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One Paul Up, The Other Paul Down...A Kinder Gentler Free...

"The Woj" | Downers Grove, IL | 02/18/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Yes this has been remixed; and yes it has been remastered.
But, in the process Paul Kossoff's guitar has been toned down and buried slightly in the mix in favor of Paul Rodger's vocals.
Andy Fraser's bass is also softened up in the mix.
When I first listened to the cd I thought it was some sort of 90's remake of the classic Free songs with some of the original members (ala Blue Oyster Cult "Cult Classics"). I read the liner notes and realized Bob Clearmountain had remixed the original songs. There is a real "elevator" music quality to the finished product. Personally I am very disappointed. If you want the original songs in all their glory look for the "Free Story" box or "Molten Gold". If you want a kindler, gentler Free than this cd is for you."

Thank God A'mighty--it's "Free"...at last!

D. Hartley | Seattle, WA USA | 07/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1992 British compilation is rather spendy, but worth the search and investment if you're a Free fan. What sets this collection apart from the various other Free "greatest hits", anthologies, box sets, etc. is the sonic quality. All tracks on this set were digitally remixed/remastered by ace producer/engineer Bob Clearmountain, and you can hear the difference. The track selection is also superior to the U.S. "Best of Free", which virtually ignores all the albums from "Heartbreaker" on. Collector's note: the version of "All Right Now" on here is the edited single version; also contains "My Brother Jake" which was never an album track. The CD also contains excellent liner notes."

An Opportunity Gone Begging

Peter Herring | Woonona, Australia | 03/15/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Free's last gig at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, 9 May, 1971. I travelled 45 miles to share the day with a group of my school friends: Carla Bormann, Anne Powell, Steve Morgan, Barry Clark, Steve Jackson, Ian McKinlay, Neil McKinlay, Ted Bugarski, Ken Griffiths, Malcolm Johnson and I am really sorry if I have missed anyone - it was a while ago. This band cast a spell over all of us for a couple of years there - we loved them. Many of us bought all the albums and continued loving the band after its demise. Some of us still revel in the splendour of the time.



This release was obviously intended to perpetuate the memory of Free and their sensational albums. However, it does not. I was given a copy of this for a birthday and I had returned it for exchange after playing it once. Bob Clearmountain has destroyed the essence of what Free recorded by swathing it in a cloud of reverb. The beauty of all those Free albums is their innate "dryness". The unaffected glory of the instruments and voice - you can hear it all on the originals but not here.



Avoid this album."