2026 Jack White & Chris Robinson 'I'm A Mover'

Always nice to see Free mentioned, particularly when it's high profile. So, at Jack White's Chicago Radius show, on July 23rd, he brought out Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes and they performed 'I'm A Mover'. This can be found on the 'NME', 'Louder' and... the 'Rolling Stone' websites. Seeing it on 'RS' was a surprise. It's a wonder anyone there even knows who Free are! It's also on the usual 'Facebook', 'Instagram' etc. social media sites and of course 'YouTube'. Chris, of course, is a well known Free fan, and while I've never heard Jack White mention Free (not that I can remember anyway), I often wondered if he did know about them, as he's one of those guys with a good grasp and knowledge of 70s music.  

Regradless of all that, seeing Free in the headlines in 2026, that's actually pretty awesome, and covering one of the more obscure songs - even better. Hopefully it'll get a few 'newbies' to check Free out for the first time. Always a good thing.

Thanks to John Shakeshaft for bring this to my attention.

Video by David James Swanson. 

NME site

Rolling Stone site 

'Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing' - with FREE!

I'd almost forgotten about this, but as the episode with this clip in it has just been on the 'U&Dave' channel (Series 6: Episode 4), I thought I'd put it up in case anyone hasn't seen it.

We've mentioned Bob Mortimer a few times. For those outside of the UK, he was one half of a somewhat surreal nonsensical comedy duo with Vic Reeves (Jim Moir). Jim can now be found on TV painting, and he's very good indeed. Anyway, both are huge Free fans, and in fact Vic (Jim) subscribed to the FAS for many years. Bob did not! Anyway, the show this clip is from ('Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing'.) is very good, features Bob with friend Paul Whitehouse (another UK TV comedian from 'The Fast Show' among others), and episodes (or clips) from it can be found on the ubiquitous 'YouTube'. It's a slow show with fishing, but not specifically about that. It's more about life, getting older, and sharing memories in a warm and funny way. It's a endearing show, and much loved by those who know about it. Well worth checking out, and often repeated on TV.

This episode features a visit to a record shop, and Bob buys something you might be very familiar with. If you've never seen this before, I hope you enjoy the clip.

Show Blurb:

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are celebrated British comedians and long-time friends, best known for their critically acclaimed, BAFTA-nominated BBC series 'Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing'. The show, which originated from their shared experiences with major heart problems, follows the duo as they fish across the UK, reflecting on life and sharing their comedic banter.

Information on Bob's 'Desert Island Disc' episode here: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3b2k5jV6ZD7PVCBp92WBTz8/nine-things-we-learned-from-bob-mortimers-desert-island-discs

Clip here;

http://freeappreciationsociety.blogspot.com/2019/02/bob-mortimers-desert-island-discs.html

Andy Fraser's 74th Birthday Today

Birthdays for dead people... It's always a bit tricky, but as someone once said, 'people aren't truly dead until you stop saying their names'... I agree, and bearing that in mind I'm happy to put Andy in your head, on what would have been his birthday, and in doing so help keep his memory alive.

There are a number of albums by Alexis Korner that feature Andy Fraser, and indeed Paul Rodgers. They include 'Bootleg Him' from 1972, 'Alexis Korner And...' from 1986, and 'On The Move' from 1996. These are compilations, and feature songs recorded at Olympic Studios in London between September 23rd, and October 1st, 1969. Certainly, we can be pretty sure Andy was in the studio on September 24th, as he's listed on the session for 'Louisiana Blues', and then on October 1st for 'Rosie'. Both feature on Castle Communication's 'On The Move' CD (CCSCD 809). I think this may be the only place you can actually find 'Louisiana Blues', but originally the majority of these Olympic studios sessions can be found on an LP that only came out in Europe (German and Netherlands) in 1970. It was eventually released as a UK CD in 2006 (Castle Communications – CMRCD1417).

Anyway, on that album, called Alexis Korner - 'Both Sides', as released on Philips in the Netherlands, and Metronome in Germany, there are six tracks that feature Andy, and allegedly three that feature Paul Rodgers* as well, though I can't really hear PR at all. It's pretty obviously Andy tho', as only he plays like that!

The album is okay. I'm not a huge Alexis fan, musically. I find some of his stuff a bit 'grating' personally. Songs with Andy appear to be 'Mighty-Mighty Spade and Whitey*', 'Funky', 'To Whom It May Concern', 'I See It*', 'You Don't Miss Your Water' and..... 'Wild Injun Woman*' (sic). Yes, it's THAT 'Wild Indian Woman', with a new spelling, as featured on 'Tons Of Sobs', but with an Alexis arrangement!

Anyway, if you want to check out the complete album, there's a YouTube link below the Fraser/Rodgers song, which is here, and most likely what you are really interested in hearing! 

I've a little more Alexis stuff, relating to Koss and Fraser, to be posted, once I've sorted it out!

Above: Wild Injun Woman

 Alexis Korner - Both Sides LP: Click Me!