Free - The Stealer (Live in Croydon 1970)
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- The Stealer - live performance Sept. 1970 at Fairfield Hall.
Free's slow-burn, coal-fired sound absolutely explodes on this track.
I made use of other video sources of the band to give an idea of what they looked and sounded like in full flight.
Don’t forget Andy FRAZER he actually wrote most of those songs. Free never needed a rhythm guitarist. Andy put so much into his playing, it filled out the whole songs perfectly interfacing Koss’s brilliance of guitar genius. Koss simply was the best guitarist that ever lived. Why? it was his genius of simplicity of application of chords and fantastic lead guitar tone. He never overcooked it, he never overplayed his parts which let the whole band breathe, Paul Rogers and Andy Frazer the perfect foil for him with Simon Kirks timing and solid drum craftsmanship making musical gold. I will never forget one Sunday night at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, Stoke-on Trent in 1972.
They played so many encores, I think the concert was well over 3 and a half hours long. The atmosphere was electric ⚡️ the crowd refused to let them leave the stage.
God bless you Andy Frazer and Koss I will never ever forget you.
Well put, a great band for all the above reasons.
Amen to that brother!
and he did it all with SO MUCH DAMN STEEZE...Look at that drip! He looks like he was inserted digitally after the fact. Dude is just too pretty compared with the rest of the band. Absolutely amazing he was so young but played so well and so mature.
RONNIE VAN ZANT and Gary ROSSINGTON !!!SAID IT ALL THIS BANDS COOKING !!!!RED HOT !!!!😁The BEST g
Koz knew exactly what to play. Guy was in his own class
Been listening to this band for over 50 years.....still nobody better!!!!!
close to 53 years for me !!
1971 I lived in London with my 17 yr old girlfriend. I was 19. Fire and Water was in our collection. Great music. Went well with trips and hash!!
Me too, was a Fairfield Hall in 1970 as a 17 year old when they recorded some tracks for ‘Free Live’. An incredible evening. They still make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck when listening through headphones very loud 👍
64 now but still listen to Free n Hendrix like other people go to church. Then after that for penance I put on the Feelgoods, then a silly Beatles song, then when making dinner I find The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band a fine background sound for chopping veg etc. Otis Spann will be pissed off that I didn't mention him..
@@grg1953 300 years for me.
Never made a bad record one of the best groups ever
Andy play that bass boy love it.🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸
Free is real rock. They were ahead of their time. They could play live. They created songs that have been covered for decades. "All Right Now" never gets old.
Come together in the morning is awesome.
52 years later still loving this killer song now in 2022. R.I.P. Paul Kossoff.
Paul Kossoff and his guitar...
What a sound...
Purely**magical** ! 💕💯
🎸unique
Andy Fraser, one of the most underrated Bass players in the business....
Andy Fraser was definitely the most underrated bass player ever.
my bad...I got mixed up a bit,,,,,,but I did mean Andy Fraser,,,,he was one bad ass bass player at the ripe old age of 16 when this came out,,,he may have been 17...
@@rgbrin Yep , Andy joined Free at 15 . AFTER already having played with John Mayall ! Just unheard of . Bloody legend of a bassist. And he is not underrated to those who rock.
Rock In Paradise Mr Big xx
Estoy de acuerdo con el primer comentario sobre Andy Fraser fué un hombre muy guapo y talentoso
He was superb !
I've been listening to Free since 1969 , possibly one of the tightest Bands I've ever heard and Koss I could watch all day his style and Tone immense.
Kossoff was the shit Dave, what you think about Trapeze Medusa.
Free were a distillation of everything great in music. Nothing wasted, just four guys being brilliant!
One of my highlights was seeing these at the Isle of Wight in 1970. Hitch hiked from Plymouth. Happy days...
THEY STOLE THE SHOW !!!!😁g
Paul Rogers personifies tone and presence in a singer, and I don't limit that to just rock vocalists. Free was a great band that stands so tall. I really encourage people unfamiliar to go back and listen.
Blinding good, fantastic players, a 4 piece, drums, bass, guitar and vocals. Drums, Kirke, a small set of drums, keeping it all together, Bass, Frazer, Bass playing at it's very best, keeping the rhythm going, Koss, no words do his playing justice, Rodgers, world-class vocalist, including grunts and groans, it just doesn't get any better.
