Released September 29, 2009 Artist Lynyrd Skynyrd Producer Bob Marlette | Length 49:32 Release date 21 September 2009 Label Roadrunner Records | |
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Recorded 2008–09 in Blackbird Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; Studio Sea, Fort Myers, Florida; Sound Kitchen, Franklin, Tennessee; God & Guns
(2009) Last of a Dyin' Breed
(2012) Genres Southern rock, Hard rock, Blues rock, Heavy metal, Country rock Similar Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, Southern rock albums | ||
God & Guns is the thirteenth studio album by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on September 29, 2009. The single "Still Unbroken" was released on July 27, 2009 followed by another track, "Simple Life", on August 4, 2009. Hughie Thomasson contributed to the writing of many songs, including this first single, before his death. "Still Unbroken" was written after the death of original bassist Leon Wilkeson in 2001. The album features guitar work from John 5. It is also the last Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature the band's longtime keyboardist Billy Powell, who died in January 2009. Ean Evans, who replaced Leon Wilkeson on bass, also died before this album came out. This album is the first with guitarist Mark Matejka.
Contents
The album's title comes from its eighth track, "God & Guns", written by Mark Stephen Jones, Travis Meadows and Bud Tower, which was later covered by Hank Williams Jr. for his 2016 album It's About Time.
The lyrical shift from "Saturday Night Special" to "God & Guns" has been taken into account by band member Johnny Van Zant, who explained how the song was not a direct contradiction to "Saturday Night Special."
Tracks
- "Still Unbroken" (Rickey Medlocke, Gary Rossington, Hughie Thomasson, Johnny Van Zant) – 5:06
- "Simple Life" (Medlocke, Rossington, Jeffrey Steele, J. Van Zant) – 3:17
- "Little Thing Called You" (John Lowery, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:58
- "Southern Ways" (Lowery, Bob Marlette, Medlocke) – 3:48
- "Skynyrd Nation" (Lowery, Marlette, Medlocke, J. Van Zant) – 3:52
- "Unwrite that Song" (Medlocke, Tony Mullins, Rossington, Steele, J. Van Zant) – 3:50
- "Floyd" (Lowery, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 4:03
- "That Ain't My America" (Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant, Brad Warren, Brett Warren) – 3:44
- "Comin' Back For More" (Blair Daly, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:28
- "God & Guns" (Mark Stephen Jones, Travis Meadows, Bud Tower) – 5:44
- "Storm" (Lowery, Marlette, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:15
- "Gifted Hands" (Lowery, Marlette, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 5:22
- "Bang Bang" (Trey Bruce, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:10
- "Raining In My Heartland" (Bruce, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:54
- "Hobo Kinda Man" (Bruce, Medlocke, Rossington, J. Van Zant) – 3:53
- "Red, White, & Blue" (Live) (Donnie Van Zant, J. Van Zant, Brad Warren, Brett Warren) – 5:42
- "Call Me the Breeze" (Live) (J.J. Cale) – 5:49
- "Sweet Home Alabama" (Live) (Ed King, Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 6:25
Personnel
Strings on "Unwrite That Song" and "Gifted Hands" arranged by Lisa Parade
Songs
1Still Unbroken5:07
2Simple Life3:17
3Little Thing Called You3:58