What's Your Name (Lynyrd Skynyrd song)

Last updated
"What's Your Name"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Whats Your Name.png
Single by Lynyrd Skynyrd
from the album Street Survivors
B-side "I Know a Little"
ReleasedNovember 1977
Recorded1977
Genre Southern rock
Length3:31
Label MCA
Songwriter(s) Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
Producer(s) Tom Dowd
Lynyrd Skynyrd singles chronology
"Free Bird (live)"
(1976)
"What's Your Name"
(1977)
"You Got That Right"
(1978)

"What's Your Name" is a rock song by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the opening track on their album Street Survivors . It peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in Canada. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Gary Rossington wrote "What's Your Name" while in Miami with producer Tom Dowd and Booker T. & the M.G.'s guitarist Steve Cropper. The lyrics depict life on tour for a band and its entourage, and one of the verses is based on a true story of the band drinking at their hotel bar during a tour when one of their roadies got into a fight. The band got kicked out of the bar, but they went into another room and ordered champagne. However, unlike the song suggests, the incident did not happen in the city of Boise, Idaho. Instead, when Van Zant found out that the band 38 Special (led by his younger brother Donnie) was starting its first national tour in that city, the lyric was changed. [3]

Reception

Billboard praised the "strong, accessible melody" and the "excellent instrumentation." [4] Cash Box said that it "tells the standard 'rock and rollers on the road' story with a punchy lyric and a rousing beat." [5] Record World said that "it rocks with authority, powered by a driving brass section and Van Zant's ironic vocal work." [6]

Trade ad for the single in Billboard Lynyrd Skynyrd (1977).jpg
Trade ad for the single in Billboard

Music video

The music video, released after the plane crash that killed several band members, depicts Ronnie's brother Johnny along with a newly reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd live in concert (presumably at the Pensacola Civic Center as the video suggests). Interspersed within are shots of the road crew setting up for the show and the musicians tuning their instruments, having makeup done, meeting with fans, autographing albums and playing baseball together. [7] At the end of the video, a hat in the style of Ronnie's trademark "High Roller" look is seen atop a microphone stand as a tribute to him.

Chart performance

Rock Band music gaming platform

The song was made available to download on November 30, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic and Pro mode, the latter of which takes advantage of the use of a real guitar or bass guitar and MIDI-compatible electronic drum kits and keyboards in addition to three-part harmony vocals.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Home Alabama</span> 1974 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on the band's second album Second Helping (1974). It was written in response to Neil Young's 1970 song "Southern Man", which the band felt blamed the entire South for American slavery; Young is name-checked and dissed in the lyrics. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974, becoming the band's highest-charting single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Bird</span> 1974 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Free Bird", also spelled "Freebird", is a song by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, written by guitarist Allen Collins and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The song was released on their 1973 debut studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If (Bread song)</span> 1971 single by Bread

"If" is a song written by American singer-songwriter David Gates in 1971. Originally popularized by his group Bread, "If" charted at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 when released as a single in 1971 and No. 6 in Canada. It also spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and one week at the top of the Canadian AC chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooo Baby Baby</span> 1965 song by The Miracles

"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It was a 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Don't Be a Hero</span> 1974 single by Paper Lace

"Billy Don't Be a Hero" is a 1974 pop song that was first a UK hit for Paper Lace and then, some months later, a US hit for Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods. The song was written and composed by two British songwriters, Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Your Everything (Tommy Page song)</span> 1990 single by Tommy Page

"I'll Be Your Everything" is a song by American pop music singer Tommy Page from his album Paintings in My Mind. Released as a single in early 1990, "I'll Be Your Everything" reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1990. The song spent one week at No. 1, thirteen weeks in the Top 40 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. "I'll Be Your Everything" also peaked at No. 31 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Long (Ace song)</span> 1975 single by Ace

"How Long" is the debut single by the English band Ace, from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 in the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Don't Know Why) But I Do</span> R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles

"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" is an R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles, and performed by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.

"Hair" is the title song to the 1967 musical Hair and the 1979 film adaptation of the musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Telling You Now</span> 1963 single by Freddie and the Dreamers

"I'm Telling You Now" is a 1963 song by Freddie Garrity and Mitch Murray, originally performed by Freddie and the Dreamers, which, in 1965, reached number one on the American Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song Sung Blue</span> 1972 single by Neil Diamond

"Song Sung Blue" is a 1972 hit song written and recorded by Neil Diamond, inspired by the second movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto #21. It was released on Diamond's album Moods, and later appeared on many of Diamond's live and compilation albums. The song was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for one week, the week of July 1, and it spent twelve weeks in the Top 40. It also reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock On (David Essex song)</span> Single by David Essex

"Rock On" is a song written by English singer David Essex. Recorded in 1973 and released as a single by Essex, it became an international hit. In 1989, American actor and singer Michael Damian recorded a cover version that went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been recorded many times, including a 2006 version by the English hard rock group Def Leppard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Find a Way (Pablo Cruise song)</span> 1978 single by Pablo Cruise

"Love Will Find a Way" is a single released by American rock group Pablo Cruise from the album Worlds Away in May 1978. On the Billboard Hot 100, "Love Will Find a Way" peaked at number 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Will I Be Loved (song)</span> 1960 single by the Everly Brothers

"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. Vince Gill also covered it in 1994 on the soundtrack of the film 8 Seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Made Me Believe in Magic</span>

"You Made Me Believe in Magic" is the title of a 1977 international hit single by the Bay City Rollers, taken from their album It's a Game. The recording, a mid-tempo disco-styled pop tune featuring strings and horns, had its greatest impact in North America, where it was issued as the album's lead single in May 1977 to reach number 10 on the US Hot 100 in Billboard magazine that August. "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was the Bay City Rollers' third US Top 10 hit; the follow-up single "The Way I Feel Tonight" (#25) would mark the group's final Hot 100 appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Woman (The Impressions song)</span>

"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), and Santana (1990) covered this song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Easy on Me</span> 1982 single by Little River Band

"Take It Easy on Me" is a song by Australian soft rock band Little River Band, released in March 1982 as the third and final single from the album Time Exposure. The song reached No. 10 on the U.S, becoming their 6th and last top 10 hit. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 14 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song was written by band member Graham Goble and produced by British record producer George Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So in to You</span> Song by the Atlanta Rhythm Section

"So in to You" is a 1977 hit single by the Atlanta Rhythm Section. It was the first release from their sixth studio LP, A Rock and Roll Alternative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Guy (song)</span> 1983 single by Little River Band

"The Other Guy" is a song by Australian soft rock band Little River Band. It was released in February 1983 as the third and final single from the band's 1982 Greatest Hits album. The song also introduced the band's new lead vocalist, John Farnham, who replaced Glenn Shorrock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falling (LeBlanc and Carr song)</span> 1977 single by LeBlanc & Carr

"Falling" is a 1977 song by Lenny LeBlanc and Pete Carr. It was their highest-charting single, peaking at number 13 in the United States during the winter of 1978. It was the first of two charting singles from their Midnight Light LP.

References

  1. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-03-18. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  3. "What's Your Name by Lynyrd Skynyrd". Songfacts.com. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  4. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. November 26, 1977. p. 96. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  5. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 26, 1977. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 26, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. "What's Your Name". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-03-18. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 523.
  10. "Cash Box Top 100 3/11/78". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  12. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  13. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1978". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.