You don’t need speed when you have SOUL! In ‘68 when they formed Andy Fraser was 15, Kossoff was 17 and Rodgers and Kirke were 18! Teenagers!! Incredible band!!
That les Paul Paul is playing in these clips is the most colourful sunburst burst I’ve ever laid eyes on from back then or nowadays. Great video ! Thanks
Arthur Ramm owns Paul's main Burst, i have a few vids in my playlist of the guitars but here is one of them. th-cam.com/video/jsWqm8T4uGs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Sz6a0OtNOxwILpyu Keep in mind that color on that Burst you see was back before the aniline dye faded after many years exposed to light. In the vid i linked to the same guitar is all faded now.
I was immediately infatuated with Free and especially the sound of Paul Kossoff and was dedicated to hearing anything that they produced and cranking it up! They ended all too soon
There's a live performance of "Fire and Water" on TH-cam that also showcases Paul Kossof's style, and it's hair-raisingly intense. Agree that it's a shame that Free didn't get more recognition, but there have been lots of great bands like that. Free's less-is -more approach made everything count, and it takes talent to make it work.
KOSS was a total badass! He was one of the 58-60 "Burst" players that made me want a Custom shop R9! Was he Under rated? yeah i would say so. His vibrato,tone and feel was stellar!🤘 Oh and Free was a killer band!
Free is underrated just as well. Everyone in that band was more than stellar. But as a guitar player who's into this kind of music, you cannot hear Kossoff blast and wail away and not get excited. Every time I hear him play I just want to pick up my Lester and go plug into my Marshall plexi with a 4x12".
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar I agree and what really makes me smile is that you a much younger player are that into this style! 👍 I am from the generation of this music and players(Hendrix,Page,beck,Koss, clapton,etc) as i was born in 64' and it is cool to see younger players into this music!🤘
@@These_go_to_eleven_1959 Bad Company is great to, but as far as the guitar I'm a lot more into Kossoff than Ralphs, although they are totally different. I just love how the passion and energy oozes out of Kossoff, not many players have had it as intense as him.
Bonamassa said Kossoff was his main inspiration. The exaggerated finger vibrato was Kossoff's trademark sound and no one has ever truly replicated it. Check out Going Down Slow off the Tons of Sobs album....art at its best.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar the point is not to recreate perfectly his tone just to give some advice, explain what made Paul’s sound and how you perceive it with your rig and with your hear (in fact we all have a different a different idea of someone tone in our minds so don’t need to struggle too much with getting the perfect tone just one which is close and have fun with good tone 😉)
@@arthurarnould1370 well, he is one of those players who inspires my own sound a lot. Probably the most along with Jimmy Page and Billy Gibbons. You're convincing me to do this 😉
I actually saw Free in the early 70’s. In Tucson Arizona!! I think they opened up for Deep Purple!! Not sure,long time ago!! I remember that they were great and covered Day Tripper !!!
Good piece, but I never really know what people mean when they talk about "technical guitarists". If it refers to technique, well, look at that vibrato. If it's about speed, well, the best orators take their time, and understand space. ......Anyway, he was a phenomenal artist, unsurpassed, and in a great band. My favourite one.
Great review. Whilst commercially sucessful during their short spell they remain criminally underrated. They were such a great band - and whilst there's far more awareness of Paul Kossoff's playing, still to this day, Andy Fraser does not get anywhere near the respect he deserves, IMO.
Totally agree! What a bass player and so young when he was in Free. He knew when and what to play and on their biggest hit when not to play. Had a great tone as well.
Koss could certainly play fast, it’s just that he chose not to - he even slowed down his famous vibrato towards the end of his life because he thought it was too fast. He was one of a kind and could say more with one note than many players could with one hundred 🎸
The speed and intensity of that vibrato seemed very reminiscent of some one, it took a while to come through but reminded me very much of Gary Moore I wonder if Paul Kossoff was an influence?
If your British, then you know that he was an absolute guitar god, due to his killing dynamic and rhythmic solos. Comparable with Peter Green. My favourite example is Be My Friend. Good call Steve!
