Free [Import]

Free [Import]

ASIN: B00008GQPE

Track Listings

1. Free

2. Hello

3. Different

4. When Heaven Opens Up

5. She Looks a Lot Like You

6. Farmer's Back

7. Until She Says Goodbye

8. Subject to Change

9. Who Wouldn't Love You

10. Rocket Science

11. Go Back

12. Next to You

13. Breathin' Air

14. Last Saskatchewan Pirate [*]

15. That's What Little Kids Do [*]

Tracks:

All Right Now
I'm A Mover
Be My Friend
Fire And Water
Ride On A Pony
Mr Big
The Hunter
Get Where I Belong
Woman
Walk In My Shadow
Moonshine
Trouble On Double
Mr Big
All Right Now
Get Where I Belong (Alternative Take)

Album Description

UK remastered reissue of 1971 album includes seven bonus tracks, 'Woman', 'Walk In My Shadow', 'Moonshine', 'Trouble On Double', 'Mr. Big', 'All Right Now' & 'Get Where I Belong' (alternative take). Enhanced package contains sleeve notes & previously unseen photographs. 2002.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Reissue of the Classic Album with Five Great Bonus Tracks!

Customer Reviews:

blues-rock galore.......2006-05-23

'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!

A great album!.......2005-12-21

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!

The Third Best Live Album of Alltime. (A Necessity fro anyone who loves live rock). .......2005-10-28

Free. Rodgers, Kossof, Kirke, and Fraser. The remastering of this classic live album is impeccable and the bonus tracks are a must for any ardent Free fan.

The original album (consisting of tracks one through eight)are stellar. The album kicks off with the classic, "All Rigth Now"
This song basically shaped all of AC/DC's material in both the Bon Scott Era (the better era of AC/DC) and the Brian Johnson Era. A Free neophyte would easily asscocite the opening track, "All Rigth Now" with AC/DC, an rightly so.

"Be My Friend" and "Get to Where I Belong" are a couple of best slow, riff-rocking, awe-inspiring songs on this album and it is truly an experience to here it live.

One may be inclined to inquire. what are the better live albums than Free Live?

They are:
1. How the West Was Won-Led Zeppelin
2. On Your Feet or On Your Knees-Blue Oyster Cult

IMPORTANT: Free Live is a perfect amalgamtion of the two aforementioned live albums. First, Free Live is remastered, like How The West Was Won. Secondly, this album is one CD runs about 77 minuted long, like On Your Feet Or On Your Knees. You will not find blazing guitar solos, although their are some outstanding ones included in this album, this more of a vocals ephasized album, not guitar oriented album.

This Band Rocks!!! RIP Paul Kossoff.......2005-10-08

This album was released back in 1971 and they sound as fresh today as they did back then. The Classic "All Right Now" is an extended 6 minute version of the single which features the late, great Paul Kosoff on guitar who set the benchmark for aspiring Rock Guitarists.There have been lots of imitators but this guy was the original is still the best.Rest In Peace Paul. You are sadly missed but I know you are still sending guitar riffs soaring into the stratosphere in Rock and Roll Heaven where as the song goes "You know they have a Hell of a band"

Free - 'Live' (Universal) UK import with bonus tracks.......2005-04-25

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.

Average customer rating:

The Best English Blues Rock Album Ever *
Free at the peak of their powers
The Greatest Album Ever!
All right... then and now
My personal best Free album

Fire and Water
Free
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Heartbreaker
Free
Tons of Sobs
Highway
Free at Last

ASIN: B00005NIL9
Release Date: 2001-10-15

Tracks:

Fire And Water
Oh I Wept
Remember
Heavy Load
Mr. Big
Don't Say You Love Me
All Right Now
Oh How I Wept
Fire And Water
All Right Now
All Right Now

Album Description

UK reissue of the British hard rock act's 1970 album, digitally remastered at Abbey Road with six additional recordings, 'Oh I Wept' (alt. vocal take), 'Fire & Water' (new stereo mix), 'Fire & Water' (BBC session) & 'All Right Now' (BBC session, single version & first version). 2001.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Version of their Acclaimed and Favorite 1970 Release with Six Bonus Tracks.includes Several Versions of their Signature Classic Rock Track 'all Right Now'.paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke Later Went on to Form Bad Company in 1974.

