Free / 5 Classic Albums

Though I have some of the five albums here, and many of the rest on compilations, the appearance of this set and many others in the Island back catalogue in the 5 Classic Albums series, had me reaching for my wallet - and what tremendous value and entertainment this is.Free were a short lived (about four years all told between 1968 and 1972) band from the British post-psychedelia Blues and Rock boom. They delivered, from an impossibly young quartet, a sumptuous feast of hard-driving rock, subtle melodies and above all superb musicianship from the guitar work of Andy Fraser and Paul Kossoff, the extraordinary vocals and growing maturity of Paul Rodgers, all held together by the excellent Simon Kirke on drums. The old warhorse (and perennial cash cow for composers Fraser and Rodgers) "All Right Now" is complemented by an array of songs, in which the interplay between Kossoff's sonorous guitar, Fraser's understated melodic bass lines and Rodgers' bluesy vocals holds the ear - simple, economic, beautiful.The least familiar of the five albums to me, the last album "Heartbreaker" by which time the tensions between Rodgers and Fraser and Kossoff's struggle with ill health and drugs signalled the end of the band, shows the way forward (for Rodgers and Kirke with Bad Company at least), a move towards anthemic and stadium-based rock, but also (my favourites) more reflective and melodic pieces such as "Easy on My Soul" and "Come Together in the Morning".I wish (my feet in the wishing well?) it could have been a "7 classic album" set - missing are Free's first album "Tons of Sobs" - essentially a quickly put-together in the studio collection of their early blues-heavy live set, and "Free Live" - surely one of the best live discs around, recorded just before their first split. That rawness and live emotion are lacking a bit from the five albums included, but it's an embarrassment of almost continuous highlights anyway.Over the years, the albums have appeared, often with extra out-takes, rejected tracks, alternate and live versions etc - this set just has the original album tracks on them. As ever with LP sets from that time, single releases were often "quarantined" from albums - so, sadly, no My Brother Jake.

I'd forgotten quite how good Free were. If, like me, you're not a huge fan but you have a couple of tatty old Free vinyl albums hanging around since the 70s, this is an excellent way to upgrade your collection for not much money. Not a duff track to be heard in the entire box and the performances are excellent. No frills, just great songs immaculately played.

If you want more than a best of, this is a great package at a very good price, let down only by the relatively weak Free at Last album. As other reviewers have said there is little information on the sleeves and there are no bonus tracks and no mention of remastering. However there are no complaints about the sound with a crisp bass, and keyboards coming through cleanly where I could not remember them, but that me my old ears.I may get their first Tons of Sobs album later, but for now this package, two remastered collections and Free Live (in the bonus track version) keeps their spirit alive in this house. Shame there isn't more good live material available out there.

Seriously, if you love great rock/blues music then this box set is the one to buy.Brilliant value!Brilliant music!Brilliant band!Four awesome/great albums and one that just lost the way a little bit!! (You'll know which one I mean!!)

I have come to Free by a slightly different route. I have been listening to a lot of Rival Sons and have seen quite a few mentions/comparisons to/with Free. I had acquired the 2016 remaster of Tons of Sobs and saw this five CD box set at such a good price I thought I would have a punt.Firstly, I can see why Rival Sons have been compared to Free.Secondly, after listening to Ton of Sobs it certainly did not give me any indication of how good the self titled first album in this selection was going to be. I absolutely adore it. I know all the albums have been recently remastered but I have to say this older remaster sounds superb on my system. All four members of the band's contributions can be distinctly heard. The bass playing is extraordinarily wonderful, as are the guitar solos. If we are going on an average of £2.00 an album, then this is a real steal.FIre and Water is very good. However, the vocals are not so high in the mix compared to the self-titled one. Of course All RIght Now is an absolute classic but hearing it on CD for the first time gives it a new lease of life for me.HIghway is also very good.Free At Last - side one is excellent but not sure about side two. However, at least I can see the band were trying something different.Heartbreaker- definitely Andy Fraser is missed and this is my least favourite album. Not to say it is bad, it is just not as good as the other four.For the price you get five CDs that sound pretty good and there is some excellent music. A worthwhile purchase.

Broke up before they ever made it here. Blues rock with a HEAVY BACK BEAT. Paul Kossoff was just incredible. What could have been? Get this box and Tons of Sobs, couple live albums and thats all there is before Paul Rodgers and Bad Company went Top 40 and hopefully made a ton of money but probably not.

gusto !

i like this box set. on highway wishing well is the first song. the highway song is the first song on heartbreaker.

Kam schnell und in guter Qualität. Zufrieden.

Excelente compra, pena que diminuiu drasticamente o preco 1 dia depois que eu comprei :P.