(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

I kept asking for them to play 'free bird' and then they did.

Come on. This is such a great album. Half of the songs are all time classics. Tuesday, 3 Steps, Simple Man, Free Bird. There's only 8 songs on the album and four of them are not just classic, but all time classics. What a great album!

On the one hand, this Southern fried album has a lot of great tracks that I remember from growing up and listening to it in the South. On the other hand, it's hard to ignore the rift between the band and Neil Young (though he would later come to temper that somewhat). But Neil was spot on that the band was racist and rocking the confederate flag at their shows. After everything that has happened in our country since this came out, I can honestly say, it's hate not heritage-- and that makes it hard to want to hear.

This is such a conflict. Do you reject what you know b/c the band members are racist assholes? I know that good can come from a trash heap. That people grow and growth is fucking hard. It is not linear. Once I held many of the same views. That we are toxic when we are hurting. There's maybe something really great here in this album but also it is a terrible place to stay or be stuck. I can't fully reject the South. It's in my heart so I can't fully walk away from this album. But I can't listen to it without all the extra convos that come with it. That makes it so goddamn weighty for something that is supposed to rock.

I mean, "Tuesday's Gone," "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man," and "Free Bird" all on the same album. How you gonna argue with that? I almost gave this a 4 but I couldn't actually come up with anything wrong with the album especially given the release date. I sometimes find myself a bit put off by Van Zant's penchant for socio-political posturing but, for 1973, several of these songs are super pointed and progressive. That's worth a star.

Love Tuesdays Gone thanks to Happy Gilmore. Likewise Free Bird which was the perfect soundtrack for running over prostitutes on GTA

I’ve enjoyed each song I’ve heard by Lynyrd Skynyrd, but never listened to an album in full. One of my friends (who I co-host a music review show with on YouTube) went through a phase where he was very much into country rock and always encouraged me to try Skynyrd. Naturally, I ignored him because he’s an idiot. Songs I already knew: Tuesday’s Gone, Gimme Three Steps, Simple Man, Free Bird Favourites: Tuesday’s Gone, Free Bird, Things Goin’ On Much like other songs of legendary status, it’s hard to imagine a time before Free Bird. I feel this way with songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Hey Jude, and Barbie Girl. They’re all amazing songs that feel like they’ve existed forever (hey, calm down, Barbie Girl is a banger). This album from front to back is full of amazing tracks. Free Bird is long, but keeps things different enough to never get boring. The vocals are fairly simple, but it adds a lot of charm. The general music itself isn’t too perfect like lots of modern day music. Its slight flaws in timing here and there make it feel more real and less manufactured. Overall, an amazing album. Maybe I should have listened to my friend many years ago. He is still an idiot though.

Music to empty the bar.

Why would I need a Greatest Hits album? This exists. Only truly "weak" spot is "Poison Whiskey," but then "Freebird" comes right after that and southern rock nirvana is achieved, so it balances out.

Giving this a 4 because the first half of the album is much better than the last (save Free Bird), but this is still phenomenal, especially for a debut album. Love the blues elements and even the country twang Already Saved: Free Bird Saved After Listening: Tuesday's Gone, Simple Man

Nö…

The absolute peak of Southern Rock. These Skynyrd boys have it all, from rock solid bass and drums to beautiful piano and crunchy organ, not to mention their three-guitar army and killer southern vocals. The band stays mostly in the rock and blues genre, but crafts songs with surprising diversity and intentionality; no two songs sound quite the same. Even in their wildest moments, the band never gets sloppy or chaotic; all guitar solo work is carefully planned and expertly executed. Simply a joy to hear. Also, "Free Bird" is a masterpiece; How a band can get three guitarist to arpeggiate in harmony for that long is beyond me. Stand out tracks include "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man", "Mississippi Kid", and "Free Bird".

Ah, brings back so many fond memories with my mildly racist father. I don't really support the band anymore, but the nostalgia here hits oh so hard.

Good old Southern Boogie Woogie. Not something I'd listen to again though. However, I'm sure I'll hear Free Bird another 10,000 times in my lifetime.

