Free were one of the trailblazers of the British blues boom towards the end of the sixties, and this was their first album recorded in late ’68 and released in March ’69. What is truly amazing is that they were all teenagers when this was released, Andy Fraser was only 15, Paul Kossoff was 17, and Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke were 18. This album is the only one that was as raw and blues as they would get. After this they became a lot more polished, culminating in the success of Fire And Water which spawned the single Alright Now.
It’s breathtaking how good Paul Kossoff was at such an early age, before the demon drugs took their toll on him leading ultimately to his death. This album is mostly all original compositions, apart from Going Down Slow which has been covered by all the blues heavy hitters. Here the band use the track as an extended jam with Kossoff really losing himself in the tune. It’s Side 2 that really has the band firing on all cylinders with I’m A Mover, and the other cover, The Hunter, which the band would make their own with a great vocal from Rodgers. It’s hard to believe that 52 years have passed since this was released into the world, and how rock has come full circle, as this type of rock has now become fashionable again.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
