From Blues Clubs to Stadium Anthems
English rockers Free, fronted by future Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers and renowned guitarist Paul Kossoff, formed in London in 1968.
Initially rooted in blues rock, the band developed a stripped-back sound built around Rodgers’ powerful vocals, Kossoff’s distinctive guitar playing, Andy Fraser’s bass and Simon Kirke’s drumming. It didn’t take long for them to find their signature song.
All Right Now
Released in 1970, All Right Now became Free’s biggest hit and the song that would ultimately define their legacy. Interestingly, it wasn’t written by either of the two Pauls.
The music was written by bassist Andy Fraser, with Paul Rodgers contributing the lyrics.
The tune became a massive international hit, reaching No. 1 in more than 20 countries, and has remained a standard of classic rock radio play lists.
It’s also one of those songs that seems almost tailor-made for a working band.
The guitar part is instantly recognisable, the arrangement leaves plenty of room for the vocals, and the chorus is one of those moments where an entire audience can join in. This is why it has survived for so long.
A Five-Year Run
Although Free had further success with Wishing Well, All Right Now remained the band’s defining achievement.
Their career was remarkably short. Free disbanded after around five years, with the members moving on to different projects.
Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke went on to form Bad Company, where they found considerable success of their own. Their biggest hit, Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, became another classic rock radio standard.
But no matter what else they achieved, audiences continued to ask for All Right Now. And that tells you something about the power of a great tune. Sometimes it becomes so strongly associated with a band that it follows the musicians wherever they go.
Free and the Working Guitarist
For guitar players, Free are a great reminder that you don’t need an enormous catalogue of tunes to make an impact.
All Right Now is a masterclass in creating a memorable rock song from a strong riff, a solid groove and a huge vocal hook.
It’s also exactly the kind of tune that earns its place in a cover band’s repertoire. Put it on the setlist and you can pretty much guarantee that somebody in the room knows every word. And that’s the real legacy of Free.
They may have had a relatively brief career, but they left behind one of rock’s most enduring anthems—still played every Saturday night by bands around the world.
Free Tunes | Related Pages
All Right Now | Chords + TAB
You can learn All Right Now by Free using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| A5 D/A | A5 | D D/A | A5 |
There she stood in the street, smiling from her head to her feet…
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