I can't tell if I've just grown out of 5 minute guitar solos or if this really just missed the mark hard for me. Felt really forgettable with no stand out moments, and I don't think any of the songs on here are ones I'd actively seek listening to again.

One of the best

An album from the Southern U.S. that embraces what it is, and because of that, it soars to excellence.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Three Guitar Army and Ronnie Van Zant's growl resonate deep in my bones. These songs feel surprisingly like home. Maybe it's because Gimme Three Steps was one of the songs that my brother's garage band rehearsed in our basement. (We did not have a garage.) My brother must've had a Greatest Hits album on 8-Track or something because several of these sound familiar but not all of them. I've never heard this whole album before, I'm sure of that. At least 3 songs mention guns but I don't think they ever get used, just held threateningly. I said "uh-oh" when they started talking about the ghetto in Things Goin' On but the rest of the words seemed ok and then the honky-tonk piano came in sounding exactly like something Paul Williams would write for the Muppets or Bugsy Malone and I was totally charmed. I prefer the upbeat songs like I Ain't the One, Gimme Three Steps, and Things Goin' On to the ballads but I cannot deny that Free Bird is a great song even if it's nine minutes long and I've heard it a million times. If I get to see the original Skynyrd line-up in the afterlife, you bet I'll ask to hear Free Bird.

2/5 Ja, es ist gute Musik, es ist nichts falsch daran. Aber ich disassoziiere aus Langeweile. Ich höre 2 Gitarren mit Vocals,Bass, Drums Wer sind die 7 Leute auf dem Cover, schwingt der Rest die Confederate flag? Freebird ist ein guter Track

I imagine this is music people would like to have sex too.

Better than I remembered. Been years since listening to this from top to bottom.

Love every bit of it. Things Goin' On was a new find for me

An amazing debut album. But honestly if free bird were the only good song on the album I would probably still have to give the album a 5 -one of the most epic guitar solos ever. But that’s not the case, as all the songs are really good and Three steps, simple man, Tuesday’s gone are all pretty great. Album cover is great, just the band hanging out. Very sad, everyone on that cover has passed. No current surviving members of the band which is very unusual. After the plane crash and loss of many in the band it was never the same, seemed more like a tribute band. An the name of the band is great!

I've mostly avoided Lynyrd Skynyrd my whole life. I'm not sure really why. The meme of Freebird might be the reason. Growing up my parent's listened mostly to classic country, outlaw country and classic rock and roll. So those were my building blocks. Later in life I learned to play the harmonica and became fascinated with the Blues. Anyway this album feels like a concentrated collection of my personal history with music.

Rock & roll de la vieja escuela.

Quintessential blues rock. If I were to show classic rock to aliens, this would probably be the top candidate. It's loud and energetic with both short hard songs and longer softer songs. And it swaps between short then long back to short and so forth to not get tiring. Now usually I'd get bored with such long songs, but if you listen to "Tuesday's Gone", the instruments vary so often throughout the song, taking turns with leads. Just start listening from the piano solo to hear what I mean. It also has a different drum sound from the other songs. "Gimme Three Steps" sounds like their later song "What's your name" but since it's not the same album it doesn't count. Each song is distinctive and inviting with catchy tunes and poppy lyrics, and the back vocals during the choruses help audience participation. With the 2nd side you can actually convince someone why it's called "blues" rock but a lot of people can get bored by it. I still think they're strong tracks. Love that old-timey piano solo in "Things goin on". Also "Mississippi Kid" gets bonus points for me just so happening to be passing through Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans, visiting the Delta Blues Museum. "Poison Whiskey", especially the solos, does sound lazier and uninnovative than the other tracks, but I do sorta like that hard piano sound. And finally there's the most famous rock song of all time "Free Bird". I don't have much to say other than what I aready said. Great song, and the length does not hinder it. Love when it goes higher pace around 4:35. I will comment is that the ending felt anticlimatic. Overall fantastic influential album that define the era, with bangers all throughout. Despite the flaws, I still believe it deserves the 5 stars.

About as perfect an A-side as you can have... oh and then there's Freebird!