Customer Reviews:

The Best English Blues Rock Album Ever *.......2006-04-12

* with the possible exception of Derek & the Dominoes

However if you mix both bands and shake well you get Lynyrd Skynyrd. That's right , the sustain Allen Collins practised so hard to obtain is all over this record. When the reissue came out(with bonus tracks),I took my regular copy and put it in my step-daughters car CD player and told her to enjoy. She's 24 and hasn't quit listening to it yet. That was three years ago!The blues-rock-soul wail of Paul Rodgers Transends Generations. This is quite frankly ,the best record Free ever made. And could very well be the very best record to come out of the English blues-rock scene(Derek & the Dominoes included too many americans to be considered British!).Dynamic from begining to end. The obvious songs are "All Right Now" & "Fire and Water". however , the others are every bit as strong. "Mr. Big" , "Heavy Load" and "Oh I Wept" are extraordinarily awesome. Paul Kossoff before the drugs ravaged his concentration. Andy Fraser at his thunder-loping best.Simon Kirke is the heartbeat every band needs (and Bad Company later enjoyed).Paul Rodgers is simply the best rock singer since , since , well probably since his inspiration , Otis Redding.

Hyperbole , perhaps. I couldn't begin to give an objective review of this record. Quite frankly it changed my life. It must be heard to be believed. What A Band!

Free at the peak of their powers.......2006-04-12

1970's Fire and Water was Free's third album, and the one which made them international stars. They were featured at the Isle of Wight Festival that year; the liner notes to this CD tell of how Pete Townshend approached the group on the ferry over to the Isle of Wight and congratulated them on the success of "All Right Now."

And they certainly deserved it--on Fire and Water, Free are hitting on all cylinders for sure. This was the best thing Paul Rodgers ever did, bar none; closest match might be Bad Company's eponymous 1974 debut. Paul Kossoff's guitar playing shows just why Eric Clapton wanted to learn how to get the kind of vibrato Kossoff was getting out of his Les Paul (which totally floored Kossoff--hadn't everyone been saying, just a few years previously, "Clapton is God"? Talk about affirmation!). Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke make up one of the most solid rhythm sections in the history of rock 'n' roll. And the songs? And how!

The title cut absolutely smokes--'nuff said. "All Right Now" was a hit, and deservedly so; 36 years later, this bluesy tale of picking up a girl and trying to hit on her still rocks. "Oh I Wept" has enough soul to have done Otis Redding proud. The bonus tracks are nice, if not terribly essential. The remastering is crystal clear and very warm. The only question I have is this: Why has Island's UK office been the only one to step up to the plate? A&M was the band's US label (not to mention the US label of several other Island artists, such as Fairport Convention), and apart from the Molten Gold 2 CD anthology from 1993, they haven't bothered. Thank all the gods of rock 'n' roll somebody did; kudos to Island.

The Greatest Album Ever!.......2006-01-22

I was absolutely shocked from the very first time I heard this album;this has never been done before and still to this very day nothing in the same greatness has come along.I mean this band is tight!Paul Rodgers is the best singer that ever lived, this man has so much soul that he excells in everything he does whether it is Free,Bad Company,The Firm,The Law or even Queen.
This album is the definitive Free Album and the best album ever recorded, with classics like "Fire and Water", "Mr. Big","All Right Now","Heavy Load" and many more.It defnitely has a touch of soul,hard rock and even blues to a certain extent!

All right... then and now.......2005-12-28

This is it... the album that countless bands still refer to as the inspiration and starting point for their own musical efforts. If you have never heard of Free before or maybe you've just heard the huge single lifted from it - All Right Now - then buy this with confidence. This is Free's watershed album - it marks the band's shift from its blues roots and tackles the dilemma of popular acceptance versus critical acclaim head on. The band is at its zenith - Kossoff's playing is agonisingly great, Fraser's bass playing superb; Kirke's drumming deceivingly effortless; Rodger's singing - just brilliant, as always. Even your grandma would like this album... there's something for everyone on it.
Yes all the tracks appear on other compilations - go for it if that's your thing, but if you want to own a bit of rock history, get this album...

My personal best Free album.......2004-07-06

Being a huge fan of the band, I would say Fire and Water is the strongest Free showcase. Rodger's voice just gets better and better, and Kossy's vibrato is at it's pinnacle. I like the mix of ballads and rockers, and naturally you have "All Right Now" as the outro. For me, it all starts to go downhill for Free after this disc. A must for anyone who appreciates 70's Rock.

Average customer rating:

Where's the emotion?
Untitled
Went with the time so well and still sounds good
THE SUPERSTAR ALBUM THAT WASN'T!

Highway
Free
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Free
Free at Last
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ASIN: B00005V1AW
Release Date: 2002-02-11

Tracks:

The Highway Song
The Stealer
On My Way
Be My Friend
Sunny Day
Ride On A Pony
Love You So
Bodie
Soon I Will Be Gone
My Brother Jake (Single)
Only My Soul (Single 'B' Side)
Ride On A Pony (BBC Session)
Be My Friend (BBC Session)
Rain (Alternative Version)
The Stealer (Single Version)

Album Description

UK remastered reissue of 1970 album includes six bonus tracks, 'My Brother Jake' (single), 'Only My Soul' (B-side), 'Ride On A Pony' (BBC session), 'Be My Friend' (BBC session), 'Rain' (alternative version) & 'The Stealer' (single version). 2002.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Reissue of the Classic Album with Six Great Bonus Tracks!

