Search - Free :: All Right Now / Stealer

GREAT sound, spend the couple extra $$

Charles A Galupi | Euless, Texas | 07/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, let me say this is one of the best sounding discs I have heard in a while. Like Humble Pie [see 'Best of: The Millenium Collection'] I am sure there was room to clean up the original masters, and whoever did this took great care to make sure the mixes are clean but the BOTTOM is still there on all the tracks. And Andy Fraser's bass is very WARM and Simon Kirke's drums sound very natural, not clipped like some CDs. Second, I have obviously missed something by not finding this band earlier. The great interplay of Paul Rodgers unique gruff soulful voice with Fraser and Kirke holding the rhythym down allowing Paul Kossoff to do as he pleased... wow! They remind me of everything I like about Humble Pie.I picked this up on a whim at a record store I used to work at after watching the Bad Company "Behind the Music." [see also "The Original Bad Co. Anthology"]. I have heard "All Right Now" enough times to make my "days off" list [as in 'I would give two days off my life to NEVER hear that song again.'] but had never heard much more. After seeing the VH1 thing, I wondered if I was missing something. I HAD been contemplating the 2 CD "Molten Gold" collection, but my friend said "Get one of the new English imports... the SOUND smokes even the American remasters." And he was absolutely right!Now the songs: I recognized a handful of titles from greatest hits packages ('Mouthful of Grass', 'Fire and Water', 'Highway Song', 'The Stealer') and took a flyer on the rest. Like most English bands of the day they seem to have come from the blues and melded a little of American soul to it. I was especially knocked out by the insistant 'Worry', and the soulful 'Songs of Yesterday' and the groove of 'Woman' immediately. And I see why those other songs are on the best of. 'Get Where I Belong' hints at what Rodgers would accomplish with Bad Co. The closing track, 'Heartbreaker' is going to be in heavy rotation on my player for a couple weeks...I don't think it's a perfect collection. I could have probably done without 'My Brother Jake', 'Ride On A Pony' and/ or 'Sail On' for one song I DO know by the band: 'Mr Big'. And if the title cut is any indication, another cut from "Heartbreaker". I don't know how inspired I will be to rush right out and buy the whole catalog. But I am VERY satisfied with this as an overview."

One review... this CLASSIC album has just one review

Oymaprat | Nowhere In Particular | 10/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is great classic rock, bluesy, and totally rocks... we've all heard and loved 'All right now' and i quite simply advise you get this... it's just a great... classic rock album... that's the only way of putting it... I'm listening to it now... although the price here is a bit steep, you should be able to get this for a lotless from your local store..."

A Must Have

A reviewer | Kankakee, IL USA | 07/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you are just discovering Free or are an old fan, you should buy this CD. While there are noteworthy omissions (Mr. Big, Heavy Load, Travelling Man), this is a great collection nevertheless.



For me the best part of the CD is track 8: a mix of "Fire and Water" not previously released to my knowledge.* It is really something to hear especially if you are familiar with the original mix and by itself is worth the price of the CD.

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*It is not on the 5-CD "Songs of Yesterday" collection or the re-released "Fire and Water" CD-album with bonus tracks."