Search - Free :: Highway (Mlps) (Shm)

Free's "Highway" is soft on the shoulders

Les Thomassen | Atlanta, GA USA | 11/02/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After chart success with "All Right Now" from the "Fire And Water" album in 1970, Free pushed quickly for a follow-up. Released later that same year, the group's fourth album, "Highway," cuts a path to a gentler sound, letting the listener coast toward the sunset on the power of sweet melodies."Sunny Day," "Love You So," "On My Way," and "Bodie" -- all of these songs have a tone and tempo fitting the end of a long day on the road as the sun burrows into the horizon. "Be My Friend" and "Soon I Will Be Gone" are also slow tempo and a bit more brooding.You'd expect blues from Free, and "Highway" does swerve into blues territory. "The Stealer" is the high point of this stretch of the album. Written by guitarist Paul Kossoff, bassist Andy Fraser and singer Paul Rodgers, "The Stealer" draws momentum from Fraser's punchy bass line and edgy vocals from Rodgers. "The Highway Song," the only other tune here where Kossoff earns a writing credit, shows mood swings from cheerful to dejected and back again. And "Ride On A Pony," another blues entry, boosts the spirits a bit later in the album.The bulk of the material on "Highway" is written by the team of Rodgers and Fraser. (Drummer Simon Kirke's one writing contribution comes on "Love You So," co-written with Rodgers.) The overall effect is a lane-shift away from the blues sound of the group's best known album, "Fire And Water," or say its first album, "Tons Of Sobs." And later Free recordings showed that the band wasn't finished with the blues in 1970.So, like a photograph that captures a different look on a familiar face, "Highway" doesn't necessarily show what the group is best known for. But mixed in among other musical pictures of the band, this album is a fun one to turn to to see another expression of Free."

A Mellow And Visceral Album.

Derek G | Wishaw, Scotland | 05/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Free were at the height of their creative powers when they made this album. This was the album that subsequently followed, arguably, Free's most accomplished work : "Fire And Water". The remarkable aspect here is the fact that these two albums - "Fire And Water" and "Highway" - were released in the same year, 1970. This is indicative of the band's talent as both albums contain great music.In spite of Free being full of optimism about "Highway", the album itself was a commercial rejection ( it only reached #41 here in the UK ). This genuinely surprises me as the album is strong from start to finish. I refrain from saying there is a lack of urgency about "Highway" - the band simply allowed more influences into the music and it's just the way they consciously evolved; not that you can blame Free for experimenting a little - this is the common denominator with every band. I personally liked the fact that a piano supplanted the guitar on some songs, as it gives the album a warm feel.The album does contain some of Free's finest ballads : "Be My Friend"; "Soon I Will Be Gone"; and the touching "Love You So". Other standout tracks on offer are "The Highway Song", "The Stealer" and "Ride On A Pony". While not as anguished and memorable as the albums "Free" or "Fire and Water" this album is a little gem. Its flavour needs time to ferment and once it does, you'll be addicted."