August 19, 2025 • 13 mins
On this episode of The Two for Tuesday Podcast, we take a trip back to Jacksonville, Florida and explore the origins of one of Southern rock’s most legendary bands — Lynyrd Skynyrd.
We dive deep into the making of their debut studio album, Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd, and uncover the stories behind its creation, from the band’s early days and Al Kooper’s discovery, to the raw, live-in-the-room approach they used in the studio.
Then, we put the spotlight on two of the album’s most powerful songs:
🔥 “Tuesday’s Gone” — a heartfelt ballad born out of change and loss, elevated by a one-take drum track and the haunting touch of a Mellotron.
🔥 “Simple Man” — a timeless Southern rock anthem based on the real-life advice Ronnie Van Zant received from his mother about staying grounded, honest, and true.
Whether you’re a longtime Skynyrd fan or discovering this album for the first time, this episode brings you the stories behind the music — plus full performance tributes of both songs
Link to Michael's performance of these two songs are on the 2nd Round Music YouTube Channel
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Michael Pezent (00:05):
Well, hey there, friends, and welcome back to
the Two for Tuesday Podcastbrought to you by 2nd Round
Music, where every week we takea closer look into the stories
behind some of the greatestmusic ever made and, of course,
we shine the spotlight on twosongs that stand out above the
rest.
On two songs that stand outabove the rest.
(00:27):
I'm your host, Michael Pezent,and today we're taking a road
trip from Jacksonville, Florida,to Doraville, Georgia, circa
early 1970s, and we're going totalk about the birth of one of
the most influential southernrock bands of all time, Lynard
Skynard.
So today we won't get into theSkinner history from start to
finish.
We're going to save that for alater date.
(00:48):
But today we're going to talkabout, in my opinion, one of the
greatest southern rock albumsof all time.
Now, before they were sellingout arenas and playing free bird
to screaming crowds, they werejust a bunch of high school kids
with a rebellious streak and awhole lot of drive.
And in 1973, they releasedtheir first album, a record that
(01:13):
didn't just put them on the map, it defined their sound for
years to come.
And that album PronouncedLynyrd, Skynyrd.
Yeah, even the title had apersonality.
And today we're going to digdeep into the making of that
record, the road that led to it,the people behind the scenes,
(01:33):
the challenges and the momentsof magic in the studio.
And then we'll zoom in on twoof the album's standout tracks
and a couple of my favoritesTuesday's Gone and Simple Man.
So grab a glass of sweet tea,or maybe something stronger if
that's your poison, and let'shead back to where it all began
(02:00):
Now.
Leonard Skinner's story actuallystarts well before 1973, and
their roots go all the way backto 1964.
But it wasn't until 1967 whenRonnie Van Zandt, Alan Collins
and Gary Rossington firststarted jamming together in
Jacksonville, florida, alongwith drummer Bob Burns and
(02:22):
bassist Larry Gunstrom.
Now, at the time, they weren'teven called Leonard Skinner.
The band went through a bunchof names, as a matter of fact
Names like my Backyard, theNoble Five and One Percent.
But by 1968, well, Ronniedecided it's time for the band
(02:43):
to get a new name, because someof the audiences would taunt
them by calling them 1% Talent.
But by 1970, they settled on bythe suggestion of Bob Burns on
the name Lynard Skynard, amocking tribute to Leonard
Skinner, their high school PEteacher, who gave them a hard
(03:03):
time for having long hairSkinner harassed the guys so bad
that Gary Rossington actuallyquit school.
The spelling, of course, wasexaggerated to be more stylish
and kind of match that southerndrawl, and it was also adopted
in 1969 as their official name.
Now their sound was a mix ofrock, blues and country with a
(03:25):
whole lot of grit.
Think of the Rolling Stonesmeets Muddy Waters with a
southern twist.
But in those days they weremostly a regional act.
They played bars and festivalsand some small clubs around the
south, but they hadn't broken itnationally.
But that all changed thanks toa stroke of luck or was it fate?
(03:48):
In 1972, Al Cooper, the man whoplayed with Bob Dylan and
founded Blood, Sweat and Tears,a jazz rock band from New York
City, caught one of their setsat a club in Atlanta and he was
so impressed that he signed themto MCA Records under his Sounds
of the South label.
Cooper would also go on toproduce this album.
(04:10):
So before we jump into therecording of Pronounced, let's
listen to a sponsored messageand I'll catch you on the other
side.
Are you ready to take controlof your finances and build a
brighter future?
Are you sick and tired of beingsick and tired, feeling broke
all the time, my name is MichaelPezent, a certified Master
Coach, and I created 2nd RoundFinancial to provide
(04:31):
personalized financial coachingbased on the proven principles
of Dave Ramsey's Seven BabySteps.
