Customer Reviews

Free: Heavy Load

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The hit single. Nothing makes or breaks a band quicker. In the late `60s and early `70s, it was the difference between Rock and Roll Immortality and the cut-out bin. Unlike today's processed test tube swill, where a single is nothing more than the song on the CD with the stupidest chorus, a hit in those days was usually a happy accident. There were many great bands that would have certainly faded away, or worse, never have been heard, if it wasn't for their signature tunes. I mean, how many people, except for fanatics like me, would have heard of the fantastic Thin Lizzy without "The Boys Are Back In Town", or Humble Pie minus the raucous "30 Days In The Hole"? Where would Aerosmith be without the off-the-cuff groove of "Walk This Way"? Another on that list was the influential, and legendary, Brit band, Free, known to the uninitiated solely for their stomp rock classic, "All Right Now." For those who want to dig further than this one tune, David Clayton and Todd K. Smith's Heavy Load will take you miles deeper. The book begins with a short pre-Free biographical chapter on each of the four members, each a warm insight into the quite English forces that gave birth to Blues Rock. The level of detail and personal commentary contained in these chapters sets a precedent for the rest of the book. Following the different musical trails that led to the meeting of these four very talented musicians is a history lesson in Late 60's British rock and its influences. Heavy Load's pace begins to accelerate as the band is formed and touring, smartly documenting the regional loyalty and excitement that they garnered with their unique mesh of Rock, Blues, and Soul. Also well documented is their relationship with the now well-known Island records. I enjoyed the peek inside the very humble beginnings of this now international company, original home of Bob Marley and U2. Then along comes the hit. A great study in too much-too soon is embarked upon by the writers with "All Right Now" as the backdrop. The personal stories from the band concerning this era are both amusing (one of the members not understanding that it had went Top Ten: "Do you mean #40 or #400?") and distressing (the pressure of writing the `follow-up'). Along the way, the recording of other little known classics is unearthed. The background surrounding Rock gems such as "The Stealer", "Mr. Big", "Fire and Water", and "Be My Friend" are full of musical minutiae. As the book delves into the music, an appreciation for the rare, and unheralded, talents of guitarist Paul Kossoff develops. This soulful player deserves equal standing with the E Claptons and J Pages of the time but, sadly because of himself (a drug addiction harrowingly chronicled), he is hardly mentioned nowadays. The economy of the Free's music, due primarily to the wise-beyond-their-years Andy Fraser and Simon Kirk, also has a spotlight shined on it. Additionally, the raw emotion behind the voice of Paul Rodgers (later of Bad Company) receives great dramatic description. Along with the writing, enough can't be said about the lavish graphic presentation. The amount and quality of the photos rivals the image rich Led Zeppelin tome, Heaven and Hell. This feat cannot be understated, as this is an independent production. This also explains (and justifies) the higher than usual price tag. For Free fans, this book is worth every dime and more. Buy it now. For those who only know "All Right Now", go out and get the Fire and Water CD. Listen to it for a week solid. You will own the rest of their catalogue, and Heavy Load, soon enough.

David Clayton has done a great job in assembling the stories of the individual players in the early days, how they came together, early struggles, eventual success etc. The reminicences of those who knew them and extracts from music magazines of the time make for interesting reading.

It is a sobering and sometimes depressing read about a band who should have been much larger, but instead were corrupted by eventual success after years of struggle and poverty.

Young up and coming bands would do well to read about, and try to avoid, the mistakes this band made regarding management, drugs, egos, song selection, and group parasites which all got in the way of the music.

Way back in the early eighties, intrigued by the components that made "All Right Now" such a great song, I went on a quest to find any and every recording of the late, great, lamented band, Free. I thought I was the only person on the planet who still listened to them. Thank God I was not. If you dig their music then you will want the book, and you'll love it. If you don't know about the music so well, then this book will definitely wet your appetite for it. They created their own oevre and instantly recognizable sound. The minimalism is addictive. Listen carefully. You will be moved.

My favorite band is Free, and Paul Kossoff my absolute favorite guitarist. They were an extreamly emotionally driven band. This book has been carefully written and A LOT of work has been put into to it! I'm proud that this book was written about Free. I'd like this oportunity to thank everyone who was involved in putting it together!!;) thank you!, I'm so happy so many people still remember Free and this is a truly AMAZING book!! The best story there is! So much of it remembering Paul Kossoff also, god I think about him every day. We miss him and his playing, we should have never lost him.

loving Free always, Lasse Suurmunne

This is the finest book about a band I have even seen. Yes my pictures do appear in the book but the story is just amazing to read. All readers agree the only words said when seeing the book is "Oh My God"

what a great and in depth biography. if you like Free or any of its members, this is a must for your book shelf or coffee table. can't say enough good things about it

Medium to hard-core music fans will love it. Casual fans will enjoy it. If you are into the music of the FREE, BAD COMPANY, and/or Paul Rodgers - you owe it to yourself to get this book. This is a great read, real life story, with loads of interesting details behind this moderately popular (but outstanding) rock band. This book is NOT a "kiss-up-hero-worshiping-everything-they-did-was-wonderful-critical-review" thing. Just the facts. Some ugly stuff. Some sad. Always interesting. I was amazed to discover how serious & determined these "kids" where to produce the music THEY wanted play. Find out what happened to Andy Fraser (bass). Who/What was SHARK? TOBY? Dates, Names, Places. It even includes a complete sessionography listing obscure unreleased sessions by Paul Rodgers band named PEACE (who?!). Even as a hard-core fan, I was completely unaware of 90% of the information I discovered in this book. Be forewarned that that this book will probably cost you more money down the road - as you scramble to complete your collection of FREE related music. Read the book. Listen to the music. You will not regret it.

When I ordered this book, I was just expecting a hardcover version of a paperback. But what I got was far, far more - the definitive account of a much-overlooked band. It's packed with photos and lots and lots of other odds and ends about the band, its fans, its shows and accounts of the unbelievable community of musicians that Free's members were part of during the British blues boom of the 1960s. As another reviewer had said, it's a coffee table book. You'll enjoy reading it just as much as looking through it. Apparently, I bought it from one of the authors (Todd K. Smith) through Amazon Marketplace. Don't be put off by the price tag (I paid $40); it's more than worth it when you see what you get. A wonderful book! It whets my appetite to get more and more of Free's music.

this great book at second edition try the reader in a dimension as end '60 never forget and reach light on the hard times of the group.very fine photos but only black and white ,i think perhaps not could be a difficult thing to buyer for this splendid book.
i hope in a third edition with more accurate pages,photos colours and in a book only dedicated to my great guitar player and always inspiration source PAUL KOSSOFF.
peter from italy.