Synopsis
Free: All Right Now - Bad Company & Paul Rodgers by Harry Lime, published in 2020 by Lulu Press, Inc., offers a brief overview of the history and legacy of the English rock band Free, with a focus on its lead singer Paul Rodgers and his subsequent work with Bad Company. Spanning just 79 pages, the book traces the formation of Free in London in 1968, highlighting their rise to fame with their iconic 1970 hit "All Right Now," a song written by bassist Andy Fraser and Rodgers after a lackluster performance in Durham. The narrative outlines Free’s career trajectory, noting their distinctive blend of blues-rock and soulful energy, driven by Rodgers’ powerful vocals, Fraser’s melodic basslines, Paul Kossoff’s emotive guitar work, and Simon Kirke’s steady drumming. The band’s breakup in 1973 is covered, attributing it to internal struggles, including Kossoff’s heroin addiction, which led to his formation of Back Street Crawler and his tragic death from a pulmonary embolism in 1976 at age 25. Fraser went on to form Sharks, while Rodgers and Kirke transitioned to Bad Company, a supergroup that became a defining act of the 1970s rock scene.
The book shifts to explore Paul Rodgers’ career post-Free, particularly his role as the front man of Bad Company, formed in 1973 with ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and former King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. It touches on Bad Company’s success under Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label, mentioning hits like "Can’t Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin’ Love," and "Bad Company," which showcased Rodgers’ commanding voice and the band’s straightforward, hard-hitting rock style. The narrative briefly notes Rodgers’ broader influence, citing his rejection of offers to join Deep Purple and The Doors, his solo work starting with the 1983 album Cut Loose, and his collaboration with Queen as Queen + Paul Rodgers from 2004 to 2009. However, the book does not delve deeply into these phases, maintaining a surface-level recounting of events. It also acknowledges Rodgers’ recognition, such as his 2011 Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and his ranking as number 55 on Rolling Stone’s "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."