Burning Spear - Free (Spear 7")

[Leswoodies]

Hi there!

Just a little question about this roots anthem:
This tune is sometimes on the internet but on the *Total Sound* label dated from 1976.

Some time ago, I read Burning Spear's Best of cd notes, and this tune was described as highly unfindable as issued only 500 times. But what press is this refearing to, the *Spear* single (1975) or the *Total Sound* (1976)?

Thanks for the help!

Keep it up, full respects

[stoneman]

I`ve seen both press come up on ebay from time to time over the years, so which is the rarer ? who knows, but i got the TS copy way back in the 80`s, a long time before i got the Spear copy.

The Total Sounds issue, called Free Black People, sounds better as a press and has the better version side with more vocal snippets and the `trash can` overdubs (you have to hear it to know what i mean).

[Litelet]

There is no comparison, you got to catch the Total Sound press, Im totally with stoneman. The sound is 2x heavier, its like if the SPEAR press sound amplitude was shortened, its flat, Winston's voice seem far... and on a total sufferer tune like dis, you definetly need all the emotion and so a heavy sound.

Guidance

[Leswoodies]

Great, thanks for the precisions.
So the early reissue has a far better sound... good to know that. Didn't notice that the sound was a little flat on the *Spear* single, but maybe I'll have to catch the *Total Sound* to make the comparison.

Concerning the logo design, however, I'd give my voice to the 1975 press, the title being also shortened in only "Free"... witch is a great title; and the lyrics goes:
"whole world wanna be free, free the whole world"
Could have been "Freedom" also.

Thanks people
Freedom

[bonga]

I have a 12" on the UK label tribesman called 'free the whole wide world' ( same lyrics, same riddim, almost identical )It has a dub version on the flip called 'jah jah no dread'

I think it's the same version as the one from Total sound, because it's much heaver and deeper than the 7" on the Spear label.

Btw, according to RNR there are some more pressings of this tune on other labels ( studio one & Bamboo )

[stoneman]

The 12" is a later mix with added lead guitar, bingi drum and horns.

[wareika]

there was at least 2 12" on the Jamaican Spear label. The first on is "Jomo" (don't know the flip) and the second is "Institution" (Version on flip). I got Institution and to my hears the sound is very good.

I wonder if the "Free Black People" also appeared as a 12" on the Spear label.


wareika

[jordandance]

there was at least 2 12" on the Jamaican Spear label. The first on is "Jomo" (don't know the flip) and the second is "Institution" (Version on flip). I got Institution and to my hears the sound is very good.

I wonder if the "Free Black People" also appeared as a 12" on the Spear label.

wareika

Yep.