I Feel Free

"I Feel Free"
"I Feel Free"
Single by Belinda Carlisle
from the album Heaven on Earth
Released	1988
Recorded	1987
Studio	Ocean Way, Los Angeles
Genre	Pop
Length	4:50
Label	MCA
Composer(s)	Jack Bruce
Lyricist(s)	Pete Brown
Producer(s)	Rick Nowels
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology

"I Feel Free"
"I Feel Free"
Single by Cream
B-side	"N.S.U."
Released	December 1966
Recorded	September 1966
Studio	Ryemuse, London
Genre	Blues rock, psychedelic pop
Length	2:48
Label	Reaction (UK); Atco (US);
Composer(s)	Jack Bruce
Lyricist(s)	Pete Brown
Producer(s)	Robert Stigwood
Cream UK singles chronology
Cream US singles chronology
Audio sample
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"I Feel Free" is a song first recorded by the British rock band Cream. The lyrics were written by Pete Brown, with the music by Jack Bruce. The song showcases the band's musical diversity, effectively combining blues rock with psychedelic pop.^[3]

"I Feel Free" was released in the UK by Reaction Records as the group's second single and reached number 11 on the singles chart. In the US, Atco Records issued it as their debut single as well as the opening track on the group's first album, Fresh Cream (1966).

Background[]

"I Feel Free" was recorded in September 1966 at Ryemuse Studios. The song was recorded on an Ampex reel-to-reel audio tape recorder by Robert Stigwood and John Timperley. Stigwood made the decision to omit the song on the British release of Fresh Cream, and instead released it as a single.^[2]

Charts[]

"I Feel Free" first entered the UK Singles Chart on 17 December 1966 at number 50, hit its highest position on 28 January 1967 at number 11, and was last seen on 4 March 1967 at number 49; the song spent a total of 12 weeks on the charts.^[4] In the US the single reached number 116 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in December 1967.^[5]

Personnel[]

Ginger Baker – drums, percussion
Jack Bruce – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, piano
Eric Clapton – guitar

Cover versions[]

Belinda Carlisle version[]

"I Feel Free" was recorded by American singer Belinda Carlisle in 1987 for her second studio album, Heaven on Earth (1987). The recording was produced by Rick Nowels. It was the fourth single released from the album, only released in the US.

The 7-inch single has the song "Should I Let You In?" on the B-side, while the 12-inch single includes an extended mix and a dub version. It peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The extended version of the song was used in the 1988 film License to Drive. An accompanying music video using concert footage was produced to promote the single.

Mark King version[]

In 1984, a version by Mark King of Level 42 was featured on his solo album Influences. This was released as a single and reached number 96 in the UK.^[6]

Jack Bruce version[]

In 1986, a solo version by Jack Bruce was featured on a Renault 21 commercial and became his only solo UK hit, appearing for only one week at 95.^[7]

David Bowie version[]

In 1993, a version by David Bowie appeared on the album Black Tie White Noise. Bowie cited a connection with his step-brother, who was the subject of a different song on the album, as his reason for including the cover on the album.^[8]

References[]

^ Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-84195-312-0.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. New York City: Broadway Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7679-2536-5.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Unterberger, Richie. "Song Review: I Feel Free – Cream". AllMusic.
^ "Cream – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1998). Bubbling Under Singles & Albums. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 55. ISBN 0-89820-128-4.
^ "MARK KING – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
^ "JACK BRUCE – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
^ Sutherland, Steve (27 March 1993). "Bowie and Brett 'Alias Smith and Jones' Part 2". NME. London, England: Time Inc. UK. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

[strong-1] Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-84195-312-0.

[Clapton-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. New York City: Broadway Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7679-2536-5.

[AllMusic-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Unterberger, Richie. "Song Review: I Feel Free – Cream". AllMusic.

[4] "Cream – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

[5] Whitburn, Joel (1998). Bubbling Under Singles & Albums. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 55. ISBN 0-89820-128-4.

[6] "MARK KING – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 May 2021.

[7] "JACK BRUCE – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2016.

[NME93-8] Sutherland, Steve (27 March 1993). "Bowie and Brett 'Alias Smith and Jones' Part 2". NME. London, England: Time Inc. UK. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.

