My Brother Jake
{{Infobox song
| name = My Brother Jake
| cover = My Brother Jake.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Free
| album =
| B-side = Only My Soul
| released = April 1971
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop rock|blues rock}}
| length =
| label = Island
| writer = Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers
| producer = Free
| prev_title = The Stealer
| prev_year = 1970
| next_title = Little Bit of Love
| next_year = 1972
}}
"My Brother Jake" is a song and single by English band, Free. Written by lead singer Paul Rodgers and bass guitarist Andy Fraser, it was first released in the UK in April 1971 on the Island label.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Free-My-Brother-Jake-Only-My-Soul/release/5055558| title=My Brother Jake | year=1971 | publisher=Discogs | accessdate=18 March 2015}}
Background and chart success
The song was the second chart success for Free, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart in 1971 and remaining in the chart for 11 weeks.{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14060/FREE/| title=Free. | publisher=www.officialcharts.com | accessdate=18 March 2015}} It was described by Dave Thompson of AllMusic as a "gorgeous knockabout" of a song.{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/highway-mw0000455202 | title=Highway — Free | publisher=www.allmusic.com | accessdate=19 March 2015}} Record World said it was "their best since 'Alright Now.'"{{cite magazine|title=Single Product|magazine=Record World|date=July 24, 1971|page=236|accessdate=2023-04-14|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-07-24.pdf}}
The band performed the song on BBC's Top of the Pops on 13 May 1971.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/f/free/clips/my_brother_jake.shtml|title=BBC Online - Top of the Pops - Video Archive|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
In 1991 Andy Fraser revealed that he had originally written the song about Horace Faith, saying: "It was written about a friend, a guy called Horace Faith. He was a great singer and around that time we were great friends. It was basically a sentiment to him, but I thought 'My Brother Jake' sounded better than 'My Brother Horace'."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/frees-andy-fraser-1991|title=Free's Andy Fraser (1991). By Mat Snow : Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages.|website=www.rocksbackpages.com}}
The song appears on the band's 1973 compilation album The Free Story{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-free-story-mw0000764394|title=The Free Story - Free | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}} and as a bonus track on the CD reissue of Highway.
Personnel
- Paul Rodgers – vocals
- Paul Kossoff – lead guitar
- Andy Fraser – bass guitar, keyboards, piano, rhythm guitar
- Simon Kirke – drums, percussion
==References==
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|y7N9Yvu-j-Y|My Brother Jake}}
{{Free (band)}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Island Records singles