I remember the first time my dad put this album on. We were at my grandparents house one sunday while they were installing a ceiling fan in and other stuff. I was 10 at the time, and man, this album had me moving my head and hadn't heard anything like this before. Now, I was used to rock, we'd listen to CCR, Sabbath, The Beatles etc, but this southern rock was something else, man. Listening to "Gimme Three Steps" still takes me back to sitting in that wicker chair and grooving, and my little mind being blown....and subsequently kinda bored after a while with "Freebird" but still, lol. every damn song is perfect on the album, no notes!

[[music]], [[rock music]], [[blues]] #music #rock #blues I've heard the name a lot but never listened to them fully. Everyone knows Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird but aside from that? need to listen more. I Aint The One - Great tone setting song. really loved the vibes of it being 70s music rock for sure Tuesday's Gone - Country feeling but seeing as they're southern rock, makes sense. Blues feelings as well. Long song, bit slow but still nice to listen probably Gimme Three Steps - Vibey, dancey song. Love it. great bass and guitar mix Simple Man - Lovely message. Be a simple man. Great story about mom and son too. What's not to love? It's one of the most popular songs of theirs on the album Things Goin On - Blues guitar focused. Alright. Mississippi Kid - Guitar focused. Love the rhythym and sound Poison Whiskey - Love the sound of this song. Great start with the guitar, the drums and guitar working together Free Bird - Classic Free Bird 4/5 stars

50% of this album is all time classic songs. Of the rest Things Goin' On is great, Mississippi Kid is good and the other two are mercifully short. If you take away the band's history and bullshit confederate flags it'd be an easy 5 but this defining 'Southern' so much for the worse means I can't separate the art from the artist as much as I'd like.

I'll confess to having only really listened to a couple of Skynyrd's biggest hits. You can't avoid "Freebird", it's become woven into pop culture, although as it and those around in the 70s have aged, it's faded. I gotta say this is an impressive debut album, self-assured and fully fleshed-out. Having "heard it all" at this stage in life, I am impressed with "Tuesday's Gone" which I think I've heard before. I did, however, want it to be over half-way through, instead of it repeating itself with riffs on top ad infinitum, but that tends to be how I feel about a lot of classic rock I missed that I've gone back to... "Gimmie Three Steps" is one of those hits I've heard. Didn't know it nor "Free Bird" were on the debut album. Classic rock riffs and solos. "Simple Man" I hadn't known but learned last year, as a friend who died had requested it be played at the memorial service. I can appreciate its earnestness more through my friend's love of the song He was a good, good dude. Hey there's seven people on the album cover... did they really need that many to make this record? --- Okay, checked out the comments. Folks, I can't help but notice there's no racism nor is there a confederate flag on the album cover or in the lyrics. The only political-leaning song complains about Vietnam and the government not protecting the people from the effects of pollution, and instead spending money on going to the moon. "Help the poor", it seems to say. You want to argue against any of that? I'm trying to take this journey like a visitor from another planet, without relying so heavily on all the baggage surrounding the record and the people who made it. It's impossible to completely leave your biases at the door but it's a fun exercise while going through these albums. The more I think about "southern rock" and sunburned jerks in tank tops that used to be t-shirts drinking American whiskey in front of a confederate flag, the less I like this record. The more I just focus on the music, the more I like it.

This is one of those albums that absolutely blows my mind to find out it was the bands first album. Nearly prefect with some of the bands biggest hits. And then to end it with Free Bird may be one of the biggest mic drops in musical history. Really enjoyed this one!

FREE BIRD!! Great classic rock album. 8.5/10

Tuesday's Gone is an excellent ballad. You have to be very confident with your soloing to put a guitar solo before the first verse. The solo after the first verse is also mighty fine as are the good 'ole boys' southern rock harmonies. Things Going On is quite clearly an anti-segregation song. This is interesting given that one of the band's slightly more popular songs led to allegations that Ronnie was pro Wallace. Some of the "filler"on side 2 is really quite good. The Mississippi blues song Mississippi Kid shows their prowess with the broken coke bottle and the anti-alcohol song Poison Whisky has is also an excellent jam. Free Bird is the best song in the album and the band's second best song overall - next to that tune about folks in Birmingham loving Wallace.

