Roger Daltrey – Free Me

I’ve been listening to the McVicar soundtrack lately, and it’s a great soundtrack for that movie that starred Roger. It’s a song released in 1980 and was written by Russ Ballard. I remember the song and video from MTV, and it’s a hell of a rocker. Roger’s voice, one of rock’s greatest primal instruments, rips through this one, and he means it. 

McVicar was Daltrey’s project. He starred in the biopic, produced it, and brought it into existence. Based on the life of bank robber John McVicar, it’s part prison-break flick, part redemption tale. I’ve watched the movie a couple of times, and I would recommend it. 

A loud rocker with just enough polish to sneak onto FM radio and just enough attitude to sound like it’s kicking the doors in. On his three previous solo albums, Daltrey had gone out of his way to avoid the hard rock sound of The Who. On this one, he upped his game. Musicians varied on the album, but they did include Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and new Who drummer Kenney Jones. Keith Moon had played on a few songs on his 1977 album One of the Boys. 

Free Me peaked at #39 in the UK and #53 on the Billboard 100 in 1980. The McVicar album peaked at #22 on the Billboard Album Charts,  #39 in the UK, and #44 in New Zealand.  

I wanted to add one more song from his solo career. A song I haven’t heard in a long time that I always liked. A song called “Say It Aint So Joe” from his One of the Boys album in 1977. The video features John Entwistle, Keith Moon, and Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. 

Free Me

Free me
Can’t you hear that’s what I say
Free me
Anyhow or anyway

I hear a voice
Call in the night
Push on the brain
Fades with the light

And I’ve seen a face
With so many eyes
Out in the words
Know there lies

Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say

Free me, free me
Inside I’m bleeding, can’t you see
Free me
From all this pain and misery

I am a flame
But he held the fire
Call me a fool
Don’t call me a liar

Take me to hell
And let me stay
Get back some prize
Well, I have to pay

Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say

Free me

I lie awake
Burning inside
No where to run
And no where to hide

Old lady time
She’s no friend to me
I feel her change
And she holds the key

Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say
Can’t you hear me say

Free me, free me
Can’t you hear that’s what I say
Free me
Anyhow or anyway

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

36 thoughts on “Roger Daltrey – Free Me”

  1. Dang it, when Roger screams ‘free me,’ you believe him. The man had such a killer voice! Looks like The Who are finally calling it a day with one more tour. I’m tempted, though I’ve seen them three times…

    BTW, not to make you jealous, I’m off to Atlantic City in a couple of ours to see Who’s Next, an outstanding Who tribute band. They are part of the annual British Invasion festival held on the outdoor deck of one of the large hotels and casinos. Hopefully, the weather gods will be kind. When I went there for “Fakefest” a couple of weeks ago, the weather was iffy!

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    1. His voice is something else.
      Oh that is great and yes I’m jealous! I hope the weather is clear…it’s raining here. Have a great time dude!
      I’ll be a little late commening on your site today…I have someone coming over to visit.

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  2. Love this song. I had his Best Bits collection on cassette in the 80s. Wish they would re-release it. I wore mine to a frazzle. Somebody has a playlist of it on YouTube, but some of the versions are different. Also have the McVicar soundtrack on vinyl I found at a used music shop. Excellent choice today.

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  4. Pingback: Roger Daltrey – Free Me – MobsterTiger

  5. I do vaguely remember this one & hearing of ‘McVicar’…though believe it or not I thought that was a Shakespeare movie. Guess I got it confused with MacBeth! I guess this was our about the same time as Pete Townshend’s ‘Let my love open the door’, which I liked a lot more. What can I say? I guess I just tend to like Pete’s musical sensibilities more than Roger’s.

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    1. It’s a great movie based on a true story… and the soundtrack is awesome. I like both but I’ll take Rogers voice over most singers. Russ Ballard strikes again

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  8. I like this soundtrack a lot. Roger had a great look in the film. Worked for the character. He had that street tough working class vibe (Maybe because that was where he grew up). ‘Joe’ is just a good song. Nice to hear it again and see the boys helping out. Has a real Who feel (Very observant CB). It starts to cook when the band kicks in.

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    1. Yea tough working class is exactly where he came from…you know…I picked up on that Who vibe as well! lol… I never knew Moon played on his One of the Boys album. His voice was in top form in this one.

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      1. Rog didnt lack on the confidence part of things. Yeah his voice is strong n the cut. I kow afew folks that cant stand the way he sings, I’m not in that camp. Like you wrote he tried distancing himself from the Who sound on his slo efforts. Good on him. Probably could have cashed in more if he stayed the course. He had enough cash to live pretty good.

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      2. He is one of my favorite voices of rock. Strong as hell and in your face. Yea I respect him for doing something different. I was going to post Giving It All Away….he does a great job on the slow ones as well.

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  13. Great song by Roger Daltrey I don’t believe I had heard before. As far as I’m concerned, the man had one of the best voices in rock. “Free Me” is a powerful example. Another one that comes to mind is “Love Reign O’er Me,” together with The Who.

    Speaking of what is one of my favorite ’60s bands, I’ve decided to see them one more time and got a ticket for their final U.S. tour appropriately titled, “The Song Is Over Tour” for August in Atlantic City. Even though I don’t anticipate Daltrey will be able to sing at that level, The Who are rock legends, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see them one more time. Am I perhaps a little nostalgic here? You better, you better you bet!

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    1. It really is…it shows just how powerful his voice was….and it was booming.
      You made the right choice dude…I’ve seen them twice but if i get a chance again…i would!

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      1. Thanks, I am excited, even though I know there’s no way The Who will have the same energy than they did when I saw them the first time 25 years ago, which probably already was tame compared to the ‘60s. But it will be the last opportunity to these legends. As you said before, when it comes to ‘60s music, soon all we will have left is tribute acts!

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      2. Yea they won’t be the same but anytime you can hear Won’t Get Fooled Again live by these guys…is worth it! That song to me is the best concert song I’ve ever seen or heard.

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  15. Wow, I never knew much about the McVicar project, but I loved the song Without Your Love from that album. It got a few plays on our local radio, not enough.

    Say It Ain’t So, Joe is great. I’m not sure whether I’ve heard it before.

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    1. Sorry I’m so late! I remember Say It Ain’t So back when it was released but had no clue then who did it. I know a kid said that about Shoeless Joe Jackson…so I think of him when I hear it.

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