RE-UP Free - Sunderland 1970

Free
Sunderland Locarno
North Fillmore
Jan 1970

MP3 320
EX

*Original Notes
In January 1970, 4 months before they became superstars with "All Right Now",
Free was a band with a strong following, but considered a serious and respect
able heavy blues à-la-Cream band, not a pop one. All that will contribute to
their considerable success is here, ready to explode, so idiosyncrasic, so
palatable, so unique. This concert was apparently splitted in 2 sets, with
"All Right Now", not released in single as I said above, played twice, in 2
very different versions. It was a sign that the song was to become something
since the audience requested it again. But there are so many gems here (and
songs that would disappear from their live setlists soon after, although they
were prime cuts for the stage) that it would be totally absurd to reduce
Free to this song, not played at its best in this concert. This concert would
provide 2 years later 2 tracks of their posthumous Live album (before the
reformation): the 1st version of "All Right Now" (on the vinyl you could hear
the end of a T. Rex song ("Ride A White Swan") but no more on CD, too sad)
although the second is much more energy-fueled and the audience goes crazy,
and "The Hunter" in a devastating version. The other songs would be taken
from a later concert that I'll post here also in its more complete version,
but not too soon, you need time to appreciate each one. However, Paul Kossoff
is here in great form and take some incredible solo (listen to the one in
"Songs Of Yesterday" for example, and the amazing one on "Moonshine", that he
co-wrote, the greatest economist in notes who ever played guitar). What's
fabulous in this band, it's that they are strong enough to propose such a
doom blues track like "Moonshine" that is surely the cradle of depressing rock
It's crazy the Island bosses didn't put it on the Live album, it would have
became a classic to place near "Since I've Been Loving You". And the emotion
is otherwise more striking that in Led Zeppelin. But no more bullshiting with
words and let's the music talks here.

PS.
Sorry, I did a mistake. "Trouble on Double Time" follows "Moonshine".
But too late to change. Change the order yourself if you want to respect the
order of the setlist.

PPS.
The sound is excellent.

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