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Free Bird

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Freebird" redirects here. For the 2013 animated film, seeFree Birds.For the Beatles song, seeFree as a Bird.For the Germanic legal concept, seeVogelfrei.For other uses, seeFreebird (disambiguation).

"Free Bird"
side-A label
US single of the shortened studio recording
SinglebyLynyrd Skynyrd
from the album(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
B-side"Down South Jukin'"
ReleasedNovember 1974(1974-11)
RecordedApril 3, 1973
StudioStudio One,Doraville, Georgia,U.S.
Genre
Length
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Al Kooper
Lynyrd Skynyrdsingles chronology
"Sweet Home Alabama"
(1974) 		"Free Bird"
(1974) 		"Saturday Night Special"
(1975)
Audio
"Free Bird" (album version)onYouTube
"Free Bird" (Extended Music Version)onYouTube
"Free Bird" (live, undubbed, 1976)onYouTube
Live video
"Free Bird" (live, 1977)onYouTube

"Free Bird",[4][5][6]also spelled "Freebird",[7][8][9]is a song by American rock bandLynyrd Skynyrd,written by guitaristAllen Collinsand lead singerRonnie Van Zant.The song was released on their 1973debut studio album.

Released as asinglein November 1974, "Free Bird" debuted on the USBillboardHot 100on November 23 at No. 87[10] and became the band's secondTop 40hit in early 1975, peaking at No. 19 on January 25.[11] A live version of the song re-entered the charts in late 1976,[12] eventually peaking at No. 38 in January 1977.[13]

"Free Bird" achieved No. 3 onGuitar World'slist of greatest guitar solos of all time in 2010 and 2016,[14][15]while placing at No. 8 in their rankings by 2022.[16]It is Lynyrd Skynyrd'ssignature song,the finale during live performances, and their longest song, often going well over 14 minutes when played live.[17]"Free Bird" was once the most requested song on FM radio,[18]and remains a staple onclassic rock stations.

Origins[edit]

According to guitaristGary Rossington,for two years afterAllen Collinswrote the initial chords, vocalistRonnie Van Zantinsisted that there were too many for him to create a melody in the belief that the melody needed to change alongside the chords. After Collins played the unused sequence at rehearsal one day, Van Zant asked him to repeat it, then wrote out the melody and lyrics in three or four minutes. The guitar solos that finish the song were added originally to give Van Zant a chance to rest, as the band was playing several sets per night at clubs at the time. Soon afterward, the band learned piano-playing roadieBilly Powellhad written an introduction to the song; upon hearing it, they included it as the finishing touch and had him formally join as their keyboardist.

Allen Collins's girlfriend, Kathy, whom he later married, asked him, "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" Collins noted the question and it eventually became the opening line of "Free Bird." Also, in an interview filmed during a fishing outing on a boat with Gary Rossington, an interviewer asked Ronnie Van Zant what the song meant. Van Zant replied that in essence, that the song is "what it means to be free, in that a bird can fly wherever he wants to go." He further stated that "everyone wants to be free...that's what this country's all about."[19]

The song is dedicated to the memory ofDuane Allmanby the band in their live shows.[20]During their 1975 performance onThe Old Grey Whistle Test,Van Zant dedicated the song to both Allman andBerry Oakley,commenting, "they're both free birds".[21][22]

During the 1987–1988Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour,the band played "Free Bird" as an instrumental.Johnny Van Zantfirst sang the song on itsLynyrd Skynyrd 1991 TourinBaton Rouge,where the band had been headed in 1977 when several members were killed in a plane crash.

Reception[edit]

Upon the single release,Record Worldsaid that the band "sees this country-tinged tune soar to further feather their hit nest."[23]

"Free Bird" is included inThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Rolland at number 407 inRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.In 2009, it was named the 26th best hard rock song of all time byVH1.[24]

In 2008, the 1973 recording of "Free Bird" from theLynyrd Skynyrd (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nerd 'Skin-'nerd)album on MCA Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[25]

Legacy[edit]

On Skynyrd's first live album, 1976'sOne More from the Road,Van Zant can be heard asking the crowd, "What song is it you want to hear?" The calls for "Free Bird" led into a fourteen-and-a-half-minute rendition of the song. It has become something of a humorous tradition for audience members at concerts to shout "Free Bird!" as a request to hear the song, regardless of the performer or style of music.[9]For example, duringNirvana's 1993MTV Unplugged in New Yorkshow, a shout-out for "Free Bird!" eventually resulted in a lyrically slurred, if short, rendition of "Sweet Home Alabama".In 2016, an attendee of aBob Dylanconcert in Berkeley, California, shouted for "Free Bird" to be played, and Dylan and his band unexpectedly obliged.[26]

Notable cover versions[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Lynyrd Skynyrd[edit]

Additional personnel on 1976 live version[edit]

Chart and sales performance[edit]

The song has sold 2,111,000 downloads in the digital era, as of 2013.[29]

Weekly charts[edit]

Studio version

Chart (1974–1975) Peak
position
CanadaRPMTop Singles[30] 58
USBillboardHot 100 19
USCashboxTop 100 25

Live version

Chart (1976–1977) Peak
position
CanadaRPMTop Singles[31] 47
USBillboardHot 100[32] 38
USCash BoxTop 100[33] 32
Chart (1979–1980) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 43
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 13
UK Singles Chart 21
Chart (2023) Peak
position
USHot Rock & Alternative Songs(Billboard)[35] 24

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[36] Gold 50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Platinum 600,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture[edit]

  • The 2014 filmKingsman: The Secret Service,the song's solo plays during a scene in which Harry Hart (Colin Firth) engages in a massive, extremely violent, church brawl. DirectorMatthew Vaughnrevealed he picked "Free Bird" specifically because its guitar solo was long enough to encompass the whole scene.[39]
  • In the 1994 filmForrest Gump,it is the emotional soundtrack to Jenny's (Robin Wright) contemplation of suicide on a hotel ledge.

