1977 OAKLAND FREEBIRD REACTION BELOW: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mdSbmNOct6-2kWg.html

If an alien asks you what a rock and roll show is, you show him Freebird from the Oakland Coliseum.

Let's not overlook the brilliance of Leon wilkeson on bass guitar. He brings so much to Lynyrd Skynyrd and the rhythm section. He was a true badass.

One of the greatest songs of all time. Why we are still listening to, 50 years on….

It does start like a ballad. When they would play this song at dances, back in the day, everyone would slow dance for the for the first part of the song and then go crazy for the outro solo.

Guys, in 78 I was a Junior in HS, 79 a Senior. House Parties every weekend. Every Party were blasting Skynard, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels. And The O G’s The Allman Bros. Pretty Girls wearing Tight Jeans and Tube Tops. What an incredible time to be alive. As always Peace and Continued Success. I’m Tommy I’m 62 just smoked some Herb. Jamming out with both of you ❤

This band practiced relentlessly. Hours, days, weeks, months and years. ❤

The Oakland concert is a must-see. A month so later, the lead singer and others died in a plane crash.

An all time rock classic. The bass line through that whole instrumental section is not to be believed. Nice pick, you fellas are on top of your game right now.

The live from Knobworth? Is far more superior to watch. Camera on the band; opening for Rolling Stones; told to stay off the “tongue” part of the Stones stage…Ronnie instructs all guitarist to jam out on the tongue; plays over time of their set; Jagger is Pissed! LS statement- Follow That!

Allen Collins just goes off on this song. This was his song.

The best American rock song there's ever been

Gary Rossington did the slide work on this one, and Allen Collins did all the solo work when it kicks into gear. When playing live they would split up the solo between 3 guys, but on the record it’s all Allen Collins.

I’m going to be playing tambourine in a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band soon and I’m super excited!! 😂❤🤘🏻

Got to go backstage at a Journey & Lynryd Skynyrd concert in the 70s and met a couple of the Skynyrd boys. Down home, genuine guys, not a drop of pretentious energy.

Full circle. My first video I saw of yours was the live Free Bird! Triple guitar solo! Yeah boiii! 🎉🎉🎉

One of the best songs of all time, what a classic.

Living in Miami as a teen I went to the Orange Bowl for a concert in which Bruce Springsteen opened for Boston who opened for Skynyrd. All in the same night for about $15. which was unheard of since concerts were about $5 bucks. I believe it was in ’74. Bruce and Clarence walked up the isle while playing and that…blew minds. lol.

Pretty crazy that the guy famous for Sweet Home Alabama guitar work (Ed King) is actually playing bass on this.

One of the greatest guitar solos of all time. #ROCKON.

This was such an anthem that back in the day do matter what rock band you were seeing in concert someone in the audience would yell out a cheeky "Free Bird" request!

Airplay Beats-The Rock & Roll Music Doctors are passing out Subscriptions to make us feel better every day. Thanks, guys, for the great music and the best commentary duet on KZfaq.

Time keeps on tickin... This was their tribute to Skydog. My cousin opened a record store fall of '73, and I set up his sound system. His brother had just seen Skynyrd open for The Who at The Omni in Atlanta, and raved about them. This was in the first shipment of LPs and the first record played in the store.

This is what you call Rock n Roll. They are “rocking” out at the end…they turned the dial up to about 10 there. 🤘…and then they let you down after the climax and it just rides…😎

The rock n roll National Anthem

A great song from the most “southern cross” waving band of them all. You guys amaze me how well you avoid controversy. I respect you.

Dropping a comment for the algorithm. Pumped that you guys got to the studio version, what a banger!

Play as many versions as you can find, always fantastic. Thanks.

First album I ever bought and I played the shit out of it! So blessed to grow up with these guys.

The best live version of Freebird is from the Knebworth concert in England. They opened for the Stones. Mick told them not to stand on their tongue logo. LS boogie all over it! Classic!

Haven’t heard that in ages. Takes me way back. That was back in the day when you saw a cool album cover and you bought it.

I like how you guys just stared at each other at the end ..with a yaeh look

Their live album One More from the Road was one of the first five albums I bought, ca 1982.

Convicts number one request for 45 years now. .."this bird you cannot change."

Thank you for listening to the studio version first. ALWAYS listen to the original with great songs before live.

Love this band and this song so much! Women understand the idea of freedom too.

Before every football game from 78-82 in high school we played this before we took the field. Still gives me chills!!!

Hi! When Lon leans back and forth, it's like Jimmy came alive again!

Although not released until 1973, Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins actually wrote this song in 1970. Ronnie was born in 1948 so he was probably 22 when it was written and Allen, born in 1952, would have only been 18 years old.

