Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride (Single Version) (1973)

[@jacquelynbennett7177]

I LOST ALL 37LBS I GAINED during my 1st pregnancy back in 1978 within 1 month simply dancing to this song everyday until my husband got home from work!!! LMBO!!!😂....THIS SONG IS STILL AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER HEARING IN 2024!!! #CLASSIC❤

[@stevenwilson9865]

Every song on this album is a classic hit ! Edgar,Rik and the boys rock. I've seen him "live", met him after the show. True Gentleman/Genius

[@APieceofT-BoneSteak]

It's unbelievable how much better the single version of this song is than the album one. Maybe I'm biased because I grew up listening to this one on the cars video game, but this just sounds way more energetic and lively than the album version

[@billdang3953]

On the original album, this sone is cursed by being near the end on an album side (as is Frankenstein) and suffers degraded sound quality as a result. The 45 rpm singles of Free Ride and Frankenstein have much better sound quality but are different edits compared to the album versions.

[@SoMuchNope]

I also always associate this song with the Cars game!

[@judgedreddhd]

I knew this version existed! I could off sworn there was those awesome clavanet and keyboard type riffs in there! This version is best!

[@CLLeigh]

Dan Hartman on vocals on a song he wrote

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Our high school band teacher taught us to play this song. Thank you Mr Jones

[@robertlamb759]

We got a new radio station in Denver -- Legends 95.3 FM and 810 AM. And yes, they played this single version the other day (December 2020). Looks like it's gonna be in their playlist!

[@jl8452]

Thank you. Just downloaded their app.

[@chriswalford9228]

Left school 73 Before I started work Mum, Dad and my Sister went to Newquay Cornwall for a holiday with my God father his wife, son and daughter . One day they all went to the beach . I went off on my own found a record shop and bought this. I was 16

[@markriva4259]

Other watered-down versions lose the slashing rhythm guitar parts. This is the original and best version.

[@MOTOPAC]

This is the way I remember it as I first heard it. Much punchier.

[@peacockblue8407]

me, too, paul!

[@michaelpiatt6648]

I agree. I had the album and it was awesome!

[@michaelclassicincorporated4619]

I agree 100% MY ALLTIME FAVORITE SONG!!! HANDS DOWN

[@nicksimon7364]

Agreed this is the superior version/mix/take - it jumps out at you - can’t deny the groove and the way better solo

[@bobellison527]

One of the very best and well constructed singles of the 70’s right up with Doobies and GFR. Still as fresh today as it was in high school.

[@nigelogarro8223]

The Black Phone got me here. Great song.

[@iburiedpaul7833]

Best version by a mile. More dynamic, better solo, more of a live feel. Amazing song

[@cyclone411]

Had this 45 for years and was shocked when I first ran into CD and later digital versions and instantly realized they were not the “right” mix. And never could find the right one. So glad I kept that 45 (still have it) so I could rip the best version that I wanted. It’s crazy that this legendary version was left behind. Thanks for posting this so others can enjoy and learn!

[@Doobie1975]

IMO this version is better than the album version, too bad this version is overlooked by the radio stations.

[@Gator11srq]

Agreed. The length did not change, just the guitars between the lyrics (which are MUCH better than the original).

[@robertfuller5081]

Actually I heard this version a lot on the radio when it was first released, as it was the single for radio play. It was a few years after its release I started to notice they started playing a different version, which honestly I did not care for. This version is my favorite as well. Also, if memory serves, Ronnie Montrose was playing lead guitar on this track, not Rick Derringer.

[@jamesfox2579]

One of my all-time favorite songs!💕🤸🤸🤸🤸🤸

[@jjm1965]

Now this is the version that I remember! I had the single back in the day and have not heard anything but the LP version on the radio since maybe the mid 70s.

[@kingbawesome]

They had this song on a pinball machine called Mustang Pro by Stern. You can here the song while playing the Cruisin mode.

[@APieceofT-BoneSteak]

I heard this version on the radio a few years ago

[@pascalradloff6529]

Oh my god. You guys know the "Cars" Video-Game for the Playstation 2? Childhood memories!

[@MrSpencerMcIntosh]

duuuuuude, that was my jammmm.

[@crazy4gta1]

GameCube version for me

[@kl5_racing251]

Precisely why I am here!

[@patricksteinbeck5234]

I heard this on the radio yesterday and remembered the cars game and now I'm here.

[@palmtree476]

That's why I tried to find this song haha

[@davidtosh7200]

I like underrated fade out songs by Free Ride by Edgar Winter Group in the fall of 1973, The Loco-Motion by Grand Funk Railroad in 1974, Don't Stop Believin' by Journey in 1981-82, and Final Countdown by Europe in 1987-88. We had a 1973 Plymouth Fury III, 4 door hardtop sedan with fender skirts and listened to these songs on the FM stereo back in those days.

