The late Ed king (1949-2018) talks about writing the famous guitar riffs and two guitar solos while Ronnie Van Zant cam up with the lyrics and chorus parts
Amazing what he added to the band in such a short time 72-early75...no other band to this day has a better 3 guitar attack switching from lead to rhythm with each other was like a swiss watch
Ed King was one of the greatest guitarist I've ever heard play ! People say oh Steve was better or gary was or oh no it was Allen you know! To these people I say you should listen a little more close to what Ed was putting down.
What Ed brought to the band was a different intellect. He had been to college, had a #1 song, toured with the Beach Boys. He arranged just about everything thing they did on those first 3 albums and wrote his share of Skynyrd classics. Ed would listen to the songs and create a 3rd guitar part. Bob Burns got it right when he called Ed a musical genius. I used to listen to Skynyrd as loud as possible. Now I listen through headphones at a moderate volume so I can hear all three guitarists. Still the best three guitar band I've ever heard.
@@davidsolomon7966 - I agree, though I don't think him going to college really made a difference at all. He was a very intelligent man, but then, so was Ronnie. I think we really missed out on a guitar genius when Steve Gaines died, he was the perfect replacement for Ed King. Gaines brought Skynyrd back to life, because without Ed there was definitely a huge, gaping hole in Skynyrd. Is it just me, or does it feel like Rossington didn't like Ed much? I used to walk to night school listening to music on a Sony Walkman cassette player. Those walks were really great, I remember them fondly. Music sounds great on headphones. What brand of headphones are you using?
@@davidsolomon7966 FACTS bone. I met Ed King with my hero (at 16) in Huntsville Alabama in 1995. Ed King was nicer than Hank Jr and it was his last show. His heart was acting up. When I said us southern men have to stick together Ed smiled and signed my cap. Hank laughed and I didn't realize Ed was from Cali. Yes bocephus could play but Ed King was kinda smoother (and not drunk) Rip Mr King
Those arguments will go on forever. I heard an interview with Gary Rossington, he talked about how he, Allen, and Ed all had different styles. None of them could copy each other's styles. That's what led to their unique blend. Skynyrd hooking up with Ed and then later with Steve Gaines was just absolutely fate. Still the best 3 guitar band of all time. The chemistry they had during their Skynyrd days was just brilliant.
Ed just thought Gary's riff was a little to "boring" but he took the same exact chord progression and bam sweet home Alabama was written. The greatest songs come together so easily
That morning he was talking about was his first day on guitar with Leon back on bass. They wrote Sweet Home along with I Need You later that day and both songs ended up on Second Helping. Not half bad for one days work.
@@davidsolomon7966 Both very special songs too, Second Helping will forever be that Skynyrd album that most completely conveys the heart, soul, and talent of who and what Lynyrd Skynyrd was all about. Sweet Home Alabama, Workin' For MCA, Swamp Music, Needle And The Spoon, I Need You, the whole album is masterpiece. Second Helping for me will always be the most sincere display of Lynyrd Skynyrd
I heard the same story. Ed would buy up all the Slim Jim's at the store before the tour bus took off. Once they got rolling he'd break a few out and the rest of the band and crew would offer to buy them. So he'd sell them for like 3 x what he paid for them. It rubbed a few of them the wrong way. Gary used to get pissed off at Ed because he wasn't generous with his drugs either .
Sweet Home Alabama was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd song I ever heard. Just had to find out how it was made. Great Story. I'm not surprised that the Guitar part came to him in a Dream. I've heard similar stories from musicians who relied upon on Dreams for songwriting.
Al Kooper wanted to change the guitars solos on Sweet Home but Ronnie and the rest of the band put their collective feet down and overruled him. This would become a trend during Al 's time with Skynyrd.
Don't forget the background singer is Merry and she also was the one who sang on the stones song gimme shelter, she got her own lead on that sing because Mick was blown away by her power
