Name: Free
Brand: RCA
SKU: 341265
Price: 18.14 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Personnel: Rick Astley (vocals); Paul Halberg, Hywell Maggs, Robert Ahwai, Gene Black (guitar); Dan Higgins (saxophone); Lars Danielson, Bill Reichenbach, Larry Hall, Larry Willams (brass); Dave West (piano, organ, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer); Elton John, Rob Fisher, Nichlas Medin (piano); Henrik Nilson (organ); Niels Henning Orsted Pederson (acoustic bass); Neil Stubenhaus (bass); Vinnie Colauita, Per Lindval (drums); Jacob Anderson (percussion); Phil Perry, Kevin Dorsey, Carol Kenyan, Dee Lewis (background vocals).
Personnel: Rick Astley (vocals); Andra‚ Crouch (vocals); Robert Ahwai, Gene Black, Paul Halberg, Hywell Maggs (guitar); Dan Higgins (saxophone, brass); Larry Williams , Larry Hall , William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (brass); Dave West (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, synthesizer, drum programming); Elton John, Rob Fisher (piano); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (double bass); Neil Stubenhaus (bass guitar); Per Lindvall, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Jacob Andersen (percussion); Dee Lewis, Andra‚ Crouch Choir, Phil Perry, Carol Kenyon, Kevin Dorsey (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Ren Swan.
Photographer: Paul Cox.
Arrangers: Jerry Hey; Anne Dudley.
A major change of direction...Free found Rick Astley working with producer Gary Stevenson instead of the Stock/Aitken/Waterman team and going for a very adult contemporary-type pop/R&B sound instead of the dance-oriented direction that put him on the map. No longer were the Average White Band and '70s Philly soul/disco valid comparisons; the new...Astley had more in common with Michael MacDonald and the Doobie Brothers...There are a few songs on Free that pack a bit of a punch, including "The Bottom Line" and the rock-influenced "Is This Really Love"... ~ Alex Henderson

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (3/26/91) - Rating: B+

Q (3/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..establishes himself as a creditable songwriter and producer in the same wistful, blue-eyed soul vein as Michael McDonald.."

Album: Free
#	Song Title	Time
1)	In the Name of Love
2)	Cry for Help
3)	Move Right Out
4)	Be With You
5)	Really Got a Problem
6)	Is This Really Love?
7)	This Must Be Heaven
8)	Never Knew Love
9)	Bottom Line, The
10)	Wonderful You
11)	Behind the Smile

Album: Free
#	Song Title	Time
1)	In the Name of Love
2)	Cry for Help
3)	Move Right Out
4)	Be With You
5)	Really Got a Problem
6)	Is This Really Love?
7)	This Must Be Heaven
8)	Never Knew Love
9)	Bottom Line, The
10)	Wonderful You
11)	Behind the Smile