Customer Reviews:

Where's the emotion?.......2005-09-28

Highway being Free's fourth recording came off the heels of the album Fire and Water that broke it open for them on both sides of the the Atlantic. Compared to previous works this album is missing the emotion that was on their first three recordings. Buy FREE live instead and hear Be My Freind,Ride On A Pony, with the emotion,intensity and fire that FREE was known for. Don't get me wrong, the songs are well written but more mellower than earlier albums.

Untitled.......2003-01-03

One theory has the initial poor sales of this album blamed on the fact that the name "Free" did not appear on the front cover( although that did not seem to affect sales of Led Zeppelin 4) but whatever the reason there is now no excuse for not owning this wonderful disc. At their best Free were a group who went beyond the music and into the emotions of the songs.The sonwriting team of Paul Rogers and Andy Fraser were simply one of the best ever to come out of England.
Emerging from the English blues boom to develop a style unlike any other,from the blues - rock sound of "the stealer" to the delicate jazzy blues of "be my friend" ,Free were four young guys on a mission.With the added tracks this disc is great value and deserves a place in any collection.

Went with the time so well and still sounds good.......2002-08-25

I was just 14 when "All Right Now" was playing. It was my favorite song. After I started to hear songs from Highway, Free was my favorite group. "The Stealer" has to be one of the best songs I've ever heard, the words and sound are erotic, "I said, hey good lookin won't you come with me. She said yeah, I'm the stealer, come to steal your love". "Bodie", "Soon I will be gone", these songs have got style and Paul Rodgers sings them as well as anyone could. I was surprised to find this CD, had to be luck. I've had it about 10 or 12 years. I plan to always have it. Songs like "The Stealer" can definitely turn a person on to rock & roll. I know exactly what the other reviewer means. I was in a Best Buy once and this CD was in the "Highway" section, a non-existent group. I dutifully took it and put it in the "Free" section. In a way its sad, I remember listening to the radio on school nights waiting for "The Stealer" to come on and remember how great it sounded, now some people don't know the name of the album from the group.

THE SUPERSTAR ALBUM THAT WASN'T!.......2002-04-26

HIGHWAY should have been the follow-up album, after FIRE AND WATER, to make FREE the superstars they were destined to be. The recording sessions that produced HIGHWAY were among the easiest and most confident of Free's recording career. HIGHWAY, released in December of 1970, reached only #41 in the UK and #190 in America (compared to #2 and #17, respectively, for FIRE AND WATER). Although FREE were at the height of their fame having had an international smash hit with ALL RIGHT NOW. Highway's Recording Engineer, Andy Johns, said he knew the album was doomed as soon as he saw the pallid record sleeve with no conspicuous display of Free's name. It was further reported that reviewers and disc jockeys were saying things like "... good band this Highway, they sound amazingly like Free".

There's a pair of strutting sexy songs, RIDE ON A PONY and THE STEALER, which competed for the role of follow-up to ALL RIGHT NOW. THE STEALER, sporting lyrics "I'm the stealer, come to steal your love", failed to even enter the UK Top 75 and a few weeks later it stalled at #49 in America.

There were three weighty love songs, LOVE YOU SO, SOON I WILL BE GONE, and BE MY FRIEND, that captured Free's established approach to romance as serious business. BE MY FRIEND was actually described by Paul Kossoff as "the best thing we've ever done", a statement that this writer agrees with. The song is absolutely wonderful.

There were three mellow, more typical Free, songs in ON MY WAY, SUNNY DAY, and BODIE.

The opening track, THE HIGHWAY SONG, is a piano-and-drums-led shuffle with an improbably agrarian storyline evident to the lighter tread and sinuous polyrhythms of The Band's Music From Big Pink influences on Rodgers and Kossoff.

History emerges with no account of the startling commercial failure of Free's HIGHWAY album. The music it contains should have made them superstars. Instead, Free began their descent down the road of destruction and ruin that would break up the band and ultimately lead to the drug induced death of one of Rock's greatest guitarists, Paul Kossoff.

Only now, we have posterity and here we are.

The additional tracks, MY BROTHER JAKE and ONLY MY SOUL, are welcome additions to the HIGHWAY line-up, as are the BBC performances of RIDE ON A PONY and BE MY FRIEND. MY BROTHER JAKE was a mono single released in April 1971 which made #4 in the UK charts. Additional track 14, RAIN, is another take on the song which first appeared on the box set SONGS OF YESTERDAY and is previously unreleased, until now. Remastering was performed at Abbey Road by Peter Mew, and is excellent!