You guys make me remember how good this music was before the 10000000 time of hearing it. I remember buying this album in 79.

when we were young our buddy had a ford fairlane we used to call it da ford.he would come by a bunch of us would hop in cruise around our block at about 5 mph smokin n jammin to freebird till the song was over then go back to the house n party all day,it was are pre party ritual.

Check out some .38 Special too. Another southern band that featured Donnie Van Zant (Ronnie's brother) as one of their singers. Rocking into the night, Hold on Loosely, Caught up in you are some good ones.

Builds for days!

I can't imagine listening to this song & thinking "you hear that rhythm guitar?" 😆 It'd be like listening to Jimmy Hendrix & saying "yo! You hear all that acoustic guitar?" 😂

The one thing that’s missing on the studio version is the piano playing by Billy Powell. He was a roadie who eventually became their piano player after Ronnie Van Zant heard him play. The version most of us listened to in the 70s was a live version from the album “One more from the road”. It was recorded in Atlanta and we know that because Ronnie famously says right before the slide solo by Gary Rossington to “play it pretty for Atlanta”. I think anyone alive in the 70s probably has that line permanently etched in their brains. It might be worth giving that version a listen to as well. I like your take on the ballad part being a quintessential guy song. I think the first half is the break up with the girl in the car in front of her house and the second part is the drive home alone doing about 80 with the windows rolled down! Great reaction…you guys are great!

Its always top notch music from Skynyrd. From the piano, to the slide guitar, to the drums to Allen Collins guitar.

Hard work made these men one of the tightest bands ever in my opinion! The hell house check that story out. ! ! !

Another reason I appreciate you two - you point out something I've never noticed and I've heard this song a million times. Thanks for that gentlemen

70's Southern Rock was unstoppable.

You know I think you two are the best. Knowledgeable, insightful, intelligent and great to watch. Since you have started this reaction journey, has anything surprised you two about the music you haven't heard prior?

Another great reaction guys. The ballad of Curtis Loew , a great Lynyrd song i think you guys would enjoy.

My favorite live version of this is from their live album in Atlanta. You can really hear the distinction between the two guitars in the solo.

Excellent review. "Ballad" beginning? I got turned onto these guys as a college freshman in August of 77. These guys were HOT back then. After the crash, they were legendary! I never heard the beginning described as a "ballad" because, the focus is always on the second half of the song. But you know what? Brother, you dead-on nailed the "ballad" portion. Righteous interpretation. Thanks y'all and keep doin' what you do so well. PEACE!

PLAY THE WHOLE ALBUM!!! One of the greatest 1st albums ever.

This and Stairway to heaven.......

If there was video of the cut from one more from the road would be insane. It’s by far the best recorded live version of Freebird

Late late night (in '74 or' 75) listening to FM radio before falling asleep. This comes on and I was bouncing of the walls. Pretty hard to sleep after that.

Knebsworth England where they opened for the stones and blew that place up! Is a good one

A lot of us were just fans of good kickass guitar solos back then, and this one was instantly iconic. And well just in general you could count on any Skynyrd album to deliver the goods, most of their albums were pretty solid top to bottom.

Make sure you listen to all the songs from that album. Every song that's on it should have been a hit.

Skynyrd released their 1st LP a couple of weeks prior to my 13th birthday in 73. They captured your musical soul instantly. They were special. Tragically, a little over 4 yrs later, it was over. So much great music in such a short window of time. They're all gone now, so RIP Freebirds ❤ Top shelf reaction, gentlemen. Quite possibly my favorite one so far ✌️

what a tune!! so glad you found it...

Every member in this band were excellent musicians. Even after Bob Burns left, Artimus Pyle is a great drummer. When Ed King left and was finally replaced by Steve Gaines, was a great addition to the band. Nothing second rate about these Guys.

For people interested in Lynyrd Skynyrd stories their long time roadie and crash survivor Craig Reed or AKA The Stoned Roadie has a YT channel where he has guest and discuss all things LS. He will answer questions and any money that his channel generates is given to the plane crash survivors still with us. BTW it is Craig Reed that Ronnie is singing about in song lyric from What’s Your Name - “Back at the hotel Lord we got such a mess It seems that one of the crew had a go with one of the guests, oh yes”. The “one of the crew” was Craig.

And, yes, Oakland Coliseum live version of this will open eyes above and beyond what you are listening to now.

YEAHHHHHHH

The version at Knebworth..... Oh WOW!

That there is what we call a guitar army down here in the south Bros. 😎

Its just a great song. Saw them do this twice live in 1976.

