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The Free Story

The Free Story is the second greatest hits album by Free, and the first which was released outside of the US. It was released on 31 December 1973 by Island Records. The album reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and stayed in the charts for 6 weeks.[1] On 22 July 2013, the album was awarded a silver certification by the BPI,[2] for UK album sales of over 60,000 units.[3]

The Free Story
Greatest hits album by
Free
Released31 December 1973
Recorded1968–1972
GenreBlues rock, hard rock
Length1:16:24
LabelIsland
Free chronology
Heartbreaker
(1973) 		The Free Story
(1973) 		Completely Free
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link

The album covers the entire studio album collection of Free from their debut album Tons of Sobs through to their final studio album Heartbreaker and includes their biggest hit single "All Right Now". It also has two non-Free tracks - Just For The Box, from the album Kossoff Kirke Tetsu Rabbit, and the song Lady, from Rodgers' post-Free group, Peace, which included bassist Stewart McDonald and drummer Mick Underwood. The original intention was to include the version of Travelling Man by Andy Fraser's 1971 group Toby, but (probably at the insistence of Fraser) this track was removed and replaced by Free's version. Some German copies of the album have the Toby version.

Initial copies of the album in the UK had an individual serial number on the front in the manner of The Beatles' The Beatles ("The White Album").

Track listing

edit
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I'm a Mover"Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgersfrom Tons of Sobs2:49
2."I'll Be Creepin'"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Free3:27
3."Mourning Sad Morning"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Free5:05
4."All Right Now"Fraser, Rodgerssingle version4:14
5."Heavy Load"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Fire and Water5:05
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Fire and Water"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Fire and Water3:40
2."Be My Friend"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Highway5:44
3."The Stealer"Fraser, Rodgers, Paul Kossofffrom Highway3:00
4."Soon I Will Be Gone"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Highway2:45
5."Mr Big"Fraser, Rodgers, Kossoff, Simon Kirkefrom Free Live!6:00
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."The Hunter"Booker T. Jones, Carl Wells, Donald Dunn, Al Jackson, Jr., Steve Cropperfrom Free Live!5:00
2."Get Where I Belong"Fraser, Rodgersfrom Free Live!4:08
3."Travelling Man"Fraser, Rodgers, Kossoff, Kirkefrom Free at Last3:25
4."Just for the Box"Kossofffrom Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit3:20
5."Lady"Rodgerspreviously unreleased4:25
Side four
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."My Brother Jake"Fraser, Rodgerssingle release only2:55
2."Little Bit of Love"Fraser, Rodgers, Kossoff, Kirkefrom Free at Last2:32
3."Sail On"Fraser, Rodgers, Kossoff, Kirkefrom Free at Last3:00
4."Heartbreaker"Rodgerspreviously unreleased 'live' soundboard recording omitted from CD versions.5:00
5."Come Together in the Morning"Rodgersfrom Heartbreaker4:20

Charts

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[4] 34
UK Albums (OCC)[5] 2
Chart (1997–1999) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[6] 25

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7]
1993 release 		Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "The Free Story". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  2. ^ "British certifications – Free". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 July 2016. Type Free in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  3. ^ "Certified Awards - Certification Levels". UK Albums Chart. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "British album certifications – Free – The Free Story". British Phonographic Industry.


 

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