Genre: progressive
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title:  Here's Free Will
Company: Guinness
Catalog: GNS 36041
Year: 1976
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 5727
Price: $200.00

Wow ... a Guinness release that actually includes performance and writing credits !  

Based on the liner notes "Here's Free Will" showcased the talents of bassist Phillip Evans, guitarists Mitchell Faulkner and Richard Paris, and drummer Lennon Thomas. No idea what their background was, or how they came into contact with Guinness, but judging by the slightly under produced sound, these may have been demos that the company somehow latched on to. Musically the album offered up a mixture of five originals; three penned by Faulkner, two by Evans, rounded out by a decent jazzed-up cover of Graham Gouldman's 'Heart Full of Soul' and a not so impressive Chuck Berry medley ('Berrying').  

- Graham Gouldman's 'Heart Full of Soul' is such a classic that it's in almost every garage band's repertoire. That also makes it hard to come up with an original rendition of the song. I'm not saying this beats The Yardbirds' original, but slowing it down and giving the song kind of a bluesy-jazz vibe (complete with Thomas sax solo), made for a surprisingly enjoyable effort.
- 'I Just Love That Man' offered up a catchy slice of Foghat-styled boogie rock (okay Foghat didn't have a sax player in their lineup). The song title's kind of interesting. Today most folks probably wouldn't bat an eye at the title, but I suspect in the mid-1970s the reaction might have been a little different.  
- One of the three Faulkner compositions, 'Try To Find a Way Out' offered up a nifty AOR guitar rocker. Would have sounded great on mid-1970s FM radio.
- Evans' 'In My Life' showcased a nice mixture of pop, progressive, and jazzy moves. Sporting a distinctive UK flavor and bouncing through a number of time changes the results were actually quite commercial. Nice vocals and guitar work. One of my two favorite performances. 
- Side two started out with a couple of seconds of discordant noise before morphing into the album's standout number - Clocking in at over seven minutes 'Are You Gone?' offered up a growling slice of guitar rock. Fantastic song with killer vocals, lead guitar and excellent drumming from Thomas (and no sax this time out).
- I have to admit that their Chuck Berry medley "Berrying' was actually far better than I would have expected. The usual Berry chestnuts were here, but they also included a couple of lesser known tracks. Not something you'd want to hear every day, but more fun than most straight covers.
- The album closed with the somewhat surprising instrumental 'Easy Progressions'. The second Evans composition, the track sported a surprisingly engaging jazz feel and a great lead guitar segment - imagine one of those English Canterbury related bands if they actually had some talent.

Too bad the rest of the tax scam catalogs weren't as impressive as this release. Thoroughly enjoyable and easily makes it on to my top-10 tax scam listing. and is one of the few genre releases I'd give a four star rating to.

"Here's Free Will" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Heart Full of Soul (Graham Gouldman) - 
2.) I Just Love That Man (Mitchell Faulkner) - 
3.) Try To Find a Way Out (Mitchell Faulkner) - 
4.) In My Life (Philip Evans) - 

(side 2)
1.) Are You Gone? (Mitchell Faulkner) - 
2.) Berrying (Chuck Berry Medley) (Chuck Berry) - 
3.) Easy Progressions (instrumental) (Philip Evans) -