{"product_id":"rossington-collins-band-this-is-the-way","title":"Rossington Collins Band ‎– This Is The Way","description":"\u003ch4 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRossington Collins Band – This Is The Way\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in 1981, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Is The Way\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnytime, Anyplace, Anywhere\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, established the band's identity in 1980, and this follow-up continued their exploration of melodic, guitar-driven Southern rock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Is The Way\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the band also explores a slightly more subtle and layered approach, with keyboards and vocal arrangements adding depth to the guitar-led foundations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album opens with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGotta Get It Straight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a confident Southern rock performance built around the band's characteristic guitar attack and direct, melodic songwriting. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTashauna\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e follows with a more reflective feel, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGonna Miss It When It's Gone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePine Box\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTashauna\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making it one of the more poignant moments in the band's catalogue. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFancy Ideas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e rounds out the first side with another dose of melodic Southern rock, balancing strong instrumental playing with accessible songwriting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe second side opens with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon't Stop Me Now\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, returning to a more energetic rock sound, followed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeems Like Every Day\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which highlights the group's melodic strengths. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI'm Free Today\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e brings another change of mood, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNext Phone Call\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e maintains the album's emphasis on guitar interplay and memorable song structures. The closing track, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeans Nothing To You\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, completes a record that moves between muscular rock, thoughtful songwriting and the emotional weight of the band's musical history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough the Rossington Collins Band's recording career was relatively brief, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Is The Way\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, classic Southern rock, blues-influenced hard rock and guitar-led American rock of the early eighties, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Is The Way\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA1. Gotta Get It Straight — 4:20\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA2. Tashauna — 4:51\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA3. Gonna Miss It When It's Gone — 3:28\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA4. Pine Box — 2:54\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA5. Fancy Ideas — 5:09\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB1. Don't Stop Me Now — 4:39\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB2. Seems Like Every Day — 4:28\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB3. I'm Free Today — 3:27\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB4. Next Phone Call — 3:24\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB5. Means Nothing To You — 4:30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wVr_bpQy3es?si=NZGgu36O7Qs4w4dM\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sounds + Grounds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55963907555670,"sku":"MCG 4018","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/1000099451.jpg?v=1792684823","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/rossington-collins-band-this-is-the-way","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}