Our services include, but arenot limited to, one-on-one
financial coaching through Zoomconference or face-to-face
budgeting strategies, debtreduction plans, emergency fund
creation, retirement planningand investment guidance.
But why choose us?
(04:52):
Because we believe inempowering our clients with the
knowledge and tools they need toachieve financial peace.
With our guidance, you'll gainclarity over your financial
situation, develop a realisticand achievable plan, and
experience hope and confidencein your financial future.
I have over 15 years'experience teaching and guiding
(05:13):
families in the RamseyPrinciples, along with a degree
in finance and work experiencein the banking and insurance
industries.
So let's get started today.
Work experience in the bankingand insurance industries so
let's get started today.
Go to 2ndroundfinancial.
com and click book now toschedule your free consultation
today.
The recording session ofPronounced took place in a
studio called Studio One inDoraville, Georgia.
(05:35):
Now.
The band's lineup at that timewas Ronnie Van Zandt on lead
vocals, obviously GaryRossington and Alan Collins on
guitar, Ed King was actually onthe bass and he played some
guitar on some of the tracks,Billy Powell played piano and
keys and Bob Burns played thedrums.
Al Cooper, their producer wellnow, he also played bass on some
(06:00):
tracks and he also played aninstrument called a Mellotron,
along with singing someharmonies on some of the tracks
also.
Now, from the start, Ronnie VanZandt was the leader in the
studio, but he had a philosophytoo.
He liked to sing songs in justa few takes to keep the
performances raw and real, andhe believed that over-rehearsing
(06:21):
or polishing things too muchwould strip the soul out of the
music.
I kind of agree with that.
Now, the sessions were laidback, but they weren't lazy.
This band worked hard tocapture the energy of their live
shows and they also had a ruleIf it didn't give you goosebumps
, well, it wasn't good enough.
(06:43):
The album's mix of two and threeguitar interplay song lyrics
and Southern pride well, it setit apart from anything else that
was coming out at the time.
And when it was released onAugust 13th of 1973, it wasn't
an instant chart topper.
But word did spread fast andcritics noticed the band's
authenticity and slowly it beganto catch fire.
But its biggest push came froma friendship between Al Cooper
(07:08):
and the who guitarist, peteTownsend.
Now that relationship broughtabout Lynard Skynard being the
opening act on The Who'sQuadrophenia Tour.
This would take them from beinga regional band to exposing
them to much larger audiences,larger than anything they had
seen before, and they alsobecame a much more national act.
(07:46):
Now let's talk about one of themost beautiful and surprisingly
bittersweet tracks on this albumTuesday's Gone.
This is the second track onPronounced and it stands out
from the band's harder-edgedsongs because it's slow and
almost has a mournful feel to it.
It's a ballad about change,loss and moving on, and it was
(08:08):
deeply personal for Ronnie VanZandt.
At the time Ronnie was dealingwith a breakup of a relationship
and the song reflects thatsense of something slipping away
.
But Tuesday, well, it wasn'tnecessarily a person, it was
more of a metaphor of thatfeeling you get when you know a
chapter in your life is closing.
Now Ronnie co-wrote this songwith fellow bandmate and
(08:31):
guitarist Alan Collins.
Now, one of the track'ssignature touches comes from
producer Al Cooper, who addedthis Mellotron strings to give
it this haunting kind oforchestral feel.
And now B ob Burns didn't playthe drums.
(08:52):
That was done by Robert Mix ofthe Atlanta Rhythm Section, who
was a friend of the band at thetime.
And get this he played thissong in one continuous take, no
edits, no cut-ins.
Tuesday's Gone became a fanfavorite but it never actually
charted as a single.
Still, it's been covered bybands like Metallica and it's
(09:12):
kept alive on classic rock radioever since.
It's a perfect example of howSkynard could rock it out hard
but also tug at your heart.
Mama told me that I was young.
Sit beside me, my only son.
(09:35):
Now, if Tuesday's Gone is aboutletting go, simple man is about
holding on to values, to rootsand to wisdom passed down
through the generations.
.
Simple man was Al inspired by areal conversation between Ronnie
Van Man Zandt and guitaristGary Rossington.
See, ronnie's grandmother hadpassed away and his mother,
lacey Van Zandtist GaryRossington.
See, ronnie's grandmother hadpassed away and his mother,
(09:56):
lacey Van Zant, Man giving himsome heartfelt advice Be a
simple Tuesday's man, don't getcaught up in chasing money or
fame.
Be honest, be good and livewith integrity.
