Highway is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Free. It was recorded extremely quickly in September 1970 following the band's success at the Isle of Wight Festival but with an attitude of relaxation,[citation needed] the band having achieved worldwide success with their previous album Fire and Water (26 June 1970) and the single "All Right Now". It is a low-key and introspective album compared with its predecessors.
From a writing point of view Highway continued in the same vein as previous albums, with vocalist Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser collaborating on seven of the nine songs. For the most part it was the easiest of their albums to record as they had achieved their desire to have a hit single and returned to the studio with renewed confidence.[citation needed] Guitarist Paul Kossoff however found sudden fame more difficult to deal with, and remembered the aftermath of "All Right Now" as being "a great increase in pressure from every angle" (quoted in Phil Sutcliffe's liner notes). He preferred the more serious, weighty songs on the album such as "Be My Friend", which he saw as an antidote to the "frivolity" of "All Right Now".[citation needed]
It was their last album to be recorded in a position of success and security, as its failure contributed to the emotionally insecure Kossoff's growing drug addiction and the band's temporary split, from which it never truly recovered.[citation needed] Some, including drummer Simon Kirke, also cite the death of Kossoff's idol Jimi Hendrix (which occurred during the sessions for this album on 18 September 1970), as an important factor in his eventual breakdown.[citation needed]
Much to the band's disappointment,[citation needed] the album reached only No. 41 in the UK Albums Chart (the previous album Fire and Water had reached No. 2) and reached No. 190 in the US. The single release "The Stealer" failed in the UK also, but reached No. 49 in the US. Record World said of "The Stealer" that "The crucial follow-up to 'All Right Now' will most likely determine whether Free is for real or a flash in the pan. They sure sound for real—heavy number will most likely get up there."[3] (Rodgers and Kirke re-recorded "The Stealer" with Bad Company in 1975 during the sessions for band's third album Run with the Pack (1976), but the track was not included on the album). Rod Stewart and The Faces also featured it regularly in their live set.
The album received a lukewarm critical reaction.[citation needed] The single release "The Stealer" had not been Island Records boss Chris Blackwell's first choice: he had wanted to release "Ride on a Pony", but this was changed at the band's insistence.[citation needed] Some, such as engineer Andy Johns, blamed the album cover which was aesthetically flat compared to previous releases and did not prominently display the band's name.[citation needed] It was believed[by whom?] that some fans who otherwise would have bought the album failed to notice it because of this. One UK newspaper even reported the album as being recorded by "The Highway group" stating "it's a good album for a party or discotheque, with a touch of the Rolling Stones' influence."[4]
They returned to the studio in early 1971 and managed to record four tracks before they eventually split, after fulfilling contracted tour dates. These 'limbo' tracks included the UK No. 4 hit single "My Brother Jake";[5] the other three have surfaced on various other albums over the years. A notable cover version in 1971 is "Be My Friend" by Sylvia McNeill, produced by Tony Hall, on RCA 2058 (UK 45 rpm). "Be My Friend" was also covered in 1993 by Baby Animals featuring vocalist Suze DeMarchi.
^"Single Product" (PDF). Record World. 21 November 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^"Highway (Island ILPS 9138)". Reading Evening Post. 9 January 1971.
^Free singles & albums charts at OfficialCharts.com
Strong, Martin C. The Great Rock Discography, 6th edition. Edinburgh: Canongate Books 1994, 2002. pp. 392–3.
Sutcliffe, Phil. Notes to Highway by Free. Universal Island Records Ltd. 1970, 2002.
