Music Radar asked fans “what’s the GREATEST guitar solo ever? Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” featuring Allen Collins’ unforgettable playing, has earned its legacy as a Southern rock masterpiece. Originally released in November 1974, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” was successful at the time as it reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the iconic track is a rare example of a song that seemed to become more of a hit in the years and decades that followed.