We seem to be doing a lot of ’70s classic rock this week, so today’s classic song of the day is “Free Ride” by the Edgar Winter Group. Mr. Winter’s group, at this point in time, consisted of Mr. Winter himself on keyboards, Dan Hartman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ronnie Montrose on lead guitar, Rick Derringer on rhythm guitar, Randy Jo Hobbs on bass, and Johnny Badanjek on drums. Mr. Derringer also produced the record.
“Free Ride” was written by the band’s singer, Dan Hartman, who later wrote and performed the song “I Can Dream About You” for the 1984 rock and roll movie Streets of Fire. The “Free Ride” single, released in August of 1973, peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Cash Box Top 100.
Edgar Winter was and is a talented multi-instrumentalist; he plays keyboards, saxophone, and percussion—and also sings a little. He released a couple of solo albums before forming the Edgar Winter Group in 1972. Their biggest hit was 1973’s chart-topping “Frankenstein,” which featured a legendary drum solo by Chuck Ruff. Both Edgar and his equally famous musician brother Johnny were notable for being albinos, with pale skin and shock-white hair. Edgar Winter is still out there touring and recording, at 77 years of age; his brother Johnny passed away in 2014, aged 70.
I remember playing “Free Ride” with Indiana University’s Singing Hoosiers during the 1976-1977 season. The Hoosiers did a lot of energetic tunes that season, and this was one of them. I recall this one being a lot of fun to play, with a bevy of sixteenth notes on the hi-hat and a really driving four-on-the-snare beat.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the Edgar Winter Group playing “Free Ride” live on the November 2, 1973, episode of The Midnight Special. Yeah, it’s a fun one.