External linksEdit
Free - Highway (1970) album review by Dave Thompson, credits & releases at AllMusic
Free - Highway (1970) album releases & credits at Discogs
Free - Highway (1970, Remastered 2011 with Bonus Tracks) album to be listened as stream on Spotify
October 15, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Highway Free album news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Highway is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Free It was recorded extremely quickly in September 1970 following the band s success at the Isle of Wight Festival but with an attitude of relaxation citation needed the band having achieved worldwide success with their previous album Fire and Water 26 June 1970 and the single All Right Now It is a low key and introspective album compared with its predecessors HighwayStudio album by FreeReleasedDecember 1970RecordedSeptember 1970StudioIsland London GenreBlues rock country rock 1 Length35 58LabelIslandProducerFreeFree chronologyFire and Water 1970 Highway 1970 Free Live 1971 Contents 1 Recording 2 Reception 3 Track listing 3 1 Bonus tracks 4 Personnel 4 1 Free 5 References 6 External linksRecording EditFrom a writing point of view Highway continued in the same vein as previous albums with vocalist Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser collaborating on seven of the nine songs For the most part it was the easiest of their albums to record as they had achieved their desire to have a hit single and returned to the studio with renewed confidence citation needed Guitarist Paul Kossoff however found sudden fame more difficult to deal with and remembered the aftermath of All Right Now as being a great increase in pressure from every angle quoted in Phil Sutcliffe s liner notes He preferred the more serious weighty songs on the album such as Be My Friend which he saw as an antidote to the frivolity of All Right Now citation needed It was their last album to be recorded in a position of success and security as its failure contributed to the emotionally insecure Kossoff s growing drug addiction and the band s temporary split from which it never truly recovered citation needed Some including drummer Simon Kirke also cite the death of Kossoff s idol Jimi Hendrix which occurred during the sessions for this album on 18 September 1970 as an important factor in his eventual breakdown citation needed Reception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1 Christgau s Record GuideB 2 Much to the band s disappointment citation needed the album reached only No 41 in the UK Albums Chart the previous album Fire and Water had reached No 2 and reached No 190 in the US The single release The Stealer failed in the UK also but reached No 49 in the US Record World said of The Stealer that The crucial follow up to All Right Now will most likely determine whether Free is for real or a flash in the pan They sure sound for real heavy number will most likely get up there 3 Rodgers and Kirke re recorded The Stealer with Bad Company in 1975 during the sessions for band s third album Run with the Pack 1976 but the track was not included on the album Rod Stewart and The Faces also featured it regularly in their live set The album received a lukewarm critical reaction citation needed The single release The Stealer had not been Island Records boss Chris Blackwell s first choice he had wanted to release Ride on a Pony but this was changed at the band s insistence citation needed Some such as engineer Andy Johns blamed the album cover which was aesthetically flat compared to previous releases and did not prominently display the band s name citation needed It was believed by whom that some fans who otherwise would have bought the album failed to notice it because of this One UK newspaper even reported the album as being recorded by The Highway group stating it s a good album for a party or discotheque with a touch of the Rolling Stones influence 4 They returned to the studio in early 1971 and managed to record four tracks before they eventually split after fulfilling contracted tour dates These limbo tracks included the UK No 4 hit single My Brother Jake 5 the other three have surfaced on various other albums over the years A notable cover version in 1971 is Be My Friend by Sylvia McNeill produced by Tony Hall on RCA 2058 UK 45 rpm Be My Friend was also covered in 1993 by Baby Animals featuring vocalist Suze DeMarchi Track listing EditAll tracks written by Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers unless otherwise stated Side oneNo TitleLength1 The Highway Song Fraser Paul Kossoff 4 142 The Stealer Fraser Rodgers Kossoff 3 143 On My Way 4 044 Be My Friend 5 45 Side twoNo TitleLength5 Sunny Day 3 076 Ride on a Pony 4 177 Love You So Rodgers Simon Kirke 4 548 Bodie 3 059 Soon I Will Be Gone 3 01 Bonus tracks Edit No TitleLength10 My Brother Jake 2 4911 Only My Soul 2 2712 Ride on a Pony BBC Session 4 2713 Be My Friend BBC Session 5 3414 Rain Alternate version 3 5415 The Stealer Single mix Fraser Rodgers Kossoff 3 21Personnel EditFree Edit Paul Rodgers vocals Paul Kossoff lead guitar rhythm guitar Andy Fraser bass guitar acoustic guitar piano Simon Kirke drums percussion Andy Johns engineerReferences Edit a b Thompson Dave Free Highway Album Reviews Songs amp More AllMusic allmusic Retrieved 1 April 2023 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s F Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved 24 February 2019 via robertchristgau com Single Product PDF Record World 21 November 1970 p 10 Retrieved 23 April 2023 Highway Island ILPS 9138 Reading Evening Post 9 January 1971 Free singles amp albums charts at OfficialCharts com Strong Martin C The Great Rock Discography 6th edition Edinburgh Canongate Books 1994 2002 pp 392 3 Sutcliffe Phil Notes to Highway by Free Universal Island Records Ltd 1970 2002 External links EditFree Highway 1970 album review by Dave Thompson credits amp releases at AllMusic Free Highway 1970 album releases amp credits at Discogs Free Highway 1970 Remastered 2011 with Bonus Tracks album to be listened as stream on Spotify Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Highway Free album amp oldid 1159873798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