Those grunts and groans are.....can I just say **HOT** ?!?! 🥰😜
I've adored this bands music since my teens, the majestic lead guitar of Paul Kossoff and Fraser one of rocks most underrated bass players ever 😍
Been playing guitar for over 40 years, but if I was a bassist, drummer or vocalist, these guys would still be one of the biggest influence to me in their respective abilities.
hey kids... that's what a real band sounds like.🎸🥁🎤🎸😎
I totally agree wth that statement ! Andy Frazer was the SOUND of Free, he was a prodigy no doubt of that.
Oh wow did he have style too, even standing to the side, his distinctive see-saw dance & wonderful face grimaces & he just rocked that bass. Magic
Also we forget Simon Kirk on drums wth that definate Free sound like sea surf, waves gathering & building then that crash but it was a heavy whisper of waves weaving in & out of Rogers voice, Andy's bass & complimenting Kossofs riffs
I know I know im Free obsessive but they were just unique, no one has come up wth a sound to equal them, I doubt there never will be another Free.
People of my age were privileged
To be young when music like Free
Led Zep, Pink Ffloyd, Deep Purple
The Stones, Sabbath, Cream, Rory Gallagher, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Small Faces/Steve Marriott, Gary Moore, Bowie,
The old Fleetwood Mac, Dr Feelgood, the Old Tyrannausarus
Rex, so many brilliant one of a kind bands & music to mould us into the generation that started a revolution that burst onto the 1970's like a multi dimentional rainbow. It will go down in history, & we were part of it. So lucky we were so very lucky.
Well said, couldn't agree more.
Free Live, the best live album ever!!!
I always grin like an idiot and nod my head in 4/4 rhythm
when I listen to those giants.
What a voice, what a guitar sound, straight as hell (or paradise) drumming and that funky bass.
RocknRollBlues heaven!
Love needs no explanation
but you know why you do....
Ah Yes.. a survivor indeed.. 56 years and still picking up anything with strings and trying to emulate my heroes Rory, Paul, and a bunch of others that don't get anything like the recognition they deserve... man we had it good... !!!! I tip my glass to you for surviving too... :-)
from day one, this band were to take off as one of the best bands eva! Great rythm section and guitar with soulfull vocal! cantgo wrong.
Ken paul Entwistle , I apologize in advance if I have you wrongly pegged but I saw your sir name and Ill let the embarrassment fly if Im mistaken . your name stuck out like beacon , 7 year old post , but perhaps you may someday see this .
,1st stupid question Im sure , Was your Dad John Entwistle ? Greatest rock bassist of all time (IMHO) I just wanted to tell you and Im not in any way bragging but I think this could deserve some bragging rights if I were to boast .
The very last time John Entwistle performed or sat foot on a stage waas with our band here in Las Vegas that saturday night before he passed . ,We just played a couple of blues tunes I think and 3 straight shuffles In the middle of the 1st song he leaned into my ear and told me something that I busted a rib and my only good Testicle laughing so hard I slobbered all over my guitar neck like a rabid hound and snot shot from my nose ....LOL . I could add more but that have to be for your ears only ....
He truly was one funny S O B. We hung until 10:30 that morning drunker than shit That Vegas sun can be a MF'r walking out of a dark club at at !0-11 am Honestly I never was a BIG Who Fan but after that night I became one of the biggest the years since have been a wake up call to the actual greatness of all in that band Ok so I had my head up my ass for 40 years but its finally been removed
.. . REST IN PEACE John Entwistle
I'm Going to be the one dorky SOB if I've mistaken you for his son but WTF ..if your balls aint out and swangin The reason I stopped by to begin with F R E E ! Koss was a bad Mofo and a vibrato that equals BB 's
I can remember where I was , what i was doing ,and when I first heard " the Stealer " ,14 years old .We dont get much music piped into to the swamps and piney woods of Louisiana back in them days . But that song was the heaviest my ears had heard up to that point for sure .That big late night AM radio station out of Chicago WLS " I forgot ...??? it was rare but if the stars aligned and the weather was right and tuned the dial ever so slowly back n forth we sometimes got a taste of what the rest of the world was diggin .Bla Bla Woof Woof
Oh Koss , what a damn sad loss. Still.
What can I say.i am a 68 year man.and ever time I hear.FREE.i just want to smoke a joint.and be happy
@@perrymitchell7591 Yep, me too !
Talk about tone, he had it!
