Free - BBC2 'Disco 2' - 1970-06-13 - 'Fire And Water' + 'Mr Big'

On June 13 1970, Free appeared on the BBC2 music show 'Disco 2'. This was basically the precursor to 'The Old Grey Whistle Test'. The show ran from January 1970 to July 1971. Just like 'Colour Me Pop' most of the shows are 'lost' (either wiped or physically dumped by the BBC) and film may never be found or recovered now. This show dates as June 13, but because of the insane 12.55am air time, it was actually broadcast in the early hours of June 14! Again the list of lost footage missing from this archive is staggering. Joe Cocker, Elton John, Taste, Yes, Groundhogs, Stone The Crows, Humble Pie, Mott The Hoople, Stray, Atomic Rooster and many, many more. There's a full list on Wikipedia. Read it and weep!

FORTUNATELY however, there is now a newly located and very good 'off-air' recording of the Free set. This means someone recorded the performance to tape (reel) with a microphone pointed at the TV speaker. In fact the same guy who recorded 'Colour Me Pop', which I posted a few weeks ago. I'm so pleased they got both shows, and I have to thank 'The Johnny Kidd Fan Club' and Thomas Schmid for this audio - which is very fine. I am very grateful to now have both these old BBC TV performances as audio, and be able to post them for you to enjoy.

Free shared the bill that evening on 'Disco 2', with Bobby Darin, and the show was introduced by none other than Tommy Vance (complete with fine moustache!), who later presented 'The Friday Rock Show' on BBC Radio 1. It is he that can be heard at the end of the songs. As there is no film or photographs from the Free performance, the video here is made up from other sources, and is really just there to illustrate the audio. Sadly, Tommy talks over the end of 'Fire And Water' but worse still he brings 'Mr Big' to an early conclusion just as the bass solo is kicking off. Yikes!! I bet Andy just loved that! It should be noted that the broadcast date is just prior to the release of the 'Fire And Water' LP (June 26), and comes two days after their appearance on BBC1's 'Top Of The Pops' with 'All Right Now'. Perfect timing really. While the group mimed to a backing track on 'TOTPs', with Rodgers singing 'live' (also the same on 'Colour Me Pop'), on 'Disco 2' it appears they all played together in the studio for the recording.

So, from 'Disco 2' we have

#1 - Fire And Water

#2 - Mr Big

 Fantastic performances! I hope you enjoy them.

Free - BBC2 Disco 2 1970-06-13 - #1 - Fire And Water

 

 Free - BBC2 Disco 2 1970-06-13 - #2 - Mr Big