Van Zant - Brother to Brother (1998)

BIOGRAPHY
(by Steve Huey)

As a band name, Van Zant first appeared in 1985, when Johnny Van Zant (brother of .38 Special's Donnie and Lynyrd Skynyrd's late Ronnie) headed an AOR-styled quintet on an album also titled Van Zant. The group disbanded, however, when Van Zant joined Lynyrd Skynyrd two years later. The Van Zant group name was revived in 1998, when Johnny and Donnie joined forces on what was slated to be a one-off collaboration, titled Brother to Brother and released on CMC International. However, reaction to the record was positive enough to convince the duo to continue pursuing the project; hence, a follow-up, Van Zant II, was issued in early 2001. The duo's first country album, Get Right with the Man, arrived in May 2005, followed by My Kind of Country in 2007.

REVIEW
(by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Brother to Brother marks the first time Johnny and Donnie Van Zant have ever collaborated together, and the results are exactly what fans of either Lynyrd Skynyrd or .38 Special would expect — a set of tough, bluesy Southern rock. Instrumentally, it nearly achieves its full potential, capturing both of the guitarists in fine form. However, the material is a bit inconsistent, with several songs lacking memorable hooks or melodies. Still, the songs that do work are dynamite, and even the weaker tracks have their moments. And that means Brother to Brother is a worth a listen by any serious Skynyrd, Special or VanZant fan.

CREDITS
Mike Brignardello / Bass
Pat Buchanan / Guitar
Chris Carmichael / Strings
Bill Cuomo / Piano, Organ (Hammond)
Eric Darken / Percussion
Chris Eddy / Vocals (bckgr)
Tabitha Fair / Vocals (bckgr)
Shane Fontayne / Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Jannelle Guillot / Voiceover
Robert White Johnson / Percussion, Vocals (bckgr)
Jerry McPherson / Guitar (Acoustic), Bouzouki, Guitar (Electric), Buzukie
Greg Morrow / Drums
Chris Pelcer / Strings
Jim Peterik Guitar (Acoustic)
Donnie Van Zant / Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Johnny Van Zant / Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)

TRACKS
1 Rage (Johnson, Pelcer, VanZant) 4:45
2 Can't Say It Loud Enough (Johnson, Peterik, VanZant, VanZant) 4:26
3 Show Me (Johnson, Peterik, VanZant) 4:08
4 I'm a Want You Kinda Man (Johnson, McPherson, VanZant, VanZant) 4:49
5 Right Side Up (Johnson, Peterik, VanZant) 5:10
6 Brother to Brother (Johnson, Pelcer, VanZant, VanZant) 6:10
7 Livin' a Lie (Buchanan, Johnson, VanZant) 4:55
8 That Was Yesterday (Buchanan, Johnson, VanZant, VanZant) 3:28
9 Downright and Dangerous (Britt, Eddy, VanZant, VanZant) 3:54
10 Black Bottom Road (Johnson, Pelcer, VanZant) 4:47
11 Friend (Britt, Eddy, VanZant, VanZant) 4:40

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