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Free Bird

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"Free Bird"
Song

"Free Bird" is a song by the American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was first featured on the band's debut album (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) in 1973, and has been included on subsequent albums released by the band.

Released as a single in late 1974, "Free Bird" became the band's second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1975, where it peaked at #19.[2] A live version of the song also reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977, peaking at #38.[2] Free Bird also achieved the #3 spot on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.[3]

It is used as a finale by Lynyrd Skynyrd during their live performances, and it is their longest song, often going well over 14 minutes when played live.

Origins

The lyrical portion of the song was written early in the group's history. Roadie Billy Powell was discovered as a keyboardist for the band when he played the intro piece to "Free Bird" at a high school prom. Lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant noted his talent and invited him to join.

"If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me?" was asked of Allen Collins by then-girlfriend Kathy, whom he later married. Collins jotted the question down and it eventually became the opening line of "Free Bird".[4]

Following the plane crash in 1977, all of the songs played by surviving band members were performed as instrumentals beginning with the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam V in 1979. When Freebird came up, a solitary microphone with a single spotlight would be at center stage while the band played the instrumental version. This tradition lasted until 1989, when an almost-rioting audience coerced Rossington to urge Johnny Van Zant to sing the song for the first time - something he had vowed never to do on stage during the Tribute Tour. The current version by Lynyrd Skynyrd has a shortened solo similar to the original studio version.

Slide Guitar

Gary Always played a Gibson SG and used a glass Coricidin bottle for a slide on this song to emulate one of his heros, Duane Allman. [5]This was the only song he used a guitar other than a Les Paul. He also stuck a piece of thin metal under the strings near the nut to raise the action of the guitar when playing slide..[6] The guitar's B string was tuned down to a G during this song. Gary Currently uses two G strings tuned to G instead of tuning down a B string.[7]


Reception

"Free Bird" is included in such lists as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (holding spot #191). In 2009 it was named the 26th VH1 Greatest Hard Rock Songs|best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[8] The song — half ballad, half up-tempo guitar solo — quickly became a staple for Lynyrd Skynyrd at their live performances. Many recognize its nearly five-minute triple guitar solo section that closes it out. It often turned into an extended jam session at concerts. The band would consistently play it as the last song of every show, as it was their biggest crowd pleaser.

It has become a popular culture cliché for the audience in many concerts to shout "Free Bird" as a request to hear the song, regardless of the performer or style of music.[9]

This phenomenon began earlier in the 1970s with The Allman Brothers Band's epic "Whipping Post", but then took off to a much greater extent with "Free Bird", very popular by 1979. This can be traced back to Skynyrd's first live album, 1976's One More From The Road. Skynyrd did not play the song during the main portion of the concert, or even in the encore performance. Instead they saved it for their second encore. After leaving the stage following the first encore of the concert, the crowd was riled by the apparent omission of Skynyrd's signature song. The crowd then began chanting "Free Bird, Free Bird ...". No one left the auditorium. The band then returned to the stage for a second encore and upon taking the microphone Van Zant asked the crowd, "What song is it you wanna hear?", which was immediately followed by several more shouts of "Free Bird". This interaction is recorded as an intro to the song on the album, and the band responded with a 14-minute version of the song.

Personnel

(Studio Version) - 1973

(Live Version) - July 7, 1976

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ The Bpi
  2. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  3. ^ http://www.guitarworld.com/article/100_greatest_guitar_solos_3_quotfree_birdquot_allen_collins_gary_rossington
  4. ^ "http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1703". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  5. ^ Gary Rossington biography".
  6. ^ Gary Rossington biography".
  7. ^ Gary Rossington biography".
  8. ^ "spreadit.org music". Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  9. ^ Phillips, Derek. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. Glorious Noise.com. 27 January 2004.
  10. ^ Welcome to the California Guitar Trio Official Website!
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