Heartbreaker (Free album)
Encyclopedia
Heartbreaker is the seventh and final album by English
rock group Free
, that provided them with one of their most successful singles, "Wishing Well". It was recorded in late 1972 after bassist
Andy Fraser
had left the band and while guitarist
Paul Kossoff
was ailing from an addiction to Mandrax (contemporary photographs show him looking gaunt and emaciated), and features a different line up to previous albums: Tetsu Yamauchi
was brought in to replace Fraser, while John "Rabbit" Bundrick
became the band's keyboard player to compensate for the increasingly unreliable Kossoff (singer Paul Rodgers
played keyboards on the previous album Free at Last
, but was nowhere near as proficient a player as Bundrick). Both Yamauchi and Bundrick had played with Kossoff and drummer
Simon Kirke
on the album Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu & Rabbit during that period in late 1971 when the band broke up. Also, several other musicians were used on the album. This, plus the fact that the album was co-produced by Andy Johns
as well as Free, resulted in the most professional and well-produced album they ever released, and also one that is considerably mellower and more mature than any previous efforts. Indeed, there are almost no points of comparison between this and their debut Tons of Sobs
from 1968.
with:
NOTE: The album lists Kossoff as an additional musician (due to excessive drug problems the band had hired a session musician).
Yamauchi had only a very minor influence in the band; the Japanese
bassist was unfamiliar with the English language and in any case was unwilling to jeopardise playing in a relatively well-known and well-regarded British band. Bundrick, on the other hand, was more volatile and frequently clashed with Rodgers just as Fraser had done: they even once had a fist-fight
in a London
restaurant
.
Meanwhile, Kossoff was extremely resentful of session musician
s brought in periodically to replace him when the other band members' patience began to break. This exacerbated even further his problems, but on those occasions where recording went well he produced some notable work; he is in fact far more prominent on this album than on the previous one. He is uncredited on the hit single 'Wishing Well', however the fine lead guitar on the track is unmistakably Kossoff's. His distinctive and emotionally eloquent lead guitar work on 'Come Together in the Morning' is one of the high points of the album.
Island Records
boss Chris Blackwell
disliked the band's initial mix of the album and drafted regular engineer Andy Johns to solve the problem; in January 1973 the album was ready for release.
(reaching #9), and reached #47 in America
, which was also a considerable success for the band. Also, the single release "Wishing Well" became their third-most successful single, reaching #7. It is widely regarded as one of their definitive songs.
Despite the success of the album and impending tour of America, it finally became apparent that the band had passed the point of no return. Kossoff being credited as an additional musician came as a shock to the entire band. Kossoff spiralled to his lowest ebb and was unable to go to America; he was replaced with Wendell Richardson from Osibisa
. He proved to be a poor choice, and eventually the band finally gave up. Rodgers and Kirke formed Bad Company
with Mick Ralphs
(formerly of Mott the Hoople
) and Boz Burrell
(formerly of King Crimson
); Yamauchi joined the Faces; Bundrick became a session musician and eventually became a regular keyboard
player with the Who
; Kossoff tried to form his own band Back Street Crawler
. After two unsuccessful albums, the guitarist died of a heart attack
on board an aeroplane
on the 19 March 1976, at the age of 25.
Side two
band Blackfoot
cover
ed "Wishing Well" on Strikes
(1979
), Gary Moore
covered it on Corridors of Power (1982
), Maggie Bell
covered it on Suicide Sal (1974
), Savatage
covered it on their 1986 album Fight for the Rock
and Styx
covered it on Big Bang Theory (2005). Melodic heavy metal German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell
covered "Wishing Well" on Between the Walls
(1994) and "Heartbreaker" on Diamonds Unlocked
. "Heartbreaker" has also been covered by Joe Bonamassa
(with Glenn Hughes) on his 2011 release Dust Bowl
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock group Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
, that provided them with one of their most successful singles, "Wishing Well". It was recorded in late 1972 after bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Andy Fraser
Andy Fraser
Andy Fraser is an English songwriter and bass guitarist whose career has lasted over forty years and includes a notable period as one of the founding members, in 1968, at age 15, of the rock band Free.-Peak years :...
had left the band and while guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
was ailing from an addiction to Mandrax (contemporary photographs show him looking gaunt and emaciated), and features a different line up to previous albums: Tetsu Yamauchi
Tetsu Yamauchi
Tetsu Yamauchi aka is a Japanese bass guitarist.Yamauchi was born in 1946 in Fukuoka. In the late 1960s, he played with the band Samurai. His involvement with Samurai led to him working as a session musician in both Tokyo and London...
was brought in to replace Fraser, while John "Rabbit" Bundrick
John Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
became the band's keyboard player to compensate for the increasingly unreliable Kossoff (singer Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
played keyboards on the previous album Free at Last
Free at Last (Free album)
- Extra tracks :# "Burnin' " 5.57# "Honky Tonk Women" 3.13# "Magic Ship" 5.28# "Little Bit of Love" 2.37# "Guardian of the Universe" 6.07...
