Free - Tons of Sobs Classic Album Review - Vinyl and CD Remasters - Now Spinning with Phil Aston

Free: Tons of Sobs: Video Review
How I discovered Free, a look at the vinyl album, 2001 remaster and comparison with the new Andy Pearce remaster from 2016.

My introduction to the band was from The Free Story vinyl album, and I bet there are many people out there that were introduced to this band the same way. When I bought The Free Story, I loved every track, but there was something about the first track, I’m a Mover, where Paul Rogers’ voice sounds very different to how he would sound on future Free albums.

Free, back then were aged between16 and 17 when they made Tons of Sobs. They were a very young band. Although, from their lyrical content they were very mature for their ages and had obviously done a lot of living from the kind of songs that they were writing.

I actually bought Tons of Sobs in 1976 on the same day that I bought Run with the Pack by Bad Company. I was just enthralled by it.

It has such a mysterious cover, with a clown looking at Mickey Mouse in a coffin and a rabbit in a graveyard. On the inside cover, you have the band looking very mysterious. Paul Kossoff looks like he could rule the world!

The first copy I bought on CD was in 2002 when all the Free albums were released with extra tracks. When they were put together you could choose to have either Paul Kossoff or Paul Rodgers on the CD spines.

I felt these remasters were fine until the 2016 set of remasters were released. These came with no extra tracks at all so I was reluctant at first to see if they were any different.

The 2016 remasters were done by Andy Pearce who has done a sterling job and these are the best the Free albums have sounded on CD. There’s something about the sound stage, the clarity of the musicians, the warmth of it. It’s probably as close as you’ll get to vinyl without having all the cracks and pops! Tons of Sobs was released in 1968 it is a very raw blues-rock album and Kossoff is simply on fire on this.

Andy Fraser had not quite got his mojo for writing the songs yet with Paul Rogers. They are nearly all Rogers’ compositions, apart from Moonshine, which is written with Paul Kossoff. Going Down Slow is over eight and a half minutes long and the notes just pour out of Paul Kossoff’s guitar. Sweet Tooth is actually my favourite track. I think Kossoff’s playing is just absolutely fantastic.

If you’re a fan of blues guitar, this is where Kossoff made his mark. He might have later on pulled back on the number of notes he was playing. (He never played millions of notes) but all the notes he plays are on target, and this is a classic piece of blues classic rock and every home should have one.

[pgreed]

The most memorable part of this album for me is the introduction to Goin' Down Slow. We are drawn into a smoky bar room with the drawly piano and then Kossoff plays that first note which sends an electric shock up your spine. More than any other group, Free were truly out there with their emotions. There was no 'look at me and how clever I am', it was just pure, raw, stripped-down blues, never more so than in this first album. This music still excites as much as the first time I heard it and it will never age. Thanks again for another great review.

[tomtomthebear]

I’ve recently just got a really good copy of the free story, it was the album that I fell in love with when I was 11. One of the most under appreciated bands in history but without a doubt in their prime they were untouchable

[JohnFiocchi]

I saw Back Street Crawler at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. If memory serves it may have been a few weeks later when Paul Kossoff died. I believe he was on an airplane when he passed. It was impressionable to me. I was a teenager then. He influenced me immensely. I had a Marshall stack and a Les Paul and I used to try and get his sound. He was unique!!

[martinmorris]

I’ve just found your review so sorry for being late.
I bought my copy from (I think) the same Virgin Shop in Corporation Street by the Law Courts (loved that shop, before they grew into the monster), a few years earlier in 1972 (I was 15).
You are spot on with your review and agree with every word about the album. Also I’m sure it’s the fastest Kossoff played, especially on Going Down Slow, and Rodges vocals were wonderful.
Never did they reach these heights again as their music changed. This was raw with a dark feel, and British Blues at its best.
Thank you

[rcknalwys]

Hands down Paul Kossoff is on fire and Paul Rodgers is just incredible. Simon Kirke is spot on and Andy Fraser is great! An amazing 1st album by 4 brilliant young men. Very nice review.

[Dafalex]

I had a professional photographer blow up (poster size) the "regal" pose pic (inner liner) of Kossoff with that magnificent "lion's mane" hair. It adorns and is the center piece of my loft studio. You would love it. Thanks for covering this seminal album Phil. All the best.

[Matasky]

Easily my favourite Free album...something about that raw 60s English blues-based music that is just so satisfying...Kossof's guitar is epic..

[dougf]

Great review Phil. My love for Free was initiated identically to yours. I bought the 2002 remaster set (largely because of the extra tracks and innovative packaging). I took upon your advice and bought the 2016 remaster and thankful for it. They really are superior. Thanks ever so much for the video and recommending them. As a Free fan, please search out the biography on the band called The Heavy Load by David Clayton and Todd K. Smith. It’s wonderful

[BigSky]

All the tracks were recorded at a couple of sessions apart from The Hunter which was recorded and added at the last minute to replace Visions Of Hell.

[jean-lucpernel]

i like free very much i bought this record i was 18 years old, and "coup de foudre" the voice the guitar of paul kossof and the rythm section the blues and the song "moonshine" my god it was love that's all

[jean-lucpernel]

and the sleeve of course was enigmatic for me !!!!

[MissionTransition]

Excellent review. Thumbs up. My favorite guitar player.

[georgecheung]

Dear Phil,
You've done it again. Anyone who likes to write and talk about Free, my all time favorite band, can do no wrong. Like you, I was first introduced to this band by listening to Free Story. Before I had a chance to listen to them, I had a misconception they were just a party band with All Right Now. However, as I listened to the first note of I'll be creeping, I was mesmerized. The blues voice, the guitar -- they were just incredible. Since then, I tried to buy all their albums in this order if my memory still serves me well: The Free Story, Free Live, Highway, Fire & Water, Heartbreaker, Free, Tons of Sobs, Free At Last and Songs of Yesterday boxed set as they were not all at once available back in Hong Kong then. Talking about TOS, I wish they had included their first single, the instrumental Sugar for Mr Morrison as a bonus track.
I too wonder after all these years if anyone can cast some insight on the cover design - a native Indian face, a rabbit and Mickey Mouse in a coffin? That really puzzles me.
I also find it amusing these days that people talk about audiophile recordings or so-called collector's items. I totally agree that it is the music in your hand that matters. Whether it is pink or whatever color label, it does not bother me. What's the point of collecting the music which some people never play? In view of this, I think the music world has overstated the importance of sound quality, (don't get me wrong, I still want decent sound) rather than the actual music quality. It is the music that gets us going and not the audiophile recording or first pressing that should have been stressed all the times.
Once again, please keep on reviewing Free when so many people have forgotten about them!

[stephenbarrow]

I bought a new copy last year Phil. Really good album. I only have that and Heartbreaker on vinyl. Their other albums I have on cd.

[bobby]

Brilliant album. I love all the albums by Free. Sure this is more blues based than the others. Any chance you have the Box Set "Songs of Yesterday" featuring the alternative versions.

[stratpack]

Another great review. I'm always amazed at how young they were. One of my favourite bands too!

[jean-lucpernel]

i have the cd now and the sleeve is dull, inside too small not beautiful!!! black and white photos was "enigmatic" but very beautiful ! i think ! thank you is a pleasure to speak of this music with you !!!

Good review, but I don't want extra tracks on albums I buy, unless they are specifically a collection of extra tracks. I detest this CD cramming that is sold as added value, when it's just added stuff.

[styrmugnsell]

Does anyone know which remasters there is on Free "5 Classic Albums", is it the new one? (I don't think there is no bonus tracks)...