Free Story, The - FREE > Reviews > CAGED AGAIN

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Lot's of it .
Disadvantages:	Any ideas .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

***INTRO***

I bought my copy of The Free Story in the early 1990's from the VIRGIN store in Oxford Street, London. Format 1 X CD - on special offer originally released 1973.

***ABOUT FREE***

Inception 1968, the band consisted of Paul Rodgers (vocals, rhythm guitar), Paul Kossoff (lead guitar), Andy Fraser (bass) and Simon Kirke (drums) and christened FREE by Alexis Korner after a band he called Free at Last with ginger Baker and Graham Bond. Signed to Island records, debut album "Tons of Sobs". 1970 played the Isle of Wight, 1972 Albert Hall. Toured USA, Japan, Australia. Final album "Heartbreaker". In the following years Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke went on to form Bad Company. While Andy Fraiser teamed up with Chris Spedding to form Sharks. Paul Kossof formed his own band Back Street Crawler and unfortunately died of a heart attack in 1976.

***CD PRESENTATION***

I CD with booklet front page copy of album cover, booklet-outlining Free Story (some of it above). Back of CD more detail about songs (see below). The CD comes with this warning "Due to limited programme time the CD format the version of "Heartbreaker" previously included on vinyl and cassette has been omitted".

All tracks published by Blue Mountain Music

***TRACK LISTING***

1. I'm a Mover 2.49
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced Guy Stevens 1968.
Basic rock and roll, intense Kossof guitar solo.

2. I'll be Creeping 3.15
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced Chris Blackwell 1969.
A more upbeat sound than track 1. Rogers's voice sounds better.

3. Morning Sad Morning 5.05
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced by Chris Blackwell 1970.
A slow moving acoustic piece with the addition of a flute in the background.
Rogers's voice sounds mellow.

4. All Right Now 4.20
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced by Free 1970.
Massive hit single a number 1 from the album "Fire and water". Up beat tempo
with repetitive riffs and rhythm. ending in Kossof guitar solo.

5. Heavy Load 4.20
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced by Free 1970.
From the album "Fire and Water". Another slow moody number rather like No3.

6. Fire and Water 3.40
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced by Free 1970.
Erotic rock and roll love story with a masterful guitar duet, ends with drum
solo.

7. Be my Friend 5.30
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1970.
Mellow love story with melotron (sounding rather like a violin) and piano in the
background. Ending with a guitar solo.

8. The Stealer 3.00
(Kossoff/Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1970.
A single that was a bit of a flop from the album Highway.

9. Soon I'll be Gone 2.45
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1970.
Mellow love song.

10. Mr Big 6.00
(Kossoff/Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1970.
From the album "Fire and Water"
Live blues number with a chunky rhythmic guitar with intense solo.

11. The Hunter 5.00
(Jones/wells/Cropper/Dunn/Jackson) produced Andy Jones 1968.
Another live tune.

12. Get Where I Belong 4.08
(Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1968.
Acoustic piece, philosophical lyrics concerned with ethics. Mellotron and
keyboard in the background.

13. Just for the Box 3.20
(Fraser/Rodgers/Kossoff/Kirke) produced Kossof, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit 1972.
Lively instrumental piece.

14. Lady 4.25
(Rodgers) produced Blackwell and Rodgers 1973.
Blues love song.

15. My Brother Jake 2.55
(Rodgers/Fraser) produced Free 1971.
Catchy tune I'm surprised it did not outsell All Right Now.

16. Little Bit of Love 2.32
(Kossoff/Kirke/Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1972.
Philosophical advice " I believe if you give a little bit of love to those you love a
little bit of love will come your way".

17. Sail On 3.00
(Kossoff/Kirke/Fraser/Rodgers) produced Free 1972.
Rock and Roll.

18. Come Together in the Morning 4.20
(Rodgers) produced by Free 1972.
Masterful rhythm and blues song. Quite a masterful piece and 1 of the best
Guitar solo with organ most predominant.

All tracks published by Blue Mountain Music except No. 11 Rondor Music. no 12, 17, 18. Keepers Cottage Music/Socks Music. No 15, 19. Keepers Cottage Music.

***MY OPINION***

I never did get to see FREE live but remember them on Top of the Pops in the early seventies, they were great Paul Rodgers had an amazing voice. I did see Bad Company supporting the WHO at Charlton along with Lou Reed and others. An excellent live act. The Free story covers all the essential listening from FREE in 1 package. It is a pity the CD does not include a version of Heartbreaker but these days you can download most of that stuff from the Internet. Most of the tunes are short enough to capture your attention without getting to boring. CD technology allows you to easily random access tracks. I played the CD for the 1st time in a long time recently and was pleasantly surprised just how good FREE where especially Rogers vocals. Evidently he still tours as a soloist in the UK and USA and releases stuff. He has a developing website worth checking out. I like the live tracks the most.