Free Classic Album

Free - The Complete Mini LP Set (1968-1973) {2002 Island Japan UICY-9130~9203, Disk Union Promo Box}
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© 1968-73, 2002 Island / Universal Japan | UICY-9130~32 / UICY-9200~03
Rock / Blues Rock / Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Famed for their perennial "All Right Now," Free helped lay the foundations for the rise of hard rock, stripping the earthy sound of British blues down to its raw, minimalist core to pioneer a brand of proto-metal later popularized by 1970's superstars like Foreigner, Foghat and Bad Company. Free formed in London in 1968 when guitarist Paul Kossoff, then a member of the blues unit Black Cat Bones, was taken to see vocalist Paul Rodgers' group Brown Sugar by a friend, drummer Tom Mautner.

Free's second album was recorded with the band itself in considerable turmoil. Principal songwriters Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser demanded strict discipline from their bandmates, and guitarist Paul Kossoff in particular equally demanded the spontaneity and freedom that had characterized the group's debut. It was an awkward period; both Kossoff and drummer Simon Kirke came close to quitting, and only the intervention of Island label chief Chris Blackwell seems to have prevented it. Few of these tensions, however, are evident on the finished album. (Tribute, again, to Blackwell's powers of diplomacy.) He replaced original producer Guy Stevens early into the sessions and, having reminded both warring parties where the band's strengths lay, proceeded to coax out an album that stands alongside its predecessor as a benchmark of British blues at the turn of the 1970s.

Free's second album was recorded with the band itself in considerable turmoil as principle songwriters Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser demanded strict discipline from their bandmates, and guitarist Paul Kossoff, in particular, equally demanded the spontaneity and freedom that had characterized the group's debut…

One of the great soprano saxophonists of all time (ranking up there with Sidney Bechet and John Coltrane), Steve Lacy's career was fascinating to watch develop. He originally doubled on clarinet and soprano (dropping the former by the mid-'50s), inspired by Bechet, and played Dixieland in New York with Rex Stewart, Cecil Scott, Red Allen, and other older musicians during 1952-1955. He debuted on record in a modernized Dixieland format with Dick Sutton in 1954. However, Lacy soon jumped over several styles to play free jazz with Cecil Taylor during 1955-1957. They recorded together and performed at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Lacy recorded with Gil Evans in 1957 (they would work together on an irregular basis into the 1980s), was with Thelonious Monk's quintet in 1960 for four months, and then formed a quartet with Roswell Rudd (1961-1964) that exclusively played Monk's music; only one live set (for Emanen in 1963) resulted from that very interesting group. 6 original albums from the soprano sax maestro including works with Don Cherry & Gil Evans; Soprano Sax, Plays Theloniuous Monk, Straight Horn Of.., Evidence, Gil Evans & Ten, Great Jazz Standards.

The Australian Jazz Quintet - In Free Style (1958) {2014 Japan Bethlehem Album Collection 1000 CDSOL-614}
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© 1958, 2014 Solid Records / Bethlehem | CDSOL-6146 | LP BCP-6029
Jazz / Cool / Vibes

The style's never too free here – not in an avant jazz way – but the group's definitely opening up a bit more than before, and making even more magic with their music! The lineup has changed a bit from earlier albums from this combo – but key Australian players are still very much on hand – the great Bryce Rhode on piano, Jack Brokensha on vibes, and Errol Buddle on reeds! Rhode is one of the best pianists of the time – sadly overlooked upon his 60s return to Australian (where he made some wonderful records) – and his careful sense of tone really starts things off wonderfully – and brings more out of the vibes than we've ever heard on Brokensha's later records. Titles include the long "Take Three Parts Jazz" suite – plus "Detour Ahead", "I'll Remember April", "Bewitched", and "Swingin Goatsherd Blues".

Although Free was never destined to scrape the same skies as Led Zeppelin, when they first burst out of the traps in 1968, close to a year ahead of Jimmy Page and company, they set the world of British blues-rock firmly on its head, a blistering combination of youth, ambition, and, despite those tender years, experience that, across the course of their debut album, did indeed lay the groundwork for all that Zeppelin would embrace…

4 early albums from the legendary jazz oracle & his band plus 18 bonus singles on this 4cd set. 1956's 'JAZZ BY SUN RA' contains some of Sun Ra's most complex, yet accessible efforts, 'SUPERSONIC JAZZ' (also 1956) lays the groundwork for the group's ambitious, expansive & free-wheeling arrangements of later years, 1958's 'JAZZ IN SILHOUETTE' is a prime example of Ra & company in a transitional phase, prior to their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde & 'THE FUTURISTIC SOUND OF SUN RA' (1961) is boppish with a slightly exotic flavour.

The final Free album, Heartbreaker was patched together from a variety of sessions – and it often sounds like it. Aside from drummer Simon Kirke and singer-guitarist Paul Rodgers, the band was in fragments…