Thanks! Indeed you Brits have good taste and great guitar players. Obviously I'm not British, but I do believe anyone in the rest of the world should be aware how great he was as well 😉
Paul Kossoff was one of the greatest rock guitarists ever, and Free is the quitisential rock band (I don't mean best, just that they created a sound template for everyone else). Paul's playing was gritty, funky, and juicy. The problem for him was that the bass player Andy Fraser didn't back him up enough sonically to create a meaty bed for his solos. Think of Dusty Hill from ZZ Top, or Jack Bruce in Cream, those guys knew how beef up the bass so that solo could truly fly. They'd almost become a second guitar. You can hear the lack of this on the solos in this video. This isn't just my opinion, it was Kossoff himself who complained about it. This is why his solos seem slower and less driven. Having said that Fraser is a great bass player, but for the song not the solo. There are track where it works well like alright now, but if you want to hear Paul at his best listen to wild Indian woman or songs of yesterday. In truth he was never given enough space or time to solo. Still Free is one of my fave rock bands of all time.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar it's definitely there all the time, Kossoff is struggling to keep momentum while the bass just noodles around. All the trios that have drive solos have bass players who shift to simpler, beefier baselines to aid soloing. Think of Rush, ZZ Top, The Police, Cream, or the Jimi Hendrix experience, trios that do that well.
With that vibrato you dont need to be fast! Big part of Kossoff's tone are early plexis, which have a big coupling cap (22n) - not the 2n2 1987 like, which will always sound thin compared to a 'true' plexi.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar He sang his parts one take in the control room, not even in a vocal booth. I sat right next to him. As a vocalist he's beyond phenomenal. Maybe the best rock singer ever. As a person - horrible. If you wonder why he never really had success after the 70s, other than touring with Queen, it's because he has a reputation in the business and no one will work with him. I flew him to LA (First Class) from the UK for the sessions. While here he tried to take meeting with various record companies and no one would meet with him. The business is too small to such a massive jerk. He's a Jekyll and Hyde type. He might be nice one day, then the next he's the worst most condescending jerk imaginable. I took him to dinner with his assistant, I had 20K cash in my pocket to give him. He was so horrible I kept the money and the next day had my lawyer try to fire him. Too late, I had to pay him.
Well, too be fair: pedalboards weren't a thing back then. Hendrix used pedals, to great effect and not due to lack of talent or imagination, but yet he didn't have a pedalboard 😅
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar Let me explain better, I meant that the sound has to come from the instrument, from your hands, the way you play. As Mick Taylor once said to a friend of mine who asked what he used on sway (sticky fingers), he said: Marshall, Gibson and hands.
@@silviocrespo4329 there is defenitely something special of just going guitar and amp, and I think everyone should try it. Relying on too many pedals can become a crutch.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar I made that comment at the beginning because many guitarists get stuck with the equipment, so you don't need to have a Gibson Les Paul 59 or a Marshall JCM800 or whatever...no. The musician has to bring the sound of the instrument first. The sound has to come out of your hands. Effects are cool, but it's no use if you're "playing with a feather hand" as they say here in Brazil. Hugs, good to remember Kossov.
Thank you for shining a light on Koss. Those who know, know.
But more should know! Hence this video 😉
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar but then everyone will know where I’m stealing all my licks from 🤣
@@odgeUK haha fair enough, I should've thought about that myself too then 😜
His dad came to our school to preach the woes of drug use..the live Mr Big at Isle of White festival is on another level 🤟
I remember him well. One of the great sounds of my long gone youth 😀
Luckily there was do much good music in your youth that find its way to future generations!
You don’t need speed when you have SOUL!
In ‘68 when they formed Andy Fraser was 15, Kossoff was 17 and Rodgers and Kirke were 18!
Teenagers!! Incredible band!!
Yeah that's crazy right?! Yet their music was so mature.
Paul Kosoff ,My favourite guitar player,so inspiring for me .
He great favorite to have!
That les Paul Paul is playing in these clips is the most colourful sunburst burst I’ve ever laid eyes on from back then or nowadays. Great video ! Thanks
Thanks! And I agree, a unique Les Paul, although I also love his famous really faded burst.
Arthur Ramm owns Paul's main Burst, i have a few vids in my playlist of the guitars but here is one of them. th-cam.com/video/jsWqm8T4uGs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Sz6a0OtNOxwILpyu
Keep in mind that color on that Burst you see was back before the aniline dye faded after many years exposed to light. In the vid i linked to the same guitar is all faded now.