This album has some really nice moments on it, and despite the fact that this type of music sounds stereotypically southern now, it only became that way because of this band At the same time, the album sags in places. I've never been a huge fan of Free Bird, perhaps because I grew up in the Beavis and Butthead era when this song was already a meme. Trying to listen to it with fresh ears is hard as a result. I think that it's a pretty enough song, but not the all time great the way it tends to be portrayed by people who really like it. Fuck it, 4/5 by the skin of it's teeth. Maybe I like Free Bird after all. Or at least, I like 4/5ths of Free Bird. That song could have been shut down a full minute earlier with no negative impact

weirdly enough, free bird was my least favorite part of this. really surprisingly enjoyable as an album, good length. 8/10

Lynyrd Skynyrd were at the top of their game when they released their debut album. Excellent songwriting, perfected tone, and THE GUITARS! Oh man, this is guitar heaven. Can't call yourself a fan of rock until you've heard Skynyrd absolutely tear it up. Good album.

Gritty, raw, and delightful

Sweet home Alabama extended versions, alt takes and mixes, + hit single Free Bird.

The epitome of southern "hard" rock - really exemplary. Better than their follow up album, 'Most of Us Are Dead"

average

much guitar. lots of hits

Let’s for a moment do something Lynyrd Skynyrd never quite got around to doing - forget about the confederate flag. “Tuesday’s Gone” is a treat and “Simple Man” is a great tune. But the only real reason this debut album is on the list is because of its legendary closing track. Not quite enough in itself. But almost.

I am trusting the process with this site, but I will be damned if I don't keep getting sent total stinkers for albums to trudge through. Classic rock (which has now been coined Dinosaur rock by the younger generations, because I guess they use Oldies for something else...) purists will tell you this is one of the best albums of all time by a legendary band who helped invent southern rock. I am not one of those people.

At the time, I’m sure that collecting the sounds of a hoe down mixing it with blues guitar noodling and an over reliance on southern stereotypes was magic to a select group of young people who were inundated with the psychedelic sounds of the late 60s. There is no doubt that Sweet Home Alabama is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Stairway to heaven and there are some remarkable similarities in the way both songs start pastoral and build to an anthem. The similarities stop there. This album is a rather boring and dreary affair and best left to those folks who thought the 8:33 of Sweet Home was the whole album.

I guess maybe it’s necessary to separate the original incarnation of the band from what they became, since we can’t really tell whether Ronnie Van Zant would’ve made the same decisions that the band did, had he lived. Maybe they were more liberal-minded in the early days and Sweet Home Alabama really is a skewering of conservative policies and values and they actually didn’t care for segregationist governor George Wallace - which would make sense with the “Boo Boo Boo” chant following his mention in the song, but it’s contradicted by accounts that Van Zant did, in fact, like Wallace by Skynyrd bassist Ed King and Charlie Daniels. One thing that overlaps both versions of this band is the use of the Confederate Flag in their imagery and stage shows. That was kind of a constant and is also a choice where their intent is unclear. It’s been explained away by the band that their record label, MCA, encouraged them to use the flag as a way to accent their Southernness and rebellious nature, but they also continued to associate themselves with it in their merchandise and stage shows for nearly 40 years following the band’s formation. Accepting the charitable interpretation, that Skynyrd merely used the flag as a marketing ploy, leaves us with an explanation: Lynyrd Skynyrd was fine with being tied to all the things that flag stood for, so long as they made money off of it, which is…a different kind of awful. So Skynyrd has left us with a choice to make: Do we accept their explanation that they were just playing the game, that they were actually more socially progressive, but had to lean into stereotype to make money? There’s an old saying, “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything” and I think that applies here. By adopting the rebel flag, they’ve forever tied themselves to its history and whatever good intentions they may have had outside of that are tarnished by the flag’s legacy. …and like I said, that’s the charitable explanation.

No

On their debut, Lehner Skinnerd manages to sound like 3 people playing while being 6 people (7 on the cover?) in the band. Impressive. While much more authentic than the southern rock coming out of Creedence Clearwater Revival (as authentic you can get by telling the stories of hardship in the south from the point of view of some white guys), songs about guns and god just doesn't do it for me. Overall, the album just feels like one long wait until 'Free Bird' finally kicks in, and although that's a legendary track, I'm not quite sure it's worth it sitting through the first 7 songs.