Tracks:

Persuaders Theme
Midnight Cowboy
Ipcress File
Knack
Wednesday's Child [From the Quiller Memorandum]
Space March (Capsule in Space)
Girl With the Sun in Her Hair
Vendetta
Danny Scipio Theme
James Bond Theme
Goldfinger - John Barry, Shirley Bassey
Diamonds Are Forever - John Barry, Shirley Bassey
From Russia With Love - John Barry, Matt Monro
You Only Live Twice [Instrumental]
Thunderball [Instrumental]
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
007
Walk, Don't Run
Beat for Beatniks
Hit and Miss
Born Free - John Barry, Matt Monro
Main Title (I Had a Farm in Africa) [From Out of Africa]
John Dunbar Theme [From Dances with Wolves]

Album Description

23 track retrospective of the acclaimed soundtrack composer's best for the cinema. Includes 'Midnight Cowboy', 'The James Bond Theme', 'Dances With Wolves', 'Out Of Africa', 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', 'Born Free' (sung by Matt Monro) and Shirley Bassey's vocal performancesof 'Goldfinger' & 'Dimaonds Are Forever'. 1997 Columbia release.

Album Description

Album Details

Best of Package Includes: Goldfinger, from Russia with Love, Midnight Cowboy, Born Free, Diamonds Are Forever and More.

Customer Reviews:

A lot of 70's Music.......2005-09-20

If you really like 70's themes, you should like this CD. It was a little too dated for me.

Bond and beyond on an excellent career retrospective........1998-08-25

Imitation is often considered the greatest form of flattery. John Barry's oeuvre has been sampled by dozens of contemporary musical artists, and he is often credited as being the godfather of "trip hop" (check recent albums by Portishead and Mono to hear the Barry influence). The Academy-award winning composer has been producing music for over forty years, but this collection focuses on the artist's most commercially successful period, the 1960's. The instantly recognizable and inimitable Barry style is well documented throughout 23 varied compositions. Selections range from classic to obscure, and include all the title tracks from the early James Bond soundtracks. Barry's film and television music is the defining sound of that era - lush orchestrations, cool jazzy riffs, pure excitement. "Themeology" is an excellent starting point for the novice collector and equally attractive for the long-time admirer.

Average customer rating:

Tony Blair's Favorite Band***....
Captures Free in their uncontrolled glory
Hit and Miss for Free

Live at the BBC
Free
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000H5UKFI
Release Date: 2006-10-09

Tracks:

Waiting on You
Sugar for Mr Morrision
I'm a Mover
Over the Green Hills
Songs of Yesterday
Broad Daylight
Woman [In Session]
I'll Be Creepin'
Trouble on Double Time
Mouthful of Grass
All Right Now [In Session]
Fire and Water
Be My Friend [In Session][Take]
Be My Friend [In Session][Take]
Ride on a Pony [In Session][Take]
Ride on a Pony [In Session][Take]
Ride on a Pony [In Session][Take]
Ride on a Pony [In Session][Take]
Ride on a Pony [In Session][Take]
Get Where I Belong

Tracks:

Hunter
Woman [In Concert]
Free Me
Remember
Fire and Water
Be My Friend [In Concert]
Ride on a Pony [In Concert]
Mr Big
Don't Say You Love Me
Woman [In Concert]
All Right Now [In Concert]

Album Details

From their Very First Session in 1968 (Astonishingly, Recorded Just Days after Bass Play Andy Fraser's 16th Birthday) Through to their Last Official Recording for the Beeb, 'in Concert' for John Peel in July 1970, this Compilation Captures the Rise of One of the UK'S Most Talented Blues / Rock Bands. While Some of the Material Has Surfaced as Bonus Material on Reissues, the Bulk of it Has Never Before Been Available; 'sugar for Mr Morrision', 'woman', 'i'll Be Creepin'' 'trouble on Double Time' and 'mouthful of Grass' in Session Tracks and Both the in Concert Performances Are Officially Released Here for the First Time. The December 1969 Session for Top Gear Never Even Made it to Bootleg, It's a Gem of a Find that Turned Up Relatively Recently in Paul Kossoff's Private Archive.

Customer Reviews:

Tony Blair's Favorite Band***...........2007-01-02

...which, if nothing else, probably is an indication that Blair DID inhale in college. Too bad he couldn't have been Bush's roommate. He could have put the needle down on "Mouthful of Grass" and mellowed George W. right out..

This cd seems a bit late arriving in more ways than one, but it's a nice reminder of what an underrated group Free was---tignt as the sheets on a Marine's bed, but always a great prescription for tension reduction.

Disc One is the real winner here. Disc Two is about as useful as wisdom teeth. They could just as well have put "Free Live" into the package and provided some indication of what the group really sounded like live. Disc Two is worth about one star. Since it's so poorly recorded, it's just extra baggage.

