Namesakes #115: Free

"Free - at last! Free - at last! Thank God Almighty, it's Free, at last!"

Martin Luther King was very pleased when he heard the subject of this week's Namesakes.

Here are eight musical acts who were born Free. Would you pay actual money for any of them?

THE FREE #1

We kick off this week with a Dutch soul band from the late 60s, featuring Max Spangenberg, who also played drums for Franky Franken's Selection.

The Free - Keep In Touch

THE FREE #2

Originally known as The Midwest Tree Company, these guys changed their name to The Free for this "psych-driven" single from Detroit in 1968. Lead singer Dave Gilbert soon went off to sing for right wing nutjob Ted Nugent. But let's not hold that against him. A job's a job.

The Free - Decision For Lost Soul Blue

FREE #3

Active between '68 and '73, the Free most people know came from That London, fronted by semi-Canadian singer Paul Rodgers, who would later inadvisably try to fill Freddie's shoes in Queen. Personally, I'm more interested in guitarist Paul Kossoff's hairiness as displayed in the photo above. 

Y'know, I used to think these guys were awful... but I reckon they're all right now. 

Free - All Right Now

FREE #4

From 1985, here's another Free, supporting the one and only Dr. Boogie. 

He's not a real doctor.

Dr. Boogie & Free - Don't Wanna Loose Your Love

THE FREE #5

If I was forced at gunpoint to name the worst genre of music ever created, I would probably opt for 90s Eurodance. Here we have a prime example, vomited into the world by producers Felix J. Gauder and Olaf Bossi. 

The Free - Born Crazy

FREE!! #6

No, I take it back. This... whatever this is... is much worse than 90s Eurodance. No wonder they needed two exclamation marks. Plus, one of the blokes looks like a young Danny Dyer, so clearly we all should hate him.

I'd recommend playing this at minimum volume. Or preferably with your speakers completely muted.

Free!! - Maximum Volume

FREE #7

American media personality, television producer, singer/songwriter and rapper, Free... AKA Marie Antoinette Wright. Yes, that's her real name. She's managed to blag her way onto records by Missy Elliott, Beyonce and Queen Latifah, not to mention the atrocious Wyclef Jean remix of Another One Bites The Dust (even Paul Rodgers could have done better than that). But here she is on her own, from her unreleased 2007 debut album 'Pressure Free'.

Free - Gotta Leave, Gotta Go

FREE #8

Finally today, some shouty American hardcore from 2017 by a bloke who looks like he's entering a Dad-Dancing competition.

Still, he gets an extra point for writing a song about my favourite mythological metaphor for the futility of existence.

Free - Sisyphus

Free your mind... and your comments will follow.

The Best Of 2024 (Part 4)

I know I need a small vacation, but it don't look like rain. So here's one final batch of records I enjoyed this year, but not quite enough to get them into my Top 24 of 2024 (which starts on Wednesday). Interspersed with random lyrics from my head that nobody's bothered about identifying, but it keeps me happy. Without further ado, let's move before they raise the parking rate!

As mentioned just a couple of weeks back, I've been very much enjoying the work of Hannah and her Dad, in the band Hann. Up until very recently, it's all been singular releases through the camp of bands... then, at the last minute, Hann finally released their debut album. Too late for my Year End countdown, I'm afraid... though we really did try to make it.

Forever In A Glance is available digitally, or digitally with an accompanying lyric booklet. No CDs, because Hannah's from the post-CD generation, clearly. Which is a shame (Why do you use me? Try to confuse me?) because I'd have bought one.

More young ladies, although perhaps not that young since they've been making records as far back as 2004. The Veronicas come from Australia, and the track below got lodged in my head for a good part of the year with its anti-celebrity-glamour hook. You probably think this song is about you. 

The rest of the album wasn't bad either.

Slightly older (but a gentleman should never mention a lady's age) Eddi Reader returned to her Fairground Attraction roots this year and together with her original partner in crime, Mark Nevin, they threw their Lego in the lake, releasing their second full LP (only 36 years after the first one). And the great thing is, they haven't changed a bit... though clearly the world around them has. (Oh, has the world changed or have I changed?)

And finally, a Super Furry Animal. Because we can never have too many of them. Cry wolf, baby! Sadly, Gruff is estranged from his old pals these days. He must be a Bad Friend...

Listen up, Gruff - You've got to tolerate all those people that you hate!

24 albums from 2024 will now be shuffled into a loose order of preference in time to bore the pants of you all entertain you over the festive period. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it! 

Starting Wednesday. 

Snapshots #373: A Top Ten Musical Shapes

John Noakes has a camera on his head purely so that I can use the line "get down, Shape!"

Here are ten shapes you can get down to... 

10. Always looking for the latest thing...

The New Seekers - Circles

9. Ellen hefts twerp all over the place.

"Ellen hefts twerp" was an anagram!

Stephen Fretwell - Oval

8. Committees from the Great White North.

Boards of Canada - Turquoise Hexagon Sun

7. Squad found in gooseberries and lingonberries, but not in raspberries.

The Go! Team - Semicircle Song

6. Goes well with Pepsi.

Pepsi & Shirley?

Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever

5. Max Jaffa.

The day I run out of Half Man Half Biscuit-related puns will be a sad day indeed.

Half Man Half Biscuit - Oblong Of Dreams

That's the best song you'll hear today. Brings a tear to my eye.

4. Loud noise heard during Xanadu pre-election campaign. 

Xanadu pre-election campaign, and his Big Sound...

Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - Kites

3. Tranny, over heels.

A tranny was an old name for a radio + head over heels...

Radiohead - Pyramid Song

2. Apply brawny arm oil and rub in vigorously. 

"Brawny arm oil" was an anagram...

Barry Manilow - Bermuda Triangle

1. Secondary Greeks.

The Beta Band - Squares

Shape up for more Snapshots next Saturday...

Saturday Snapshots #373

Dull Saturday morning? Have no fear, Snapshots is here to Morph the fun back into your weekend!

Who are the people pictured below and what connects their songs?

10. Always looking for the latest thing...

9. Ellen hefts twerp all over the place.

8. Committees from the Great White North.

7. Squad found in gooseberries and lingonberries, but not in raspberries.

6. Goes well with Pepsi.

5. Max Jaffa.

4. Loud noise heard during Xanadu pre-election campaign. 

3. Tranny, over heels.

2. Apply brawny arm oil and rub in vigorously. 

1. Secondary Greeks.

Answers tomorrow morning... or as soon as you write them in the comments box!

Thank The F-Word It's Friday #3

It's Friday, and it's our work Christmas do tonight. Sadly, we're not going bowling. We are doing shuffleboard though, which is almost as good. I won't be sticking around after that for the drinking. I'm taking my advice from Liz...

Next up today, we have an Aussie punk band from 1980, with a message that I wholeheartedly endorse...

And finally, New Yoik's own Ed Hamell. Not so much a song, this: more a cut scene from a Scorcese movie set to a minimalist backing track. The opener to Ed's excellent 1999 album Choochtown...

Enjoy your Friday.