Free at Last is the fifth studio album by English rock band Free. The band … Read Full Bio ↴Free at Last is the 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 but had now reformed.
All members of the band made a concerted effort to work smoothly and efficiently for guitarist Paul Kossoff's sake as he was suffering due to an addiction to Mandrax (Quaaludes). For example, in a symbolic gesture all tracks were credited to every member of the band regardless of who actually wrote them.
The attitude to the songwriting was also vastly different; 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.
The album was reasonably successful, peaking at #9 in the UK album charts making it their most successful UK studio album 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). 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. They accepted, and soon joined the band officially.
All members of the band made a concerted effort to work smoothly and efficiently for guitarist Paul Kossoff's sake as he was suffering due to an addiction to Mandrax (Quaaludes). For example, in a symbolic gesture all tracks were credited to every member of the band regardless of who actually wrote them.
The attitude to the songwriting was also vastly different; 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.
The album was reasonably successful, peaking at #9 in the UK album charts making it their most successful UK studio album 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). 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. They accepted, and soon joined the band officially.
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Free At Last
Free Lyrics
Catch A Train Catch a train to my place Call me when you get…
Child Child you're talking of freedom Painted on your garden wall…
Goodbye Goodbye I hope we meet again Goodbye Is this how it's got…
Guardian Of The Universe Sleep now my little baby Safe inside your mama You have no…
Little Bit Of Love I believe If you give A little bit of love To those you…
Magic Ship Over there is my magic ship Would you care to…
Sail On Sail on my brother Sail on through the night Sail on my…
Soldier Boy I'm a soldier boy Standing on the battlefield And I…
Travelling Man Travellin' man goes anywhere I don't stay nowhere long Trave…