This album track came off of their second album Second Helping released in 1974. It was less than a year after their fantastic debut album called Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd.
In my opinion they had some good albums after this one but not until their final one Street Survivors did they match their first two.
Second Helping contained their big hit Sweet Home Alabama. The album peaked at #12 in the Billboard Album Chart and #9 in Canada in 1974.
They played schools, parties, and bars for years before they hit it big. The band was first discovered in a rock club called Funnochio’s, on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1972. They were found by the famous Al Kooper, who had just landed an executive position at MCA Records and was searching to find some new talent for MCA’s “Sounds of the South” label. At that time Kooper was on tour supporting Badfinger at the time.
This album was produced by Al Kooper who was a founding member of Blood, Sweat, and Tears and he also played organ on Bob Dylan’s classic Like A Rolling Stone.
The three guitar attack was important with this band but it was Ronnie Van Zant’s songwriting that made them what they were. This song is a little slower but has that Skynryd build up of guitars. The band had some great album cuts and this is one of them.
Al Kooper: “Ronnie Van Zant was Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don’t mean to demean the roles the others played in the group’s success, but it never would have happened without him. His lyrics were a big part of it – like Woody Guthrie and Merle Haggard before him, Ronnie knew how to cut to the chase. And Ronnie ran that band with an iron hand. I have never seen such internal discipline in a band. One example: These guys composed all of their guitar solos. Most bands improvised solos each time they performed or recorded. Not them. Ronnie’s dream was that they would sound exactly the same every time they took the stage.”
I Need You
Ain’t no need to worry
There ain’t no use to cry
‘Cause I’ll be comin’ home soon
To keep you satisfied
You know I get so lonely
That I feel I can’t go on
And it feels so good inside babe
Just to call you on the telephone
An’ I said…
Ooh baby I love you
What more can I say
Ooh baby I need you
I miss you more everyday
I woke up early this mornin’
And sun came shining down
And it found me wishin’ and a’hoping
Mama you could be around
Well you know I need you
More than the air I breathe
And I guess I’m just tryin’ to tell you woman
Oh what you mean to me yeah, yeah
Ooh baby I love you
What more can I say
Ooh baby I need you
I miss you more everyday
What I say…
I’m tryin’ to tell you I love you
In each and every way
I’m tryin’ to tell you I need you
Much more than just a piece of leg
Ooh baby I love you
What more can I say
Ooh baby I need you
I miss you more everyday
Ooh baby I love, love, love, love you
What more can I say yeah
‘Cause ooh baby I need your sweet lovin’
I miss you more an’ more everyday
Ooh baby I love you
Baby, baby I need ya
….
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Insightful post! I agree their first two albums are amazing. Interesting comments from Al Kooper, too.
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Great pick, Max. BTW, is everything okay with you guys? My apologies, when we were exchanging comments yesterday, I had not read the news yet. Frankly, sometimes I deliberately avoid it – all the negativity can bring me down!
Lynyrd Skynyrd are a band I’ve really come to dig. For the longest time, I had only known them for “Sweet Home Alabama,” a tune I’ve loved from the first time I heard it. That guitar work is just outstanding!
I’m glad you highlighted a song from “Second Helping” I had to look up.
I wish I had seen Skynyrd back in the day when Ronnie Van Zandt was still around. I’m glad I caught them during their farewell tour in Jersey in June 2018. They really sounded great. While it’s impossible to replace Ronnie, his brother Johnny did a beautiful job on lead vocals. I think Johnny would have been proud of him!
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I don’t ever see the news…hardly ever! Yes we are fine! Our internet has went up and down but that is it. We were very lucky.
Second Helping was a great album. They have 3 great ones…their first two and the last but the other ones are quality…
I wish I would have seen them. My sister got to and some other people I knew. I saw the reunion tour of the 80s but not the original.
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Whew! Over the past few years, we’ve had a few tornadoes in my region – nothing compared to the havoc these latest storms have caused, but still enough to destroy houses – and all of that in friggin’ New Jersey! This weather is upside down!
Based on what I’ve heard from Skynyrd, I would agree the first two albums and “Street Survivors” are their best. It’s pretty amazing they were able to revive the group after this horrific plane crash!
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They are downright scary. I was in a parking lot and looked up and saw one start to form years ago…it never really took hold but it was horrifying knowing there is nothing you can do but run.
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Yikes, Max, that sounds pretty scary. Especially the thought there’s almost nothing you can do if you happen to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
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this is a very pleasant song Max. By the way, did you have any tornadoes near you, as that last storm caused a lot of damage?
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Yes…but not with us…our internet has been up and down though. Thanks for asking Jim
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Pretty decent song, yet another new one to me from LS.
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InterestingI don’t know it, but it’s very soulful. Al Kooper’s association with Shuggie Otis shines through here.
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