[@alanoneill3065]

I saw Edgar Winter Band summer 73 at a alldayer at White City, London...Rick Derringer was awesome..what a performer Sly and the Family Stone were headline

[@allenrbrb]

Nice work! It really IS a better version. The individual instruments and vocals are so much crisper.

[@999manman]

YES! NOT the one with the weak garbled guitar solo....this one really sends me!!!

[@TD55_00]

The mountain is high, the valley is low And you're confused on which way to go So I've come here to give you a hand And lead you into the promised land, so Come on and take a free ride (Free ride) Come on and sit here by my side Come on and take a free ride All over the country, I'm seeing it the same Nobody's winning at this kind of game We gotta do better, it's time to begin You know all the answers must come from within, so Come on and take a free ride (Free ride) Come on and sit here by my side Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, free ride Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Come on and take a free ride Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[@linagomezgutierrez7985]

Gracias!

[@tselisoncholu7914]

Very close to the original song that I first loved from Winter's lovely voice!

[@lisawallace921]

Where's the promised land cause I need a Free Ride

[@AGENTARMES]

BEST VERSION! Been looking for this forever thank you!!

[@progrocker9]

That scream in the tag ending still gives me chills!

[@stretchedbag1963]

A well loved tune with fond memories of a misspent youth: cars, drugs, booze and the company of young women as willing to go the distance with the pedal clamped firm to the floor. This is my favourite version despite the album cut with Ronnie Montrosei on lead guitar. When Rick Derringer joined and replaced Ronnie Montrose he recorded a few of Ronnies guitar parts especially on the tunes he produced, like this one. Derringer's solo is snappy, short with clean bold melodic lines. I'm not gonna put Ronnie down for anything, the tone on his guitar is actually a more blistering Les Paul thru a stack type of sound whereas Derringer actually has a cleaner funkier lead tone, in keeping with Dan Hartman quacky sounding Strat rhythm guitar. Great song, very well played and produced, perfect for early 70's house parties and brain cell destroying good times. Listening to its message all these years later it has an almost kind of Gospel positivity. How cool is dat?

[@josephbinkley]

🙌

[@999manman]

Definitely! One of my fave top 5 songs of all time. I recall it blaring from an AM radio as a kid and loving it years before I became a musician.

[@davidmackay7307]

78 Montrose open for The Who. Miami baseball stadium.

[@lauralye465]

I love the lead solo in this version with the cha-cha-cha's. The other version doesn't do it!

[@harolddburke4726]

They started playing this version on my station after a time. I recognize it . Its been years since I heard this cut so thanks I didnt know their was a single.thanks again

[@tuttt99]

RIP Dan Hartman (vocals) I can dream about you.

[@cyclone411]

I have held onto my 45 for 45 years - I ripped it to digital because I could never find this version anywhere. I was glad I discovered early on that the album and most (all?) digital versions were different. You know as soon as the guitar solo starts! My kids still laugh at me “owning” music but this right here is the most significant reason why. Great run running into this here!

[@Lisa-di1wi]

I was just a month away from turning 16 when this song first came out. Forty-five years later, I still love this song!

[@judyjae6022]

Love the song, the groove, the guitars...great rock song in every way:)

[@dutin417]

I love the way he says "Come On..." after the bass part starts in 2:13. I also love the synth bass.

[@maureencora1]

Great Song, R.I.P Dan Hartman.

[@manfredbeuth2921]

Edgar Winter and " free ride".... Amazing!!!!!!! Absolute beautiful for me!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍 🤗😃

[@jumaineadams9152]

Rest In Peace Dan Hartman

[@waynewaldie2322]

the ABSOLUTE BEST version of this song !!!!!! smoothest lead ever !!!

[@ddesign63]

I hear James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone all over this. Blue eyes Funk!🤘🏾🤘

[@drew6237]

I never realized that but you are so right!

[@rickmontgomery3037]

Totally agree that this is the best version, never understood why it did/doesn't get airplay, as you mentioned. Such a shame too :(

[@stevearle]

Have not heard the single version till now and in some ways they were right to play up the super fine rhythm guitar playing of Ronnie Montrose (always assumed it was Derringer...).The little part that has always really made the track for me is after the break at 2:26... a sweet understated fade in that just... words fail it's just so good.

[@peterwerneken566]

This single version is the best one. The one on the album should have been this one

[@trigonzobob]

This is the version I remember. My older brother had the album but I just listened to that version on the Edgar Winter VEVO channel and it didn't sound "right." Must've heard this version on the radio a lot in the early '70's for it to be the one I remember.

