The Free Electric Band

Albert Hammond, Courtney Taylor-Taylor

About The Free Electric Band

"The Free Electric Band" is a song written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and performed by Hammond. The song reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart, #11 in South Africa and #48 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. The song appeared on his 1973 album, The Free Electric Band and was produced by Hammond and arranged by Michael Omartian. The lyrics tell the story of a postwar middle-class American youth who rebels against the values of his parents by pursuing a musical career rather than the professional life that had been expected of him.  


Year:
2010
3:37
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My father is a doctor, he's a familiar man
My mother works for charity whenever she can
They're both good clean Americans who abide by the law
They both stick up for liberty, they both support the law
My happiness was paid for when they laid their money down
For Summers in a Summer camp, and Winters in the town
My future in the system was talked about and planned
But I gave it up for music and the free electric band

I went to school in hand-washed shirts with neatly oiled hair
The school was big and newly built and filled with light and air
And the teacher taught his values that we had to learn to keep
And he clipped the ear of many idle kid who went to sleep
My father organized for me a college in the East
But I went to California, the sun-shine and the beach
My parents and my lecturers could never understand
Why I gave it up for music and the free electric band

Well, they used to sit and speculate upon their son's career
A lawyer or a doctor or a civil engineer
Just give me bread and water, put a guitar in my hand
'Cause all I need is music and the free electric band

My father sent me money and I spent it very fast
On a girl I met in Berkeley in a social science class
Yes, and we learned about her body, but her mind we didn't know
Until the brutal attitudes and morals began to show
She wanted to get married, even though she never said
But I knew her well enough by now to see inside her head
She'd settle for suburbia and a little patch of land
So I gave her up for music and the free electric band

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Albert Hammond

Albert Louis Hammond OBE (born 18 May 1944) is an English singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar. more »

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Written by: Albert Louis Hammond, Mike Hazlewood

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Songwriter Information
"The Free Electric Band" was a song composed by Albert Hammond, a British-born singer, songwriter, and music producer.
Collaborative effort
While Albert Hammond performed the song, he co-wrote the lyrics with songwriting partner Mike Hazlewood.
Release Year
The song was released as a part of the album of the same name, "The Free Electric Band," in 1973.
Genre
"The Free Electric Band" is identified as a rock/folk-rock song as per genre classification
Billboard charts
In the United States, the song reached no. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 during August 1973.
International Success
Internationally, the song was even more successful, reaching no. 19 in the UK Singles Chart during the same year.
Album Popularity
The song is perhaps the most well-known from the album "The Free Electric Band."
Storytelling Song
The lyrics of "The Free Electric Band" tell a story. It is about a man who deviates from the career path his parents planned for him to pursue his passion for music.
Anti-establishment Theme
The song has been interpreted as an anti-establishment anthem, representing the defiant spirit of the 1960s and 1970s counterculture.
Consistent Performer
Despite being released in the '70s, the song has had enduring popularity and is often included in Albert Hammond's performances.
Covers and Renditions
Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists, proving its timeless appeal and popularity.
Hammond's Career
"The Free Electric Band" played a significant role in helping Albert Hammond solidify his reputation as a noteworthy solo artist, even though he was also successful as a songwriter for others.
Language Versions
The song also has a Spanish version titled "Mi Album de Recuerdos" showcasing Hammond's multilingual abilities and broad audience reach.
Featured in TV
"The Free Electric Band" was used as the theme song for the BBC Radio 2 documentary series “Pirate Johnnie Walker.”
Inspiration Source
The song was inspired by Hammond's own life, drawing from his personal experience of the struggles of trying to make it in the music business.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #48


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