Customer Reviews

Live

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If you crave pure & simple, rhythm & blues, rock & roll then look no further. THIS IS IT! FREE LIVE! is as clean & crisp as rock & roll gets.

The live concert venue is where Free gained their faithful followers. Free was a band in all the glory that is youth. Though the FREE LIVE! track list is limited, it is still as fully satisfying as, say, "Molten Gold - The Anthology" CD. That's a fairly big statement to make, but then, that's just how it is.

I own many Free CD(s) and am pursuing even more, and still - this is my favorite of all because of the raw & unbridled sound of Free live. Free indeed had their occassional off nights, but on a good night it looked as if they were floating in the air and Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser & Simon Kirke were joined on stage by the fifth member of Free, The spirit of the band.

Track 3, "Be My Friend", is an especially wonderful weave of Kossoff's rippling guitar and Rodgers's fiercely unadorned voice. Undoubtedly, one of the best tracks on this recording.

Tracks 1 - 8 constitute the original album, FREE LIVE! All of these original 8 tracks, except "All Right Now" & "Get Where I Belong", were recorded live at Fairfield Halls, Croydon in September 1970. Track 1, "All Right Now", was recorded live at Sunderland Locarno - Fillmore North in January 1970.

Track 8, "Get Where I Belong", is an outtake from the March, 1971 "My Brother Jake" studio sessions. This song carries a gentle tone of wistful regret and a plea to "Help me to repay things I have done wrong."

Tracks 9 - 14 are bonus tracks recorded from both the Sunderland & Croydon shows, while Track 15 is an alternative take of "Get Where I Belong" recorded at Island Studios on March 26, 1971.

At the time, Free was on the verge of becoming extremely BIG, they just couldn't see it. These 13 live tracks capture this feeling very well indeed. The sad thing is that even 32 years later, this music sounding as fresh as if it were yesterday, I would give my paycheck to see these guys play live if only I could. Alas, FREE LIVE! Is the next best thing.

Of all Free's records, "Free Live" has the strongest track list, and this expanded edition, which features 15 tracks as opposed to the original LP's eight, is probably the best way to experience the band, as well as being an excellent introduction to Free.

Almost all the best songs from Free's first three records are here, and they sound raw and gritty in this live setting. The arrangements are lean and powerful, and Paul Kossoff's sparse, muscular riffs leave plenty of room for drummer Simon Kirke's thumping backbeat to breathe.

A great, six-minute rendition of the classic "All Right Now" opens the set, but almost every song is a highlight, actually, from the slow, bluesy ballad "Be My Friend" to the superb, swaggering blues-rock of "Ride On A Pony" and "Mr Big".
Highly recommended.

Sitting here listening to the bonus songs on this remastered cd only confirms what I knew before, having listened to the original album over the last 20 years--This is Paul Rodgers at his unequivocal best! Though he had some distinguished moments with BadCo, nothing he has done since compares to the remarkable performances on this cd. Here, he is the conflation of Otis and Janis, singing from the gut with a spiritual abandon unmatched in his later efforts. After listening to this version of Paul, the later Paul, for the most part, seems stilted and contrived.

And let's not forget the rest of the band. Simon is his usual solid self, hammering out the rhythm in no-nonsense, in-your-face style. His performance on The Hunter is the epitome of bombast--He out-Bonhams Bonham. Yet, he can also play with subtlety, an accomplishment all the more evident in Free's less-is-more method. Andy Fraser's inventive approach to the bass elevates it to a standing of crucial import rather than simply a background instrument. And regarding Paul Kossoff, with all due respect to Eric, Pete, Jimmy, Duane, et al, Kossoff is directly channeling God on this cd. Few guitarists can carry a band without making you think that there needs to be a rhythm guitar in the background. Kossoff's playing makes you glad that there isn't one because it would only intrude on his spellbinding flourishes. Such dexterity and nuance is enough to bring tears to your eyes and make you want to holler at the same time.

In other words, this cd is a seminal recording in the history of rocknroll, one of the great live performances in all of its flawed glory. The bonus tracks only confirm this claim all the more. The only problem with the cd is that it leaves you begging for more.

One note of interest though. We are told that all of the original songs of the album are included on this cd. My album also has a studio recording of My Brother Jake. Perhaps there was a difference in the American and British releases. But this omission does not detract from the depth of the cd. Plus, My Brother Jake is available on Molten Gold, which is also well worth owning.

