Free Appreciation Society Magazine - Issue #146

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #146

March / April 2019 (#3)  

Free - Green Hills Pt. 3

From the first rehearsal to 'Tons Of Sobs'

Extra Large 56 Page full colour issue covering the complete history of the band from April 1968 to March 1969. 

This edition is the final part of our 'Tons Of Sobs' trilogy and features the album itself as released world-wide, with information on pressings, matrix numbers and different editions across the globe. Included are press releases, adverts, foreign issues, albums, singles and compilations. The UK, USA, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and Canada are all represented with information and images.

Also in this fantastic magazine is the day to day diary. Covered here is the complete life of the band - gigs, recording and more - in a journal / sequentially dated format, similar to that in the back of 'Heavy Load'. This new version is updated with nineteen years worth of additional information, along with cuttings, ads, contracts and memorabilia of all kinds. 

The most in depth look at this period of the FREE history EVER. This completes a trio of issues that look at this specific phase of the band evolution over #144, #145 and #146. 'Tons Of Sobs' indeed.

The back cover of #146 features the original release advert for the 'Sobs' album in March 1969. Much more memorabilia, photographs. press and cuttings inside.

56 packed colour pages. Get it now!!

Why not subscribe?

 

Subscriptions/donations to the FAS run for three issues

The magazine is full colour and between 44 and 56 pages

For more info just email:

fasarticle@aol.com

UK £14.00 (Paypal £14.85)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

Europe

£18.80 (Paypal £21.13)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

Rest Of the World

£20.90 (Paypal £22.16)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

The issues can also be found individually on Ebay but subscriptions always go out before any new magazine is made available elsewhere by a week or so.

You can also buy individual issues and back issues from the above email address. with any credit card via Paypal. Its safe and easy! 

FREE - Broad Daylight / The Worm 50 years Old

These anniversaries come around thick and fast. So here's the next from our '50 Years Old' list. Today, in March 1969, Free's first single 'Broad Daylight / The Worm' was released. It didn't rip up the charts. It didn't set the world on fire - but it does feature one of my favourite early Free songs 'The Worm' on the flipside.  

'Broad Daylight' itself has always been a bit of an oddity. Somewhat jaunty and with weird time signatures it was a one off. You can find a BBC session version of the song. Rodgers plays bass there while Andy plays rhythm guitar. Its quite rare to find the single these days but it does turn up. Here in the UK there are actually two different pressings. If you can find either for under £50 in excellent condition you'd be doing very well.

Free Appreciation Society Magazine - Issue #145

I told you these would come at you quickly...

OUT TO SUBSCRIBERS TODAY

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #145

March 2019 (#2)  

Simon Kossoff's Photographs

Pictures taken by Paul's brother at The Marquee in 1968.

Extra Large 56 Page issue featuring the photographs taken by Simon Kossoff at the Marquee club in London October/November 1968.

Also included are 4 photographs taken at The Adelphi Cinema in Slough, where the band were supporting The Who, along with Joe Cocker, Small Faces and Arthur Brown on November 9th, 1968.

These combined represent the earliest 'live' images of the band EVER.  There are 62 photographs in total, around 6 have been used in the FAS and 'Heavy Load' in the past, the rest are previously unpublished in any form, anywhere. Of these 46 are reproduced here full page, one of those being spread over the centre of the magazine. All images are b/w and Ⓒ Simon Kossoff.

This is the second part of a trio of issues that look at this specific period of the band evolution over #144, #145 and #146. It is the most in depth look at this era of the FREE history EVER and contains information and memorabilia unseen for decades. Also a vast array of material NEVER seen before. It represents a celebration of the 50th anniversary - FREE 1969 - 2019

Back cover features the original 'Angel' advert for the forthcoming release of the 'Sobs' album in March 1969.

56 AWESOME pages. A teaser below. Get it now!!

 

Paul Kossoff. 43 Years Today.

Its not enough that we have Andy's anniversary in March but of course we also have the older one. That of Paul Kossoff. A frightening 43 years! So time again to pull something out of Paul's today and give it a whirl. I'm going to be listening to KKTR this morning and, as its my favourite album PERIOD, I'll enjoy that very much. But here's something a little different. Below for your enjoyment is the unreleased single version of 'All The Girl's Are Crazy' from a single sided test pressing I have. The flipside ('Stealing My Way') also comes on its own 1-sided 7" test disc. That's as far as it ever got.