Ronnie was so moved during theconversation between here and
Gary that he started writing thelyrics right there in the
rehearsal space, and thatafternoon the Ronnie band worked
(10:18):
out the music, built on adriving but uncluttered guitar
riff that lets the words breathe.
Interestingly enough, al Cooperdidn't originally want to
include Simple man on the album.
He thought it was weak, toolong and didn't fit the rest of
the tracks.
Now I found Al's take veryinteresting that the song is too
(10:39):
long.
Simple man is 5 minutes and 57seconds long, him to stay there
(11:05):
until he came back to get him.
So the band, minus a producer,went back into the studio and
recorded the song on their ownand in the end it became one of
the band's most beloved songs.
Today considered Lynard Skynardrock anthem and it's often
played at funerals, graduationsand anywhere people need a
(11:26):
reminder of what really mattersin life.
I've actually heard that it'sbeen played at wedding
receptions as the mother-groomdance.
Now, if that ain't redneckbrother, I don't know what is.
Hey guys, thank you Tuesday'sfor Gone, listening today Man
and I hope you're enjoyingFreebird this podcast.
If you are, Skynard subscribeor follow the podcast, click the
like button, share it withother music lovers and please
(11:48):
consider giving a five-starrating so we can reach a bigger
audience.
Now back to the show.
When pronounced PronouncedLeonard Skinner came out, it
didn't set the world on fireovernight, but it did plant
seeds.
The album would eventually godouble platinum, thanks in large
part to the tour with the whoand also the band's own constant
touring schedule and word ofmouth.
(12:09):
Songs likeGive Me Three Steps, tuesday's
Gone Simple Lynard man Skynard'sand, of course, freebird became
staples, not at just Skinneredshows The but of American rock
Podcast culture.
The record also 2nd defineSouthern rock sound, one that
bands from 38 Special to theMarshall Tucker Band would build
on.
Now, sadly, just a few yearslater, tragedy would hit the
(12:32):
band in 1977, with a plane crashthat took the lives of Ronnie
Van Zandt, steve Gaines andCassie Gaines.
But the music from this debutalbum remains a snapshot of a
hungry young band witheverything to prove, and they
proved it in spades.
And that's our deep dive intoPronounced Leonard Skinner's
(12:53):
bold, soulful introduction intothe world and, as always, on the
Two for Tuesday podcast broughtto you by Second Round Music,
we celebrated it by giving you alittle extra love on two great
tracks off that album.
So if you enjoyed this episode,don't forget to follow us.
Wherever you listen to podcasts, share it with your fellow
music fan friends and let meknow, hey, what's your favorite
(13:16):
track off that album?
I'd love to hear your stories.
So until next time, I'm MichaelPrezant and remember, not only
do we love you and we need you,but sometimes the simplest songs
carry the biggest truth.
God bless you.
Well, hey there, friends, and welcome back to
the Two for Tuesday Podcastbrought to you by 2nd Round
Music, where every week we takea closer look into the stories
behind some of the greatestmusic ever made and, of course,
we shine the spotlight on twosongs that stand out above the
rest.
On two songs that stand outabove the rest.
(00:27):
I'm your host, Michael Pezent,and today we're taking a road
trip from Jacksonville, Florida,to Doraville, Georgia, circa
early 1970s, and we're going totalk about the birth of one of
the most influential southernrock bands of all time, Lynard
Skynard.
So today we won't get into theSkinner history from start to
finish.
We're going to save that for alater date.
(00:48):
But today we're going to talkabout, in my opinion, one of the
greatest southern rock albumsof all time.
Now, before they were sellingout arenas and playing free bird
to screaming crowds, they werejust a bunch of high school kids
with a rebellious streak and awhole lot of drive.
And in 1973, they releasedtheir first album, a record that
(01:13):
didn't just put them on the map, it defined their sound for
years to come.
And that album PronouncedLynyrd, Skynyrd.
Yeah, even the title had apersonality.
And today we're going to digdeep into the making of that
record, the road that led to it,the people behind the scenes,
(01:33):
the challenges and the momentsof magic in the studio.
And then we'll zoom in on twoof the album's standout tracks
and a couple of my favoritesTuesday's Gone and Simple Man.
So grab a glass of sweet tea,or maybe something stronger if
that's your poison, and let'shead back to where it all began
(02:00):
Now.
Leonard Skinner's story actuallystarts well before 1973, and
their roots go all the way backto 1964.
But it wasn't until 1967 whenRonnie Van Zandt, Alan Collins
and Gary Rossington firststarted jamming together in
Jacksonville, florida, alongwith drummer Bob Burns and
(02:22):
bassist Larry Gunstrom.
