Customer Reviews

Gimme Back My Bullets

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gimme Back My Bullets is generally considered the least successful of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, but it has always been my favorite. I rate it just slightly ahead of the essential "Pronounced". I remember staying up late as a teenager, to hear its midnight debut on the local radio station (WDVE, Pittsburgh), and buying it ASAP after that.

"Bullets" is a transitional album for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Most obviously, it features a 2-guitar line-up, coming after the departure of Ed King, and a few months before Steve Gaines joined. The 2-guitar sound is a bit leaner that previous albums, but Collins and Rossington are more than capable of carrying the load! But it's also their first production with the legendary Tom Dowd replacing Al Kooper who had produced their first 3 albums. And it has the debut of the Honkettes, the female backup vocal group consisting of JoJo Billingsley, Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins.

Gimme Back My Bullets is very much Allen Collins' record. Over the first 3 Skynyrd albums, the songwriting was spilt pretty evenly between the 3 guitarists (along with Singer Ronnie Van Zant, of course). Allen Collins co-authors 8 of 24 songs, Gary Rossington and Ed King each co-author 7. But Allen wrote many of Skynyrd's best songs, including "Freebird", "Gimme 3 Steps", "Tuesday's Gone" and "Needle & The Spoon". On "Bullets", Allen has songwriting credits (along with RVZ) on all 8 of the original songs (Rossington is also part of the team on 3 of the songs).

Musically, "Bullets" didn't have any big hits, but does include several Skynyrd standards. All of the songs are great. The title track, "Double Trouble" and "Searchin" are all Skynyrd standards, along with the acoustic-ish "All I can Do Is Write About It". "Roll Gypsie Roll" is a reflective piece about life on the road, and one of my all time favorite songs. "Every Mother's Son", "Trust" and "Cry For The Bad Man" are all solid songs. There's also a cover of J.J.Cale's "Same Old Blues" that has a great, almost funky, feel. Trivia note: Lynyrd Skynyrd only did 2 covers on their first 4 studio albums, both were of J.J. Cale songs. The other was "Call Me The Breeze".

If you're a casual Skynyrd fan, start with "Pronounced", or the original band's live set "One More From The Road". But if you want to get deeper into the spirit of the band, this album can't be beat.

First, I'd like to say: I do recommend this album. If that's all you need, great. If not, read on:
I found this album hidden beneath a load Christmas sing-along LPs at the local thrift store; originally, I was getting it because the cover looked great (I decorate with album covers) and it was only $5. I had just gotten my new turntable needle in after a long wait, and was excited to use it. I liked Skynyrd well enough, but still don't count myself a 'true fan'. I just really like collecting records.
I put it on at home and went to make myself hot chocolate, and I could hear it start up. I was floored. This may not be one of the best-reviewed albums, but I absolutely love it to pieces. (I'm afraid I might wear it to pieces- it's been playing non-stop!) It's definitely an album you can just put on and not worry about deep meanings or hidden messages, and it's happy to be playing in the background, half-forgotten (except when you have to change it over). LP or CD, I do recommend this one. It's my 'sitting-down-reading-a-book-and-drinking-hot-chocolate' album.

"Bullets", Lynyrd Skynyrd's fourth album, wasn't a great succes back in 1976. And many reviewers, professional and amateur, apparently consider it the original Skynyrd ensemble's "least great" album. Generic. Uninspired. Mediocre.
Not me, though. I think it's a wonderful, varied collection of songs, hard rockers, melodic slow and mid-tempo grooves, and effective ballads...better than "Street Survivors" and better, certainly, than "Nuthin' Fancy" as well.

I love the clanging pianos and the crunchy riffs, and with the exception of "Searching", which I've never really learned to love, I don't see a single clunker here. "Double Trouble" is a bit too predictable, but everything else is top-notch. "Trust" and the title track in particulat provide some tough, riff-driven hard rock, and songs like "Cry For The Bad Man" and J.J. Cale's "The Same Old Blues" groove along on a great combination of effective riffs and a supple rhythm section. Slower tunes like "Every Mother's Son" and the semi-acoustic country ballad "All I Can Do Is Write About It" are equally excellent, and "Every Mother's Son" in particular provide a terrific showcase for the talents of singer Ronnie van Zant.