When free finished it killed Koss
Simon Kurk one of the best drummers ever. Still playing.was with Bad Company.this band just unbelievable good. Touck about SOUL and BLUES.Wow!!!!!! ☮✝👍
Kirk
@@bigfrank1010 spelled: Kirke
I could watch this video all day and never get bored. What a band! Paul Rodgers is gorgeous and has an incredible voice.
Wow. That was crazy good, tight, high quality, words don’t do it justice. The bass and vocals really put it over the top for me!
Love this song and the whole Highway album. Takes me back to finding the album in a record store in the 70's. Glad there's some film of the band live. Would loved to have seen them in person.
Thats God I was raised to this music we thank you for all those unforgettable memories you will never been forgotten tii they end of time peace out
Kossoff, one of the best guitarists of his time. Gone too early, gone too young but still alive in our memory
andy fraser's bass gives this track - which edges more towards rock - a fine funky groove.
The beginning of a legendary vocalist. It only got better with age and Paul Rogers has proved that!🎤👍💯
Originals to the bone. Free created a totally unique sound which was never duplicated. Downside; they were never rewarded for their pioneering sound and catalogue.
I consider it an immense privilege to have seen Free twice in my lifetime. Four lads generating so much power and energy, colossal band…I remember how the seats in Sheffield City Hall shook when Andy Fraser’s bass kicked in, I remember Kossoff being sexually assaulted on stage by a blond girl in a yellow tee shirt and black hot pants (he never missed a note though)…I was 14 and I’d never seen or heard anything like this great, great band. Saw Zeppelin and Deep Purple at the same venue and they never got close to what Free could produce…this band had soul😎
Thanks for such an amazing and honest appraisal. Before my time to see any of the three bans live, and it warms my heart to know that Free were the best live band than DP or Zeppelin. I'm guessing you saw them all in their prime.
Just.....a great comment, thanks.
😳👏👏👏
CHRIST !!!!thats SAYING SOMETHING !!!Amen Bro g
That voice and band cannot be beat! Love Free/BadCo forever!!
The expressive power of the sound architecture breaks with any form of transcription of the real to attach itself to the expression of an elusive universe. Colors and rhythm of these compositions are a language that gives voice to exaltation!
One band I never had the pleasure of seeing now far to late thanks for the recordings.
This is when rock was f n good, great band
I saw this live. I was there.
Free kept it tight. Paul Rogers, wow, incredible career. Massive book of work for us to indulge in. Ty for the great music. Groovy baby! Peace
This is one of several songs that they recorded that I wish went on for a longer time.
Search The Stealer extended solo. It's another minute extra of kossoff gold.
this footage is from a german television performance i believe. but that does not diminish from this EFFING SIZZLING recording. these guys were the very best... no band as emotionally charged. ever.
This band don't get the recognition they deserve. World class lyrics and bass playing. Perhaps blues rock wasn't commercial enough but it sounds fantastic.
The footage is from Granada television in England
This video is from the live show at Granada studios, and they are performing Mr Big. Never mind though, just listen to the music, its absolutely brilliant, what a band!
Sounds like Stealer to me.....
@@harleyspringer7034 He means that on the video they are playing 'Mr. Big'. They did not perform 'The Stealer' on that Granada programme.
the video is from stockholm
I presume that you mean the song ('The Stealer') is live from Stockholm? I am fairly certain the video (of them playing 'Mr Big') is from Granada Television in Manchester.
@@portcullis5622 the pictures are from stockholm.. According to some full lenght upload here on youtube.. Well i may be wrong but..
Oh yeah! I´m 70 and i know this band from the beginning (also live) Great times!!!!!!
One of the most soulful voices in Rock!
one of the? THE
That's a beautiful 'burst that Koss is playing !
His dark burst, acquired in a trade with Eric Clapton.
@@thirdday07 Thanks, I wasn't aware of that. It is one of the best looking Les Paul Standards that I have ever seen.
Saw Free live n 71. Love Paul Rodgers voice!!!
Still mega awesome😎
In 11 Grade at Niagara Falls High School this band played on Our Stage
I’ll never forget that day
What year?
WOWW Wish I could go back in time !!!!!!! Those were the days !
❤FREE❤
The vid so nicely done-excellent work sir! Thanks for posting this, I'd never heard this version of "Stealer"! Free, damn what a band!
Thanks, I cut the footage from other tracks so it is better than a photo montage. Check out the extended studio version of the stealer, best solo ever from koss.
