Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Chart Position: 19

• #191 on Rolling Stone magazines list of 500 greatest songs
• Written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant
• Lead vocals: Ronni Van Zant
• Keyboards: Billy Powell and Al Kooper
• Guitar: Allen Collins, Steve Gaines and Gary Rossington
• Produced by Al Kooper
• Recorded in Doraville GA
• The famous guitar solo that closes out this song uses three guitars
• The opening line “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me”” was taken verbatim from something Allen Collins’ future wife Kathy had said to him
• A tradition began at concerts in the seventies for audience members to shout “Free Bird!” at concerts as a request regardless of who was performing
• Later recorded by Will to Power (1988), Wynona Judd (1994) and Bronx Casket Co. (2005)

 

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