Rossington Collins Band "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" (1980)
Earlier this month, the world lost the last surviving member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Gary Rossington, the man who played the slide guitar on "Free Bird" and co-wrote "Sweet Home Alabama", died at the age of 71 on March 5, 2023. Rossington survived the tragic 1977 plane crash that killed band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, as well as backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve Gaines’ sister) and a road manager, just three days after the release of the album Street Survivors. Rossington suffered from many health troubles in the 45 years in between, but he was the one constant member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, having rejoined the newer version of the band which formed in 1987, and participating in every subsequent lineup.
The only time Rossington was not a member of Skynyrd was during the time when there was no Skynyrd. During the time between the band's 1977 breakup and 1987 reformation, Rossington co-founded the Rossington Collins Band with his fellow surviving Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins, but the band split in 1982 after Collins’ wife died. This unfortunately short-lived band also featured two other then-surviving Skynyrd members: keyboardist Billy Powell and bassist Leon Wilkeson. The Rossington Collins Band released two albums in 1980 and 1982, featuring lead vocals by Rossington's wife, Dale Krantz. The second of those two albums, This Is The Way, is currently available. However, the first -- and better -- of the two, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, is currently out of print. Five of that album's nine songs are currently available on the 2003 Millennium Collection compilation. The four songs which are not available as part of that collection are marked with an asterisk below.
The forceful sound of the Rossington Collins Band did partly resemble that of Lynyrd Skynyrd, mainly due to the recognizable guitar sounds. But this band had its own distinct Southern rock identity, thanks largely to the distinctive vocals of Dale Krantz. Her gritty and soulful vocals, which occupy a middle ground between Bonnie Bramlett and Janis Joplin, make an immediate and lasting impression.
The band's best known song was the minor radio hit "Don't Misunderstand Me", an easily likable vocal duet between Krantz and guitarist/producer Barry Harwood, which is also marked by a brief "Tuesday's Gone"-like keyboard passage from Powell. Krantz handled the lead vocal duties herself on the other eight tracks, and was more than up to the task. Her confident delivery alternately showed toughness ("Prime Time", "Winners And Losers") and vulnerability ("Getaway", "Three Times As Bad"). At the end, the fiery album wraps up with a disarming country-soul stomp called "Sometimes You Can Put It Out".
Is it worthwhile to own the Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere album if you already have access to the Millennium Collection compilation? The five songs included on that compilation are sufficient as essential tracks to represent the album. But if those tracks (as well as the ones on the second and final album, the more polished but less energetic This Is The Way) leave you wanting more, then the four "missing" tracks will not disappoint. Of those tracks, "Misery Loves Company" is the one that stands out the most.
Rossington Collins Band "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" (MCA MCA-5130) 1980
Track Listing:
1. Prime Time
2. Three Times As Bad *
3. Don't Misunderstand Me
4. One Good Man *
5. Opportunity
6. Getaway
7. Winners and Losers *
8. Misery Loves Company *
9. Sometimes You Can Put It Out
* -- track not currently available
The only time Rossington was not a member of Skynyrd was during the time when there was no Skynyrd. During the time between the band's 1977 breakup and 1987 reformation, Rossington co-founded the Rossington Collins Band with his fellow surviving Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins, but the band split in 1982 after Collins’ wife died. This unfortunately short-lived band also featured two other then-surviving Skynyrd members: keyboardist Billy Powell and bassist Leon Wilkeson. The Rossington Collins Band released two albums in 1980 and 1982, featuring lead vocals by Rossington's wife, Dale Krantz. The second of those two albums, This Is The Way, is currently available. However, the first -- and better -- of the two, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, is currently out of print. Five of that album's nine songs are currently available on the 2003 Millennium Collection compilation. The four songs which are not available as part of that collection are marked with an asterisk below.
The forceful sound of the Rossington Collins Band did partly resemble that of Lynyrd Skynyrd, mainly due to the recognizable guitar sounds. But this band had its own distinct Southern rock identity, thanks largely to the distinctive vocals of Dale Krantz. Her gritty and soulful vocals, which occupy a middle ground between Bonnie Bramlett and Janis Joplin, make an immediate and lasting impression.
The band's best known song was the minor radio hit "Don't Misunderstand Me", an easily likable vocal duet between Krantz and guitarist/producer Barry Harwood, which is also marked by a brief "Tuesday's Gone"-like keyboard passage from Powell. Krantz handled the lead vocal duties herself on the other eight tracks, and was more than up to the task. Her confident delivery alternately showed toughness ("Prime Time", "Winners And Losers") and vulnerability ("Getaway", "Three Times As Bad"). At the end, the fiery album wraps up with a disarming country-soul stomp called "Sometimes You Can Put It Out".
Is it worthwhile to own the Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere album if you already have access to the Millennium Collection compilation? The five songs included on that compilation are sufficient as essential tracks to represent the album. But if those tracks (as well as the ones on the second and final album, the more polished but less energetic This Is The Way) leave you wanting more, then the four "missing" tracks will not disappoint. Of those tracks, "Misery Loves Company" is the one that stands out the most.
Rossington Collins Band "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" (MCA MCA-5130) 1980
Track Listing:
1. Prime Time
2. Three Times As Bad *
3. Don't Misunderstand Me
4. One Good Man *
5. Opportunity
6. Getaway
7. Winners and Losers *
8. Misery Loves Company *
9. Sometimes You Can Put It Out
* -- track not currently available
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