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{{song-2|
{{song|
|song name                = Free
|song name                = Free
|single image             = [[File:1999.jpg|100px|border|link=Album: 1999]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: 1999|1999]]</small>
|album image               = [[File:1999.jpg|100px|border|link= Album: 1999]]<br><small> from the album [[Album: 1999|1999]]</small><br>
|single image              = [[File:Free_Acoustic.jpg|100px|border|link= Digital single: Free]]<br><small> single art for [[Single: Free|Free]]</small><br>
|performer                = [[Prince]]
|performer                = [[Prince]]
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 27|27 October 1982]] - [[Album: 1999|1999]] album
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/October 27|27 October 1982]] - [[Album: 1999|1999]] album
|album(s)                  = [[Album: 1999|1999]]<br>
|album(s)                  = [[Album: 1999|1999]]<br>
[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
[[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]]<br>
[[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'']]
[[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
Line 15: Line 16:
In 2002, a live version was included as the thirteenth track on the second disc of [[Prince]]’s first live album [[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]] (along with recordings of [[One Nite Alone...]], [[Starfish And Coffee|Starfish & Coffee]] and [[Sometimes It Snows In April]] from the same show).
In 2002, a live version was included as the thirteenth track on the second disc of [[Prince]]’s first live album [[Album: One Nite Alone... Live!|One Nite Alone... Live!]] (along with recordings of [[One Nite Alone...]], [[Starfish And Coffee|Starfish & Coffee]] and [[Sometimes It Snows In April]] from the same show).


Basic tracking for [[Free]] took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 25|25 April 1982]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, (five days after [[D.M.S.R.]], the day before [[How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore]]).
Basic tracking for [[Free]] took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 25|25 April 1982]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California, (five days after [[D.M.S.R.]], three days before [[How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore]]).
 
An acoustic version of [[Free]] recorded in early 2008 (with [[Prince]] accompanying himself on guitar) was released as a [[Single: Free|digital standalone single]] on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 6|6 June 2025]] as '''FR33 (Acoustic)'''. The release was part of the 2025 '''Prince Celebration''' activities, although the release was not accompanied by a press release, nor an announcement as part of the program. An excerpt from this specific version of [[Free]] had previously been used on the [[The Prince Estate|Prince’s estate]] social media accounts when - five months earlier - the end of the partnership between [[The Prince Estate]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix Netflix] was announced. With this announcement the 9-hour documentary '''The Book of Prince''', directed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Edelman Ezra Edelman], was shelved. It was implied that the end of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix Netflix] deal allowed the [[The Prince Estate|Estate]] to be 'free' again. This acoustic version from 2008 may be the one recorded for the abandoned [[Album: Songwriter|Songwriter]] project but this has not been verified.  
|recording info            =
|recording info            =
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 25|25 April 1982]]
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 25|25 April 1982]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Basic tracking
|additional info          = Tracking
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = Early 2008
|studio                    = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)
|additional info          = Tracking of the acoustic version
}}
}}
|recording personnel      =  
|recording personnel      =  
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*[[Vanity]] - vocals
*[[Vanity]] - vocals
*[[Wendy Melvoin]] - background vocals (as "Wendy")
*[[Wendy Melvoin]] - background vocals (as "Wendy")
'''2008 version'''
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments (assumed)
|released versions        =
|released versions        =
{{Songchart|
{{Songchart|
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|1= '''Free'''
|1= '''Free'''
|2= 5:08
|2= 5:08
|3= [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''(Super) Deluxe Edition'']]
|3= [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Studio
|4= Studio
|5= Remastered in 2019
|5= Remastered in 2019
Line 49: Line 61:
|1= '''Free (Edit)'''
|1= '''Free (Edit)'''
|2= 4:35
|2= 4:35
|3= [[Single: 1999|1999]] promo<br>
|3= [[Single: 1999|1999]] promo
[[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Edit
|5= A.k.a '''Promo Only Edit'''
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''Free (Promo Only Edit)'''
|2= 4:35
|3= [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|4= Edit
|4= Edit
|5=  
|5= Remastered in 2019
}}
}}
{{Songline|
{{Songline|
Line 60: Line 78:
|4= Live
|4= Live
|5= [[29 April 2002|29 April 2002, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA]]
|5= [[29 April 2002|29 April 2002, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA]]
}}
{{Songline|
|1= '''Free (Acoustic Version)'''
|2= 4:09
|3= [[Digital single: Free|Digital standalone release]]
|4= Studio
|5= Acoustic version with Prince singing and playing guitar
}}
}}
}}
}}
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|performed regularly on    = [[Purple Rain Tour]]<br>
|performed regularly on    = [[Purple Rain Tour]]<br>
* [[One Nite Alone... Tour]]
* [[One Nite Alone... Tour]]
|performed occasionally in =  [[All Concerts#1983|1983]], [[All Concerts#1984|1984]], [[All Concerts#1985|1985]], [[All Concerts#1988|1988]], [[All Concerts#1989|1989]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#1999|1999]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2001|2001]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2010|2010]] <small>(in medley with [[Pearls B4 The Swine]] and [[Love... Thy Will Be Done]])</small> , [[All Concerts#2016|2016]] <small>''(solo piano)'' </small>
|performed occasionally in =  [[All Concerts#1983|1983]], [[All Concerts#1984|1984]], [[All Concerts#1985|1985]], [[All Concerts#1988|1988]], [[All Concerts#1989|1989]], [[All Concerts#1998|1998]], [[All Concerts#1999|1999]], [[All Concerts#2000|2000]], [[All Concerts#2001|2001]], [[All Concerts#2002|2002]], [[All Concerts#2007|2007]], [[All Concerts#2010|2010]] <small>(in medley with [[Pearls B4 The Swine]] and [[Love... Thy Will Be Done]])</small> , [[All Concerts#2016|2016]] <small>''(solo piano)'' </small>
|trivia                    = [[Prince]] contributed to another song also titled [[GCS2000: Free|Free]] in 1998. This is an entirely different track, however, and receives a separate listing [[GCS2000: Free|here]].
|trivia                    = [[Prince]] contributed to another song also titled [[GCS2000: Free|Free]] in 1998. This is an entirely different track, however, and receives a separate listing [[GCS2000: Free|here]].
* The acoustic version was one of the tracks played for VIP attendees of the Celebration event held at [[Paisley Park Studios]] in June 2025 (along with an untitled instrumental Jam, [[Shade Of Umber]], [[Ain’t No Way]], [[Call Of The Wild]], an alternate version of [[The Question Of U]] from 1986, [[Beatown]], [[Love Never Has 2 Say Goodbye]], [[Turn Me Loose|Turn Me Loose (Instrumental mix)]], [[A Couple Miles]] and [[The Ladder|The Ladder (Rehearsal from dec. 1984)]]).
|see also                  = [[Album: 1999|1999]] album
|see also                  = [[Album: 1999|1999]] album
* [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'']]
* [[Album: 1999 Deluxe|1999 ''Deluxe Edition'' and ''Super Deluxe Edition'']]
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
|categories                = [[Category:1982]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1982]]
|categories                = [[Category:1982]][[Category:Recorded 1982]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]]
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 14:36, 29 June 2025

