FREE 'HIGHWAY' ORIG '70 PINK 'i' ISLAND G/F CVR ARCHIVE MINT PRISTINE
£
45
$
60
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Description
>Archive Copy<
Free
'Highway'
Island, Germany, 1970
ILPS 9138
QUITE POSSIBLY my all time favourite band. They took all the core passion of the late sixties blues boom and moulded a sound all of their own. In actual fact I hardly ever think of them as being lumped in with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown et al as they were simply out on their own in a space that few have ever visited. The nascent howl of Free during their heyday was not only stunningly primal but also deeply evocative - a sound that trumpeted triumph over tradegedy and helped to usher in a new way of playing rock music.
'Highway' was Free's fourth album, the first to be delivered after the massive acceptence of 'Fire And Water' which contained the universal hit single 'All Right Now' and a sound that would launch a thousand copycats. The sound of 'Highway' is confident and assured; a band not resting on laurels but trying to forge a path away from the obvious and into backwaters of a more reflective and consistant groove. The songs are, for the most part, restrained and relaxed leaning less on Paul Kossoff's fiery guitar work and rather more on a backbone of piano and bass. Natch, Kossoff's drug problems may have made this shift in style somewhat compulsory but it's comforting to hear his playing shine in a more mellow enviroment.
There are some stunning tracks on offer, including the primitive lunge 'n plunge of 'The Stealer', 'Be My Friend' and 'Ride On Pony' the latter being one of the bands greatest achievements this side of the classic 'Fire And Water' masterpiece. Ballards abound, the best of which are undoubtedly 'Love You So' and 'Bodie' a track that as a young fan I was never quite sure deleivered the goods, but with the benefit of age I can now see its absoloute and simplistic beauty.
Of course, Paul Rodgers is the man of the match; his voice achingly heartbreaking and stunningly confident. A man whom the gods gifted with the voice of a thousand wailing souls.
This auction is part of a fantastic collection of seventies rock which I was lucky enough to acquire. Most of these records were stored with the utmost care and sparsely played. Some were possibly never played or may have been for just a handful of times.
Pressing: Island, Germany, 1970 - Pink 'i' label
Vinyl: Beautiful clean and shiny condition. No signs or use whatsoever - an unplayed archive copy! Grades as shop fresh MINT!
Cover: No signs of use. Issued in a fully laminated gatefold cover with stunning photo of the band on the inside - only issued this way in Germany before being quickly abandoned in favour of the single sleeve version. Sharp corners - no dings, no bends, no split seams, no cover wear and no creases. Spine is straight, square and completely uncrushed. Grades as shop fresh MINT!
Inserts: None
Matrix:
1st Pressing
Side One: 10 AA6339028 1Y
Side Two: 10 AA6339028 2Y
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