Rossington Collins Band ‎– This Is The Way

Rossington Collins Band – This Is The Way

Released in 1981, This Is The Way is the second and final studio album by the Rossington Collins Band, the Southern rock group formed by former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. Following the tragic 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant and several members of the band, Rossington and Collins eventually returned to music with a new group built around their unmistakable guitar sound, powerful songwriting and the distinctive vocals of Dale Krantz-Rossington. Their debut, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, established the band's identity in 1980, and this follow-up continued their exploration of melodic, guitar-driven Southern rock.

The Rossington Collins Band brought together musicians with deep connections to the Lynyrd Skynyrd sound, including keyboardist Billy Powell and bassist Leon Wilkeson, alongside guitarist and vocalist Barry Lee Harwood and drummer Derek Hess. Their music retains the ingredients associated with classic Southern rock: interlocking electric guitars, expressive lead playing, blues-influenced phrasing, strong melodies and a balance between hard-driving rockers and more reflective material. On This Is The Way, the band also explores a slightly more subtle and layered approach, with keyboards and vocal arrangements adding depth to the guitar-led foundations.

The album opens with Gotta Get It Straight, a confident Southern rock performance built around the band's characteristic guitar attack and direct, melodic songwriting. Tashauna follows with a more reflective feel, while Gonna Miss It When It's Gone stands out for its memorable hooks and strong vocal delivery. The latter is especially significant within the band's story, reflecting their ability to carry forward elements of the Lynyrd Skynyrd tradition while establishing a musical identity of their own.

Pine Box offers a striking change of pace. Its haunting, a cappella presentation gives the song a stark emotional quality, contrasting with the fuller arrangements elsewhere on the record. The track also connects with the album's tribute to Ronnie Van Zant, alongside Tashauna, making it one of the more poignant moments in the band's catalogue. Fancy Ideas rounds out the first side with another dose of melodic Southern rock, balancing strong instrumental playing with accessible songwriting.

The second side opens with Don't Stop Me Now, returning to a more energetic rock sound, followed by Seems Like Every Day, which highlights the group's melodic strengths. I'm Free Today brings another change of mood, while Next Phone Call maintains the album's emphasis on guitar interplay and memorable song structures. The closing track, Means Nothing To You, completes a record that moves between muscular rock, thoughtful songwriting and the emotional weight of the band's musical history.

Although the Rossington Collins Band's recording career was relatively brief, This Is The Way remains an interesting chapter in the wider story of Southern rock after Lynyrd Skynyrd's original era. It features musicians who helped shape one of the genre's most recognisable sounds, but presents them in a different group setting, with Dale Krantz-Rossington's vocals providing a distinctive centre of gravity. The album reached the US Billboard 200, reflecting continued interest in the musicians and their music during the early 1980s.

For fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, classic Southern rock, blues-influenced hard rock and guitar-led American rock of the early eighties, This Is The Way offers a compelling listen. Its combination of muscular guitar work, melodic hooks, varied arrangements and reflective moments makes it a worthwhile addition to a Southern rock vinyl collection, particularly for listeners interested in the musical legacy of Gary Rossington and Allen Collins beyond Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Gotta Get It Straight — 4:20
A2. Tashauna — 4:51
A3. Gonna Miss It When It's Gone — 3:28
A4. Pine Box — 2:54
A5. Fancy Ideas — 5:09

Side B
B1. Don't Stop Me Now — 4:39
B2. Seems Like Every Day — 4:28
B3. I'm Free Today — 3:27
B4. Next Phone Call — 3:24
B5. Means Nothing To You — 4:30