This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/9/2026
Offered Here: Lynyrd Skynyrd 1970 Shade Tree Records Master Tapes: Earliest Known Studio Version of "If I'm Wrong", "No One Can Take Your Place", "He's Alive" and "Free Bird." This is an unparalleled, monumental piece of rock and roll history featuring a Scotch brand 1-inch roll of magnetic master tape on a 10-inch reel containing the earliest known studio recordings of the definitive Southern rock anthem "Free Bird," the rare track "If I'm Wrong," "No One Can Take Your Place," and an outtake of "He's Alive." Documented in mid-1970, these historic performances predate the famous October 1970 demo sessions at Quinvy Studios in Sheffield, Alabama, as well as the band's official 1973 debut album release. The tape originates directly from the private archive of the founders of Shade Tree Records in Jacksonville, Florida, who famously signed the band under their original name, The One Percent, to a five-year contract before the group transitioned their moniker to Lynard Skynard and ultimately Lynyrd Skynyrd. After the band bought out their contract to relocate to Atlanta and sign with Sounds of the South, these master tracks were safely packed away and presumed lost until their spectacular rediscovery in 1997. This museum-grade piece has been preserved for nearly five decades and is now available to the public for the first time, representing the ultimate crown jewel for any premier music archive or serious rock memorabilia collection.
Provenance/Authenticity: These historic master tapes originate directly from the private archive of Shade Tree Records founders in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1969, the studio signed Lynyrd Skynyrd, then called The One Percent. The tapes were preserved and rediscovered in 1997, highlighting their historical significance in rock music. The six tracks that the band recorded with Shade Tree Records are, Need All My Friends, Michelle, No One Can Take Your Place, If I'm Wrong, He's Alive, and the iconic, Free Bird.
Condition: The 1-inch tapes are housed in their original studio boxes, including the primary box bearing the authentic vintage inscription "CUT TWO - TAILS OUT" alongside the post-rediscovery label "FREE BIRD (The hit from the past)." The entire lot is offered in very good, "as-is" condition with standard signs of age, handling, and studio storage. To facilitate listening and immediate archiving, this lot also includes a modern thumb drive containing high-quality WAV audio transfers of these historic tracks from all three reels.
SKU: MBC1001