From what I had read, I thought I'd get more enjoyment out of this package. The first time I heard this album, I was shocked at the number of glowing reviews regarding Paul Rodgers' voice. His voice is badly shot on several of these tracks. However, some of them are really amazing, such as "Ride on a Pony." However, with the exception of "Trouble on Double," I'd have to say that the extra tracks don't really sit well alongside the original tracks from the album, and that I didn't receive any new "revelations" that the box set didn't offer. Actually, I have the box set "Molten Gold" and I'd say it's a better purchase. Not like this album is terrible, but if you like gruff voices that actually work, given this kind of material, perhaps Paul wasn't old enough to pull it off throughout the show and you can probably get more mileage out of Roger Daltrey and Rod Stewart. You can hear echoes of both of those artists here, but they are much stronger throated. I wouldn't say skip this, but you can get better live albums from the era for the money.

I have just purchased this after owning the original LP for so many years... the remastering has really made this a great release audio wise and the extra tracks are a great bonus... I just about knew the original album cut of All Right Now off by heart with the guitar cutting in and out... Now there's a fresh version to memorise, even though it becomes apparent why this track was not originally included - Paul muffs up one of the vocal lines... but nothing to worry about.
Mr Big is also another standout track... Andy Fraser's bass solo still gets me even to this day... awesome! Kirke's drumming as ever is also excellent throughout... What a great band. Buy this album, it's a must have for Free fans!

There seems to a major discovery/re-discovery of 1970s music among today's 15-25 year olds. Many of them tell me they consider most of today's new music to be total rubbish (no argument from me on that point) and that they consider 1970s music to far superior to today's new releases.

I grew up in the 1970s and I now find myself being repeatedly asked by my friends' teenaged sons and their friends for recommendations of 1970s bands they're not familiar with. They all know about Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and other major acts but they're totally unfamiliar with many of the lesser known 1970s bands.

To help them and others who are discovering/rediscovering 1970s music I'll start posting reviews of albums by some of these less well known 1970s bands whose music I think is worth the attention of a new generation of listeners.

Free is one such lesser known 1970s band. It was a great guitar band with one of rock's best vocalists and is a very influential band in rock history.

This is my favorite Free album. Think of it as a live greatest hits album. Free is a band you should definitely know about if you're exploring 1970s music and this album is probably the best introduction to the band since it includes live versions of the best tracks from most of their studio albums.

Free's guitarist was Paul Kossoff, who died in 1975 (another unfortunate drug related death) but who is still featured fairly regularly in guitar magazines.

Free's vocalist was Paul Rodgers, who later went on to front Bad Company and now performs with Queen. He's considered one of the best vocalists in rock.

Free's drummer, Simon Kirke, also went on to play in Bad Company with Paul Rodgers.

Free deserves a wider audience than it now has. Great band. Great live album. Great guitar work. Great vocals. Highly recommended if you're exploring lesser known 1970s bands.

I bought this for the great Paul Kossoff's guitar playing alone. I'm on my third copy now, having completely worn out the previous two. Koss had more sheer artistry in his left index finger than most of the celebrated blues guitarists (you know the ones) have in their whole bodies. Damn what a guitarist!

`Free Live' should be recognized for what it is, a supreme live document of a talented group of young men who never fulfilled their supergroup potential. This album is quite simply one of my top ten all-time favorite albums EVER! Paul Rodgers will always be one of my heroes because of the raw power of his voice. It is insane how much emotion and power he is able to infuse these songs with not that his band mates are slackers either. Each man puts in tour-de-force performances in a style that was all Free's. Laid back, soulful but alternately bombastic and gut-wrenching, this record is all about the highs and lows of Free's music in terms of tempo and style. As I said in other reviews, the true mark of a great live record is that the live versions of classic songs blow away the often over played studio cuts. That `Free Live' was released to cash in on the band's first breakup in mid-1971 makes it historically relevant as well. "All Right Now" which has been beaten to death by classic rock radio sounds incredibly fresh and exciting here, it's the opener which is surprising due to the popularity of the song even back then. "Be My Friend" is even more raw and emotional here as well and "Fire and Water" could be quite simply Paul Rodgers' best performance. He's like a superhero here, a true god of rock with all his grit and charisma flowing through - this version is one of my favorite songs period! "Ride On a Pony" from `Highway' is stunning and "Mr. Big" is phenomenal. Though Andy Fraser is often praised for his bass solo on this song and rightfully so, without Paul Kossoff's weaving lead and rhythm track, the solo would not be as dynamic as both men contribute possibly their finest six minutes in Free's glorious but brief recording career. The album closes with "The Hunter" and a studio track(sort of anti-climatic)but eight songs just simply isn't enough which is why the re-master is so key due to the inclusion of "Woman", "Walk in My Shadow" and "Trouble on Double Time" among others. `Free Live' should be included on a short list of live classics but don't take my word for it, find out for yourself what made Free so special and why induction into the Hall of Fame should be a must!

