The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd, is a two-disc compilation of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the peak years of its classic lineup (1971–1977). The double album was remastered and re-released in 2006 as part of Universal's Gold series.

Disc one

 * 1) "Sweet Home Alabama" (Ed King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 4:45
 * 2) "I Ain't the One" (Rossington, Van Zant) – 3:54
 * 3) "Was I Right or Wrong?" (Rossington, Van Zant) – 5:24
 * 4) "Gimme Three Steps" (Allen Collins, Van Zant) – 4:31
 * 5) "Workin' for MCA" (King, Van Zant) – 4:48
 * 6) "Simple Man" (Rossington, Van Zant) – 5:58
 * 7) "Swamp Music" (King, Van Zant) – 3:32
 * 8) "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" (Collins, Van Zant) – 4:52
 * 9) "Saturday Night Special" (King, Van Zant) – 5:12
 * 10) "Mr. Banker" (King, Rossington, Van Zant) – 5:22
 * 11) "Comin' Home" (Original version) (Collins, Van Zant) – 5:30
 * 12) "Call Me the Breeze" (J.J. Cale) – 5:09
 * 13) "Free Bird" (Collins, Van Zant) – 9:10

Disc two

 * 1) "What's Your Name?" (Rossington, Van Zant) – 3:33
 * 2) "Whiskey Rock-a-Roller" (Live) (King, Billy Powell, Van Zant) – 4:16
 * 3) "Tuesday's Gone" (Collins, Van Zant) – 7:34
 * 4) "Double Trouble" (Collins, Van Zant) – 2:50
 * 5) "I Know a Little" (Steve Gaines) – 3:28
 * 6) "Four Walls of Raiford" (Undubbed demo) (Jeff Carlisi, Van Zant) – 4:14
 * 7) "I Never Dreamed" (Gaines, Van Zant) – 5:21
 * 8) "Gimme Back My Bullets" (Live) (Rossington, Van Zant) – 3:42
 * 9) "You Got That Right" (Gaines, Van Zant) – 3:47
 * 10) "All I Can Do Is Write About It" (Acoustic version) (Collins, Van Zant) – 4:24
 * 11) "That Smell" (Collins, Van Zant) – 5:51
 * 12) "Free Bird" (Live)" (Collins, Van Zant) – 13:41


 * Disc 1, Tracks 1, 5, 7-8, 12 from Second Helping (1974)
 * Disc 1, Tracks 2, 4, 6, and 13 and Disc 2, Track 3 from (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)
 * Disc 1, Track 3 from Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)
 * Disc 1, Track 9 from Nuthin' Fancy (1975)
 * Disc 1, Track 10 from Legend (1987)
 * Disc 2, Tracks 1, 5, 7, 9, and 11 from Street Survivors (1977)
 * Disc 2, Tracks 2 and 12 from One More from the Road (1976)
 * Disc 2, Track 4 from Gimme Back My Bullets (1976)
 * Disc 2, Tracks 6, 8, and 10 from the Lynyrd Skynyrd Box Set (1991)
 * Disc 1, Track 11 is previously unreleased (1998)

Live songs

 * Disc 2, Track 2 recorded 7/7/1976 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Disc 2, Tracks 8 and 12 recorded 7/8/1976 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia