Gary Rossington, the legendary founding member and guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd along with Dale Krantz-Rossington (also his wife), whom many call The First Lady of Southern Rock, release the heartfelt, soul-grabbing, bluesy new album Take It On Faith, November 4, 2016 on Loud & Proud Records.  The duo has been making beautiful music together for over 35 years beginning when Dale opened for Skynyrd in ’77 while she was singing with 38 Special, then as part of Rossington Collins Band in the ‘80s and then and now as part of the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd family.

Gary and Dale started the songwriting, collaboration and recording process for Take It On Faith about 10 years ago but only recently felt like their body of work was complete.   Because of the commitments they have had with Lynyrd Skynyrd over the years, they put the project on hold but eventually, though, they realized they couldn’t ignore the wishes of their eager fans any longer so they decided to release the album. They refined their ideas over time and completed the album this year.  Please have a listen when you can.

Take It On Faith is comprised of 12 songs that are all ably supplemented by an ace studio band that was put together by the album’s producer and engineer, David Z (Prince, Etta James, Buddy Guy).  The line-up reads like a who’s who of studio masters (full list below) including Ben Fowler (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams, Billy Currington, Sara Evans), who provided additional mixing and production, players such as the late Richie Hayward on drums, Jack Holder on guitar, Bruce McCabe on piano and keyboards and David Smith on bass as well as some great guests including ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons who co-wrote “Good Side of Good,” Delbert McClinton blowing a mean harp to butter up some tasty guitar licks from two-time Grammy-Award winning producer, hit songwriter, recording artist and session guitarist, Gary Nicholson on “Dance While You’re Cookin’” as well as Bekka Bramlett, who has sung with everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Billy Joel to Robert Plant over the years.

As a guitar player, Gary is a master and it’s evident on tracks like “Shame on Me” and “Good Side of Good,” reinforcing the man’s expertise on his chosen instrument.  From the unstoppable drive of “Highway of Love” to the gritty lament of “Shame on Me” to the gutsy guitar showcase on “Too Many Rainy Days,” Take It On Faith spotlights the many facets of Gary and Dale’s intuitive chemistry, hearkening back to the roots of fine Rossington Collins Band hits like “Don’t Misunderstand Me,” “Prime Time,” and “Opportunity.”

Gary co-founded The Rossington Collins Band with Collins in 1980. The band released two albums, including the 1981 Gold album Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere which yielded the rock hit “Don’t Misunderstand Me,” featuring Gary’s wife Dale on lead vocals.  But they disbanded in 1982 after the death of Collins' wife, Kathy. Gary and Dale then formed The Rossington Band, which released two albums in 1986 and 1988, respectively.

Take It On Faith Track Listing / Label Copy:

1.  Highway of Love

Billy Burnette (Beaubilly Music/Still Workin’ For The Man BMI)

Rafe Van Hoy (Cottage House Music/Bonedoggy Music c/o Morgan Music Group Inc SESAC)

2.  I Should’ve Known

Tom Hambridge (Tom Hambridge Tunes ASCAP)

Richard Fleming (Richard Fleming Music BMI)

3.  Take It On Faith

Kevin Bowe (Bashti Music SESAC)

Dale Rossington (Elk Refuge Music BMI)

Gary Rossington (ASCAP)

4.  Light A Candle

Jeff Silbar (Silbarsongs ASCAP)

5.  Dance While You’re Cookin’

Dale Rossington (Elk Refuge Music BMI)

Gary Rossington (ASCAP)

Delbert McClinton

Gary Nicholson (Gary Nicholson Music BMI)

6.  Shame On Me

Tom Hambridge (Tom Hambridge Tunes ASCAP)

Dale Rossington (Elk Refuge Music BMI)

Gary Rossington (ASCAP)

7.  Good Side of Good

Billy Gibbons (Gibbons/Billy G's Hollywood Productions Inc. BMI)

Tom Vickers (Mild Man Music ASCAP)

8.  Through My Eyes

Bruce McCabe (Ryan Cory Music BMI)

David Gearheart (David Ashley Music BMI)

Susan Branham (Susan Shepherd publishing BMI)

9.  Something Fishy

Gary Nicholson (Gary Nicholson Music BMI)

Tom Hambridge (Tom Hambridge Tunes ASCAP)

10.  Too Many Rainy Days

Bruce McCabe (Ryan Cory Music BMI)

11.  Where Did Love Go

Don Goodman, Wayne Perkins (Reigning Music ASCAP)

12.  Two Very Different Things

Bruce McCabe (Ryan Cory Music BMI)

Rossington is:


Gary Rossington - guitar

Dale Rossington - vocals

Jack Holder - guitar

Richie Hayward - drums

Bruce McCabe - piano, keyboards

Michael Rojas - piano

David Smith - bass

Reese Winans - organ

Kenny Greenburg - guitar overdubs

Gordon Mote - piano and B3 overdubs

Shawn Camp - dobro

Delbert McClinton- harmonica

Gary Nicholson - guitar

Bekka Bramlett & Vicki Hampton - additional vocals