Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man” – Ronnie Fought To Get It On The Album
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 15: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Lynyrd Skynyrd member Gary Rossington performs at SiriusXM Presents Lynyrd Skynyrd Live at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on March 15, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
“We just put down in a song what our mama or grandma had said to us. They really wrote it, we just played it.” – Gary Rossington on Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man.” – from the Paul Ingles interview.
It’s hard to believe, but Ronnie Van Zant and Garry Rossington wrote Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man” in about an hour. Ronnie had recently lost his grandmother and Gary had lost his mother. “Simple Man” began with Ronnie and Gary sharing stories of these women and dealing with their grief and loss. Gary came up with the chord progression and Ronnie wrote the lyrics based on the advice they received from these women over the years.
Producer Al Kooper Didn’t Want “Simple Man” On The Album
Lynyrd Skynyrd had been around for several years but had yet to land an album deal when Al Kooper came on the scene. Al Kooper (founding member of Blood Sweat and Tears) heard the band in Atlanta and signed them to his label. He also produced Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first three albums and was the one who suggested keyboards rather than piano on “Free Bird.”
When it came to “Simple Man,” Al felt the song wasn’t strong enough to make the cut. According to Gary Rossington, Ronnie and Kooper had some words over this and Ronnie told Al, “Go take a couple days off and come back.” until they finished recording the song. Al did record the organ part eventually, but he recorded it separately from the rest of the song. After Al saw how much the fans loved the song, he admitted he was wrong about “Simple Man.”
Gary Rossington Talking About Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man”
“Simple Man” was on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut album. The fact that Ronnie stuck up for this song and fought for what he thought was right for the band’s music is pretty amazing. Most artists work to get more control over their music as they release more albums, but on a debut album, they just hope for the best.
By all accounts, “Simple Man” was how Ronnie lived his life. Family and friends were valued over money and what it could get you. Even after the band broke out, Ronnie maintained these values.
Which Lyryrd Skynyrd songs are your favorites? Which do you consider to be their best?
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Their 20 Best Songs Ranked
August 13 marks 50 years since Lynyrd Skynyrd released their debut album, the classic (Pronounced ‘Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd), an album that changed American music.
Forming before either the Marshall Tucker Band and the Allman Brothers Band, the band were pioneers in “Southern rock.” They merged the vibe of blues-based rock that hippies were playing with a strong sense of Southern pride. Musically, they combined blues, bluegrass, country, and of course, rock and roll to make something distinctly American.
Pronounced… gave rock radio some of its most enduring hits, including “Gimme Three Steps,” “Simple Man,” and one of the format’s biggest classics, “Freebird.” The lineup on the album featured drummer Bob Berns, keyboardist Billy Powell, bassist Ed King (who soon moved to guitar when founding bassist Leon Wilkeson returned to the band), guitarist Allen Collins, singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Gary Rossington.
With Rossington’s recent passing, no more members of this lineup still walk the earth. But all great art lives longer than the creators, and it’s safe to say that Pronounced… will be considered a classic album for generations to come.
Skynyrd’s career came to a tragic end on October 20, 1977, when the band’s plane crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines died in the crash. Assistance road manager Dean Kilpatrick also perished in the tragedy, along with pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William John Gray.
Rossington led a reunited version of the band a decade later. Ronnie’s younger brother, Johnny Van Zant (who was already a solo artist), became the band’s new singer. As anyone who has seen the band over the past three decades knows, he’s done an amazing job leading the band – and it looks like he will continue to do so. He’s also sung on eight studio albums, all of which have their gems.
But here, we’re counting down the 20 best songs from Skynyrd’s original era, with Ronnie on vocals.
Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.
