Up until now, all the albums listed have been more or less on the same level and on a different day some of their positions would probably change. The top three though are imo the next level up, two bands feature in the final three places.
03. Free Tons of Sobs 1969 (Island)
Blues Rock
Hard rock and melody! Well it starts right here!
Overview
An album that was actually recorded in 1968 but released in 1969, thus qualifying it for this selection of albums. Free were essentially a heavy blues rock act that emerged from the shadow of power-trio Cream and their debut album
Tons of Sobs was a delicious chunk of heavy orgasmic blues, that was powered by the liquid gold guitar of Paul Kossoff and the soulful vocals of Paul Rodgers, along with the rhythm section of Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke. Free were in essence cut from the same cloth as heavy blues counterparts Led Zeppelin, but both bands had a very different interpretation of that blues sound. Whilst Led Zeppelin filtered famous blues tunes into their own style and sound, Free performed these songs as a mark of homage and respect to their blues peers. The other area where they differed was in their execution of the music. Led Zeppelin went all out with a sonic assault that was full of extravagant power, whilst Free preferred a far more subtle and melodic approach to their sound. Free throughout their career often reminded me of a wild dog that was always firmly kept on his leash, you knew the aggression was there but they always kept it firmly under control, not an easy thing to do! The album is produced by Guy Stevens who had built up a reputation with his R&B background and went on to work with bands such as Procul Harum, Mott the Hoople and most famously with the Clash on
London Calling. Paul Rodgers would write the bulk of their material with the rest of the band gradually gaining more influence as time went by, especially Andy Fraser.
Paul Rodgers- Vocals
Paul Kossoff- Guitar
Andy Fraser- Bass
Simon Kirke- Drums
Production- Guy Stevens
Album
Over the Green Hills Pt.1- The listener is instantly greeted by the soulful voice of Paul Rodgers which leads straight into......
Worry- With its menagerie of instruments melding together and Rodgers singing over the top.
Walk in My Shadow- Orgasmic blues that is so friggin dense sounding.
Wild Indian Woman- Another stunning track, as the band just breeze through another number.
Goin' Down Slow- A cover of the James Burke Oden blues song and clocking in at 8+ minutes, gives the band a chance to show-off a bit and show us what they can do. Just check out Paul Kossoff's guitar on this track.
I'm a Mover- The band in one of their more commercial moments.
The Hunter- One of the best songs on the album and a cover of the Albert King song, which had also been covered by numerous other bands in the 1960s.
Moonshine- Slow Burning and one of the best tracks on the album.
Sweet Tooth- Another vocal display from Rodgers backed by some great thumping piano.
Over the Green Hills Pt.2- The album finishes with a reprise.
Verdict
one of the most essential albums in the development of heavy music at the end of the 1960s and it would be the most bluesy album that Free would put out. Every aspect of this album cries out to be listened to and then to be slowly inhaled, at times the guitar of Paul Kossoff just sounds amazing on this album, without doubt one of the greatest guitarists to grace rock. The album though, amazingly didn't chart on either side of the Atlantic and is often overlooked with the emergence of the Led Zeppelin debut also released the same year. Like their counterparts Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie, Free also managed to release their sophomore effort the same year under the moniker of the eponymous Free. It seemed a popular thing to do then and that was to name a second album after the band name. At times their sophomore effort lacked the spontaneity and musical freedom of the debut but it was still a great album, despite just missing my top ten list. Paul Rodgers would of course go onto become a household name in the 1970s due to his involvement with Bad Company, but he was so much better with Free and his voice at times was just so special, as it welded so well with the precocious talents of his fellow band members. This album is a gem and its still an album that I can enjoy at any time.