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The Free Story
''The Free Story'' is the second greatest hits album by Free (band), Free, and the first which was released outside of the US. It was released on 31 December 1973 by Island Records. The album reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and stayed in the charts for 6 weeks. On 22 July 2013, the album was awarded a silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry, BPI, for UK album sales of over 60,000 units. The album covers the entire studio album collection of Free from their debut album ''Tons of Sobs'' through to their final studio album ''Heartbreaker (Free album), Heartbreaker'' and includes their biggest hit single "All Right Now". It also has two non-Free tracks - ''Just For The Box'', from the album Kossoff Kirke Tetsu Rabbit, and the song ''Lady'', from Rodgers' post-Free group, Peace, which included bassist Stewart McDonald and drummer Mick Underwood. The original intention was to include the version of Travelling Man by Andy Fraser's 1971 group Toby, but (probably ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their hit songs "All Right Now" and "Wishing Well". Although renowned for their live shows and non-stop touring, their studio albums did not sell very well until their third, '' Fire and Water'' (1970), featured the massive hit "All Right Now". The song helped secure them a place at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, where they played to an audience of 600,000 people. In the early 1970s they became one of the biggest-selling British blues rock groups; by the time they disbanded, they had sold more than 20 million records worldwide and had played more than 700 arena and festival concerts. "All Right Now" remains a R&B staple, and has been entered in ASCAP's "One Million" airplay singles club. The band disbanded in 1973; lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become the frontman of the more successful rock supergroup Bad Company, which also featured his Free bandmate Simon Kirke on drums. Guitarist Paul Kossoff ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free (Free Album)
''Free'' is the second studio album by English rock band Free, recorded and released in 1969. The band had spent time touring their debut album ''Tons of Sobs'' (1969) the previous year, and there is a marked difference in the musicianship of the band as well as Paul Rodgers's voice. Both albums were released by Island Records, with ''Free'' being produced by Chris Blackwell, the head of Island, taking over from Guy Stevens, who produced the first album. Recording This album saw the burgeoning of the songwriting partnership, glimpsed on ''Tons of Sobs'' with songs such as "I'm a Mover", between Paul Rodgers and 16-year-old bassist Andy Fraser; here, eight of the nine tracks bear a Fraser/Rodgers credit. Fraser's bass guitar is far more prominent than on the previous album, being used as a rhythm guitar to drive the songs, while Kossoff's lead guitar develops from it. While Fraser and Rodgers made a strong writing partnership, tensions in the band increased. Kossoff, whose natura ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Little Bit Of Love (Free Song)
"Little Bit of Love", also known as "A Little Bit of Love", is a song by English rock band Free. Written by the all four members of the band, it reached #13 on the UK singles chart and stayed on the charts for 10 weeks. ''Record Mirror'' said of the song on 13 May 1972, "Having had their fair share of the knocks and problems of fame, Free are back in full swing again. An album on the way β and this single, which should do them a lot of good. It's a relaxed put together production, good lead voice, solid beat β a philosophic song and easy to pick up in the mind. Plus that very distinctive sound." ''Record World'' on 27 May 1972 said "the strongest singles of the week come from Free, ("Little Bit Of Love" on Island)...". After the single was released, it appeared on Free's 1972 studio album '' Free at Last''. Since then it has appeared on various of compilation albums, such as '' The Free Story'', ''Completely Free'' and '' The Best of Free: All Right Now'' etc. Song title The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Brother Jake
"My Brother Jake" is a song and single by English band, Free. Written by lead singer Paul Rodgers and bass guitarist Andy Fraser, it was first released in the UK in 1971. Background and chart success The song was the second chart success for Free, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart in 1971 and remaining in the chart for 11 weeks. It was described by Dave Thompson of AllMusic as a "gorgeous knockabout" of a song. The band performed the song on BBC's ''Top of the Pops'' on 13 May 1971. In 1991 Andy Fraser revealed that he had originally written the song about Horace Faith, saying: "It was written about a friend, a guy called Horace Faith. He was a great singer and around that time we were great friends. It was basically a sentiment to him, but I thought 'My Brother Jake' sounded better than 'My Brother Horace'." The song appears on the band's 1973 compilation album ''The Free Story ''The Free Story'' is the second greatest hits album by Free (band), Free, and the firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu And Rabbit
''Kossoff Kirke Tetsu Rabbit'' is an album by guitarist Paul Kossoff, drummer Simon Kirke, bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and keyboard player John "Rabbit" Bundrick. The album was released in 1972. Background Recorded after Free disbanded, drummer Kirke elected to remain with guitar player Paul Kossoff forming a quartet with Bundrick and Yamauchi in 1971. Kirke has noted that although initially Kossoff appeared in good spirits and was engaged in making the album he increasingly indulged in drugs often falling asleep between takes or while listening to playbacks. By April 1972 Free had reformed with Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers making peace, and Kossoff appeared to pull it together if only briefly. Kossoff resumed taking drugs during the U.S. tour to support the last album by the original quartet '' Free at Last''. On the eve of their Japanese tour Fraser fought with Rodgers and once again left the band, to be replaced by Yamauchi. Rodgers and Kirke elected to fill out the band bringing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free At Last (Free Album)
''Free at Last'' is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Free. It was recorded between January and March 1972, and released in May that year. After breaking up in May 1971 due to differences between singer Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser, the band had reformed in January 1972. Recording All members of the band made a concerted effort to work smoothly and efficiently for guitarist Paul Kossoff's sake as he was suffering due to an addiction to Mandrax (Quaaludes). For example, in a symbolic gesture all tracks were credited to every member of the band regardless of who actually wrote them. The attitude to the songwriting was also vastly different; there are no outright rock songs at all, and the three songs that contain fast-paced moments all have slower, more introspective moments. Also, many fans have interpreted some of the melancholic lyrics (many of which concern people in some form of emotional distress) as referring to Kossoff. Reception The album was reaso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free Live!