But Disc One has the goods. There's plenty of material from the second studio album, simply titled "Free", which was full of great stuff... "Woman" , "I'll Be Creepin'", &"Trouble on Double Time" are as good as anything Free ever recorded. "Mouthful of Grass" is so pastorally laid back that it nearly sounds like Fairport Convention. "Over the Green Hills" is Rodgers purest sounding vocal.

The rhythm section of Kirke and Fraser shines throughout, and of course Kossoff is well...Kossoff. Nobody approaches him as a string bender except for possibly Robin Trower--who late in the 70's was at times blatantly copying the Free sound... (check out Trower's "Road to Freedom" and "River" if you don't believe it.)
Everybody knows that Lynyrd Skynyrd borrowed heavily from Free, and so many vocalists imitated Paul Rogers that it isn't funny.

In conclusion: despite the weak second disk, this is worth purchasing. If you don't believe me, ask the PM.

*** Free is Blair's favorite band according to "Mojo" magazine, anyway. He was born in '53, so it kind of makes sense. He would have been 17 when "All Right Now" came out.

Captures Free in their uncontrolled glory.......2006-12-28

The reviewer who criticized the sound quality of Disk 2 is not wrong. It sounds like it was taken from a small home recorder in the back of the hall. However, for Free fans, Kossoff's frenzied, nearly out of control, playing on their rave-up "The Hunter" is worth the second rate audio. I am very glad they included it and very pleased with the rest of the collection - after I adjusted to the sound quality. If you want great audio and a super introduction to this great and unique band, get the two CD best of collection, Molten Gold. Perhaps we would agree that is for fans and collectors only.

Hit and Miss for Free.......2006-12-13

This 2cd set is kind of disappointing. The 1st CD has good sound -it is somewhat stereo and contains alternate cuts of Free but none come from their last 3 albums. The 2nd CD is very disappointing. It is a live recording which sounds like a bad bootleg. The sound is muffled in a lot of places and hard to hear clearly. They should have left this one out. There is even the sound of a phone ringing or a alarm in the background on a couple of the cuts. Free fans--just get this for the 1st cd--the other is very very bad. Where are the cuts from the last lineup of Free--are they out there-Hearbreaker, Catch a Train etc?

Average customer rating:

Born to be free... of being noticed :'(
Sophomore Satisfaction
FANTASTIC!

Born to Be Free
Sonique
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000096FLD
Release Date: 2003-06-09

Tracks:

Alive
Hold Me Now
Can't Make Up My Mind
Magic
Love Washes Away
Will You Want Me
Freefalling (Mum's Favourite)
Right Here You An' I
Seriously
You're The Reason
Born To Be Free
Please
I'm Gonna Love You
Can't Make Up My Mind

Album Description

Something of a perfectionist, Sonique has spent the past two years maintaining a fast-paced global deejay schedule entertaining crowds in Romania, Egypt, Israel, Russia & South Africa whilst also creating a second album of the highest caliber. Keen to maintain a degree of consistency to her music, whilst simultaneously delivering a fresh sound, Sonique enlisted the expertise of producers Graham Pleeth (Peter Gabriel & Appleton), & Robin Barter (Kylie Minogue & Freddie Mercury), who also worked on 'Hear My Cry'. Each song on the album contains powerful & emotive lyrics inspired by Sonique's own life experiences, showcasing her trademark sounds, whilst demonstrating an unmistakable development in her music. 'Hold Me Now' is Sonique's own reaction to September 11th - having endured personal loss herself three years ago, Sonique can relate to those who were bereaved as a result of the attack &

Album Details

Each Song on the Album Includes Powerful and Emotive Lyrics Inspired by Sonique's Own Life Experiences, Showcasing her Trademark Sounds, While Demonstrating an Unmistakable Development in her Music.

Customer Reviews:

Born to be free... of being noticed :'(.......2006-07-26

This album completely missed the UK album charts, which is unbelievable. Sonique is my favorite singer, and if you get this album, she'll become yours too! Maybe, because so many people were turned off after they bought her first album. I thought her first was good, but alot of people just hated the other album tracks besides the singles.
This album only spawned 2 singles, because Universal Records is stupid and dropped her before releasing a third single, because the sales weren't good. Gee, maybe they would have been if more time was spent on promoting the album?
Anyway, not only are the sinlges on the album great and underrated, but the whole album is! My rule of thumb is that an album shouldn't be released without 5 really good songs, so that at least some songs have single potential. This album definately passes that test. Anyway, here's each song, in detail:

Alive: The album's second single, which didn't do nearly as well as it should have. Arguably the best song on the album, one of my favorite songs of all time, a better question is who doesn't like this song. It starts off with a really cool intro, and the bridge and chorus will have you listening to the song a million times! Something great to dance to! 9/10

