Free/Denmark 12.02.1970

FREE’s 1970 albums, “FIRE AND WATER” and “HIGHWAY,” were released back-to-back, marking a brief but intense golden age for the band. This rare live album allows you to experience that moment. This album was recorded at the Copenhagen concert on December 2, 1970. It’s a rare audience recording. Having completed “HIGHWAY” during a UK tour in September 1970, the band toured Europe before its release. The Copenhagen performance featured on this album was part of that tour, and was held around the same time as “HIGHWAY” was released. This recording of that show is incredibly refreshing and wonderful. While FREE’s 1970 recordings are rare and accessible, this album is beyond that level. What really strikes you is its powerful core. While it’s not a soundboard-style recording, it’s not far off the mark. The powerful core reaches straight to your fingertips with delicate detail, and the deep bass, which tends to be sparse in audience recordings from the 1970s, is incredibly punchy. Of course, the midrange, essential to blues rock, is also responsive. And what’s amazing is how powerful yet so nuanced the sound is. The subtle hall resonance lends an indescribable lustre to Paul Rodgers’s vocals, further deepening the slow blues. While there’s a slight distortion in the bass peaks and a lack of crispness in the lines, experiencing the 1970 FREE sound at this level is a rare treat. To be honest, I’m offering this as a CDR because I’m not entirely certain that this is the original master, but if I had been certain, I would have liked to have made it a permanent pressing. It’s such an exceptional vintage sound. Such a sound captures a masterpiece that brims with the fulfillment of a brief golden age. Since each FREE performance has a different set, let’s organize the sets here. The album includes TONS OF SOBS (2 songs), I’m A Mover/The Hunter, FIRE AND WATER (4 songs), Fire and Water/Mr. Big/All Right Now, and songs not heard on FREE LIVE!: Heavy Load HIGHWAY (2 songs), Ride On Pony/Be My Friend. While not selected from the second album, FREE, the album is packed with mellow classics centered around FIRE AND WATER. Of particular note is “Heavy Load.” This track was not heard on the 2002 remastered bonus album FREE LIVE! or LIVE AT THE BBC, and it’s a rare track never performed by Rodgers on his later BAD COMPANY or solo albums. Moreover, “Heavy Load” is simply deep. Rodgers’ voice resonates against the backdrop of piano and a simple rhythm section, and the subtle melodies that dance through the gaps exude a bluesy feel. This song was deep on the album “FIRE AND WATER,” but who knew it would be this free and profound on stage? And the vintage sound of this album further enhances that depth. The original FREE embodied the pinnacle of blues rock in both composition and performance. Their golden age was all too short, and as such, their recordings are incredibly precious. This exquisite live album allows you to witness such a rare moment with a fresh, lustrous sound. A rich experience only a vintage audience can share. K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 2, 1970. TRULY AMAZING SOUND. 1. Fire and Water. 2. I’m A Mover. 3. Ride On A Pony. 4. Be My Friend. 5. Heavy Load. 6. Mr. Big. 7. The Stealer. 8. All Right Now. Paul Rodgers – vocals. Paul Kossoff – guitar. Andy Fraser – bass. Simon Kirke – drums.