Free Bird is a good tune, the rest not so great

Blegh. In researching this album, I’ve dug up some archival transcripts from a real conversation between Allen Collins and Al Kooper: AK: You know what’d be great? A guitar solo to end the album AC: Oh hell yeah, sounds cool, man! People love solos! What are you thinking? AK: Make it…. Long AC: Ahhh great, brother! Like a minute-long closer?! AK: No. Longer. AC: …2 minutes? AK: Try 4. AC: Uhhh but I only know like five licks AK: Bah, so much to learn, Leh-nerd. You just gotta repeat them a bunch! Like, I’m talking multiple bars of the same thing. And when your five riffs run dry, just bend the strings! Trust me, the audience won’t know the difference. AC: Hmm what about my artistic integrity? AK: BROTHER JUST REPEAT IT. WE’LL FADE IT OUT AT THE END. (Free Bird would go on to inspire millions) Official count of unique riffs in Free Bird: 7

Boring

One good song. Free bird.

This stinks

Freeeeeeee Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiird! And so many other classics.

Great debut

Top tier southern rock.

Fantastoic

Good

Not your average southern rock. Simple Man, Tuesday's Gone, and of course the deservedly epic Freebird are standout tracks on this album. Southern twang oozes throughout this album but it is somehow not relegated to that genre. This is rock, pure and simple. It's honest, easy, and keeps moving after so many years.

Favorite tracks: Simple Man, I Ain't the One, Free Bird How was this their debut album? This is pretty much the definition of southern rock, and while it's not my favorite style of rock I really enjoyed this album. The composition was also great and kept me interested bouncing from harder rock to ballads, and of course ending on Free Bird (which is about twice as long as it needs to be, but is still a great listen)

Just about as good as it gets. An incredible first half of the album and the legendary Free Bird ends the album. What an amazing debut. RIP Ronnie & crew. 9.75/10 (4.875/5)

It should be no wonder that this band became and has remained as big as they have. I was surprised that songs that I knew so well were actually skynyrd songs, knowing mostly their later work. It was/ is great

Great album

5/5. A southern-rock classic, with so many great songs, including Free Bird, truly the best guitar solo ever, and that's not an exaggeration. Sure, some of the songs are not perfect but the album as a whole holds up even today. Even the lyrics ride that line of older progressive country and current (for the time) rock and roll themes. It's a great listen front to back and also a great road trip album too, no other notes, just jamming to free bird one more time. Best Song: Free Bird, Simple Man, Gimme Three Steps, Things Goin' On

Wonderful wonderful. Always associate with my mum and Free Bird but this is so much more fun and rock than that! Every song great.

Damn. I didn't expect to give this a 5. Not exactly my taste. But I just can't deny how great it is. I obviously have heard all the hits before. And they're good. Can't deny the talent. And the rest of the songs are great too.

Yup, perfect Southern Rock record. These boys were shreddin'.

DNF'd. 3 tracks in this is not for me. Drunk Bob Dylan head ass

Despite Freebird being a bit of a meme at this point, it still absolutely kicks ass. Simple Man is a bit of a cliche as well but I can get get on board. Tuesday's Gone is in unironically just a great song and sprinkled thought those three rock giants are a handful of other well written and well performed blues inspires, southern rock hits. I almost feel weird about it, Lynyrd Skynyrd have become adopted as a symbol of southern values, many of which is I definitely don't share, but if I try to removed the preconceived notions of what (in the eyes of some) they represent, this is a real solid rock album that absolutely has its time and place and I would love to have as a part of my core collection.

If you don't love this album, I'm sure that we can't be friendly.

Absolute bangers!

Heard free bird and simple man. Had no idea the whole record was a banger. What a debut

Yes, I daresay they were a bit redneck and racist but they're all dead and the music is fantastic.

Loved this album - solid rock. Includes classic hits like "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man," and the iconic "Free Bird".

Mainstay of southern rock

What a great album. I've never heard the whole thing before now. Definitely worth owning on vinyl.

FREEEEEEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRRRD

Being Florida born and raised, there is an obligation here to respect my cultural heritage: flip flops, cut-offs, beer in koozies, lawn chairs, mosquitos and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Or in proper Floridian vernacular: I'll tell you what, this album is as good as the day is long.

Damn these guys were good.

Helluva debut album.

First off… it’s Lynyrd Skynyrd… classic. I would have to say the 70’s was a great era for albums that can be listened to front to back. The whole album has an amazing sound. Also has great hits like, “simple man”, and “free bird”.

great album

Excellent. One of my dad’s favourites.

What do I even say? Free Bird absolutely steals the show, however every other song is great in its own right. For the most this, this is everything I want in a rock album. Only thing holding it back is probably just some dull moments. I imagine after 2 or 3 listens, though, that I wouldn't feel that way anymore. This album truly has some amazing hits and some lesser known tracks that still hold together a really good listening experience.

gotta be 5 stars

Excelente!

Tuesday's Gone, Simple Man, and Free Bird all on a debut album? I mean come on!

Ja, een klassieker he. Foute dad-rock, maar dan op de goeie manier. 4.5

Man I didn't realize how much I was missing out on Lynyrd Skynard's music, especially when it comes to their debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). I don't mean to be handing out 5 stars like candy but god damn have I just been listening to banger after banger after banger all week long, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut happens to be one hell of Rock album. I may not be too familiar with Southern Rock as a whole other than some of Creedence Clearwater's greatest hits, but this album is a huge collection of some of the best songs the genre has to offer. While I do respect Lynyrd Skynyrd for trying to show off a more friendly and "cultured" version of the south, I do not condone or respect any of their usages of confederate flag media as I find their reasoning to be wildly out of touch and downright stupid. With that being said these white boys from down in the boonies sure can make a tune or two. This album is full of that sweet southern charm oozing off of each track with the help of Ronnie Van Zant's powerful vocals and lyrical abilities and some of the best guitar parts the 70s has to offer all in one 43 minute project. We all know this project is a classic and a truly iconic piece of Rock, but man do I wish I realized that sooner. Oh well, now it will go down as one of my all time favorites and for damn good reasons.

Always skipped this band, and mostly thought i only know Alabama, but there are so many songs here i know. And given a deep spin, they bloom. Surely will listen to LS more now

Great album. Classics I didn’t know were Skynard

This Bird You Cannot Change 1001 Albums Generator 103 (08/25/2025) I'm going to be honest. I always mispronounce Lynyrd Skynyrd, even though they literally have an album that instructs the reader how to pronounce it. However you choose to say it, this is a wonderful album. There are four (count 'em FOUR) all time classic songs here, and the other four songs aren't bad either. Tuesday's Gone and Simple Man always get me kind of emotional (me and my mom danced to Simple Man at my wedding), while Gimme Three Steps is the most fun song on the whole thing, and Free Bird is of course an absolute classic of guitarmania. Other than these hits, the opening I Ain't The One is a lot of fun. Things Goin' On is just okay, but it's not bad. The acoustic Mississippi Kid is the only song I didn't really like, and Poison Whiskey almost proggy. Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut is a true titan of classic Southern rock. It's a 4.5/5, rounded UP to a 5/5! Favs: Tuesday's Gone Gimme Three Steps Free Bird Least Fav: Mississippi Kid

Southern Rock! Now we are speaking my language! Don’t think too hard! Close your eyes and enjoy. Just give me three steps… Might not objectively be a five star album, but I’m not sure that I can be objective about this one.

5/5 - Southern Rock in its purest form. - Boisterous and rowdy, fun - At times quiet and reflective - Blues-infused (truly) Good Ol' Boys - Hell of a debut record. Gimme 5 Stars.

A pure classic album, perfect for me!

I never think of this as one of the all time great rock albums but it’s pretty much all killer no filler. Contains three classics and the rest are pretty great too.

Tuesdays Gone, Simple Man, and Free Bird all on 1 album.

Free bird changed the Forza stunts forever

Really good. I did not know they made Simple Man, Tuesdays Gone, and I ain't the one. Great album i thought they were just Freebird

5. Doesn't really feel like a connected theme, more like a best hits album? But it's a great best hits album. Killer rock band