Free (Phish song)

"Free"
Single by Phish
from the album Billy Breathes
B-side	"Theme from the Bottom" "Strange Design"
Released	1996
Genre	Psychedelic rock
Length	3:49
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Trey Anastasio Tom Marshall
Producer(s)	Steve Lillywhite
Phish singles chronology
"Gumbo (Live)" (1995) "Free" (1996) "Character Zero" (1997)

"Free" is a song by Vermont-based jam band Phish, released as the first single from their 1996 album Billy Breathes. The track reached number 7 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart, becoming their first song to reach the top 10 on that (or any) chart.^[1] It also reached numbers 11 and 24 on the Mainstream Rock and Alternative Airplay charts, respectively, as their highest chart entry on the former and their only chart entry on the latter.^[2][3] It was also the band's first song to chart in Canada, peaking at No. 68 in 1997.^[4]

"Strange Design" is an outtake from the Billy Breathes sessions and has been played live by the band both before and after the release of the album.

Song history

"Free" was debuted at a Voters for Choice benefit concert on May 16, 1995 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts, during which the band debuted several other new songs.^[5] The song has been a regular fixture in the band's setlist rotation since its debut with over 200 performances as of 2023.^[6] "Free" has also been jammed by the band often, with the longest version, at over 33 minutes in length, played on November 22, 1995 at the USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland.^[7]

Track listing

1. "Free" (Trey Anastasio, Tom Marshall) – 3:49
2. "Theme from the Bottom" (Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell, Marshall) – 6:22
3. "Strange Design" (Anastasio, Marshall) – 3:14

Personnel

• Trey Anastasio – guitar, vocals
• Mike Gordon – bass, vocals
• Jon Fishman – drums
• Page McConnell – piano, vocals

References

1. "Phish Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
2. "Phish Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
3. "Phish Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
4. "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 24 Feb 17, 1997". RPM. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
5. "May 16, 1995 Setlist - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
6. "Free Every Time Played - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
7. "Free Jam Chart - Phish.Net". phish.net. Retrieved 18 April 2023.