Freaks On This Side   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Free The Music
Free

from the album 1999
single art for Free
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 27 October 1982 - 1999 album
Album(s): 1999

One Nite Alone... Live!
1999 Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Free is the eighth track on Prince’s fifth album 1999, and, in late 1982, an edited version was included as the second track on a US promo 12" release of 1999, the album’s first single.

In 2002, a live version was included as the thirteenth track on the second disc of Prince’s first live album One Nite Alone... Live! (along with recordings of One Nite Alone..., Starfish & Coffee and Sometimes It Snows In April from the same show).

Basic tracking for Free took place on 25 April 1982 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, (five days after D.M.S.R., three days before How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore).

An acoustic version of Free recorded in early 2008 (with Prince accompanying himself on guitar) was released as a digital standalone single on 6 June 2025 as FR33 (Acoustic). The release was part of the 2025 Prince Celebration activities, although the release was not accompanied by a press release, nor an announcement as part of the program. An excerpt from this specific version of Free had previously been used on the Prince’s estate social media accounts when - five months earlier - the end of the partnership between The Prince Estate and Netflix was announced. With this announcement the 9-hour documentary The Book of Prince, directed by Ezra Edelman, was shelved. It was implied that the end of the Netflix deal allowed the Estate to be 'free' again. This acoustic version from 2008 may be the one recorded for the abandoned Songwriter project but this has not been verified.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
25 April 1982 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA 		Tracking
Early 2008 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) 		Tracking of the acoustic version
Recording Personnel


2008 version

  • Prince - all vocals and instruments (assumed)

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Free 5:08 1999

I Would Die 4 U single

 Studio
Free 5:08 1999 Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition Studio Remastered in 2019
Free (Edit) 4:35 1999 promo Edit A.k.a Promo Only Edit
Free (Promo Only Edit) 4:35 1999 Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition Edit Remastered in 2019
Free 1:06 One Nite Alone... Live! Live 29 April 2002, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
Free (Acoustic Version) 4:09 Digital standalone release Studio Acoustic version with Prince singing and playing guitar



 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
References
Freaks On This Side   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Free The Music
Retrieved from "https://princevault.com/index.php?title=Free&oldid=256763"