Free, best known for their 1970 signature song «All Right Now», helped lay the foundations for the rise of hard rock, stripping the earthy sound of British blues down to its raw, minimalist core to pioneer a brand of proto-metal later popularized by 1970s superstars like Foreigner, Foghat and Bad Company.They formed in London in 1968, when guitarist Paul Kossoff, then a member of the blues unit Black Cat Bones, was taken to see vocalist Paul Rodgers' group Brown Sugar by a friend, drummer Tom Mautner. After deciding to form their own band, Kossoff and Rodgers recruited drummer Simon Kirke (since Mautner was at university) and 16-year-old bass phenom Andy Fraser from the ranks of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers; with the aid of Alexis Korner, who also suggested the name Free, the fledgling band signed to the Island label, issuing their bluesy debut Tons of Sobs in 1968. They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler and died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. The band became famed for their sensational live shows and nonstop touring. However, early studio albums did not sell very well – until the release of Fire and Water which featured the massive hit «All Right Now». The song helped secure them a place at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 where they played to 600,000 people. By the early 1970s, Free became one of the biggest - selling British blues rock groups; by the time the band retired in 1973, they had sold more than 20 million albums around the world and had played more than 700 arena and festival concerts. «All Right Now», remains a rock staple, and had been entered into ASCAP's «One Million» airplay singles club. Rolling Stone had referred to the band as «British hard rock pioneers». The magazine ranked Rodgers No. 55 in its list of the «100 Greatest Singers of All Time», while Kossoff was ranked No. 51 in its list of the «100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time».Fire and Water is their third studio album released in 1970. The album became the band's breakthrough hit, reaching No 2 in the UK charts and No 17 in the US, making it the most successful Free album. The album contained the hit single «All Right Now» which they later played to a crowd of over 600,000 people at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, generating great popularity. To date, it is the only Free album to have seen a CD reissue in America.«If Fleetwood Mac, Humble Pie, and Foghat were never formed, Free would be considered one of the greatest post-Beatles blues-rock bands to date, and Fire and Water shows why. Conceptually fresh, with a great, roots-oriented, Band-like feel, Free distinguished itself with the public like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple did (in terms of impact, only) in 1970. Free presented itself to the world as a complete band, in every sense of the word. From Paul Kossoff's exquisite and tasteful guitar work, to Paul Rodgers' soulful vocals, this was a group that was easily worthy of the mantle worn by Cream, Blind Faith, or Derek & the Dominos». (AllMusic Review by Matthew Greenwald)Free - Fire and Water [1970] (Full Album)Tracklist:1. (Α1) Fire and Water – 4:02 (UK album) 3:41 (US album)2. (Α2) Oh I Wept (Rodgers, Kossoff) – 4:263. (Α3) Remember – 4:20 4. (Α4) Heavy Load – 5:195. (Β1) Mr. Big (Fraser, Rodgers, Kirke, Kossoff) – 5:55 6. (Β2) Don't Say You Love Me – 6:017. (Β3) All Right Now – 5:32 Reissue Bonus Tracks8. Oh I Wept (Alternate Vocal)9. Fire And Water (Stereo Mix)10. Fire And Water (BBC Session)11. All Right Now (BBC Session)12. All Right Now (Single Version)13. All Right Now (Early Version)All tracks written by Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers unless otherwise stated.PersonnelPaul Rodgers: vocalsPaul Kossoff: lead guitar, rhythm guitarAndy Fraser: bass guitar, pianoSimon Kirke: drums, percussionOriginally Released: 26 June 1970Recorded: January – June 1970 at Trident Studios and Island Studios, LondonGenre: Blues rock, hard rockOriginal Length: 35:01Label: Island, A&M, PolydorProducer: Free, John KellyCo-producer: Roy Thomas Baker