Today is all about influencers, and the English band Free is one of the big ones in the British blues rock scene. “All Right Now” became their signature hit in 1970, and it’s certainly one of their most recognizable tracks. However, this month I’m adding “I’m a Mover” to the Music to Play in Your Vintage Mustang playlist.
This track is off of their debut album, Tons of Sobs, and what makes it an interesting album is that all the band members were still in their teens and, as I understand it, they had only been together for six months or so. Plus, the album was produced on a budget of £800, which even in 1968 was quite paltry. In any case, I love that it has a less polished feel than later ones, and from start to end, it plays like the quintessential road trip album. Tons of Sobs is considered by some to be one of the greatest debut albums ever produced, so you might want to check it when you get the chance.
Some people might prefer the raucous “Worry,” which particularly punctuates the raw talent of each band member, specifically that of lead and rhythm guitarist Paul Kossoff, who has been ranked in the top 100 greatest guitarists of all time. However, “I’m a Mover” is music to my ears, and it’s the track I want to listen to while driving my pony on a stretch of cracked grey highway over green hills.
