My words and music blog

[Rob Hall]

I too retain a soft spot for Free, though I wouldn't make any great claims on their behalf - apart from, maybe, in the case of sad Paul Kossoff's tone or, at a push, Paul Rodgers' voice.

[AndyM]

Well that now makes Free of us.










I'll get me coat...................

[NormanD]

Back in 1970, a fellow I worked with said to me: "You like Free don't you? They're hairy like you..." I had to say yes, but other bands were more exciting. They seemed to pre-figure the worst that was to come from so many lesser talented hairy rock bands.

The memory of Paul Kossoff being interviewed by Bob Harris on OGWT is still a sad one. It should never have been broadcast, but I guess the programme went out live.

PS I like that stage jump a lot. Now I know why you liked Tom's band when you saw them. He was dead thrilled with your feedback, Adam.

[garth cartwright]

I do like Free - just don't think they were ever remotely as good as the Stones of Sticky Fingers. Rodgers had a great voice, the rhythm section clicked, Kossoff had an odd funk groove of sorts - Wishing Well is a lovely song. A lot of their other tunes always struck me as underdeveloped - unlike the Stones of that era who really honed their songs.That was my disagreement with Adam - not a criticism of Free's existence. I also like Ronnie Lane a lot - but disagree as to who was the most talented Face. That's the fun of debating on music - we challenge one another's favourite assumptions.

[Hugh Weldon]

The best tribute I can give to Adam's piece on Free is that it immediately sent me back to listen to a few things. I also had to send it to an old mate who was a much bigger Free fan than I'd been back in the 70s, as I knew he'd appreciate it. (We once had a plan to book that Andy Fraser/Chris Spedding band for the local church hall, which sadly never came to fruition).

Some of the simpler obvious points struck home, such as they never played anything faster than 'Allright Now' - I suppose I'd sort of been aware of it, but good criticism points these things out.

I don't get Garth's point about songs being underwritten and the Stones comparison. They were a different bag, the 'underwriting' - if such it was, was one of the attractions.

And 'My Brother Jake' - a distinct recollection of that coming on the radio one sunny afternoon and making me feel so glad....

[Adam Blake]

Ah, a bit of clarification needed, I think. It's been a while since I wrote that piece and at the time I was trying to put them back in their proper context which had been denied them since "All Right Now" had overshadowed everything else they ever did. I wasn't suggesting that they were BETTER than The Stones of "Sticky Fingers" - I remarked that the songs were mostly crap - but that "Don't Say You Love Me", the Stax style soul ballad off "Fire And Water" was actually a better song than "I Got The Blues", the Stax style soul ballad off "Sticky Fingers". Play them back to back if you don't believe me. Anyway, it's just an opinion.

Andy, I don't think there's any doubt that "My Brother Jake" is the best thing they ever did.

Hugh, thanks. Glad you felt like revisiting some of their music.

Norman, I know what you mean about pre-figuring so much bad rock music. Ted made a similar point to me a while back. I don't expect either of you to be bothered with going back and listening but if you did you'd find that Free don't actually sound like any of the guilty parties you might or might not be thinking of! Bad Company, yes, Free, nope.

[NormanD]

...the Stax style soul ballad off "Fire And Water" was actually a better song than "I Got The Blues", the Stax style soul ballad off "Sticky Fingers". Play them back to back if you don't believe me. Anyway, it's just an opinion.

Here's Mr Pickett's version of the Free song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eta4aa009rs

[Adam Blake]

Nice to hear that one again, Norm, but I still think it was a lost opportunity. If only Pickett had done it with just Booker T and the MG's and a minimal horn section it could have been so much better. Still, it is what it is...