Free/Tokyo,Japan 1971

Free's musical style is hard, but their basic band inclination is blues. Their thick guitar sound is typical of the late 60s, and Free, who debuted in 1969, is no exception. The founding members were Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser, and Simon Kirke, all talented but unique eccentrics, and Paul Rodgers in particular performed in Japan after Free as a member of Bad Company, a solo act, and Queen. Perhaps because of this, they were a very busy band, breaking up soon after their debut and then reforming again. The rock style, which has evolved greatly since the 60s, was still in its infancy when Free debuted, and their unique sound, which combined elements of blues and soul, had a great influence on later hard rock. This album records their performance at Sankei Hall on May 1st in 1971, when they visited Japan just after their debut. During this first performance in Japan, Tetsu Yamauchi met the band members and hit it off with them, later joining the band as bassist. SANKEI HALL TOKYO JAPAN May 1, 1971 01. Introduction 02. Fire And Water 03. Ride A Pony 04. I'm A Mover 05. Be My Friend 06. The Stealer 07. Heavy Load 08. The Highway Song 09. My Brother Jake 10. Soon I Will Be Gone 11. All Right Now 12. Mr. Big 13. The Hunter