FAS #163 'Addendums'

Free Appreciation Society

Issue #163

Audio and video addendums

 

Page 32 

American (A&M Records) CD release of 'Free Live!' preamble (first) compared to other issues of the recording master (second) on CD, which are edited (the UK 2016 version used in this audio example).

Here on the US release the disco at Sunderland that evening (February 6, 1970) can clearly be heard in the background before Geoff Docherty introduces FREE. This is how Andy Johns initially intended the LP to start, and this is on the original world-wide vinyl releases, but was removed on some later pressings. It was also never included on any of the other CDs, A&M still having (and using) their full original source tape, and still owning the rights to the album in America. The song you can hear is the recently released (January 16, 1970) 'By the Light Of The Magical Moon' by Tyrannosaurus Rex, who Free of course supported on their ever second show in Sunderland at the Bay Hotel on June 27, 1969.

 

Page 39

Slightly different to what was intended here. I've used the original Island CD release and then the American issue, basically because the first and second UK issue of the CD (1987 & 1990) are the same. These edits of the drum introduction to 'I'm A Mover' are straight from the CDs and not altered or enhanced by me in any way. They show the differences in the tonal qualities of the various 'mastering' applied when the original ¼" tape is prepared for a release format - the format here being Compact Disc. Every engineer, like you and me, hears things differently, so the adjustments are what in their opinion make the master sound the best it possibly can. Here the idea is to actually compare the definition on the drums from the versions that have been available previously with the very expensive Japanese SACD release. For more information check the relevant page in the magazine. These examples are best heard quite loudly via headphones.

1: 1987 - UK - Unknown Mastering Engineer

2: 1988 - USA - Unknown Mastering Engineer

3: 2002 - UK, Europe, Japan - Peter Mew Mastering

4: 2016 - UK - Andy Pearce Mastering

5: 2014 - Japanese SACD - Unknown Mastering Engineer

 

Bonus video !!!

Page 39

See the final paragraph regards Harry Goodwin's portrait photos. Free shown here in the TOTPs chart rundown from June 17, 1971 sitting at No.11.

For further information on these audio and video sections please refer to the relevant page in the FAS magazine. If you don't have a copy and want to buy one details are below, or simply send a enquiry to the email address in the border on the right at the bottom of the 'Welcome' section.