Free Albums Ranked

Free was an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song “All Right Now”.They disbanded in 1973; lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become the frontman of the band Bad Company, which also featured his Free bandmate Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler in 1975 but died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. Free became renowned for their live shows and non-stop touring. However, their studio albums did not sell very well until their third, Fire and Water, 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 600,000 people. In the early 1970s, Free became one of the biggest-selling British blues-rock groups; by the time they disbanded, they had sold more than 20 million albums around the world and had played more than 700 arena and festival concerts. “All Right Now” remains a rock staple, and has been entered in ASCAP’s “One Million” airplay singles club. Rolling Stone has referred to the band as “British hard rock pioneers”. The magazine ranked Rodgers No. 55 in its list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”, while Kossoff was ranked No. 51 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Free was signed to Island Records in the UK and A&M Records in North America. Here are all of the Free’s albums ranked.

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8. Free Live! (1971)

“Then on a dime they switch into the huge riffage of “Fire And Water”. One of the “Highway” albums highlights was the brill “Ride On A Pony” – a tremendous little chugger that would have made a great 45 too. Both “Mr. Big” and the finisher “The Hunter” elicit whoops and hollers from a clearly enamoured audience. The wildly overlooked and truly excellent studio cut “Get Where I Belong” is a gem in my mind – the kind of album track that deserves better notoriety.”

7. Highway (1970)

“As an album December 1970’s “Highway” has always been second fiddle to the mighty “Fire And Water” from earlier in the year (May 1970) with it’s all conquering “All Right Now”. But I’d argue it’s the band’s “Powerage” or “Communiqué” or “Goat’s Head Soup” or “Tusk” – a record that followed monsters and therefore gets unfairly overlooked and slagged off. Granted a tune like the dreadfully weedy “Bodie” is not classic Free no matter how well the Acoustic Guitars now leap out of the mix. But check out the opener “The Highway Song” and suddenly that ramshackle British Rock thing The Stones and Mott The Hoople had in spades starts to fill your living room with trouser-filling swagger (look out ladies). “

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6. Free at Last (1972)

“The album sets off in celebratory style with “Catch A Train” and the call-and-response between Koss and Paul Rodgers is about as conversational as could be.  Simon Kirke’s military drum beat then sets the scene for “Soldier Boy”, with Kossoff’s guitar wailing and crying on the battlefield.  “Magic Ship” is a typically soulful Free track – Koss’s guitar wailing on the point of feedback this time before the relative calmness of some sparse piano. “

5. Kossoff Kirke Tetsu Rabbit (1972)

“I let go of the record, but it was always a carefree album. I was tearful to the nostalgic sound. Sink with the album while drinking alone. There are a lot of good songs ~ This is!”

4. Free (1969)

“Can’t go wrong with any of the few albums they made. And this one is no exception, enjoy!!!!”

3. Heartbreaker (1973)

“Heartbreaker is a consistently strong offering with well written and performed rock songs and the old free vocals/guitar/bass/drums mix augmented brilliantly by Rabbit Bundrick’s keyboards which gives the band sound more depth and layers without ever stealing the show. Wishing Well is a classic but Heartbreaker, Come Together in the Morning and Common Mortal Man are all classic Free.”

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2. Tons of Sobs (1969)

“Plain and simple one of the best bands in the seventies. IMO I like these guys more then the other giants of the era. You who they are! If Paul Kossoffs guitar playing does not give you goosebumps check your pulse. Paul Rogers voice is will make your hair stand on top of your head. Tight band all around. Everything they did was outstanding. Love them. “

1.Fire and Water (1970)

“The drumming on Fire and Water, Heavy Load and of course All Right Now are really some of the many highlights of this album. Lets not forget the consistently soulful, magic vocals of Paul Rogers and the intense guitar work of Paul Kossoff, true brilliance. Also like the use of the piano on Heavy Load, it really adds a special atmosphere to the track.”