, but was nowhere near as proficient a player as Bundrick). Both Yamauchi and Bundrick had played with Kossoff and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke is an English rock drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company.-Biography:...
on the album Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu & Rabbit during that period in late 1971 when the band broke up. Also, several other musicians were used on the album. This, plus the fact that the album was co-produced by Andy Johns
Andy Johns
Andy Johns is an engineer and producer who worked on well-known rock albums such as Led Zeppelin's IV and The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced....
as well as Free, resulted in the most professional and well-produced album they ever released, and also one that is considerably mellower and more mature than any previous efforts. Indeed, there are almost no points of comparison between this and their debut Tons of Sobs
Tons of Sobs
Tons of Sobs is the debut album by English blues rock band Free, released on 14 March 1969. While the album failed to chart in the UK and reached #197 in the US, Free are still cited as one of the definitive bands of the British blues boom of the late 1960s even though this is the only album of...
from 1968.
Personnel
- Paul RodgersPaul RodgersPaul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
- lead vocals, guitar - Paul KossoffPaul KossoffPaul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
- guitar - John "Rabbit" BundrickJohn BundrickJohn Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
- backing vocals, keyboards - Tetsu YamauchiTetsu YamauchiTetsu Yamauchi aka is a Japanese bass guitarist.Yamauchi was born in 1946 in Fukuoka. In the late 1960s, he played with the band Samurai. His involvement with Samurai led to him working as a session musician in both Tokyo and London...
- bass - Simon KirkeSimon KirkeSimon Kirke is an English rock drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company.-Biography:...
- drums
with:
- "Snuffy" WaldenW. G. WaldenW. G. Snuffy Walden is a musician and composer for television shows. He has been awarded or nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and BMI Awards.- Early life :...
- guitar on "Easy on My Soul" - Rebop Kwaku BaahRebop Kwaku BaahAnthony "Reebop" Kwaku Baah was a Ghanaian percussionist perhaps best known for working with the 1970s rock groups Traffic and Can.-Biography:...
- congas on "Wishing Well"
NOTE: The album lists Kossoff as an additional musician (due to excessive drug problems the band had hired a session musician).
Recording
One immediate effect of Fraser's departure was the loss of the Fraser/Rodgers songwriting partnership that had hitherto provided the bulk of the band's catalogue. Hence many of the songs were written solely by Rodgers, although some are credited to the entire band as a symbolic gesture (including the single "Wishing Well"). Bundrick wrote two of the album's eight tracks.Yamauchi had only a very minor influence in the band; the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
bassist was unfamiliar with the English language and in any case was unwilling to jeopardise playing in a relatively well-known and well-regarded British band. Bundrick, on the other hand, was more volatile and frequently clashed with Rodgers just as Fraser had done: they even once had a fist-fight
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
.
Meanwhile, Kossoff was extremely resentful of session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s brought in periodically to replace him when the other band members' patience began to break. This exacerbated even further his problems, but on those occasions where recording went well he produced some notable work; he is in fact far more prominent on this album than on the previous one. He is uncredited on the hit single 'Wishing Well', however the fine lead guitar on the track is unmistakably Kossoff's. His distinctive and emotionally eloquent lead guitar work on 'Come Together in the Morning' is one of the high points of the album.
Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
boss Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
disliked the band's initial mix of the album and drafted regular engineer Andy Johns to solve the problem; in January 1973 the album was ready for release.
Reception
The album was, by Free's standards, a huge success. It became their third top-ten album in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(reaching #9), and reached #47 in America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, which was also a considerable success for the band. Also, the single release "Wishing Well" became their third-most successful single, reaching #7. It is widely regarded as one of their definitive songs.
Despite the success of the album and impending tour of America, it finally became apparent that the band had passed the point of no return. Kossoff being credited as an additional musician came as a shock to the entire band. Kossoff spiralled to his lowest ebb and was unable to go to America; he was replaced with Wendell Richardson from Osibisa
Osibisa
Osibisa is a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians. Osibisa were one of the first African bands to become widely popular, leading to claims of founding World Music.-History:...
