What's Your Name - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1978) 12/18/21

Today's "Great Song of the '70s" is fast, fun, and--unfortunately-- marked by tragedy.

1978's "What's Your Name" by Lynyrd Skynyrd was based on a true story. It seems the band was out on tour and drinking at a hotel bar. One of the roadies got in a fight, and they all got kicked out. So they went to a room, ordered champagne and continued the party.

Later on, when Skynyrd reached Miami, group members Greg Rossington and Ronnie Van Zandt started writing the song with help from their friends, producer Tom Dowd and guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T. and The M.G.s (and the Blues Brothers Band).

Although the original party had NOT taken place in Boise, Idaho, they decided to use the location in honor of Ronnie's brother Donnie, who had just started his own tour in Boise with his new band, 38 Special. Nice tip of the cap!

The finished song was placed on the Skynyrd album, "Street Survivors," which was released in November of 1977.

Three days later, Ronnie, Steve Gaines, Steve's wife Cassie, and three others were killed in a plane crash.

If that weren't terrible enough, the album had to be recalled and the cover reprinted, because it showed the band surrounded by flames.

Once everything had been sorted out, "What's Your Name" was released as a single in early 1978, and it rose to #13 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #6 on Canada's Top 40. Although those chart positions might reflect some sympathetic air play and song sales, "What's Your Name" is still a party song of the first order...and a "Great Song of the '70s!"