You may well argue that a few of these songs seem more powerful and vibrant on the live "On More From The Road", which was recorded during the tour that Skynyrd undertook in support of "Bullets". And some live versions of "The Same Old Blues" do indeed outshine this one as well. But the songs certainly don't suck here either, and the two bonus tracks, previously unreleased live recordings of "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "Cry For The Bad Man", are a welcome addition, even if the live version of title track can't match the version found on "One More From The Road". The live "Bad Man" makes up for it.

Don't let negative or mediocre reviews scare you away from this album (and don't pay any attention to the otherwise excellent Allmusic guide either). Give it a try. There is a lot to love here.

This CD, and Nuthin' Fancy, show that good 'ol Shorty Medlocke influence with the diverse,but very southern music songwriting. Bullets is a must have if you are a Ronnie Van Zant fan first,the Skynyrd band second. This is "gone fishin" and sitting on the porch music at it's finest.
If you are a new Skynyrd fan,get One More From The Road,Pronounced and then Street Survivors. Also consider Gold and Platinum and the boxed set,if you want a major portion of the whole pie.
Enjoy .

Of the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, this one is the most underrated, and that is unfortunate. This album stands up there beside the classics "Pronounced" and "Second Helping" as one of Lynyrd Skynyrd's finest.

Highlights here include both studio and live versions of the excellent title track, and studio and live versions of the hidden gem "Cry For The Bad Man." The latter song is one of Skynyrd's finest tracks, but unfortunately is not included on most of the compilations in any form. Then there's the rocker "Double Trouble," the beautiful "All I Can Do Is Write About It," and the studio version of the concert staple "Searching."

If you don't already own "Pronounced" and "Second Helping," by all means go over right now and buy both, but be sure to pick this one up while you're at it. If you do own both of those, "Gimme Back My Bullets" won't disappoint. And if you're one of those unfortunate people who only know the "new" Lynyrd Skynyrd, be forewarned that those CDs are likely to begin collecting dust as soon as you hear your first few bars of Skynyrd with the late Ronnie Van Zant.

Rest In Peace Ronnie. We miss you, brother. One listen to this album, or any other Lynyrd Skynyrd album up to and including "Street Survivors," will show the listener why he's so sorely missed.

As a serious Skynyrd fan for over 30 years, I must say that picking any of their original studio efforts as a favorite, would not be wrong. Of course we're talking about one man's opinion. Gimme Back My Bullets happens to be my most prized. The writing was more focused, (would Ronnie allow otherwise?), the guitar playing was condensed and tasty, and the sound was not as busy as the 3 guitar lineups, and allowed for Billy's sound to surface a bit more. The band was really hitting their stride when the boys recorded this one, and they were still hungry. They'd been on the road for a few years by the time this was done and the soul and heartfelt lyrics were genuine. I'm glad they remastered this one, the original had some record company sound issues which was not the bands fault. Double Trouble must be recognized for the great song that it is. I sure do miss Ronnie, Allen & Leon.

This album, as many have said, isn't Skynyrd's best. Skynyrd at their worst would destroy most bands, though.

There are some real classics here, and some of it comes pretty close to being filler. It is all, however, good to listen to, and it's not an album you'll soon tire of.

If you're looking for hard rock, Skynyrd style, this isn't the album for you. They rock for some of it, but a lot of it is acoustic. It's great, but it gets away from the trademark Skynyrd sound -- which is the hard rockin' sound.

It gets 4 stars. It's a great album, really, but it doesn't seem quite as great when you compare it to their other stuff. If you're a Skynyrd fan, you'll love it, but if you're just getting into the band, check out the other albums first. This album doesn't have the same sort of "fun" rock as the other albums -- it certainly has a more serious edge, and the lyrics are deeper.

This is probably the most underrated album that Skynyrd did in the 70's but it is also one of their best. It may not have many hit singles on it, but it is probably my favorite Skynyrd album. Pronounced, Second Helping, and Street Survivors are all very strong albums, but this is the one I don't get tired of. Buy it if you wanna hear more of the band than just "Sweet home Alabama" and "Freebird."

This is a very under-rated album by them, just because there is only 2 guitar players on this one doesn't mean that some people should turn their heads on it. It has some great stuff by them and very good writing I may add. Songs like Every Mothers Son, Trust, Gimmie Back My Bullets, Double Trouble, and Searching. This is actually a really good album, please give it a try.

In my humble opinion, this is one of the best Skynyrd albums that is out there. The two guitars do extremely well without being cluttered by a third guitar as they often are. There is a wide range of songs, from the rocking beat of Gimme Back My Bullets, to the melodic 12-string guitar on Roll Gypsy Roll. You will not be dissappointed!