Writers: Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant
Producers: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Recorded: April 1977 at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida
Released: October 1977
| Players: | Ronnie Van Zant—vocals Steve Gaines–vocals, guitar Allen Collins–guitar Gary Rossington–slide guitar Billy Powell–keyboards Leon Wilkeson–bass Artimus Pyle–drums |
| Album: | Street Survivors (MCA, 1977) |
“You Got That Right” was the first creative contribution to Lynyrd Skynyrd by new guitarist Steve Gaines, who joined the band in the summer of 1976.
The Missouri-born Gaines first appeared on Skynyrd's live album One More From The Road, which was recorded during just his fourth gig with the group.
A relatively clean-liver and straightforward personality, Gaines was credited with helping to bring a bit of sobriety and perspective to Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose members had been addled with a variety of addictions and other bad habits since the group began recording and touring.
Released as a single in March 1978, after the 1977 plane crash that temporarily halted Skynyrd, “You Got That Right” peaked at Number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Coming on the heels of the multi-million selling One More From The Road, Street Survivors became Skynyrd's highest charting album ever, hitting Number Five on the Billboard 200 and selling more than two million copies.
Tragedy struck Lynyrd Skynyrd on the Street Survivors tour when, on October 20, 1977, the twin-engine Convair 240 carrying the band to a gig in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed into a swamp in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Gaines was killed in the crash, along with his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines; lead singer Ronnie Van Zant; and manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilots, while guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, keyboardist Billy Powell, and bassist Leon Wilkeson were all seriously injured.
MCA quickly withdrew the Street Survivors album cover, which showed the band standing amidst flames that were engulfing Steve Gaines. A more straightforward photo replaced it.
The album also included a sheet that listed Skynyrd's tour dates for 1977-78, most of which never happened.
In the wake of the crash, the surviving Skynyrd members decided to discontinue the band.
