This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Lynyrd Skynyrd 1969-1970 Shade Tree Records Original 45rpm Single
Item Details: This exceptionally rare 1970 Shade Tree Records 45 rpm release represents a monumental piece of Southern rock history, limited to just 300 copies worldwide. Recorded in Jacksonville, Florida, before the band finalized their iconic name, this historic vinyl features the earliest studio versions of 'Need All My Friends' and 'Michelle.' Sourced directly from the private archive of Shade Tree’s founders, the item boasts impeccable provenance: the studio originally signed the group in 1969 as The One Percent, witnessing their historic evolution into Lynyrd Skynyrd before the band relocated. Presumed lost for decades until their spectacular rediscovery in 1997, these museum-quality artifacts are now available to the public, accompanied by a thumb drive containing pristine WAV audio transfers.
Provenance / Authenticity: The items in this lot are historic offerings originating directly from the private archive of the founders of Shade Tree Records in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1969, the studio signed a promising local band called The One Percent to a five-year recording contract. Over the next year, the group evolved their moniker first to Lynard Skynard and finally to the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd, laying down their earliest foundational studio tracks at Shade Tree before buying out their contract and relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, to sign with Sounds of the South. These invaluable artifacts were safely packed away and presumed lost to time until their spectacular rediscovery in 1997.
Lynyrd Skynyrd emerged from Jacksonville, Florida, and helped define Southern rock by pairing a three-guitar attack with Ronnie Van Zant's plainspoken songwriting about working-class Southern life. After signing with Al Kooper's Sounds of the South label, the band released its 1973 debut album, which included "Free Bird," "Simple Man" and "Tuesday's Gone," and followed it with "Sweet Home Alabama," a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. The group's rise was cut short by the October 1977 plane crash that killed Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, yet its catalog remained a fixture of rock radio, and Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Condition: The record is in good graded condition, showing multiple instances of surface wear and scratches appropriate for its age. While the vinyl remains very playable, these surface marks do create audible pops and clicks during playback, though the record plays through completely with no skips.
SKU: MBC2006