"Free Me" is a song written by

Russ Ballard Russell Glyn Ballard (born 31 October 1945) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Originally coming to prominence as the lead singer and guitarist for the band Argent, Ballard became a songwriter and producer by the late 1970s. His co ...

and performed by

Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the Rock music, rock band The Who. Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Ge ...

, singer for English rock band

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

. The song is on Daltrey's 1980 solo album '' McVicar'' and in the film '' McVicar'', also released in 1980.

Recorded

"Free Me" was on his album '' McVicar''. The song was written for the soundtrack of the film '' McVicar'', a bio-pic of English bank robber

John McVicar John McVicar (21 March 1940 – 6 September 2022) was a British journalist and convicted one-time armed robber who escaped from prison. Career As a criminal McVicar's criminal career began in his teens with shop break-ins and car thefts. In 1 ...

, that was produced by Daltrey and also featured him in the starring role. The single was produced by

Jeff Wayne Jeffry Wayne (born 1 July 1943) is an American-British composer, musician and lyricist. In 1978, he released ''Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds'', his musical adaptation of H. G. Wells' science-fiction novel ''The War of ...

and recorded at Advision Studios, London with Daltrey's vocals recorded at

Air Studios Associated Independent Recording (AIR) is an independent recording company founded in London in 1965 by record producer Sir George Martin and his business partner John Burgess, after their departure from Parlophone. The studio complex was founded ...

, Montserrat, West Indies.

Charts

The single reached #39 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and #53 in the US.

References

{{authority control 1980 songs 1980 singles Songs written by Russ Ballard Polydor Records singles Song recordings produced by Jeff Wayne