. He proved to be a poor choice, and eventually the band finally gave up. Rodgers and Kirke formed Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
with Mick Ralphs
Mick Ralphs
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Ralphs is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was a founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.-Career:...
(formerly of Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
) and Boz Burrell
Boz Burrell
Raymond "Boz" Burrell was an English musician. Originally a vocalist, Burrell is best known for his bass playing and work with the rock bands King Crimson and Bad Company.-Career:...
(formerly of King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
); Yamauchi joined the Faces; Bundrick became a session musician and eventually became a regular keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player with the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
; Kossoff tried to form his own band Back Street Crawler
Back Street Crawler (band)
Back Street Crawler was a group of blues and rock musicians founded by guitarist Paul Kossoff , signing to Atlantic Records in 1975. The band took the name from Kossoff's solo album, Back Street Crawler.- History :...
. After two unsuccessful albums, the guitarist died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on board an aeroplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
on the 19 March 1976, at the age of 25.
Track listing
Side one- "Wishing Well" (Rodgers/Kirke/Yamauchi/Kossoff/Bundrick) 3.43
- "Come Together In The Morning" (Rodgers) 4.38
- "Travellin' in Style" (Rodgers/Kirke/Yamauchi/Kossoff/Bundrick) 4.01
- "Heartbreaker" (Rodgers) 6.12
Side two
- "Muddy Water" (Bundrick) 4.15
- "Common Mortal Man" (Bundrick) 4.06
- "Easy on My Soul" (Rodgers) 3.44
- "Seven Angels" (Rodgers) 5.03
Extra tracks
- "Wishing Well" (US mix) (Rodgers/Kirke/Yamauchi/Kossoff/Bundrick) 3.39
- "Let Me Show You" (Single 'B' side) (Rodgers/Kirke/Yamauchi/Kossoff/Bundrick) 3.01
- "Muddy Water" (Alternative vocals) (Bundrick) 4.15
- "Hand Me Down/Turn Me Round" (Prospective album track) (Bundrick) 3.19
- "Heartbreaker" (Rehearsal version) (Rodgers) 5.40
- "Easy on My Soul" (Rehearsal version) (Rodgers) 8.42
Covers
Southern rockSouthern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band Blackfoot
Blackfoot (band)
Blackfoot is a Southern rock musical ensemble from Jacksonville, Florida organized during 1970. Though they are primarily a Southern rock band, they were known also as a hard rock act....
cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
ed "Wishing Well" on Strikes
Strikes (album)
Strikes is the third album by Southern rock band Blackfoot, released during 1979. That album has received from the RIAA a platinum certification in April 1986.-Track listing:# "Road Fever" – Medlocke/Spires...
(1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
), Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
covered it on Corridors of Power (1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
), Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell is a Scottish rock and blues-rock singer, regarded by some as Britain's answer to Janis Joplin.-Career:...
covered it on Suicide Sal (1974
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
), Savatage
Savatage
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
covered it on their 1986 album Fight for the Rock
Fight for the Rock
Fight for the Rock is the fourth album released by the band Savatage, their first with new bass player Johnny Lee Middleton, who has since become the only ever-present member on each Savatage record released since....
and Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
covered it on Big Bang Theory (2005). Melodic heavy metal German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell
Axel Rudi Pell
Axel Rudi Pell is a German guitar player, playing melodic heavy metal. He started off with the band Steeler before leaving to start his solo career in 1989 with the eponymous band Axel Rudi Pell...
covered "Wishing Well" on Between the Walls
Between the Walls
Between the Walls is the fourth solo album from German guitar player Axel Rudi Pell. It was released 20 June 1994 on Steamhammer Records. -Track listing:#"The Curse" - 1:17#"Talk of the Guns" - 4:54#"Warrior" - 5:13...
(1994) and "Heartbreaker" on Diamonds Unlocked
Diamonds Unlocked
Diamonds Unlocked is the twelfth album by German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell. It is a cover album released in September/October 2007. The album consists of 10 cover tracks and 1 self-written introduction track...
. "Heartbreaker" has also been covered by Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist and singer.-Early life:Bonamassa was born and raised in New Hartford, United States. His parents owned and ran a guitar shop. He is a fourth-generation musician...
(with Glenn Hughes) on his 2011 release Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl (album)
Dust Bowl is a studio album by blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. It was released worldwide on March 22, 2011.- Track listing :# Slow Train - 6:49# Dust Bowl - 4:33# Tennessee Plates ft...
.