Free: some questions about their discography

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by no time, Jan 27, 2018.

  1. no time

    no time Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Europe
    I really like the way "The Free" plays blues-rock, psychedelic, syncopated, melodic, aggressive.... I'm not an expert on this band, so I have some questions:

    -- Tons Of Sobs / Free / Fire And Water / Highway / Free At Last / Heartbreaker / Free Live! all remasters with bonus tracks + Live At The BBC (2CD) / Fire And Water (Deluxe Edition)(2CD) / Songs Of Yesterday (5CD Box), these CDs contain the whole production or is there something else?

    -- Paul Rodgers - vocals, Paul Kossoff - lead guitar, Andy Fraser - bass, Simon Kirke - drums is the classic line-up, in which tracks there are variations respect to this line-up? For example in "Mourning Sad Morning" Chris Wood plays the flute, but who plays the piano in "My Brother Jack"? Heartbreaker album then is very complicated.... Thanks
     
    kees1954 likes this.
  2. jcarr73729

    jcarr73729 Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Your list sums up the official bundle of releases.
    There may be the odd rarity or session missing, but nothing essential.
    To go beyond your list would take you into live recordings and other unofficial stuff.
     
  3. Flaming Torch

    Flaming Torch Forum Resident

    I agree with this. The 2016 remasters on cd and vinyl are excellent but you do not get the bonus tracks.
     
  4. Psychedelic Sounds

    Psychedelic Sounds Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Zealand
    The compilation Free - Molten Gold: The Anthology 2x CD (1994) is worth adding.
    IT was only released on CD and cassette.
    It is an excellent collection and the sound quality is very nice. Mastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio.
     
    Eric Weinraub, ibis, Octavia and 7 others like this.
  5. Psychedelic Sounds

    Psychedelic Sounds Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Zealand
    I don't recommend any of the 2001 remasters. I bought Fire And Water and it was remastered 'loud' and had a harsh sound quality.
     
    abzach and kees1954 like this.
  6. Psychedelic Sounds

    Psychedelic Sounds Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Zealand
    I recommend Free - Molten Gold: The Anthology (1993)
    I am not an expert on mastering, But I really like the remastering by Joseph M. Palmaccio.
     
    Acoustic Warrior, Ray29, ibis and 4 others like this.
  7. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

  8. Man at C&A

    Man at C&A Senior Member

    Location:
    England
    Sadly I agree which is a shame as the packaging and bonus tracks are excellent. I was so used to hearing Free on vinyl before these were released, and even though I don't think they're awful, I've never got used to the sound of them. To me they make Free sound heavier and less laid back, which isn't a good thing.
     
    Psychedelic Sounds likes this.
  9. Psychedelic Sounds

    Psychedelic Sounds Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Free live at Granada Studios, England in 1970.
    Some great footage.

     
  10. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    There were the LPs made in the EU that are fantastic.
    I have the Japanese Cds with the bonus tracks and thought those were also great.

    Worth noting past that, the BBC 2CD is for "fans only" but "Songs Of Yesterday" box is well worth getting.
    As far as antique Cds, the original A&M CD for Fire & Water is also great (different mixes, some) and The Free Story is nice.
     
  11. Rose River Bear

    Rose River Bear Senior Member

    I like that compilation.
     
    snepts, Ray29, John Fell and 2 others like this.
  12. no time

    no time Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Europe
    Thanks for the information, it is always difficult to do a search with the name "Free". I will read the thread calmly when I have time, hoping to find news that interests me. That thread is closed and we could continue here to exchange information and opinions.
     
    CoachD and Zeki like this.
  13. elgreco

    elgreco Groove Meister

    The compilation 'The Free Story' was my starting point back in the day - it's a good overview and the original Island CD sounds terrific. I agree that the remasters of the individual albums are not the way to go - they're mastered loud and harsh. Try to find original Island issues. On CD that is. I'm not familiar with Free LP's.

    Oh, and it's 'Free' BTW, not 'The Free'. The Free were a soul band from Holland...:)
     
  14. no time

    no time Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Europe
  15. Khaki F

    Khaki F Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kenosha, WI. USA
    Band name is "Free". No "The" in there. Sorry. Someone's gotta say it...
     
  16. Siegmund

    Siegmund Vinyl Sceptic

    Location:
    Britain, Europe
    The 2001 remasters are too loud, which is a shame - as others have said -because of all the great bonus material they contain (though not so much on Free At Last, which I'd rate as their worst album).

    I've heard good things about the 2015 remasters but don't feel motivated to purchase.
     
  17. Siegmund

    Siegmund Vinyl Sceptic

    Location:
    Britain, Europe
    I don't think the original Island CDs sound that great, either.
     
  18. sound chaser

    sound chaser Senior Member

    Location:
    North East UK.
    I highly recommend the recent Andy Pearce remasters with the wonderful label artwork, as mentioned, (the 2001s have their use for the bonus tracks unless there's another way to acquire them), amazon have them for something like £5 each which is frankly criminal for such an amazing young band :)
     
    Dennis Metz likes this.
  19. Smackswell

    Smackswell Kossoff & Ralphs LA 76

    Location:
    Baile Atha Cliath
    The Free Story has the song Heartbreaker live, Songs of Yesterday some extras as well as B sides. Free-A Pop Chronik has Andy Frasers Toby doing Travelling Man. The Best of Free has some terrible Bob Clearmountain remixes. The original Free Live has the original Tyr..Rex intro. I think that's it.
     
  20. no time

    no time Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Europe
    I asked for the change of the thread's title. A bit of patience.
     
    Scope J likes this.
  21. Crawlin From The Wreckage

    Crawlin From The Wreckage Custom Titled

    Location:
    Canada
    That would be My Brother Jake. The piano was played by Andy Fraser.
     
  22. Sandinista

    Sandinista Forum Resident

    the recent Andy Pearce remasters sound great to me and are not expensive at all - I wanted to expand beyond the Molten Gold anthology, which I agree is excellent, so picking up the entire catalog was a no brainer. And I'm glad I did.

    I had the Molten Gold anthology for years and years and figured that was all I needed. As soon as I listened to the entire albums, I realized pretty much every note is worth having. Great, great band.
     
    TGH7, iggyd, FillmoreGuy and 4 others like this.
  23. joelee

    joelee Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Houston
    What do you recommend?

    Thanks
     
  24. Smackswell

    Smackswell Kossoff & Ralphs LA 76

    Location:
    Baile Atha Cliath
    The Free Story....then Heartbreaker, followed by Back Street Crawler(the album) then Sharks First Water and Bad Company (the album) and finish with 2nd Street by Back Street Crawler (the band).
     
    Bassist likes this.
  25. SteveS1

    SteveS1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Weald, England, UK
    Iirc only the vinyl Free Story has the live version of Heartbreaker. The CD lost it probably due to time limitations. I never understood that choice, taking off the rare track and leaving all the ones that were widely available. Duh:crazy:

    Songs Of Yesterday has it and a load of good stuff but the rather heavy handed mastering NR wise is a shame. It’s not bad though sonically.

    Fortunately Andy Pearce did a fantastic job with the 2016 remasters so no excuse for not owning all the main releases. Fabulous band.
     
    John Fell, Bassist, ibis and 2 others like this.

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