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It's strange that a band with a song as immediate as "All Right Now" is a bit of an acquired taste, but it's the truth. Free was a powerful, majestic hard rock band at their peak, but they were also a little obtuse; a lot of their power came from their playing, and their songwriting was epic, but often elliptical. As such, they're for hard rock connoisseurs -- a band who gained a spirited, dedicated following largely because they took devotion to unlock their treasures, especially in the years following their breakup. For those fans, the five-disc Songs of Yesterday is a godsend. This is not a box for listeners with less than a consuming interest in the band (even if you think you want total immersion in Free, this will not be as effective as purchasing each of their albums) since this contains a wealth of unreleased material. Very few of the tracks are actual album tracks, most are alternate mixes or alternate versions, plus there are a lot of live tracks in the mix, as well. As long as you know what you're getting into, this isn't bad, especially since it refurbishes the band's canon for the dedicated, giving them fresh insights to familiar songs (even if the new mixes aren't necessarily better than the originals -- they just sound a bit brighter and more modern). For anyone else, it's a bit much, and it doesn't quite tell the story in the right fashion, since it really offers a mirror image, alternate version rather than the real thing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Free, MainArtist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - ANDY FRASER, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Enotris Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Richard Penniman, ComposerLyricist - Free, MainArtist - Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer
℗ 1969 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer
℗ 1969 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - ANDY FRASER, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Guy Stevens, Producer - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - ANDY FRASER, ComposerLyricist - John Glover, Producer - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bernard Rodgers, Author - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
DISC 2
Free, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - ANDY FRASER, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Simon Kirke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Rodgers, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Kossoff, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Bernard Rodgers, Author - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bernard Rodgers, Author - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bernard Rodgers, Author - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - ANDY FRASER, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - ANDY FRASER, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
ANDY JOHNS, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - ANDY FRASER, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Kirke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Rodgers, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1971 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
DISC 3
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Andrew Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
KEITH RICHARDS, ComposerLyricist - MICK JAGGER, ComposerLyricist - Free, Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, MainArtist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
John "Rabbit" Bundrick, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1974 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
ANDY JOHNS, Producer - Free, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - John "Rabbit" Bundrick, ComposerLyricist - Tetsu Yamauchi, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Free, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Paul Kossoff, ComposerLyricist - Richard Digby Smith, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
ANDY JOHNS, Producer - Free, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Kirke, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Tetsu Yamauchi, ComposerLyricist - John Bundrick, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
It's strange that a band with a song as immediate as "All Right Now" is a bit of an acquired taste, but it's the truth. Free was a powerful, majestic hard rock band at their peak, but they were also a little obtuse; a lot of their power came from their playing, and their songwriting was epic, but often elliptical. As such, they're for hard rock connoisseurs -- a band who gained a spirited, dedicated following largely because they took devotion to unlock their treasures, especially in the years following their breakup. For those fans, the five-disc Songs of Yesterday is a godsend. This is not a box for listeners with less than a consuming interest in the band (even if you think you want total immersion in Free, this will not be as effective as purchasing each of their albums) since this contains a wealth of unreleased material. Very few of the tracks are actual album tracks, most are alternate mixes or alternate versions, plus there are a lot of live tracks in the mix, as well. As long as you know what you're getting into, this isn't bad, especially since it refurbishes the band's canon for the dedicated, giving them fresh insights to familiar songs (even if the new mixes aren't necessarily better than the originals -- they just sound a bit brighter and more modern). For anyone else, it's a bit much, and it doesn't quite tell the story in the right fashion, since it really offers a mirror image, alternate version rather than the real thing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 5 disc(s) - 80 track(s)
- Total length: 05:59:06
- Main artists: Free
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company. This Compilation ℗ 2000 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
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