First released in 1971 as this was Free's fifth actual lp.This import reissue features the eight cuts that were pressed onto the original album,plus seven(7)bone-headed(er,I mean bonus cuts)tagged on for your listening pleasure.A few of the bonus tracks are of a SAME tune that was on the original lp,but a live take from ANOTHER gig on the same tour.So,in a sense,'Live' is somewhat like an audio scrap book for Free's late '71 UK tour.Tunes I thought were great to hear were their only hit "All Right Now","Be A Friend","Fire And Water",the touching "Ride On A Pony" and "Mr.Big".Line-up:Paul Rodgers-vocals,Paul Kossoff(R.I.P.)-guitar,Andy Fraser-bass&keyboards and Simon Kirke-drums.Great sound quality.Enjoy,now.

'Free' ushered in the 1970's as a power-rock trio in the mold of 'Cream', topped off with the powerful voice of frontman Paul Rogers, who would gleen further critical acclaim later in the decade as the voice of 'Bad Company'. While many of 'Free's compositions are basic blues-rock, the vocal talents of Paul Rogers and the sharply punctuated guitar riffs of Paul Kossoff go a long way towards redeeming most of the selections. Bassist Andy Fraser teams up with Rogers on most of the composing, and with drummer Simon Kirke to form a sturdy, if unspectacular rhythm section. The band employed plenty of posturing and strutting to supplement the testosterone laced lyrics and pulsing beats, most of which is well-received as genuine by the British audiences captured here. At the same time, the absence of stylistic diversity probably spelled out the fate of the band as a one-trick pony in the US more than anything else. At home in England, however, where the blues was king in the mid-to-late 1960's, the band scored two additional Top Ten and one #13 hit between 1970 and 1973. Unfortunately, none of these commercially successful tracks are performed on 'Free Live'.

'Free Live' is composed of thirteen tracks recorded in January of 1970 at the Locarno Ballroom in Sunderland, England, and the 1,500 capacity Fairfield Halls Arts Center in Croydon, England in September of 1970. In that same month, the band's only Top 40 US release, 'All Right Now', maxed out at number four. The original vinyl closed with a studio track recorded in March of 1971, the acoustic ballad 'Get Where I Belong', and fittingly this expanded edition of 'Free Live' concludes with a more vibrant and urgent alternate take of the same track. Sandwiched between are six additional bonus tracks from the Sunderland and Croydon performances.

The producers of 'Free Live' seem keenly aware of the band's limitations, and provide two versions of three of the best tracks available. Nothing, of course, matches up with the raw appeal of 'All Right Now', and the Croydon performance aptly demonstrates how the band's interpretation of the song evolved over the course of their touring. It's such a stunning representation of the power rock epitomized by band's such as Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk Railroad in that same year, that it justifies the price of the disc by itself. Two versions of 'Mr. Big', a heavy blues-rock number with a fairly catchy basic guitar hook are also offered. Only on 'Get Where I Belong' does the band diverge significantly from the blues-rock genre, with lyrics focused on repentance and redemption ("Help me to repay things I have done wrong, help me find a way to get where I belong"). The next nearest thing to diversity is found on the second track, 'I'm a Mover', which might be better described as boogie-rock with guitar lines garnished in psychedelia. Other than that, the remaining tracks saunter from slow to mid to fast tempo variations on the blues-rock theme. The longest track is the plodding, bass-driven 'Moonshine', which times out at nearly nine and one-half minutes, while the shortest track is the 3:42 rendition of 'I'm a Mover'. Both versions of 'All Right Now', the main attraction, are in the six minute range.

This particular version of 'Free Live' comes packaged with a well designed and informative booklet, featuring numerous performance and publicity shots of the band, plenty of details on the individual tracks, and well-composed text detailing the short-lived history of the band. The recording is as clean and well-defined as any recording I've heard from the era. 'Free' possessed a great deal of heart and attitude, and coupled with Rogers pristine vocals and Kossoff's intense guitar work, this product clamours for a listen even 36 years after the tracks were laid down. It's not essential, but it is enjoyable. And of course, turn it up loud for maximum listening pleasure!