[@5dennisk]

This Is The Version That I Remember Growing Up.!!

[@yaggy9]

Way better, yes. So glad I have this 45 in my jukebox, the dry album version is so flat. Especially when it hits the breakdown part.

[@philhatfield8905]

It don't get any better than this! ! !

[@genaldoaaujo1496]

Só quem foi,do tempo em que arte ficou adulta,curte ,e sente o barato, que está onda sonora de matanceira tem 😅😅😅😅🌜🌚🌝🌛🚐🚐🚕🚕🚕🚎🚎🚞🚌

[@robertfuller5081]

The radio stations used to play this version a lot when the album came out. This is the version I prefer. IMHO the album cut is a letdown after hearing this for a couple of years on the radio. I don't know what happened, but suddenly the album cut was the one the radio stations were playing. This one seemed to disappear.

[@waynewaldie2322]

epic lead !!!! very simple yet so effective, my all time fav ! thanx

[@RechaSmiths]

Great song great tune man.

[@mirrortime]

Thanks so much for this. Great and better version than the LP version IMHO also.

[@carol12344392]

Oh wow, takes me back in the day! Now that was a GOOD song.

[@peppermint383]

Yep, THIS is the version I always heard as a kid...you never hear this version on the radio now. This one is the real deal.

[@realjoshhayes]

This version is the "Free Ride" anyone from the 70s remembers and features the solo that Doug Rappoport (Edgar's guitarist for about the last 20 years) still plays to this day.

[@1BillHarding]

Quite right . . . the 45 RPM version is superior to the album cut. Thanks for posting this gem.

[@houvol11]

Still a great song. I think he should re-release it. Play it on the Buzzz.

[@thorobredfeedsales3934]

My copy had the orange label with white circles... I can’t imagine how many times it ways played!!! This was one of the seminal records really got my 11 year old self into ROCK N ROLL

[@maf5454]

@TFS Controller DAMN you have a real piece of rock history there! When I left the house I grew up in I somehow didn't pack my 45"s. Packed my albums, tapes, sound system but some how I forgot the 45's and then you can guess the rest. My folks downsized and somehow they vanished, yeah I know OUCH! All I can say is my bad. I have the album "They Only Come Out At Night" down stairs in the music room, but, it is different on the LP vs the 45. To tell the truth I like the 45 better, sharper , better sound to it. Hobbs' bass has is a "snarler" edge to it and Hartman and Montrose guitars are sharper too. When this pandemic is totally over I hope Edgar comes to my town, I'll be first in line for a ticket! Be well, safe and peace to you and yours.

[@muffs55mercury61]

My three favorites during that fall was China Grove (Doobies) Rocky Mountain Way (Joe Walsh) & this one. Bought the 45 back then, wore it out but have had another one since the late 70s. It is this version.

[@hoser47ca]

Yes ! this is the version i've been looking for ! can only find the album version on Spotify

[@kvisser26games25]

Came here 4 cars vg *Stayed here cuz its addicting*

[@peck404]

best version. LOVE🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸

[@michaelclassicincorporated4619]

Best Song On This Planet

[@johnnyrockett978]

I always wondered why this song sounded so flat and dull on my album. Thanks for the education. There is really a HUGE difference between the two versions.

[@jjzuc]

Thank you! This is the version I remember and the version we played in our band.

[@Multi1628]

Yes, much like the original 7" mono veRsion of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder, this 7" version of "Free Ride" is the definitive version of this classic dance/rock jam waaaayy ahead of its time (1973) - thank you for posting this Dan Hartman penned track!! See also "Frankenstein," "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo," & "Hang On Sloopy." DAVEDJ

[@redactedredacted1860]

Why this was on the Cars Video Game Tie-In OST Aside from the pun? I have no clue, but I DO NOT MIND IN THE SLIGHTEST!

[@nicholassantos9444]

Dazed and Confused (1993)

[@TD55_00]

Even Also GTA IV PREY Bless The Mess Superstore 9-1-1: Lone Star Beverly Hills 90210 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow The Beach Bum Tropic Thunder Invincible Jack Frost Power Rangers Dazed And Confused & An American Summer

[@lumpy0100]

Thank You a LOT, PilotOfTheAirwaves1. :)

[@abueloorgulloso]

Thanks for playing their single LP version, the radio version sounds like over commercialized garbage to me. I wore out tons of record needles listening to this song as a kid. The penny arcade and record store was my second home. Man oh man those were the days!!

