Free at Last (Free album)

Free at Last
Studio album by Free
Released	June 1972 February 2002 (Reissue)
Recorded	January - March 1972
Genre	Rock, blues-rock, hard rock
Length	65:38 (2002 reissue)
Label	Island
Producer	Free
Free chronology
Free Live! (1971) Free at Last (1972) Heartbreaker (1973)

Free at Last is the sixth album (fifth studio album) by English rock band Free. The band had broken up in April 1971 due to differences between singer Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser. Some people have also claimed the drug problems of guitarist Paul Kossoff were a factor, but as both Simon Kirke and their record manager, John Glover have said, Kossoff's drug problems began when Free split up in 1971, and it seems clear that it was the break-up of the band (that he loved so much) that led him into serious drug use. The four members went their separate ways, but Fraser and Rodgers' projects were not immediately successful, although the Kossoff Kirke Tetsu Rabbit album remains something of a little known masterpiece. It was Kossoff's descent into a self destructive drug fuelled exile that led members of the band to set aside their differences and re-form, with the intention of potentially saving the guitarist's life.

Line up

• Paul Rodgers - vocals, piano
• Paul Kossoff - guitar
• Andy Fraser - bass
• Simon Kirke - drums

Recording

All members of the band made a concerted effort to work smoothly and efficiently for Kossoff's sake. For example, in a symbolic gesture all tracks were credited to every member of the band regardless of who actually wrote them. However, Kossoff's input can best be described as erratic; to compensate either Rodgers or Fraser took to the piano. Unfortunately the keyboard playing seems stiff and not particularly accomplished, resulting in an album that is nowhere near as musically tight as others by the band.

The attitude to the songwriting was also vastly different; there is none of the swagger and braggadocio that was present when a more youthful band had assembled in 1968. In fact there are no outright rock songs at all, and the three songs that contain fast-paced moments all have slower, more introspective moments. Also, many fans have interpreted some of the melancholic lyrics (many of which concern people in some form of emotional distress) as referring to Kossoff.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Reception

The album was reasonably successful, peaking at #9 in the UK album charts making it their most successful studio album there since Fire and Water. The single release "Little Bit of Love" reached #13; despite failing to enter the top ten it was still their third best selling single release (it would be beaten by "Wishing Well" the following year). As usual though the album fared less well in the US reaching #69; this was still a significant improvement on all previous albums bar Fire and Water.

However, problems began again when the band was then expected to tour to promote the album as Kossoff was faced with a task for which he was not physically capable. Gigs had been disastrous, with Fraser remembering that "you could see people in the audience crying for him, longing for him to be all right" (quoted in Phil Sutcliffe's liner notes). Unable to continue, Fraser left the band permanently, aged just 20. Kossoff also pulled out of the tour (although not technically leaving the band) in order to seek treatment for his drug addiction.

During the period in late 1971 where the band had split, Kossoff and Kirke had formed a new band with Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and keyboard player John "Rabbit" Bundrick; Kirke asked them to join the tour in place of Fraser and Kossoff. They accepted, and soon joined the band officially.

Track listing

All tracks written by Rodgers/Fraser/Kossoff/Kirke unless otherwise stated.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Catch a Train"	3:32
2.	"Soldier Boy"	2:51
3.	"Magic Ship"	5:22
4.	"Sail On"	3:05
5.	"Travellin' Man"	3:23

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"Little Bit of Love"	2:34
7.	"Guardian of the Universe"	5:32
8.	"Child"	5:18
9.	"Goodbye"	5:05

Extra tracks

1. "Burnin' (Molten Gold)" (Kossoff) (Alternative take) 5:57
2. "Honky Tonk Women" (Jagger/Richards) 3:13
3. "Magic Ship" (Alternative mix) 5:28
4. "Little Bit of Love" (Alternative mix) 2:37
5. "Guardian of the Universe" (Paul Rodgers solo version) 6:07
6. "Child" (Early mix) 5:20

References

• Strong, Martin C. The Great Rock Discography, 6th edition. Edinburgh: Canongate Books 1994, 2002. pp. 392–3.
• Sutcliffe, Phil. Notes to Free at Last by Free. Universal Island Records Ltd. 1972, 2002.