| "Free Ride" |
 |
| Single by Tavares |
| from the album In the City |
| B-side |
"In the Eyes of Love" |
| Released |
December 1975 |
| Genre |
Soul |
| Length |
2:57 |
| Label |
Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) |
Dan Hartman |
| Producer(s) |
Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter |
| Tavares singles chronology |
"It Only Takes a Minute"
(1975) |
"Free Ride"
(1975) |
"The Love I Never Had"
(1976) |
|
| "Free Ride" |
| Single by Dan Hartman |
| from the album Relight My Fire |
| B-side |
"Love Strong" |
| Released |
1979 |
| Recorded |
1979 |
| Genre |
Disco |
| Length |
7:06 |
| Label |
Blue Sky |
| Songwriter(s) |
Dan Hartman |
| Producer(s) |
Dan Hartman |
| Dan Hartman singles chronology |
| "Hands Down" |
"Free Ride"
(1979) |
"Boogie All Summer""
(1979) |
|
"Free Ride" is a song written by Dan Hartman and performed by The Edgar Winter Group. The single, engineered by Jim Reeves, was a top 15 U.S. hit in 1973, hitting number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on Cash Box. In Canada, it peaked at number eight.
The single 45 version is distinctly different from the LP version. The 45 version contains a significantly brighter guitar track (that opens the song only on the left channel), added harmonics, a fuzz bass added to the bridge and other changes that contrast sharply with the "dry" LP mix. Most classic rock radio stations play the LP version, and the original 45 mix is much less commonly available online. Both versions clock in at virtually the same length because each was based on the same core "take" and re-mixed with different tracks to the fore as well as added enhancements to the single.
Personnel
- Edgar Winter: clavinet, electric piano, backing vocals, ARP 2600 synthesizer
- Ronnie Montrose: lead guitar, backing vocals
- Dan Hartman: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, percussions
- Randy Jo Hobbs: bass guitar
- Johnny Badanjek: drums
Other versions
Tavares recorded a version of the song for their 1975 album, In the City. Their version would peak at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
Audio Adrenaline recorded a version of the song for their 1996 album, Bloom.
Hartman himself re-recorded the song and released it on his 1979 album Relight My Fire.
Charts
Weekly charts
- Edgar Winter Group
- Tavares
| Chart (1975–76) |
Peak
position |
| Canada RPM Top Singles |
71 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 |
52 |
| US Billboard R&B |
8 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 |
56 |
|
Year-end charts
| Chart (1973) |
Rank |
| Canada |
109 |
| US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) |
115 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 |
65 |
|