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show v t Cream
Ginger Baker Jack Bruce Eric Clapton
Studio albums	Fresh Cream Disraeli Gears Wheels of Fire Goodbye
Live albums	Live Cream Live Cream Volume II BBC Sessions Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005
Compilations	Best of Cream Heavy Cream Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream The Very Best of Cream Those Were the Days Gold
Singles	"Wrapping Paper"/"Cat's Squirrel" "I Feel Free"/"N.S.U." "Strange Brew"/"Tales of Brave Ulysses" "Spoonful" "Sunshine of Your Love"/"SWLABR" "Anyone for Tennis"/"Pressed Rat and Warthog" "White Room"/"Those Were the Days" "Crossroads"/"Passing the Time" "Badge"/"What a Bringdown" "Lawdy Mama"/"Sweet Wine"
Other songs	"Four Until Late" "Rollin' and Tumblin'" "I'm So Glad" "Toad" "We're Going Wrong" "Outside Woman Blues" "Sitting on Top of the World" "Born Under a Bad Sign" "Steppin' Out" "Doing That Scrapyard Thing"
Film	Farewell Concert
Collaborators	Pete Brown Felix Pappalardi Martin Sharp Gail Collins Janet Godfrey George Harrison Mike Taylor Robert Stigwood
Related articles	Discography Songs The Graham Bond Organisation John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse Blind Faith BBM
Category

show v t David Bowie singles
Discography Songs
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1970s	"The Prettiest Star" "Memory of a Free Festival" "Holy Holy" "Moonage Daydream" "Hang On to Yourself" "Changes" "Starman" "John, I'm Only Dancing" "The Jean Genie" "Drive-In Saturday" "Time" "Life on Mars" "Let's Spend the Night Together" "Sorrow" "Rebel Rebel" "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" "Diamond Dogs" "1984" "Knock on Wood" "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" "Young Americans" "Fame" "Golden Years" "Station to Station" (French promo) "TVC 15" "Suffragette City" "Stay" "Sound and Vision" "Be My Wife" "'Heroes'" "Beauty and the Beast" "Breaking Glass" "Boys Keep Swinging" "DJ" "Yassassin" "Look Back in Anger" "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"
1980s	"Alabama Song" "Crystal Japan" "Ashes to Ashes" "Fashion" "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" "Up the Hill Backwards" "Under Pressure" "Wild Is the Wind" "The Drowned Girl" "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" "Let's Dance" "China Girl" "Modern Love" "Without You" "White Light/White Heat" "Blue Jean" "Tonight" "This Is Not America" "Loving the Alien" "Dancing in the Street" "Absolute Beginners" "Underground" "When the Wind Blows" "Magic Dance" "Day-In Day-Out" "Time Will Crawl" "Never Let Me Down" "Under the God" "Heaven's in Here" "Tin Machine" / "Maggie's Farm (live)" "Prisoner of Love"
1990s	"Fame '90" "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" "Baby Universal" "One Shot" "Real Cool World" "Jump They Say" "Black Tie White Noise" "Miracle Goodnight" "The Buddha of Suburbia" "Ziggy Stardust" "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" "Strangers When We Meet" / "The Man Who Sold the World (live)" "Hallo Spaceboy" "Telling Lies" "Little Wonder" "Dead Man Walking" "Seven Years in Tibet" "Pallas Athena" "I'm Afraid of Americans" "I Can't Read" "Without You I'm Nothing" "Thursday's Child" "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"
2000s	"Survive" "Seven" "Slow Burn" "Everyone Says 'Hi'" "I've Been Waiting for You" "Shadow Man" "New Killer Star" "Just for One Day (Heroes)" "Rebel Never Gets Old"
2010s	"Where Are We Now?" "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" "The Next Day" "Valentine's Day" "Love Is Lost" "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" "Blackstar" "Lazarus" "I Can't Give Everything Away"
Other songs	"Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" "Cygnet Committee" "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" "The Width of a Circle" "All the Madmen" "Black Country Rock" "After All" "She Shook Me Cold" "The Man Who Sold the World" "The Supermen" "Oh! You Pretty Things" "Kooks" "Quicksand" "Andy Warhol" "Song for Bob Dylan" "Queen Bitch" "The Bewlay Brothers" "Bombers" "Five Years" "Soul Love" "Lady Stardust" "Velvet Goldmine" "Sweet Head" "Amsterdam" "Round and Round" "Watch That Man" "Aladdin Sane" "Panic in Detroit" "Cracked Actor" "Lady Grinning Soul" "All the Young Dudes" "Future Legend" "Sweet Thing" "Big Brother" "Can You Hear Me?" "Right" "Fascination" "Word on a Wing" "Speed of Life" "What in the World" "Always Crashing in the Same Car" "Warszawa" "Art Decade" "Weeping Wall" "Subterraneans" "Joe the Lion" "Sons of the Silent Age" "Blackout" "V-2 Schneider" "Sense of Doubt" "Neuköln" "Fantastic Voyage" "It's No Game" "Teenage Wildlife" "Scream Like a Baby" "Criminal World" "As The World Falls Down" "Girls" "Nite Flights" "I'm Deranged" "Nature Boy" "Cactus" "The Loneliest Guy" "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" "Bring Me the Disco King" "Girl Loves Me" "Dollar Days"