All these guys are underrated.
They were great! So good live and even their recordings sounded live. Just burnt themselves out mainly because of their fragile gifted guitarist Paul. Love 'em to death RIP Paul & Andy.
Absolutely Love this song.The whole Band,Yes,all was good?
Paul Rodgers has the voice I wish I was born with. His note manipulation and tones have a Soul of their Own. Really too bad about Paul Kossoff but same old story with drugs and endings.
The alchemy of all them together is something real special... kind of gritty but spacious... no other band sounds like them....Magical.
Love this song!💕🤘
Found free live album in the middle of Iowa years ago still have it in my collection brilliant I believe it was a British release go figure
Ah! a fellow South Londoner; I was also at this gig in Sept 70, I dont remember a kid with a peach fuzz, but I do remember as you do, that the band had the audience bouncing of the walls. Congratulations on being a Rock & Roll Survivor.
It's just a damn tragedy that so many absolutely gifted musicians died from overdose of drugs or booze. To think of Kossoff or Keith Moon TommyBolin or John Bonham or Jimi Hendrix and dozens more, and what they might have done had they lived. I liked to get out there in the ozone myself when I was younger so I get why they used . But some awfully gifted performers have clocked out way too soon
The drugs probably made them what they were, they really do open you're mind. The music was out of this world and so where they.
BLOODY DRUGS 😣g
Been jamming Free since before I could drive. Paul and Simon are incredible.
One of Free's finest tracks :-))
Paul Kossoff is unbeilevable.When I heard him play on All Right Now and
Fire and Water I knew he was good.On The Stealer I knew great.Paul Rodgers could have sung on any R&B, Rock,or blues label and would have blown them away and Andy Frazier and Rabbit best base and drums along w/ Bonzo and John Paul Jones.I was so blessed to have lived during the late 60s early 70s when these guys were around and in there prime.Paul,if he had lived would have been remembered as one of the top
5 greatest blues/rock guitarist of all time.Paul is in my top 3 vocalist.
Theres something I must get off my chest....FUCK FACEBOOK AND ITS CENSORSHIP OF FREE EXPRESSION
Amen
Paul Kossoff got to be one the best guitar player of all time and died so young
BANG ON Mate 😀g
My personal favourite 💕
My god! Wonderful band!
Thank you... thank you... thank you... for posting this... I was there... 14 years old...all hair and peach fuzz... Mott the Hoople opened and had the crowd jumping as I remember... God I'm glad I grew up during this period... Went to the likes of Fairfield Halls, The Greyhound, Big Apple (Brighton), Finsbury Park Rainbow, Crystal Palace Bowl as often as i could afford... what memories!!!
Mott the hoopoe blew them off stage coming on first they had everyone dancing in the isles l listened to this in the bar they were boring lacked presence and presentation.
Saw free for first time in 1969 at "mothers" in Erdington b'ham, place was 1/2- 3/4 full, could see then how raw and powerful they, caught them a few times in the 70s at same gig and just got tighter, then just when i thought they were kings, a three piece called Trapeze played there in July 1970,playing all the Medusa stuff, they tilted the axis a bit and blew the place to bits!! No joke 😮👍😁
I love this song!
Incredible to think how old this track is today ( 2024 ). In the days when bands played live and all their own instruments. Both Koss and Andy F were actually child (?) musical prodigies, so naturally talented from early on. I think they were both playing in groups at 16 and made it with free at about 19.
Melhor vocalista da história.... melhor banda de todos os tempos...🤘🤘🤘🤘
Kocham sluchac ten zespol od 14 lat jest wspanialy te gitary i ten glos zajebiste
BTW, as a bonus I was also taught the 'proper' ARNow bass riff (with the alternate A peddle note) by Andy himself when I met him in Sharks after the Lancaster Uni gig. It was like holding the Holy Grail (even though the EB3 that recorded it was nicked).
Best live band I ever saw.
Rodgers ...best singer of all time, Koss a god, gone far to soon.
AS TIGHT AS THEY COME ❤
I went to this concert. Fantastic.
These guys rock
I'm pretty sure this was shot at Granada Studios in Manchester for a weekly show called 'Doing Their Own Thing' in 1971. My all time favourite players/ band.
My favorite version of The Stealer and Andy's cute little face around the 2:00 mark is adorable and priceless!! I will always love them!!!! Thank you for uploading it!!!!! 😍🥰💕
Iove the way yhey play so fast the video can;t keep up with the audio :-) But seriously though Free were amazing. It's great these videos are still available as I was too youg to see them live although I remember hearing All right Now on the radio back then.
