Free Life - Free Life (1978) [Reissue 2014]

Free Life was a dynamic nine member group, hailing from Denver and Los Angeles. They combined elements of rhythm and blues, rock and soul for their debut Epic album. Philip Bailey, well known as Earth, Wind & Fire s lead singer and Tom Vicari, a noted engineer producer who has worked with Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams, and Gino Vanelli turned in a fine production on this album. As Philip Bailey co-produced the album it is no surprise that it has Earth Wind & Fire influences, also because of the fact that at the end of the 70 s EWF were one of the most popular groups around and their sound influenced many other groups and singers. Although this was their first album, the Free Life members had been together for years. They were no strangers to the studio, they have worked individually and collectively with Blue Magic, Stephanie Mills, Bobbie Humphrey, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White, among others. The best known members of the group were: Carl Carwell, Julius Carey and Winston Ford on vocals and percussion, Wayne Stalling on keyboards and Spencer Bean on guitar and vocals. From this, their debut album their first single Wish You Were Here , written by Philip Bailey, was the most successful and entered the R&B charts in 1979. Other strong tracks on the album are Stomp and shout and the ballad I confess.