I’m a Mover (Live 1971)

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning a classic for their Zoo Freaks audience: I’m a Mover (Live 1971) by Free, taken from their electrifying album Free Live!. This track, recorded during their 1971 tour, captures the raw energy of Free at their peak, blending gritty blues-rock with a live intensity that makes it a standout. One piece of trivia about this song comes from a 2010 interview with drummer Simon Kirke, who shared that the live version was cut during a particularly wild night at the Isle of Wight Festival, where the crowd’s energy pushed the band to play with extra ferocity. Kirke recalled Paul Kossoff’s guitar solos feeling like they “lit the stage on fire,” a sentiment echoed by fans on Free Band Fans on Facebook, where members often cite this performance as a defining moment.

Another tidbit about I’m a Mover surfaces from a 2018 post on Free’s official X account, which highlighted how the song, originally from their 1968 debut album Tons of Sobs, was transformed in the live setting. The 1971 rendition stretched the track with extended jams, showcasing the band’s improvisational chemistry. Fans on the Free Fan Site have noted that Paul Rodgers’ vocals in this live cut carry a soulful edge, influenced by his love for Otis Redding, which he mentioned in a 2005 Classic Rock magazine interview. The song’s driving rhythm and Kossoff’s searing riffs made it a staple in Free’s live sets, with Kirke once joking in a 1990s radio interview that it was “the song that got the crowd moving, no pun intended.”

Free’s journey began in London in 1968, when four young musicians—Paul Rodgers (vocals), Paul Kossoff (guitar), Andy Fraser (bass), and Simon Kirke (drums)—came together, united by a passion for blues and rock. Rodgers, barely 19, had been singing in local clubs, while Kossoff, the son of actor David Kossoff, was a self-taught guitarist obsessed with blues legends like B.B. King. Fraser, a prodigy at 15, had already played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and Kirke, a drummer since his teens, brought a steady groove. According to their bio on freebandofficial.com, the band formed after a chance meeting at a London club, where Kossoff was blown away by Rodgers’ voice. They named themselves “Free” to reflect their desire to break from musical constraints, blending blues, rock, and soul into a sound that felt both raw and polished.

Their big break came with the release of Tons of Sobs in 1968, which included I’m a Mover, but it was their 1970 hit All Right Now that catapulted them to global fame. As shared in a 2015 Instagram post by the band’s official account, Free’s relentless touring in the UK and US built a loyal fanbase, with Kossoff’s emotive guitar work and Rodgers’ powerful vocals earning praise. Despite their success, internal struggles and Kossoff’s health issues led to their breakup in 1973, though their legacy endures through fans on platforms like Free’s official Facebook and groups like Free Band Fans. You can dive deeper into Free’s world on their official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or connect with fellow fans at freefansite.com.