Kites Are Fun: The Best Of The Free Design

The Free Design | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 28, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 28, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Fontana
• ASIN: B000009NSN
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,130 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kites Are Fun

2. I Found Love

3. Bubbles

4. My Brother Woody

5. 2002 - A Hit Song

6. Stay Another Season

7. Felt So Good

8. Kije's Ouija

9. My Very Own Angel

10. Never Tell the World

11. A Man and a Woman

12. Love You

13. Howdjadoo (Fly Me Down)

14. You Could Be Born Again

15. Now Is the Time

16. You Are My Love [#][*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my heart is touching my adam's apple, June 17, 2000

By 

Loney John Hutchins (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kites Are Fun: The Best Of The Free Design (Audio CD)

Okay... so I'm a youngin' who's ears are being blown away by contemporary artists exploring rich harmonies and subtle, yet thick arrangements (high llamas- for instance) and I'm browsing through the cd rack and see a band with the name, "The Free Design." I think, "Hmmm... that's the name of a single that was put out by one of my favorite bands just recently- I think I'll read the liner notes." Upon first glancing at the insert, the words "soft pop" jumped out at me. These guys were being credited with being a major influence in the soft pop movement coming out of the late 60's into the 70's- and I had NEVER heard of them before. Sure, many a child whose parents were grooving in those days has heard their share of Carpenters and a little Bacharach here and there- but this stuff is SO intricate in its harmonies and instrumentation yet SO innocent and sweet. I'm really not sure why this group is not as well known as some of their contemporaries. All I can say is that The Free Design have fermented my faith in the idea that pop music can be sophisticated while remaining youthful, loose, and vibrant all at the same time. Get this compilation... get the songs stuck in your head- start singing along... it's great fun.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Marvelous, May 20, 2000

By 

J. Parr "certified celery peeler" (Los Angeles, CA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kites Are Fun: The Best Of The Free Design (Audio CD)

I just can't get enough of this CD. If you love the Carpenters. or the Fifth Dimension, Burt Bacharach, Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66...I think this album is something you'll dig. It's got gorgeous lush harmonies, quirky subject matter, and arrangements that are hilarious...but also full of genuine love and effort. The FreeDesign calls into being the true sounds of what it might be like to hang out with Puff the Magic Dragon, how it might feel to peruse and frolic in the candy gardens of Willie Wonka. They sound like a blanket by the calm sea, they feel like sun in your hair on a blustery spring day. When I listen to the Free Design, I feel cheerful, safe and inspired, and I hope you will too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Free Design are Fun!!, April 24, 2001

By 

"mooghead" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kites Are Fun: The Best Of The Free Design (Audio CD)

On the flipside of the 60's guitar-and-noise excess, you had the sharp, clear harmonies of groups like the Free Design. They we're arranging baroque-pop (like Bacharach and the Beach Boys) with Mama's and the Papa's like choral verses about simple, childlike topics (kites, Ouija boards). Hopelessly square - the music is much more at home in the 21st century where groups like Stereolab have muted jazz-pop into experimental ambient-pop (listen to "Dots and Loops" for obvious influences!)

A must have for any music geek or audiophile into sessions.