Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd), was released 50 years ago this Sunday, August 13th, 1973.
It was produced by Al Kooper who attended one of their shows in Atlanta in 1972 and signed them to his Sounds of the South label.
Four of the album’s eight tracks — “Gimme Three Steps,” “Simple Man,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and “Free Bird” — are Skynyrd staples, with each one still being played every night in concert.
Ironically, if Kooper had his way, “Simple Man” would not be on the album.
Ironically, Kooper played organ on the track, and, though never released as a single, it’s reported to be the third most downloaded Skynyrd song behind “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”
As for “Tuesday’s Gone,” it also wasn’t a single due to its length, but it became an FM rock radio staple and has been featured in many films and TV shows.
The first single, “Gimme Three Steps,” also became a radio staple, but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
An edited version of “Free Bird” was released as a single in November 1974 and became their second Billboard Top 20 hit after “Sweet Home Alabama” off their second album, 1974’s Second Helping. The original is over nine-minutes.
The album cover shot on Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia, and shows, from left to right, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Bob Burns, Allen Collins and Ed King, all of whom are deceased. It was the last one taken and was immediately followed by Rossington vomiting on the sidewalk.
Commenting on the milestone anniversary, Kooper tells us, “It’s sad none of them are around to celebrate.”
(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) was certified gold in December 1974, and double platinum in July 1987 for sales in excess of two-million.
Skynyrd are on The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with ZZ Top with shows in Wheatland, California tonight (Friday), Phoenix on Sunday and Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday.