[@Farrah300]

PilotOfTheAirwaves1, I happen to agree with you in the description of your video. The single version is definitely better than the album version. I like the other version, bu this one really does it for me,

[@dalekidd8431]

Freshman year in high school, great music and great times!!!😎

[@tselisoncholu7914]

The original single is by far the best.

[@johncarrasco3821]

Childhood memories at my kuzz house playing pool and drinking strawberry Boones farm wine. I was 9 yrs old in 73'. Lol

[@gordoh7634]

My brother and I wore this 45 out!

[@tropicalpancake56]

LOVE it!

[@blahdeblah1975]

Oh, yeah! Now we're talking. Edgar Winter meets Sly Stone meets David Bowie. (holy cow I owned that orange-labeled record). And this is the one they played on WKOX. Or was it WRKO?

[@iiz6966]

blah deBlah WELL STATED!!!

[@kimberlywilson7045]

I love that Disneyland plays this on Guardians of the Galaxy ride. Makes me love it even more.

[@Levar-y8m]

Aniya🎸 Big Man🥁 Curtaveon 🎙Levar 🎹 Carmelo Bass Guitar

[@eangsyerbic6942]

2:00 🎵Come on and take a free ride🎵Free ride🎵Come on and take it by my side🎵Come on and take a free riiiiiide🎵

[@Habsbsbgirl1909]

Had to find this song because this is the song in the new Walmart commercial 🎶 come on take a free ride 🎶 in Canada

[@Leweegie1960]

This is why this song DIDN'T make the top ten. once the record buyers figured out they were getting a different version than what all the stations were playing they stopped buying it! FYI- Drums on Free Ride played by Johnny Badanjek. RIP- Chuck, Dan, Ronnie

[@markdinkel9006]

I totally agree with you Tim woods. the first version of free ride I heard on 8-track

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Wikipedia: Free Ride (song) sent me here!!! "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" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Ride_(song)

[@davidg.9890]

LP Version Randy Jo Hobbs played bass and Ronnie Montrose played lead and rhythm guitars. Single Version Dan Hartman played bass, Rick Derringer played rhythm and lead guitars and Edgar played Clavinet and added more tracks of his ARP 2600

[@burtonrivera5253]

Perfect song for a funeral

[@marcop8418]

Play it @ mine..but not yet🎸😎

[@tselisoncholu7914]

This is it.The original version.Keep the good vibes!

[@htimothyphillips]

I always liked this song. I really liked the scene in the movie Air America when this song was being played as Robert Downy Jr was being flown over the village while dangling from a rope tied to him and a helicoper :)

[@Red__Hot]

I agree with peppermint383 this is THE BEST version of this song. I lent it to my then sister in law in 74 and haven't seen it since. Hoping to purchase a good 45 online or at one of our local old vinyl record stores soon. I have the album but it's just not the same

[@wyattearpp9540]

Rick Derringer played lead guitar on this version, Ronnie Montrose on the other...I enjoy both...great guitarists!

[@dorishuot1548]

Super bon hit années 70

[@billbradley4870]

Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa!!

[@ericschor2024]

Awesome

[@peacockblue8407]

i wanted to hear this the second i saw a bus on "dr.g:medical examiner". the lit-up bus sign said, "ride free".

[@drstevie]

FAB :)

[@capitolemiproducer]

CBS released this 6 months before a promo lp and our local station played it. I bought the lp not knowing this mix was not on the lp. I was not a happy camper

[@menchitty11]

I'm in agreement, this IS the better version!

[@Levar-y8m]

Earth Wind and Fire September Official Video

[@6402680]

The magic of mixing is like math or numbers. If you have the roots (individual tracks), then the possibilities of a new formula (final mix) becomes limitless.

[@bloozedaddy]

I like the album mix better...a little less "disco"y

[@Mile3500]

I think the bass guitar is a little quieter in the album version. That's probably what gives this one that disco sound

[@iiz6966]

Loves THIS guitar solo section better thsn the album version.

[@louleo]

this version is more pop than the original, which is more classic rock. i mostly heard the classic album version on the radio growing up, which i think is superior. Maybe that's why the album version gets all the airplay, as you say.

[@your_local_questerian]

This version played on Rock 107 recently ^^

[@jeremiahbyerly7367]

I love.this.song

[@MrGeno502]

Great song! This is the version I heard on AM radio back in the 70's.You have a lot of great music on your channel.I subbed to you. Take care! Gene

[@SixStrRzr]

I was around when both versions released. I thought I read somewhere that Rick Derringer did the solo (and octave gtr on the intro) on this one, where Ronnie Montrose did the solo on the album version?

[@jorgezarco9269]

Classic 1970's rock.