20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Free (CD - 2002)

Free: Paul Rodgers (vocals, acoustic & eletric guitars); Paul Kossoff, Snuffy Walden (guitar); Rabbit Bundrick (piano, electric piano, organ, background vocals); Tetsu Yamauchi (bass, percussion); Andy Fraser (bass guitar); Simon Kirke (drums, percussion, background vocals); Rebop Kwaku Baah (congas).

Producers: Guy Stevens, Chris Blackwell, Free, Andy Johns.

Compilation producer: Bill Levenson.

Recorded between 1968 & 1973. Includes liner notes by Dave Thompson.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

This is part of A&M Records "Millenium Collection" series.

Personnel: Paul Rodgers (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John "Rabbit" Bundrick (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ); Simon Kirke (vocals, drums, percussion); Paul Kossoff, W.G. Snuffy Walden (guitar); Tetsu Yamauchi (bass guitar, percussion); Andy Fraser (bass guitar); Rebop Kwaku Baah (congas).

Liner Note Author: Dave Thompson .

Photographer: Randy Alpert.

Some would argue that a single-disc collection doesn't do Free much justice, and that even a single-disc collection merits more than 11 songs (though this CD really isn't that short, adding up to 46 minutes). Still, for those who want a heavy dose of Free, there are more than one multi-disc set available. This is a pretty good sample of their 1968-1973 output, focusing understandably most heavily on Fire and Water (the 1970 album with "All Right Now") but including at least a track from all of the LPs they put out during the period. Those familiar primarily with the single "All Right Now" might be surprised at how moody, sometimes even downbeat, much of this blues-rock is. While Free lacked the oomph of Led Zeppelin, they were at the same time more concise and seriously emotional than many such bands of the era, at least on the songs selected for this disc. ~ Richie Unterberger

Some would argue that a single-disc collection doesn't do Free much justice, and that even a single-disc collection merits more than 11 songs (though this CD really isn't that short, adding up to 46 minutes). Still, for those who want a heavy dose of Free, there's more than one multi-disc set available. This is a pretty good sample of their 1968-1973 output, focusing understandably most heavily on Fire and Water (the 1970 album with "All Right Now") but including at least a track from all of the LPs they put out during the period. Those familiar primarily with the single "All Right Now" might be surprised at how moody, sometimes even downbeat, much of this blues-rock is. While Free lacked the oomph of Led Zeppelin, they were at the same time more concise and seriously emotional than many such bands of the era, at least on the songs selected for this disc. The curious omission of the two British hit singles "My Brother Jake" and "A Little Bit of Love," however, prevents this from being the most representative and concise best-of it could have been, though the hit "Wishing Well" is onboard. ~ Richie Unterberger minimize