This was due to be released by Island Records, and on the back of the sleeve the WIPX-1389-2M number is indeed Island catalogue. This test pressing, done at Sterling Sound and was made on 20th May 1975 it appears. Of course Back Street Crawler went on to be signed to Atlantic/Atco and so this never came out. Its a different mix, somewhat rougher than the one on the 'Band Plays On' album, and it has a different vocal along with some alternate guitar. Its very nice, and you won't have heard this version anywhere else before.

I've tried a number of times to get some kind of Back Street Crawler project off the ground with no success. I'm not sure what there is sitting in the Atlantic archive but certainly there are some rehearsal tapes and unreleased songs that would make for a nice set of material covering the band history, brief as it was. Anyway, Kossoff is in fine form here with some great playing. So turn it up and enjoy. We miss you Koss.

 

Free Appreciation Society Magazine - Issue #144

AVAILABLE NOW

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #144

March 2019 (#1)  

Free - Green Hills Pt. 1

From the first rehearsal to 'Tons Of Sobs'

Extra Large 56 page issue covering the complete history of the band from April 1968 to March 1969. This includes releases by Champion Jack Dupree and Martha Velez up to the eventual release of the debut FREE album, 'Tons Of Sobs'. Featured are press releases, adverts, foreign issues, albums, singles and compilations. This history runs the day to day life of the band - including gigs and recording. The most in depth look at this period of the FREE history EVER. This is the first part of a trio of issues that look at this specific period of the band evolution over #144, #145 and #146.

Back cover features the original shop poster advertising the release of the 'Sobs' album in March 1969. Much more memorabilia, photographs. press and cuttings inside.

56 packed colour pages. Get it now!!

Email address in the right hand column for enquiries

Or buy on Ebay. Search  : Free Appreciation Society #144

Andy Fraser. Four Years. 1952 - 2015

March this year is certainly busy. With the other two 'Tons Of Sobs' anniversary issues all due to go out in the next couple of weeks I don't think I've ever done so much at one time.

Its very sad Andy didn't live to celebrate 50 years of the FREE debut. Certainly it was only in the final couple of years he really came to terms with how much FREE meant to people after a long time of dismissing what he did 'then' for what he was doing 'now'. He's been gone four years today, and while that makes me rather sad lets not dwell on it and celebrate something he did. 'Train Of Love' actually featured on Andy's second solo album, 'In Your Eyes', where it is given a very 'soul lite' treatment. Nothing wrong with that. I like the album. However the song was actually originally covered by the much more bombastic fantastic Andy Fraser Band. Fuzz Wah Bass indeed !!

I love this band. They rocked! Nick Judd and Kim Turner were great in this tough little unit and the single album they released still sounds like nothing else. They didn't record the 'Train Of Love' track in the studio but they did perform it on the tour and also here on the John Peel BBC session from April 1975. Enjoy.

Below that you'll find one of Andy's final pieces, 'The Big One'. I didn't like 'Naked.. And Finally Free' at all. I still don't. Andy knew that. We had talked about it and had a conversation about where he was then (Free) and where he was now, musically. When 'The Big One' came out, I loved it, and I still love it. Great groove, and a bit of a return to form I thought. I sent an email telling him. He shot an email back. "Yeah Dave, I knew I'd get ya!". I think that was perhaps the last time I heard from him. I'm so pleased we ended our friendship on a positive note -  because Andy was a positive guy.

Turn it up!

 

 

Tons Of Sobs - 50 Years Old Today.

Just Gone Into The Post For Subscribers - #144

Okay, here's a look at FAS #144. The first of three issues dealing with the release of, and period leading up to, 'Tons Of Sobs'. If you are a subscriber this should be dropping onto your doormat around the 14th in the UK (the actual official 1969 'TOS' release date). For those who don't subscribe the magazine will be available from the email on the right as of the 14th and on Ebay shortly thereafter.

This issue also features information on the releases of 'When You Feel The Feeling' by Champion Jack Dupree and 'Fiends And Angels' by Martha Velez, along with a blow by blow account of Free's journey from the first rehearsal up to 'Sobs' hitting the shops. Pretty Awesome.

This magazine is a monster. It has 56 colour pages and is packed with information and curiosities. Its a great read. Secure your copy now with a subscription!

In Flight Entertainment Essentials!!

Flying abroad?

You could do much worse than flying with Emirates.

Get in, put your bag in the overhead... Rest those legs...
Turn on the screen in the seat back facing you... And then...
Check out the 'Essential Albums' on the in flight entertainment.
Yeah... that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
Cool selection indeed.

Thanks to Russ for the snapshot.