Lynyrd Skynyrd Ultimate Collection CD

Import only three disc set from the greatest Southern Rock band of all-time! The first two discs contain 28 of their greatest studio recordings including 'Free Bird', 'That Smell' and 'Sweet Home Alabama' plus 'Down South Jukin' (Demo), 'All I Can Do Is Write About It' (Acoustic) and 'Four Walls Of Raiford' (Undubbed Demo). Disc Three features eight live tracks including 'Gimme Back My Bullets', 'Workin' For MCA' and 'Saturday Night Special'. 36 tracks total. Universal. 2006.

With the overabundance of Lynyrd Skynyrd compilations having swamped the marketplace for decades by this point, titling a latter-day Skynyrd comp Ultimate Collection is a pretty bold move. But let's give credit where credit is due -- this triple-disc, 36-track set from 2006 does indeed deliver on the promise of its title, as every single Skynyrd classic is featured, as well as quite a few oft-overlooked album cuts. While some would debate that the Allman Brothers were the first-ever Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd were the first to truly incorporate the sounds of the South into good time, rowdy rock & roll -- as evidenced throughout this set. Included are all the great Skynyrd classics, such as radio standards "Sweet Home Alabama," "Free Bird," (which is included twice -- as both studio and jam-heavy live versions), "What's Your Name," "Saturday Night Special," and "Gimme Three Steps." As longtime Skynyrd fans will attest, however, there are countless album cuts that were just as strong as their hits, including "Simple Man," "I Ain't the One," and "On the Hunt," among others. And while they're known first and foremost as rockers, Skynyrd certainly had their more tranquil moments, tops of which is the gorgeous forlorn ballad, "Tuesday's Gone." There's a reason why Lynyrd Skynyrd are widely considered one of the greatest rock bands to ever come out of the U.S., and Ultimate Collection covers all the bases. ~ Greg Prato

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals); Ed King (guitar, bass instrument); Gary Rossington, Allen Collins (guitar); Billy Powell (keyboards); Leon Wilkeson (bass instrument, background vocals); Artimus Pyle (drums, percussion); Robert Burns (drums).