Free [Original recording remastered]

Fontella Bass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00004W5MV
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,956 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. To Be Free

2. Hold on This Time

3. I Want Everyone to Know

4. I Need to Be Loved

5. Talking About Freedom

6. I Need Love

7. Wiping Tears

8. Now That I Found a Good Thing

9. Who You Gonna Blame

10. It Sure Is Good [*]

11. I'm Leaving the Choice to You [*]

12. Homewrecker [*]

13. It's Hard to Get Back In [*]

14. My God, My Freedom, My Home

15. Rescue Me [New Version]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obscure album deserves status of soul classic, May 18, 2006

By 

Peter E. Johansen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free (Audio CD)

I first heard Fontella Bass singing with Art Ensemble of Chicago (she was married to trumpeter Lester Bowie) on the sublime album Les Stances a Sophie. Her voice sounded so good to me I immediately ordered this CD, and I'm sure happy I did. But The Art Ensemble of Chicago is definitely not the best reference point for what this particular album sounds like, which is much more in the vein of Aretha Franklin, or at times Nina Simone, and she has a voice that holds its own with either of these great singers. This album just works, one great song after another. Political at times, but certainly not preachy. Mostly just top-shelf gospel-influenced soul music, with a tight backing band (unfortunately not listed). The strings, when they are present, are edgy enough not to make the album ever sound too overproduced. In short, I think if you are interested in delving into late-sixties/early-70s soul past the obvious masters, then you really can't go wrong with this album.