Hold Me Now: Sonique's reaction to September 11th, and she wasn't even in the States, which shows she cares about what's going on in the world. My favorite song on the album. One word to describe it is beautiful. The song has a dance beat and tempo, yet it's a really moving song. A song with both of those qualities is hard to find. And the string section in the song... it's just a great song, trust me. The only "flaw" if you call it, is that it's a sad song that, even though it is upbeat, it may make you depressed, and is not the perfect song to lift you up. Sometimes I even cry when I listen to this. None the less, 10/10

Can't Make Up My Mind: The first single released from the album, and a good one at that. I really like the lyrics, and it's another good song to dance to. A great mid-uptempo track! 8/10

Magic: This song is what the title says. Another mid-uptempo one, and it makes you feel good. I like the lyrics to this one, too. 8/10

Love Washes Away: This song sounds different than any of the other songs, or any song I've heard. There are some nice strings in this song too, and a cool intro. It sounds kinda weird though at first but I like it. There are choir voices in the background, which adds a nice touch. 7/10

Will You Want Me: Sonique's specialty, which is remix-like songs. This song samples the club track Amphetamine. It'd go down great at clubs, but if I'm just chilling, maybe not the song I'd sit and listen to. Great to dance to though. 6/10

Freefalling: Sonique's mom's favorite song on the album. Sort of like a mid-tempo ballad. Not something I listen to everyday, but still a good song. 6/10

Right Here You An' I: Another song similar to Will You Want Me, only I seem to like this one better. It's more fast-paced, but I seem to sing along with the lyrics. This is great for dancing and clbus too. 7/10

Seriously: The intro makes the song seem weird, but it turns out to be a more mellow RnB type song. The chorus is kinda catchy, and it's different enough. 6/10

You're The Reason: I do tend to skip some of the songs on the middle of the album, but now we get to the good stuff again. A nice dance track with a hint of reggae to it, Sonique's favorite on the album. I love the chorus, and this song makes me happy. 8/10

Born To Be Free: It starts off with an awesome keyboard intro, but gets faster. I think this should have been the next single. Really upbeat. Another great one for dancing. And the lyrics describe what the title says. 9/10

Please: Some people have said they don't like this one, but I, for some reason, do and must give it atleast a 7. Not exactly a ballad, but not fact paced or uptempo, I find it very catchy and I love listening to it, and singing to the chorus. 7/10

I'm Gonna Love You: A great upbeat dance track that really makes you hapy! 7/10

The album also includes a remix of Can't Make Up My Mind.

Sophomore Satisfaction.......2004-03-11

In the year 2000 Sonique (an acclaimed DJ, athlete and singer) brought us "It Feels So Good," her breakout hit, which was one of the best singles of that year. It was one of several stellar tracks from her somewhat uneven debut album. Her long-awaited followup is a much more cohesive affair then her debut. "Born To Be Free" on the whole is a bit of a grower, and probably doesn't contain stellar singles of the same magnitude, but ultimately works better as an album. Some of the best songs include "Alive" the second single (which would have probably been better as the first), "Can't Make Up My Mind" (the actual first single), "You're The Reason," the title track and "Will You Want Me" (which should have been a single). The producers on the album include Graeme Pleeth and Robin Barter, who worked on her last album, along with Drum n' Bass producer Roni Size on "Right Here You An' I," recently defunct duo Thunderpuss on "Love Washes Away" (which was one of their last production jobs), and Chris Cox (one half of Thunderpuss) on "Magic," which was written by Sonique and Rob Davis of Mud (these days, a hired gun who also co-wrote Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head with Cathy Dennis), as well as FAF on the title track, Richie Jones and Eric Kupper on "I'm Gonna Love You" and the ubiquitous Rick Nowels co-producing with Thunderpuss.

Unfortunately the album hasn't lived up to expectations, which is too bad since it's an excellent record. The material essentially proves that Sonique was no producers puppet, like many emerging pop and dance acts. She's managed to stay current, and still keep and develop her sound. Compared to her first; the songs are much more personal and introspective in nature, with Sonique given writing credit on all but one song. Tracks like "Can't Make Up My Mind," "Hold Me Now," "Will You Want Me," "Born To Be Free" and "Freefalling" showcase her development as a songwriter and as an artist. This time, it seems Sonique and her producers have managed to make a consistent album, while still being diverse - keeping in the framework of the album as a listening experience, rather than just a collection of songs. Hopefully this won't be the last we hear from Sonique. (4.5 Stars)

FANTASTIC!.......2003-08-28

Sonique rulez!
new album is sooo good!
songs like-alive,you're the reason,i'm gonna love youor hold me now are songs for all times!this is great dance,electronic and r'n'b cd with 14 great songs for everyone who likes good music.
go on and buy it,all songs are perfect,like 1.album!

Average customer rating:

Anthology: You've Got to Have Freedom
Pharoah Sanders
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Karma
Elevation
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Love Will Find a Way
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B000ATJZA2
Release Date: 2005-11-14

Tracks:

Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt [Edit]
Creator Has a Master Plan [Edit]
Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah
Astral Traveling
Thembi
Morning Prayer
Summun Bukmun Umyun [Edit][Edit]
Black Unity
Village of the Pharoahs [Edit][Edit]

Tracks:

Gathering [Edit]
Greeting to Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)
Love Is Everywhere
Love Will Find a Way
You've Got to Have Freedom
Jitu
Rejoice
Heart Is a Melody of Time (Hiroko's Song)
Nozipho

Album Details

Taken from the Labels Impulse!, Teressa and Arista, this is the First Time that Sanders's Most Important Works have Been on One Collection. Sanders's Following is Wide and Diverse, from Coltrane Lovers to the Hoxton Square Hip! Compiled by Laurence Prangell at Soul Brother Records, this Compilation Puts all of Pharoah Sanders' Major Works on One Album for the Very First Time. Sanders's Works Influenced a New Generation When his Music was a Major Influence on the UK'S Younger Jazz Dance Scene During the Late 80's and 90's. Regularly Played by Gilles Peterson and his Counterparts, his Name and Music Still Stands as the Most Spiritual and Inspirational Free Jazz Ever.

Average customer rating:

Really Never Stops Giving
Speaking in Tongues
An excellent set
The quintessential Charles Gayle album
Transcendental endurance jazz!

Touchin' on Trane
Charles Gayle , William Parker , and Rashied Ali
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Time Zones
Ancient of Days
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Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come

ASIN: B00000AQ38
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part E

Customer Reviews:

Really Never Stops Giving.......2006-03-11

If you like late Coltrane - particularly if you appreciate Ali's drumming - you can't miss with this CD. I have listened to it regularly for a few years now, and it really represents a peak for all these artists.

This isn't "energy music" (a term of questionable value to begin with), this is a group of artists who understood the essence of late Coltrane and brought more of it forward.

It is a great place to start with the solo catalogs of any of these artists, and also fantastic if you have all the late Coltrane and are looking for something new to give you *that feeling*.

Speaking in Tongues.......2004-01-24

Charles Gayle - Touchin' on Trane

The story of Charles Gayle is a modern day Romantic legend. A veteran of the New York free jazz scene of the late 60s and early 70s, Gayle could never quite fit in with the scenes in the city. His aggressive saxophone style dominated the groups he played with at a time when the idea of the "collective" was in the air. Gayle's tenor style was as aggressive as Albert Ayler, and perhaps even more uncompromising. So somewhere in the early 70s he disappeared onto the streets and remained there for almost 20 years, playing for change and living where ever he could. In the late 1980s he was rediscovered by the manager of the Kitchen in New York and he made a triumphant return to performing and recording.

Gayle has definite scars from his years on the streets. And he also has a reputation for ideas that are not politically correct. Gayle is a born again Christian and makes no secret about it, with a heavily religious content to the titles of his albums and in some club dates, monologues at the audience about religion, morality and abortion, all fueled by his religious background. This has caused Gayle to be boycotted by some clubs. But if one can get past the politics and disagreements that you might have with his religion, Gayle is an astonishing musician. This album, Touchin' on Trane, is perhaps the best recording to introduce yourself to the wild art of this unique artist.

The trio on this group includes the marvelous William Parker on bass and Coltrane's final drummer, Rashid Ali. The combination could not be better. Parker and Ali work together like hand and glove. Parker is unique among his generation of free jazz bassists, in that he is not afraid of a groove. Parker can do a free walk with the best of them as is evidenced by the first cut on the album. Ali made his name as the drummer who drove Elvin Jones out of the Trane ensemble, and as a musician who did away with pulse in a quest for a free music devoid of the "tyranny of the beat". And yet, on this album, Ali shows he can swing as hard as any bebopper. Together, they form a terrific bass over which to feature Gayle's wild blowing.

Gayle himself is a wonder on this album. His style is influenced by the overblowing of the Albert Ayler school, particularly the early trio records Ayler made. But if you listen you can also hear the roots of this music in the primitive Gospel music of Pentacostal churches. Gayle in fact believes that the music he heard in black churches was as free as any avant-garde music. Much has been made of the "glossalia" aspect of the music of Albert Ayler. The same could be said for Gayle. His improvisations are more than just music; they are truly "speaking in tongues". All of the cuts on the album are freely improvised, with not tunes or heads. Gayle's improvisations start out where other musicians end...at a fevered pitch, and they go up from there. This is extreme music, extremely well played. The cuts range from up tempo numbers to fast, unmetered pieces, to wide, Ayler-style ballads. Gayle's voice on tenor is dominating, but always controlled.

