FREE - NEW YORK, ACADEMY OF MUSIC
MAY 6, 1972
Last show of original line-up.

Lineage: traded Maxell XL II 90 cassette>Azimuth adjusted, speed corrected, sequence corrected>CD-R>EAC>FLAC(level 8)>DIME>Free Fanatix

Sound quality: 3 out of 6/vg+

Comes with full colour cover.

1. THE HUNTER
2. FIRE AND WATER
3. RIDE ON PONY
4. BE MY FRIEND
5. TRAVELLIN’ MAN
6. HOLD ON
7. LITTLE BIT OF LOVE
8. HEAVY LOAD
9. MR. BIG
10. ALL RIGHT NOW
11. CROSSROADS
-------------------------
TOTAL: 61:30 min.

This is my 25th upload to Dime. Hallelujah!

I don't think this show has ever turned up here or elsewhere, at least not in this state.
though is is only an unkown generation copy, I still upload it becaause it sounds OK, and is simply outstanding.

The show has of course been in circulation for ages but - as far as I observed - always with the WRONG SEQUENCE. Someone up the copy line obviously decided in his infinite wisdom to place the first three tracks on the 2nd side of his 90 cassette, and the remainder of the show on the first. Sigh! Anyway, as the 3074/73 Tampa show reveals, they opened their sets on this tour with the tracks on side two, so I corrected that; also, my copy ran a wee bit fast, and I straightened that out too by comparing with the official "LIVE" album.

All we Free fanatics may consider ourselves extra-lucky to be able to hear this show, as - according to Dave Clayton's Free Book "Heavy Load" - this here is nothing but the original line-up's very last show EVER. And my goodness, what a show this is!
They (or Fraser, for that matter) really decided to stop on top. Koss, who since the reform has aquired his well-known issues, is plain "ON", and Fraser is... - my, just listen to "MR. Big" - this is why this band has made me their addict. Koss wails outworldly, and Fraser does a "whale sounds"-bass solo that made him my al-time fave bass player 8along with Felix Pappalardi of Mountain) - that's perhaps the most melodic bass piece I know of. Free never tried to re-do this number again after Andy's depature, and though Rodgers has resurrected it for his solo repertoire, none of those version comes even close this this here (most do it just way too fast. Free's power and sexyness stemmed from their slowness, right?)

Though it is of course a sad occasion to hear this wonderful band's swan song, we at least get a proof of what they were really capable of. As Dave Clayton of FAS one aptly put it: "On a normal night, Free were great, on a great night, they were monsters."

Free ahoy!
Th:-)mas

NOT FOR SALE - Trade & sharing only. Do not spread this show in lossy formats.
~ Uploaded to Dime in February 2010 by DocDondy. ~