19SWEET HOME ALABAMA LYNYRD SKYNYRD

(1974)

Three chords and two fingers to Neil Young

Neil Young had challenged Alabama values in Southern Man, and since pistols at dawn were no longer acceptable, Skynyrd replied with this deathless radio-botherer. Even beginners can get their hands round the basic shapes, which has only helped its popularity. The track opens with the distinctive sound of a Strat’s bridge and middle pickups (with a non-humcancelling middle pickup, if you’re being picky), played by Ed King on a 1973 model, running into a Fender Twin cranked almost to full blast.