When the music moved your soul.
Yes, exactly.
I was immediately infatuated with Free and especially the sound of Paul Kossoff and was dedicated to hearing anything that they produced and cranking it up! They ended all too soon
I especially wish there was more live footage of them. But they should've lasted longer and especially been bigger then they were.
Great video, saw the Free when I was 15 at the Mayfair in Newcastle all were fantastic Paul Kossoff was amazing, thanks for reminding me!
How I wish to have been around for that back then, must've been great!
I was there too, the night he snapped the headstock of his Les Paul
There's a live performance of "Fire and Water" on TH-cam that also showcases Paul Kossof's style, and it's hair-raisingly intense. Agree that it's a shame that Free didn't get more recognition, but there have been lots of great bands like that. Free's less-is -more approach made everything count, and it takes talent to make it work.
KOSS was a total badass! He was one of the 58-60 "Burst" players that made me want a Custom shop R9! Was he Under rated? yeah i would say so.
His vibrato,tone and feel was stellar!🤘 Oh and Free was a killer band!
Free is underrated just as well. Everyone in that band was more than stellar. But as a guitar player who's into this kind of music, you cannot hear Kossoff blast and wail away and not get excited. Every time I hear him play I just want to pick up my Lester and go plug into my Marshall plexi with a 4x12".
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar I agree and what really makes me smile is that you a much younger player are that into this style! 👍
I am from the generation of this music and players(Hendrix,Page,beck,Koss, clapton,etc) as i was born in 64' and it is cool to see younger players into this music!🤘
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar I also always liked MIck Ralphs and Bad Company too.
@@These_go_to_eleven_1959 Bad Company is great to, but as far as the guitar I'm a lot more into Kossoff than Ralphs, although they are totally different. I just love how the passion and energy oozes out of Kossoff, not many players have had it as intense as him.
Bonamassa said Kossoff was his main inspiration. The exaggerated finger vibrato was Kossoff's trademark sound and no one has ever truly replicated it. Check out Going Down Slow off the Tons of Sobs album....art at its best.
One of my favorite guitare player such a tone ! You should do a sound like Paul Kossoff !
I've been wanting to do that for a while, just a bit afraid I won't do it justice!
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar the point is not to recreate perfectly his tone just to give some advice, explain what made Paul’s sound and how you perceive it with your rig and with your hear (in fact we all have a different a different idea of someone tone in our minds so don’t need to struggle too much with getting the perfect tone just one which is close and have fun with good tone 😉)
@@arthurarnould1370 well, he is one of those players who inspires my own sound a lot. Probably the most along with Jimmy Page and Billy Gibbons. You're convincing me to do this 😉
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar they are the best ! Can’t wait to hear it man 🔥🤟🏻
I actually saw Free in the early 70’s. In Tucson Arizona!! I think they opened up for Deep Purple!! Not sure,long time ago!! I remember that they were great and covered Day Tripper !!!
Cool! Also a nice double bill.
Good piece, but I never really know what people mean when they talk about "technical guitarists". If it refers to technique, well, look at that vibrato. If it's about speed, well, the best orators take their time, and understand space.
......Anyway, he was a phenomenal artist, unsurpassed, and in a great band. My favourite one.
Let me put it like this: a lot of people who like Vai and Satriani think it's too easy what guys like Kossoff did.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar Ah, morons.Got it. ;-)
Great review. Whilst commercially sucessful during their short spell they remain criminally underrated. They were such a great band - and whilst there's far more awareness of Paul Kossoff's playing, still to this day, Andy Fraser does not get anywhere near the respect he deserves, IMO.
Totally agree! What a bass player and so young when he was in Free. He knew when and what to play and on their biggest hit when not to play. Had a great tone as well.
Koss could certainly play fast, it’s just that he chose not to - he even slowed down his famous vibrato towards the end of his life because he thought it was too fast. He was one of a kind and could say more with one note than many players could with one hundred 🎸
The speed and intensity of that vibrato seemed very reminiscent of some one, it took a while to come through but reminded me very much of Gary Moore I wonder if Paul Kossoff was an influence?
I've never listened to Gary Moore much to be honest, but Kossoff will sure have inspired a lot of guitarists.
