Customer Reviews

Free

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Probably very few people know that this is the follow-up to the first Free album (which was called "Tons of Sobs", not "Fire and Water"!)

Anyway, this album is packed with bluesy rhythms, wailing vocals from the influential Paul Rodgers, and great guitar work from the underrated, late Paul Kossoff.

Standout cuts (they all sound great, especially on this imported disc) : "I'll be Creepin'" ,"Songs of Yesterday", and "Trouble on Double Time".

I highly recommend this disc to anyone who is in to Bad Co., or holds the unfortunate belief that Free's only recording was the seminal hit, "All Right Now" from the bands third record.

Who would have thought that Hard Rock/Blues music made over thirty years ago - by teenagers - would still be considered as a major template for the genre. I'm a twenty-five-year-old student, who has been listening to Hard Rock music for over twelve years ( gosh... half my life! ) and I have "never" heard music with such soul and groove; for sheer soul, these guys were the absolute best! I struggle to use brevity whenever describing that voice of Paul Rodgers', and, for me, this album shows him at his best.

Released in October of 1969, "Free" was a more honed and polished album than its predecessor, "Tons Of Sobs", owing, albeit partly, to the production knowledge of Island Record boss, Chris Blackwell. The album opens with my favourite Free song, "I'll Be Creepin'", which particularly demonstrates Free's natural ability to conjure up an unstoppable groove, and Paul Rodgers' vocals here are incredible; without sounding obsequious, I am in awe of the way Rodgers could masterfully oscillate between sheer power and sheer delicacy. Just when you thought you had enough soul to last you for eternity, the album then delivers "Songs Of Yesterday", another one of the album's finest moments.

The only problem with "Free" is selecting standout tracks from the album. Serious statistics show that well into this album's release, it had only sold around 20,000 copies ( I don't know if this figure applies to the UK only ), which genuinely surprises me as I consider it one of the group's best out of their six studio albums. It is consistently excellent but my other highlights include "Trouble On Double Time", "Woman", "Broad Daylight" and "Mourning Sad Morning".

This album demonsrates a young band in their prime; don't think for one minute that I am glamourising this album to the maximum just because it was teenagers who made it. No way Jose. This is music of the highest order by anybody's standards. I cannot speak highly enough of this band, and I would dearly have liked to have seen them "Live" between 1969-1971 before their first split ( rumour has it that they were never the same after this first split ). You might hear a teenage quartet in today's music climate make music like this, but only if the sun rises in the west. What a band, and what a singer!

Free's second album was the sleeper of 1969 - unobtrusively crunchy, bluesy rock in the harder numbers and striking ethereality in the soft spots (particularly the surprising acoustic ballad, "Mouthful of Grass," the unlikely future flip of their only U.S. hit - you know what that was). Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser hold down a brisk rhythm section, Paul Kossoff nudges forth the kind of tightly-wound blues licks for which he became legend, and vocalist Paul Rodgers matures from the band's promising but somewhat nervous debut ("Tobs of Sobs") into a strong front man with genuine command of his material. In retrospect, it was a warm-up for their biggest success, but taken in its own right, "Free" was a bright keeper, though the occasionally weak recording docks a star.

I had heard some of the songs from this album on other compilations, but I recently purchased a UK Vinyl pressing (due to its non-availability in the States on CD) Every song on here is pure magic, the energy just pours from the grooves. The dirge of "Mourning", the funk and soul of "I'll be Creepin", the laid back country feel of "Mouthful" and "Lying", The beautifully constructed and jazzy solo on "Free Me", the interesting key changes on "Broad Daylight", the thumping wonderful bass line of "Songs", the funky blues of "Trouble on Double Time", etc, etc. For those who believe that mark 1-B is Free, please listen to this album (or Highway or Fire&Water). This was Free shining pure energy and emotion from vinyl (or CD, but better vinyl) that can instantly, INSTANTLY be felt by the listener. If this doesn't move you, you are most likely dead.

Free is surely one of the best rock'n'roll bands ever! This album is considered a continuity from their debut work. There are no words to describe Paul Rogers singing "I'll be creeping" and the impressive work done by Paul Kossoff on the guitar. For real rock fans -- it is a must.

I use to play this record at parties, because it's soft and nice. Generally Free are a little too soft for my taste, but once in a while you need something to rest to, and then this record is terrific. This one and "Highway".