Now, at the time, they weren'teven called Leonard Skinner.
The band went through a bunchof names, as a matter of fact
Names like my Backyard, theNoble Five and One Percent.
But by 1968, well, Ronniedecided it's time for the band
(02:43):
to get a new name, because someof the audiences would taunt
them by calling them 1% Talent.
But by 1970, they settled on bythe suggestion of Bob Burns on
the name Lynard Skynard, amocking tribute to Leonard
Skinner, their high school PEteacher, who gave them a hard
(03:03):
time for having long hairSkinner harassed the guys so bad
that Gary Rossington actuallyquit school.
The spelling, of course, wasexaggerated to be more stylish
and kind of match that southerndrawl, and it was also adopted
in 1969 as their official name.
Now their sound was a mix ofrock, blues and country with a
(03:25):
whole lot of grit.
Think of the Rolling Stonesmeets Muddy Waters with a
southern twist.
But in those days they weremostly a regional act.
They played bars and festivalsand some small clubs around the
south, but they hadn't broken itnationally.
But that all changed thanks toa stroke of luck or was it fate?
(03:48):
In 1972, Al Cooper, the man whoplayed with Bob Dylan and
founded Blood, Sweat and Tears,a jazz rock band from New York
City, caught one of their setsat a club in Atlanta and he was
so impressed that he signed themto MCA Records under his Sounds
of the South label.
Cooper would also go on toproduce this album.
(04:10):
So before we jump into therecording of Pronounced, let's
listen to a sponsored messageand I'll catch you on the other
side.
Are you ready to take controlof your finances and build a
brighter future?
Are you sick and tired of beingsick and tired, feeling broke
all the time, my name is MichaelPezent, a certified Master
Coach, and I created 2nd RoundFinancial to provide
(04:31):
personalized financial coachingbased on the proven principles
of Dave Ramsey's Seven BabySteps.
Our services include, but arenot limited to, one-on-one
financial coaching through Zoomconference or face-to-face
budgeting strategies, debtreduction plans, emergency fund
creation, retirement planningand investment guidance.
But why choose us?
(04:52):
Because we believe inempowering our clients with the
knowledge and tools they need toachieve financial peace.
With our guidance, you'll gainclarity over your financial
situation, develop a realisticand achievable plan, and
experience hope and confidencein your financial future.
I have over 15 years'experience teaching and guiding
(05:13):
families in the RamseyPrinciples, along with a degree
in finance and work experiencein the banking and insurance
industries.
So let's get started today.
Work experience in the bankingand insurance industries so
let's get started today.
Go to 2ndroundfinancial.
com and click book now toschedule your free consultation
today.
The recording session ofPronounced took place in a
studio called Studio One inDoraville, Georgia.
(05:35):
Now.
The band's lineup at that timewas Ronnie Van Zandt on lead
vocals, obviously GaryRossington and Alan Collins on
guitar, Ed King was actually onthe bass and he played some
guitar on some of the tracks,Billy Powell played piano and
keys and Bob Burns played thedrums.
Al Cooper, their producer wellnow, he also played bass on some
(06:00):
tracks and he also played aninstrument called a Mellotron,
along with singing someharmonies on some of the tracks
also.
Now, from the start, Ronnie VanZandt was the leader in the
studio, but he had a philosophytoo.
He liked to sing songs in justa few takes to keep the
performances raw and real, andhe believed that over-rehearsing
(06:21):
or polishing things too muchwould strip the soul out of the
music.
I kind of agree with that.
Now, the sessions were laidback, but they weren't lazy.
This band worked hard tocapture the energy of their live
shows and they also had a ruleIf it didn't give you goosebumps
, well, it wasn't good enough.
(06:43):
The album's mix of two and threeguitar interplay song lyrics
and Southern pride well, it setit apart from anything else that
was coming out at the time.
And when it was released onAugust 13th of 1973, it wasn't
an instant chart topper.
But word did spread fast andcritics noticed the band's
authenticity and slowly it beganto catch fire.
But its biggest push came froma friendship between Al Cooper
(07:08):
and the who guitarist, peteTownsend.
Now that relationship broughtabout Lynard Skynard being the
opening act on The Who'sQuadrophenia Tour.
This would take them from beinga regional band to exposing
them to much larger audiences,larger than anything they had
seen before, and they alsobecame a much more national act.
(07:46):
Now let's talk about one of themost beautiful and surprisingly
bittersweet tracks on this albumTuesday's Gone.
This is the second track onPronounced and it stands out
from the band's harder-edgedsongs because it's slow and
almost has a mournful feel to it.