If your British, then you know that he was an absolute guitar god, due to his killing dynamic and rhythmic solos. Comparable with Peter Green. My favourite example is Be My Friend. Good call Steve!
Thanks! Indeed you Brits have good taste and great guitar players. Obviously I'm not British, but I do believe anyone in the rest of the world should be aware how great he was as well 😉
Paul Kossoff was one of the greatest rock guitarists ever, and Free is the quitisential rock band (I don't mean best, just that they created a sound template for everyone else). Paul's playing was gritty, funky, and juicy. The problem for him was that the bass player Andy Fraser didn't back him up enough sonically to create a meaty bed for his solos. Think of Dusty Hill from ZZ Top, or Jack Bruce in Cream, those guys knew how beef up the bass so that solo could truly fly. They'd almost become a second guitar. You can hear the lack of this on the solos in this video. This isn't just my opinion, it was Kossoff himself who complained about it. This is why his solos seem slower and less driven. Having said that Fraser is a great bass player, but for the song not the solo. There are track where it works well like alright now, but if you want to hear Paul at his best listen to wild Indian woman or songs of yesterday. In truth he was never given enough space or time to solo. Still Free is one of my fave rock bands of all time.
I never really took note of that, I will listen more closely next time I play some Free.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar it's definitely there all the time, Kossoff is struggling to keep momentum while the bass just noodles around. All the trios that have drive solos have bass players who shift to simpler, beefier baselines to aid soloing. Think of Rush, ZZ Top, The Police, Cream, or the Jimi Hendrix experience, trios that do that well.
Moonshine is a great song , I love Paul Kossoff phrasing .
Absolutely!
With that vibrato you dont need to be fast! Big part of Kossoff's tone are early plexis, which have a big coupling cap (22n) - not the 2n2 1987 like, which will always sound thin compared to a 'true' plexi.
Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip is the same way. Not a flashy speed demon player. Perfect guitar player for the song.
I'll have to check that out!
Re: speed… the great BB King once said, “I don’t even talk fast, so why would I a try to play fast?”.
BB for sure had wise words!
I’ve been trying to play that vibrato for 40 years. I can do it. But not like him.
I can only do a bad version of it myself, but then again I don't have the talent of Kossoff 😉
I hired Paul Rodgers, flew him to LA and spent two unfortunate weeks with him in the studio. A bigger @hole the music business has never seen.
That's unfortunate to hear, I always heard he was a nice guy. Great great vocalist nonetheless.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar He sang his parts one take in the control room, not even in a vocal booth. I sat right next to him. As a vocalist he's beyond phenomenal. Maybe the best rock singer ever. As a person - horrible. If you wonder why he never really had success after the 70s, other than touring with Queen, it's because he has a reputation in the business and no one will work with him. I flew him to LA (First Class) from the UK for the sessions. While here he tried to take meeting with various record companies and no one would meet with him. The business is too small to such a massive jerk. He's a Jekyll and Hyde type. He might be nice one day, then the next he's the worst most condescending jerk imaginable. I took him to dinner with his assistant, I had 20K cash in my pocket to give him. He was so horrible I kept the money and the next day had my lawyer try to fire him. Too late, I had to pay him.
Your claim to fame...
where's the pedalboard of Kossov? He don't need this shit. Ampli, guit and fingers!
Well, too be fair: pedalboards weren't a thing back then. Hendrix used pedals, to great effect and not due to lack of talent or imagination, but yet he didn't have a pedalboard 😅
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar Let me explain better, I meant that the sound has to come from the instrument, from your hands, the way you play. As Mick Taylor once said to a friend of mine who asked what he used on sway (sticky fingers), he said: Marshall, Gibson and hands.
@@silviocrespo4329 there is defenitely something special of just going guitar and amp, and I think everyone should try it. Relying on too many pedals can become a crutch.
@@StevenAnthonyGuitar I made that comment at the beginning because many guitarists get stuck with the equipment, so you don't need to have a Gibson Les Paul 59 or a Marshall JCM800 or whatever...no. The musician has to bring the sound of the instrument first. The sound has to come out of your hands. Effects are cool, but it's no use if you're "playing with a feather hand" as they say here in Brazil. Hugs, good to remember Kossov.