References[edit]

  1. ^"The History Of Southern Rock In 30 Songs".Classic Rock Magazine.June 5, 2016.RetrievedJune 2,2019.The track that, more than any other, defined the southern rock genre.
  2. ^Cavanagh, David (2015).Good Night and Good Riddance: How Thirty-Five Years of John Peel Helped to Shape Modern Life.Faber & Faber. p. 158.ISBN978-0-57130-248-2.
  3. ^Breihan, Tom (June 11, 2021)."The Number Ones: Will To Power's" Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Medley (Free Baby) "".Stereogum.RetrievedOctober 10,2022....Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," two entries in the grand pantheon of '70s lighters-up arena-rock power ballads.
  4. ^Lynyrd Skynyrd.(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd).Songs of the South (Universal City), 1973. Hosted atDiscogsArchivedApril 24, 2006, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  5. ^Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Free Bird / Searching".MCA Records (Universal City), 1976. Hosted atDiscogsArchivedApril 24, 2006, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  6. ^Whitburn, Joel.The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits,9th ed., p. 403.Billboard Books (New York), 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  7. ^Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Free Bird / Sweet Home Alabama / Double Trouble".Leeds Music Ltd. (London), 1976. Hosted atDiscogs"Discogs".Archived from the original on June 29, 2004.RetrievedJune 9,2014.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link).Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  8. ^Lynyrd Skynyrd. Official Website. "(pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd)ArchivedFebruary 27, 2012, at theWayback Machine".Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  9. ^abFry, Jason. "Rock's Oldest Joke: Yelling 'Freebird!' In a Crowded Theater"inThe Wall Street Journal.March 17, 2005. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive, November 23, 1974".Billboard.January 2, 2013.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  11. ^ "Lynyrd Skynyrd Chart History".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  12. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive, December 4, 1976".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  13. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive, December 4, 1976".Billboard.January 2, 2013.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  14. ^Guitar World Magazine (October 1, 2010).The Complete History of Guitar World: 30 Years of Music, Magic, and Six-String Mayhem.Backbeat Books.ISBN978-1-4768-5592-9.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  15. ^"Hear Allen Collins' Isolated Guitar Solo from Lynyrd Skynyrd's" Free Bird "| Guitar World".July 18, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon September 20, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 4,2024.
  16. ^ "The 50 greatest guitar solos of all time".Guitar World.July 20, 2022.RetrievedApril 1,2023.
  17. ^ "Lynyrd Skynyrd Biography".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon January 14, 2012.RetrievedNovember 7,2014.
  18. ^Kozak, Roman (August 30, 1980)."U.S. Rock Groups Will Play In China".Billboard Magazine:10.RetrievedJanuary 4,2024– via Google Books."'Free Bird,' the only Skynyrd number they perform on stage now, has become FM radio's most popular request song, overtaking Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven,' they say.
  19. ^"Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd Songfacts".Songfacts.com.RetrievedMarch 7,2012.
  20. ^Paul, Alan (March 4, 2009)."Prime Cuts: Lynyrd Skynyrd".Guitar World. Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 9,2013.
  21. ^"Lynyrd Skynyrd-Free Bird Live Old Grey Whistle Test 1975".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2021.
  22. ^The Old Grey Whistle Test(DVD). Warner Home Video. 2003.
  23. ^"Hits of the Week"(PDF).Record World.November 16, 1974. p. 1.RetrievedMarch 14,2023.
  24. ^"spreadit.org music".Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 7,2009.
  25. ^"GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com".grammy.com.
  26. ^"Bob Dylan Actually Plays 'Free Bird' After Fan Request: Watch".Billboard.com.June 16, 2016.RetrievedApril 23,2021.
  27. ^Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits,8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  28. ^"36 Albums We Can't Wait to Hear This Fall; AUDIO".Brave Words.August 24, 2023.RetrievedAugust 25,2023.
  29. ^Grein, Paul (November 27, 2013)."Chart Watch: Eminem Returns to #1, Gaga Sinks to #8".Yahoo Music.RetrievedNovember 27,2013.
  30. ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.January 25, 1975.RetrievedMarch 8,2019.
  31. ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.January 15, 1977.RetrievedMarch 8,2019.
  32. ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990-ISBN0-89820-089-X
  33. ^"Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 15, 1977".Archived fromthe originalon March 27, 2019.RetrievedMarch 7,2019.
  34. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Free Bird ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  35. ^"Lynyrd Skynyrd Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  36. ^"Italian single certifications – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird"(in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.RetrievedFebruary 14,2024.
  37. ^"Spanish single certifications – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.RetrievedMay 15,2024.
  38. ^"British single certifications – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedDecember 21,2021.
  39. ^Guerrasio, Jason."One of the most memorable scenes from 'Kingsman' was originally longer and more violent".Business Insider.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
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