It's a ballad about change,loss and moving on, and it was
(08:08):
deeply personal for Ronnie VanZandt.
At the time Ronnie was dealingwith a breakup of a relationship
and the song reflects thatsense of something slipping away
.
But Tuesday, well, it wasn'tnecessarily a person, it was
more of a metaphor of thatfeeling you get when you know a
chapter in your life is closing.
Now Ronnie co-wrote this songwith fellow bandmate and
(08:31):
guitarist Alan Collins.
Now, one of the track'ssignature touches comes from
producer Al Cooper, who addedthis Mellotron strings to give
it this haunting kind oforchestral feel.
And now B ob Burns didn't playthe drums.
(08:52):
That was done by Robert Mix ofthe Atlanta Rhythm Section, who
was a friend of the band at thetime.
And get this he played thissong in one continuous take, no
edits, no cut-ins.
Tuesday's Gone became a fanfavorite but it never actually
charted as a single.
Still, it's been covered bybands like Metallica and it's
(09:12):
kept alive on classic rock radioever since.
It's a perfect example of howSkynard could rock it out hard
but also tug at your heart.
Mama told me that I was young.
Sit beside me, my only son.
(09:35):
Now, if Tuesday's Gone is aboutletting go, simple man is about
holding on to values, to rootsand to wisdom passed down
through the generations.
.
Simple man was Al inspired by areal conversation between Ronnie
Van Man Zandt and guitaristGary Rossington.
See, ronnie's grandmother hadpassed away and his mother,
lacey Van Zandtist GaryRossington.
See, ronnie's grandmother hadpassed away and his mother,
(09:56):
lacey Van Zant, Man giving himsome heartfelt advice Be a
simple Tuesday's man, don't getcaught up in chasing money or
fame.
Be honest, be good and livewith integrity.
Ronnie was so moved during theconversation between here and
Gary that he started writing thelyrics right there in the
rehearsal space, and thatafternoon the Ronnie band worked
(10:18):
out the music, built on adriving but uncluttered guitar
riff that lets the words breathe.
Interestingly enough, al Cooperdidn't originally want to
include Simple man on the album.
He thought it was weak, toolong and didn't fit the rest of
the tracks.
Now I found Al's take veryinteresting that the song is too
(10:39):
long.
Simple man is 5 minutes and 57seconds long, him to stay there
(11:05):
until he came back to get him.
So the band, minus a producer,went back into the studio and
recorded the song on their ownand in the end it became one of
the band's most beloved songs.
Today considered Lynard Skynardrock anthem and it's often
played at funerals, graduationsand anywhere people need a
(11:26):
reminder of what really mattersin life.
I've actually heard that it'sbeen played at wedding
receptions as the mother-groomdance.
Now, if that ain't redneckbrother, I don't know what is.
Hey guys, thank you Tuesday'sfor Gone, listening today Man
and I hope you're enjoyingFreebird this podcast.
If you are, Skynard subscribeor follow the podcast, click the
like button, share it withother music lovers and please
(11:48):
consider giving a five-starrating so we can reach a bigger
audience.
Now back to the show.
When pronounced PronouncedLeonard Skinner came out, it
didn't set the world on fireovernight, but it did plant
seeds.
The album would eventually godouble platinum, thanks in large
part to the tour with the whoand also the band's own constant
touring schedule and word ofmouth.
(12:09):
Songs likeGive Me Three Steps, tuesday's
Gone Simple Lynard man Skynard'sand, of course, freebird became
staples, not at just Skinneredshows The but of American rock
Podcast culture.
The record also 2nd defineSouthern rock sound, one that
bands from 38 Special to theMarshall Tucker Band would build
on.
Now, sadly, just a few yearslater, tragedy would hit the
(12:32):
band in 1977, with a plane crashthat took the lives of Ronnie
Van Zandt, steve Gaines andCassie Gaines.
But the music from this debutalbum remains a snapshot of a
hungry young band witheverything to prove, and they
proved it in spades.
And that's our deep dive intoPronounced Leonard Skinner's
(12:53):
bold, soulful introduction intothe world and, as always, on the
Two for Tuesday podcast broughtto you by Second Round Music,
we celebrated it by giving you alittle extra love on two great
tracks off that album.
So if you enjoyed this episode,don't forget to follow us.
Wherever you listen to podcasts, share it with your fellow
music fan friends and let meknow, hey, what's your favorite
(13:16):
track off that album?
I'd love to hear your stories.
So until next time, I'm MichaelPrezant and remember, not only
do we love you and we need you,but sometimes the simplest songs
carry the biggest truth.
God bless you.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.