of "All I Can Do Is Write About It" (just glad nobody touched the sacred "Free Bird").

I think it's eery how Jamey Johnson's voice fits PERFECTLY into "Four Walls of Raiford"...it's scary

Randy Montana's voice works well with "Tuesday's Gone"

Overall I think the worst tracks on the cd are Shooter Jennings version of "Call Me The Breeze" and Eric Church's version of "The Ballad of Curtis Loew". I think Church honestly ruined a great song with that quivering voice thing...rather annoying.

I thought Church's rendition of "Curtis Loew" was pretty darn good. I was the least impressed with Shooter Jennings on "Call Me The Breeze". My favorites were Randy Houser doing "Simple Man", Jamey Johnson on "Four Walls of Raiford" (incredible), and Ashley Ray's version of "Sweet Home Alabama". This is the first time I've heard a slow version of "Sweet Home"; it'll bring tears to your eyes.

@AlabamaSkynyrdFan17:

You liked Church's version? I couldn't stand his constant quivering voice...it's not how the song was made. It's just a pet peeve of mine. I was shocked with Shooter's version. I love his music...LOVED and still do his dad's music (in fact the song "I've Always Been Crazy" describes me to a T), but was very disappointed in his version.

I made an ultimate Tribute cd just 30 minutes ago.

Goes like this:

1) Simple Man - Confederate Railroad 2) The Ballad of Curtis Loew - moe. & John Hiatt 3) One More - Charlie Daniels Band 4) All I Can Do is Write About it - Uncle Kracker 5) The Seasons - Blackfoot (feat. Rickey Medlocke) 6) Don't Ask Me No Questions - Travis Tritt 7) Sweet Home Alabama - The Outlaws 8) Four Walls of Raiford - Jamey Johnson 9) What's Your Name - Steve Earle 10) Every Mother's Son - Drive-by Truckers 11) Tuesday's Gone - Hank Williams Jr. 12) Whiskey Rock-A-Roller - North Mississippi All-Stars 13) Simple Man - Gov't Mule 14) Free Bird - Charlie Daniels and Molly Hatchet

I honestly think Tritt is one of the best country artists of all time and loved his cover of "Don't Ask...", and I think the ONLY artist allowed to touch "Free Bird" should be the one Charlie Daniels... (whom, might I add, I'm seeing in concert Sunday)

the more and more i listen to the church version, the more and more it makes me ill. really not a good job on the song at all.

Yeah, I've seen divided opinion before on tribute-album reviews. :)

All I got from LS tributes is Skynyrd Frynyds I'd agree with Spawn on all of his selections from that album - and non-selections. You're darn right, Alabama did not really work covering "Alabama" and Wynonna should have stayed away from Free Bird. I thought Sammy Kershaw's I Know A Little, The Mavericks' Call Me The Breeze, and Terry McBride's Saturday Night Special were alright but I can see you choosing differently if you have more albums to work with.

Steve Earle's coming to town next week; I ought to quickly check out his other stuff before then, see if I want to go. I recently developed a habit of making a Free Bird request modified to the particular person I'm seeing lyve; I could ask Steve for "What's You Name". :P

@KingAlanI:

King, I wouldn't.

Steve Earle hates Lynyrd Skynyrd. He just used Rossington for money from the album ("Skynyrd Frynds")...it's okay anyway because Earle and his best bud, Townes Van Zandt suck anyway...

(do some looking up on YouTube...you'll find the video)

=SpawnOfSkynyrd said:the more and more i listen to the church version, the more and more it makes me ill. really not a good job on the song at all.

Funny you say that. USA Today's music review staff gave the performance high marks from an article that ran two days ago and it was the only song from the album that was even mentioned. But, then again, I guess it's highly possible that the music critics at USA Today aren't very sharp.

The bottomline is that this is the way Eric sings. He didn't sound any differently on this song than he does on any of his albums. So, if you didn't like his rendition of "Curtis Loew", you won't like any of EC's music.

I haven' t listened to any of this tribute album you guys are rating, but I do like Shinedowns version of Simpleman. I feel they offer some respect to Skynyrd - in the video as well- not just covering it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgFQ6WmxdMs

S

Ok i cannot stand Nashville of todays factory made so called country music sounding make a buck machine it all sounds the same But i will say The best Lynyrd Skynyrd cover tunes ive ever heard are from travis tritt tan fower kicking it back to ya over OUTS......

@ Spawn.......can you ship a copy up here to philadelphia?