Thier songs are perfect for those moments when you just need to let it all out. I now think you'll love Nick Thurl Mavromatis' new song 🔥 Do a reaction video for it!

Their rhythm section was great too

You are really missing out not watching this live from Oakland Coliseum.. Just watching the guys playing their guitars is mind blowing. They have a blast.

One of the greatest guitar solos of all time… If you listen closely you’ll hear the acoustic guitar along with the rhythm guitar all played by Allen Collins and his solo at the end, Gary Rossington on the slide guitar through out the song he said in a interview that Allen Collins was Bad, Super Bad their producer Al Kooper played the organ beginning of the song. Not bad for some 19, 20 year old kids, Ronnie was probably around 22 my guess

And what it means to a kid just learning to play and put together a band... all these memories just come flooding back to me... I heard what every musician was doing... I really appreciate just how difficult it was in those days to recreate that song live... thanks guys for sharing some goosebumps and for me, some tears too... thumbs up

Guys the whole album is fire. Each song is different and awesome. Thanks for keeping Lynyrd Skynyrd alive for future generations.

Thank You sir. I've heard this song thousands of times and never noticed how awesome the acoustic guitar is!

effing enjoyed it a super lot. unbelievable musical content. theyard tttheyir song a couple days ago and I fell in love 🔥🔥🔥I'll leave you with a request. You have to react to October Ends' new song, it's mind-blowing!

On The Hunt - Winterland 1975

When I was young me and my friends would get together and jam this one, we had to just a great jam and we had 2 guitar players , we use to play Sabbath, Zep, Cream, Hendrix, BTO, The Stones just to name a few

Masterpiece....love this song...also in the Forrest gump sound track...

Top notch album, my favorite. Stands with any album front to rear. Saw them live after the crash and for a tribute to the fallen they played the music but asked us to sing. I get emotional just mentioning it never mind singing during the concert waving 10,000 bics changing to temp in the venue by 20 degrees. Best moment of any concert I've gone to. Thanks guys

You guys are the greatest with yor reactions! At 70, it warms my heart. Don't get me wrong with this song, but it came out at the height of my musical interests, I couldn't escape it , I heard it so much, I'm still tired of it, guess what really got me is that the riff in this song,being great was voted best of all time. Made me angry, there are about 25 other artists with much better solos. Jimi alone I can think of about 20 live songs, many others, as you guys are discovering!!

Song came out in 1973, I was 13 years old and in junior high school. Obviously, this song got extensive airplay and every guy in school could play the full solo on air guitar, typically using a tennis racket 😂

RIP Gary Rossington

You have to watch this live at Oakland just to see how hard the bass player is working.

You guys are the best.

Gentleman this is an iconic song. Skynyrd is in my top 5 bands. The musicianship was off the chain in this band. Thank you for exploring great music. Keep up the phenomenal job fellas…

Saw them 4 times all in the 90s except 2003.

An iconic album and song!! The message holds true to this day! Marvin voice, the fabulous Funk Brothers and the Detroit Sympony Orchestra and Bobbye Hall on bongos. A excellent reaction fellas!!! It was greatly appreciated 👏 😊❤

It was a damn shame that plane crashed when it did. Their latest member Crawdaddy (Steve Gaines) guitarist, writer, singer was going to take this band to a new level. His sister Cassie one of the back up singers (The Honkettes) and Steve both died in the crash. He was the only member who sang lead on one of their songs on an album pre plane crash. Steve also sang co lead with Ronnie and co wrote You Got That Right. He also wrote the guitar boogie I know A Little. Check out the song Ain't No Good Life from their last album. You'll see what I mean.

Thank you for doing the studio version!! I like it best, no matter how good the live version is. And my favorite guitar(s) solo ever.

Thanks for returning to the studio version!! ❤🔥👍✌️😎

Thank you kindly for any Lynyrd Skynyrd reaction. With that said, I'm always looking forward to any of your reactions to Southern Rock. Peace Out 😊✌️

Took guitarist Allen Collins more than a year to write this. All those individual notes, every barely perceptible nuance throughout- like every star in the Milky Way- every last note as vital as any life-supporting star..

Song was dedicated in Duane Allman's memory. Hence the slide guitar

Love Lynyrd Skynyrd! The live version is great lovely how he makes the guitar sound like a bird gorgeous.

Funny thing about this song was the radio edit. AM radio station version faded out at the guitar solo!!

Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines and even Ed King were up there with the greatest guitar players. No one stepping on each others toes, just blended together amazingly. One of my favorite bands & they are sorely missed❤

When I was in jr high and high school, this was always the last song at school dances.

Classic!