Fraser had that bass amp growling complimenting Kossoff’s riffs. Kossoff’s vibrato!!.. God Damn!!
Went to my Jr prom in high school 1975 and the live cover band played a lot of Free. Most didn't like it but I was high just listening since they were so good and I liked Free as much as Led zep or anyone.
Lets not forget this wonderful powerful Bass!!!!
best band ever ...bar none !
70goldtop. Can't remember now but it stuck in my mind from then on. I actually got to touch one of Koss's LPs when his dad David visited my teacher Dad's school (as a children's storyteller). He was doing a tour of theaters at the time and was here at ours the night before to talk about Koss and drugs etc. Remember he was a hard angry emotional player and probably needed 13's for the punishment they took.
Will get back to you if I find out.
wow. outstanding
the video footage is from free "doing their thing", a granada tv special recorded on july 24th, 1970. the video footage however has nothing whatsoever to do with the audio track, as "the stealer" was not performed at the london show for granada tv.
70s .....best era
Haven't come down yet from the Andy one in 40 years. Met Chris Squire too ( and have a signature Ric model like his), and Bill Wyman and Glover. Geezer too and also own his old 62 Fender P (all pure luck). Only meeting Macca could top any or all of those together. Glad you found that info on Koss, so I wasn't dreaming it then ? (where is it posted ?). Koss and Jimi = billing to me, just different. My desert Island disc is ARNow. Never tire of hearing it.
Hello Peter, no, this is not from Fairfield Halls! I was there!! love to you, fellow Free lover.
Que magia…..me hubiese gustado tanto verlos …..
Look at Paul Kossoff what a machine gone way to soon
That vibrato! Master player Kossof.
Yes, they were playing Mr Big,& not out of sync as some have said! For me there never was nor has been a band like Free, i have played them most days for well over 40 odd yrs, saw them loads in my home town of Newcastle also Sunderland, manchester, london venues & they played live equally if not better than records. My grandson who is 15 loves ths band showing not only how brilliant but timeless FREE were. Tons of Sobs for Kossoff & Frazer 😭
I'm from Indiana USA and I think they're one of the most unique rock bands ever. They had all the necessary ingredients. I'm a bluesman myself , learned from Lonnie Mack , who was a friend of my Dad , and Freddie King's records, but for bluesy hard rock I always look to the UK bands of the late60s. And Free were the best of the lot to me.
@@abelincoln5698 cheers, brilliant to hear from a fellow FREE lover. I followed paul rodgers onto Bad Company & Rabbit then his solo career & his album of blues music a la muddy waters was exceptional. However the magic that was FREE died when Kossoff died then just recently th amazing andy frazer left us, he was just 17 yrs old when Free had their 1st number 1 single! My god, 17yrs old, kossoff was 18, so was simon kirk & paul rogers just turned 20, all so young to have pulled this band into being.seems like yesterday i 1st saw them, Sail On my brother
rip bassist and song writer Andy Fraser and guitarist Paul Kossoff
There's an amazing live AC/DC gig with Bon Scott filmed here with a similar audience....
BUT..
A huge contrast right near the end, and near the back(look top left) there's a fabulous head of hair waving around old style!
Que bandon que sonaba en los 70s junto a black sabbath...buen rock clasico.
Excellent 😊
Super song!
This video was recorded in Manchester in 1970, I know I was in the audience.
Hey very cool man.You are a very lucky person.I found that interview by the way.An "unwound banjo string for a G because no manufacturer at the time made a thick enough unwound G string".Priceless info.Kossoff sure as hell knew what sound he was after didn't he?More class than Hendrix IMO.
HEMDRIX KNEW He WAS Good 😀v
Kossof A KINDRED SPIRIT to JIMI !!!g
Anybody watching this in 2021/2022 at Christmas? 🎧😁🎸💓✌️🎄
You can hear early Skynyrd in many of Free's songs. They were huge fans of FREE ans BAD CO.
RONNIE VAN ZANT said THIS BAND Is COOKIN !!!😀g
Ronnie loved FREE
If that's the attitude and appreciation for this marvelous band in Croydon, then I give up! If they were appearing in my town in the the North of England the audience would be extremely 'animate' i,e dancing on the ceiling etc!