Second Helping
Encyclopedia
Second Helping is a 1974 album by Lynyrd Skynyrd
. It was the band's second album, and featured its biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama
", an answer song
to Neil Young
's "Alabama" and "Southern Man
". The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in August 1974. This was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature the band's trademark triple guitar attack.
The album reached #12 on the Billboard album charts. It was certified Gold
on 9/20/1974, Platinum and 2x Platinum on 7/21/1987 by the R.I.A.A.
Additional:
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. It was the band's second album, and featured its biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama
Sweet Home Alabama (song)
"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.-Creation and recording:...
", an answer song
Answer song
An answer song is, as the name suggests, a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. It is also known as a response song. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s through 1950s...
to Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's "Alabama" and "Southern Man
Southern Man
"Southern Man" is a song by Neil Young from his album After the Gold Rush. The album was released in 1970.The lyrics of "Southern Man" are vivid, describing the racism towards blacks in the American South. In the song, Young tells the story of a Southern white man and how he mistreated his slaves...
". The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in August 1974. This was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature the band's trademark triple guitar attack.
The album reached #12 on the Billboard album charts. It was certified Gold
on 9/20/1974, Platinum and 2x Platinum on 7/21/1987 by the R.I.A.A.
Side one
- "Sweet Home AlabamaSweet Home Alabama (song)"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.-Creation and recording:...
" (Ed King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 4:43 - "I Need You" (Ed King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 6:55
- "Don't Ask Me No QuestionsDon't Ask Me No Questions"Don't Ask Me No Questions" is a song by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released on its 1974 album, Second Helping. The song can often be heard on many classic rock radio stations today. It was written by Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant.-Content:...
" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 3:26 - "Workin' for MCA" (Ed King, Ronnie Van Zant) – 4:49
Side two
- "The Ballad of Curtis LoewThe Ballad of Curtis LoewThe Ballad of Curtis Loew is a song written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant and performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The song was first released on the band's 1974 album, Second Helping and again on their compilation, The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd and later on All Time Greatest Hits...
" (Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant) – 4:51 - "Swamp Music" (Ed King, Ronnie Van Zant) – 3:31
- "The Needle and the Spoon" (Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant) – 3:53
- "Call Me the BreezeCall Me the Breeze"Call Me the Breeze" is a song by J. J. Cale. It first appeared on his 1971 debut album, Naturally, as the opening track. The song consists of a 12-bar blues guitar shuffle over the backing of a primitive drum machine...
" (J. J. Cale) – 5:09
1997 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Don't Ask Me No QuestionsDon't Ask Me No Questions"Don't Ask Me No Questions" is a song by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released on its 1974 album, Second Helping. The song can often be heard on many classic rock radio stations today. It was written by Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant.-Content:...
(Single Version)" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 3:31 - "Was I Right Or Wrong (Demo)" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 5:33
- "Take Your Time (Demo)" (Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King) – 7:29
- Tracks 9-11 previously unreleased on compact disc.
Personnel
- Ronnie Van ZantRonnie Van ZantRonald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
- lead vocals - Gary RossingtonGary RossingtonGary Robert Rossington is a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, the late Allen Collins...
- Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- guitar, rhythm and acoustic guitar on "Sweet Home Alabama" - Allen CollinsAllen CollinsLarkin Allen Collins Jr. was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and co-wrote many of the band's songs with late frontman Ronnie Van Zant...
- Gibson FirebirdGibson FirebirdThe Gibson Firebird is a solid-body electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from 1963 to the present.-History:The Gibson Guitar Corporation released several new styles during the 1950s to compete with Fender's instruments, such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster. After success with the Les Paul in...
- guitar - Ed KingEd KingEdward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
- Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
- guitar, slide guitar, rhythm guitar and bass on "I Need You" - Billy PowellBilly PowellWilliam Norris "Billy" Powell was an American musician. He was the longtime keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, from 1970 until his death in 2009.-Biography:...
- keyboards, piano on "Sweet Home Alabama" - Leon WilkesonLeon WilkesonLeon Russell Wilkeson was the bassist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001.-Early life:...
- Gibson ThunderbirdGibson ThunderbirdThe Gibson Thunderbird is an electric bass guitar made by Gibson.-Background and introduction:The Gibson Thunderbird was introduced in 1963. At the time, Fender had been the leader in the electric bass market since their introduction of the Precision Bass twelve years earlier.The Thunderbird was...
- bass - Bob BurnsBob Burns (drummer)Bob Burns is an American drummer who was in the original line-up of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns helped to form the band in 1964 with Gary Rossington and Larry Junstrom and remained until 1974, although by some accounts he left the band for a while during the early 1970s...
- drums except "I Need You"
Additional:
- Mike Porter - drums on "I Need You"
- Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews - background vocals on "Sweet Home Alabama"
- Merry ClaytonMerry ClaytonMerry Clayton is an American soul and gospel singer , and an actress...
and friends - background vocals on "Sweet Home Alabama" - Bobby KeysBobby KeysBobby Keys is an American saxophone player, and has performed with other musicians as a member of one of the notable horn sections of the 1970s. He appears on albums by The Rolling Stones, The Who, Harry Nilsson, Delaney Bramlett, George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Eric Clapton and Joe...
, Trewor Lawrence and Steve Madiao - horns on "Don't Ask Me No Questions" and "Call Me the Breeze" - Al KooperAl KooperAl Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
- backing vocals, piano on "Don't Ask..." & "The Ballad of Curtis Loew", producer