Free (Concrete Blonde album)

Free is the second album by alternative rock band Concrete Blonde.^[3] It marked the addition of bass player Alan Bloch.^[4]

Free
Studio album by Concrete Blonde
Released	April 1989[1]
Recorded	1988
Genre	Alternative rock, Hard rock
Length	33:15
Label	I.R.S.[2] (remastered and re-released in 2004 by Superfecta Recordings)
Producer	Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde chronology
Concrete Blonde (1986) Free (1989) Bloodletting (1990)

Free peaked at number 90 on the Australian ARIA Charts.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Hi-Fi News & Record Review	B:2[6]

Chris Murray, reviewer of RPM, considered that "this album has something to please everybody" and it "sounding better with each listen." In the end he expressed a hope that this LP "will eventually get the proper recognition."^[7] Tom Demalton of AllMusic gave a mostly positive review of Free, proclaiming it a "worthwhile follow-up" showing "considerable amount of growth in both the songwriting and playing" since the debut album.^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Johnette Napolitano, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"God Is a Bullet"	James Mankey, Napolitano	4:23
2.	"Run Run Run"		4:00
3.	"It's Only Money"	Phil Lynott	2:45
4.	"Help Me"		2:42
5.	"Sun"		2:36
6.	"Roses Grow"		3:15
7.	"Scene of a Perfect Crime"		4:42
8.	"Happy Birthday"		2:22
9.	"Little Conversations"		2:48
10.	"Carry Me Away"		3:42

Personnel

• Produced by Concrete Blonde
• Recorded by E.J. Mankey II
• Megamix by Chris Tsangarides
• Cover design by Johnette Napolitano & Anne Sperling
• Paintings and photographs by Anne Sperling
• All songs by Concrete Blonde except "It's Only Money" by Phil Lynott
• Write to Concrete Blonde c/o Happy Hermit, 6520 Selma Ave, #567, L.A., CALIF 90028
• Band members: Harry Rushakoff, James Mankey, Johnette Napolitano, Alan Bloch

Charts

Chart (1989–90)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[8]	90
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9]	75
US Billboard 200[10]	148

References

1. Free at AllMusic
2. Staff, Parry Gettelman Of The Sentinel. "THIS CONCRETE BLONDE IS HAVING MORE FUN NOW THAN EVER". OrlandoSentinel.com.
3. "TrouserPress.com :: Concrete Blonde". www.trouserpress.com.
4. Times, Helen A. S. Popkin, St Petersburg. "CONCRETE BLONDE FINDS THERE`S LIFE AFTER L.A." chicagotribune.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
5. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
6. Farmer, Neville (August 1989). "Review: Concrete Blonde — Free" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 8. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 108. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
7. Murray, Chris (27 May 1989). "Review: Concrete Blonde — Free" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 50, no. 4. Toronto: RPM Music Publications Ltd. p. 15. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022 – via World Radio History.
8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 65.
9. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6399". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
10. "Concrete Blonde Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2022.