Gayle is perhaps one of the best documented of modern free jazz musicians. This recording, though it doesn't include any examples of Gayle's unique alto style or his individualistic approach to the piano, or his work on bass clarinet, is still perhaps the best place to begin exploring this important improviser. The sound is strong and compelling. And, for those who have difficulty with the musician's belief set, this one makes no reference to these beliefs. Progressives can listen to this album with a clear conscience.

An excellent set.......2000-08-25

Unlike other reviews, I believe this set, more than anything else I've heard, carries on the spirit of Coltrane. This music does "TOUCH" on Trane from time to time. With Ali (a former drummer for Trane) and Parker (a Garrison student) as a rhythm section there are some obvios references to Trane. Gayle's playing here is also in that tradition. While Gayle's Live From the Knitting factory sets have a strong Ayler feel, I don't find that to be the case on this one. And the reference to Coleman is strange since Gayle's tone and playing style bear no relation to Ornette.

Its a great CD, not nearly as "out" as Gayles other work.

The quintessential Charles Gayle album.......1999-02-26

Although it is named after John Coltrane, this album owes more to Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman. The fact that Rashied Ali plays on it is sure to draw comparison to late period Coltrane, but Gayle plays more anger and less delicacy than Coltrane, which makes the overall feel of this album thoroughly modern. To add to this asthetic, William Parker plays with unrelenting endurance to provide a solid, though thundering, foundation for the trio. This album is no stretch for Ali. He plays with usual graceful explosiveness (how many crash cymbals does that guy have?) This is the quintessential Charles Gayle album.

Transcendental endurance jazz!.......1999-02-12

What could I ever say about this music? Listen (or try not to --it will grab you by the heart--) and be blown away. Mightily forceful, yet unbelievably subtle; a harrowing (and hallowed) musical experience (as is most Gayle).

Average customer rating:

To Be Free
Emiliana Torrini
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Details

ASIN: B000056ARJ
Release Date: 2001-01-29

Tracks:

To Be Free [Torre Johansson Radio Edit]
To Be Free [Future Shock Vocal Club Mix]
Unemployed in Summertime [Dreemhouse Club Mix]

Album Description

Her debut single gets re-released in the UK to promote her critically acclaimed but sadly undersold debut album 'Life In The Time Of Science'. Often and rightfully compared to Bjork this three track single features all new mixes that didn't appear on the original, including one by Tore Johansson who's best known for his works with The Cardigans. Tracks, 'To Be Free' (Tore Johansson Radio Edit, Future Shock To Be Free Vocal Club Mix and Dreemhouse Unemployed Club Mix). Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Remix by Torre Johansson (Cardigans), Futureshock, and Dreemhouse.

Average customer rating:

Not as memorable as much of the rest of the Masada pieces.

Masada, Vol. 5: Hei
Masada
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Masada, Vol. 9
Masada, Vol. 7

ASIN: B000005RGL
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

Paran
Halisah
Yoreh
Beeroth
Hobah
Neshamah
Lakum
Makedah
Hafla'ah

Customer Reviews:

Not as memorable as much of the rest of the Masada pieces........2005-06-23

"Hei" is the first of two albums recorded by Masada over two days in July of 1995. It is, in my assessment, one of the weakest entries into the Masada catalog, but be aware-- this doesn't make this by any stretch not an enjoyable listen, it just means that comparatively speaking, its a weak effort, and my rating is reflective of how it measures up to the rest of the Masada studio material.

Masada consists of composer/alto saxaphonist John zorn, trumpeter Dave Douglas, bassit Greg Cohen, and drummer Joey Baron. Musically, it is often simplified as Ornette meets klezmer. The keys to to this music are the use of Jewish scales in simple jazz compositions, collective improvisations, often more than one musician solos at a time, and brilliant interaction-- these guys play together fantastically and often the highlight of a solo isn't the soloist, but rather the support structure.

I'm not sure what it is about this record that makes it less enjoyable than the rest for me-- I suspect its that I don't find any of the themes particularly memorable-- the playing is, particularly from Joey Baron, superb, and there are several decent pieces on here-- "Halishah" is kind of an unexciting theme but Baron's performance definitely steals the show, "Yoreh" has an unusual march beat and some fine soloing from Douglas, "Beeroth" is a drum feature and Baron tkaes full advantage of his center stage, showing not only his stunning technique but his sense of style and taste (so rare even in jazz drum solos), and "Lakum" is a neat little thrash jazz piece. But really none of these stand out or stick in my head. In an interview, Zorn pointed out that Masada was a "major exploration of melody", and these melodies just aren't particularly memorable.

Start with one of the first three Masada records (or the live "50th Birthday Celebration Volume 7"), come to this after you've digested some of their better executed music. It's a good record, but there's a whole lot better in the catalog.

Album Review:

Album Review

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