''Free Live!'' is the first live album by English rock band Free. It was rush-released by Island Records to commemorate the band, who had broken up in April 1971. Possibly because of the publicity caused by their breakup (which had also earned them a successful parting single "My Brother Jake" that same month) the album was a hit, reaching No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart. It fared less well in the US Billboard 200 however, reaching No. 89. Recording The album (including the extra tracks) was recorded from gigs played in the UK at both The Locarno, Sunderland (January 1970) and Croydon's Fairfield Halls (September 1970), both places where Free had strong followings. Engineer Andy Johns could only use two tracks from the Sunderland gig (" The Hunter" and "All Right Now"), but used crowd noise from it frequently to create seamless links between tracks. With increased re-mastering technology available it has been possible to make others ready for the CD reissue, along with some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Cropper
Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas and Johnnie Taylor. He also acted as the producer of many of these records. He was later a member of the Blues Brothers band. ''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked him 36th on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, while he has won two Grammy Awards from his seven nominations. Early life Born on a farm near Willow Springs, Missouri, Cropper lived in the nearby towns of Dora and West Plains before moving with his family to Memphis at age nine. In Memphis, where he was exposed to black church music, which, he said, "blew me away". Cropper acquired his first guitar via mail order at age 14. He loved the Five Royals and he admired guitarists including Tal Farlow, Chuck Berry, Ji ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Jackson, Jr
Albert J. Jackson Jr. (November 27, 1935 β October 1, 1975) was an American drummer, producer, and songwriter. He was a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, a group of session musicians who worked for Stax Records and produced their own instrumentals. Jackson was affectionately dubbed "The Human Timekeeper" for his drumming ability. He was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s in 1992. Early life Jackson's father, Al Jackson Sr., led a jazz/swing dance band in Memphis, Tennessee. The young Jackson started drumming at an early age and began playing on stage with his father's band in 1940, at the age of five. He later played in producer and trumpeter Willie Mitchell's band and at the same time was holding down a chair in the popular Ben Branch Band. In an interview with ''Drum!'' magazine, Mitchell recalled, Al Junior was about 14 years old then. I said to his father, 'Hey, letβ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donald "Duck" Dunn
Donald "Duck" Dunn (November 24, 1941 β May 13, 2012) was an American bass guitarist, session musician, record producer, and songwriter. Dunn was notable for his 1960s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and as a session bassist for Stax Records. At Stax, Dunn played on thousands of records, including hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell (singer), William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Bill Withers, Elvis Presley and many others. In 1992, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s. He is ranked number 40 on ''Bass Player'' magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time". Early life Dunn was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His father nicknamed him "Donald Duck, Duck" while watching Walt Disney Pictures, Disney cartoons with him one day. Dunn grew up playing sports and riding his bike with another future professional musician, Steve Cropper. Career 1960s: First ban ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Booker T
Booker T or Booker T. may refer to * Booker T. Washington (1856β1915), African American political leader at the turn of the 20th century ** List of things named after Booker T. Washington, some nicknamed "Booker T." * Booker T. Jones (born 1944), American musician and frontman of Booker T. and the M.G.'s * Booker T (wrestler) (born 1965), ring name of American professional wrestler Booker Huffman Also * Booker T. Bradshaw (1940β2003), American record producer, film and TV actor, and executive * Booker T. Laury (1914β1995), American boogie-woogie and blues pianist * Booker T. Spicely (1909β1944) victim of a racist murder in North Carolina, United States * Booker T. Whatley (1915β2005) agricultural professor at Tuskegee University * Booker T. Washington White (1909β1977), American Delta blues guitarist and singer known as Bukka White * Booker T. Boffin, pseudonym of Thomas Dolby Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Hunter (Albert King Song)
"The Hunter" is a blues song first recorded by Albert King in 1967 for his landmark album ''Born Under a Bad Sign''. It was written by Stax Records' house band, Booker T. and the MGs, and Carl Wells. Along with "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Crosscut Saw", "The Hunter" is one of King's best-known and most-recorded songs. In 1969, Ike & Tina Turner's version reached the singles charts in the U.S. Composition and lyrics "The Hunter" is a mid-tempo twenty-four bar blues in the key of A. Although the music reflects more modern trends in blues, the lyrics contain some of the swagger of the verses Willie Dixon wrote for Muddy Waters in the 1950s: Recording and releases The song was recorded on June 9, 1967, at the Stax Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Albert King sings and plays lead guitar. The backing is provided by Booker T. Jones on organ, Steve Cropper on rhythm guitar, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Al Jackson Jr. on drums; plus members of the Memphis Horns, Wayne Jackson ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
