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Arts & Culture

Wolfgang's Vault Presents Day On The Green 1977

(l to r) Bill Graham and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, Oakland Coliseum Stadium, July 2, 1977.
Michael Zagaris/Courtesy of Wolfgang’s Vault
(l to r) Bill Graham and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, Oakland Coliseum Stadium, July 2, 1977.

Airs Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

Recorded July 2, 1977 and locked away in the archives of legendary promoter Bill Graham ever since, "Wolfgang’s Vault Presents Day On The Green 1977" features performances by Grammy Award-winner Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Produced by Bill Graham and directed by Eric Christensen, the historic concert was one of several Day on the Green summer festivals presented by Graham at Oakland Coliseum Stadium in Oakland, California from 1973 to 1991.

"Wolfgang’s Vault Presents Day On The Green 1977" captures Frampton at the height of the fan frenzy that followed his record-breaking 1976 album "Frampton Comes Alive," which made him a household name and remains one of the top-selling live albums of all time. His charismatic performance features hits “Baby I Love Your Way,” “Show Me the Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do.”

Song List

“Sweet Home Alabama”

“Freebird”

“Baby I Love Your Way”

“Show Me the Way”

“Do You Feel Like We Do?”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s performance showcases the band just three-and-a-half months before the tragic plane crash that took the lives of lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines and his sister, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines of the Honkettes.

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Van Zant dons a Neil Young t-shirt during the set, which features a six-minute version of “Sweet Home Alabama” – the band’s response song to Young’s “Southern Man” and “Alabama,” which were both critical of southern politics, and epic closer “Freebird.” Allen Collins handles most of the five-minute solo, while Gary Rossington plays the “bird-chirp” guitar parts, which are not on the original recording, as well as the slide work on the opening riffs. Billy Powell also plays a masterful piano solo that is unique to this live show.

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Preview: Wolfgang's Vault Presents Day On The Green 1977