Free-for-All

This is Ted Nugent's best album. It's also interesting because of the diversity of involvement including vocals from Meat Loaf, Derek St Holmes, and Ted himself and some diversity in the songwriting credits. Ted writes 6 songs by himself but other band members cover the duties for three others. It helps because Ted's writing has always been somewhat limited by his habit of writing everything in the key of A minor because of the advantages this gives to guitar players. A number of songs on this album are in this category as were a few on the first album. The other songwriters bring different structures to bear which I think actually better showcase Ted's guitar playing by providing a better backdrop for his solos. The other reviews refer to the Derek St Holmes departure and return while this was being made. St Holmes was back some for Cat Scratch Fever, but was gone for good after that. Ted had taken over all control at that point and the lack of any real creativity is sadly evidenced on all further albums. But, back to this album:

1. Free for All - One of Ted's songs but a little different than his usual structure. An excellent opener.

2. Dog Eat Dog - Ted's A minor stuff but very solid. Lyrically, he had not yet degenerated to writing all the rhyming yank me crank me garbage. There's some interesting visuals conjured by the song.

3. Writing on the Wall - Son of Strangehold but more diverse and filled with powerful vocals from Meat Loaf.

4. Turn It Up - Ted's again but this is a fun little ditty.

5. Street Rats - Ted's A minor stuff again but again really solid. As above, he was putting some efforts into lyrics and I have always remembered the phrase "post-war anti-social" as a reference point for a more realist and cynical opposition far beyond the idealism of the anti-war hippies.

6. Together - Best song on the album. A proto power ballad. Written by the drummer, Cliff Davies, and the bass player, Rob Grange. Some great work by Ted on guitar. Great vocals by Meat Loaf. Very un-Ted-like but it's a beautiful song.

7. Light My Way - A Derek St Holmes / Rob Grange rocker that gives Ted a great backing riff to solo against.

8. Hammerdown - A heavy rocker written by Ted (in E minor another guitar friendly key) with Meat Loaf providing very strong vocals.

9. Love You so I told You a Lie - A Cliff Davies tune that is a great closer to the album. Meat Loaf again does great work.

Overall, this is the last album when it appears there was any counterwight to Ted's ego. Ergo, it's the last really good album. Cat Scratch Fever had a few moments but it was pretty much downhill from there. I am reviewing this because I recently purchased the remastered version of some Ted songs to make my own personal best-of and realized that I was buying every song from this album. And, they still sounded fresh to me. It's a shame that there wasn't a way for the band to co-exist because the other members had complementary talents that made it posible for Ted's guitar work to be highlighted better.

Originally released in 1976,as 'Free...' was Nugent's second solo record.Wasn't quite as good as his first self-titled lp,mostly because of the exit from the band of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Derek St.Holmes JUST prior to the recording of this album.It's still decent,though with Nugent classics like the title track "Free For All","Dog Eat Dog","Street Rats"(until recently,I haven't this tune in years)and the in-your-face "Hammerdown".You get the lp's nine original tracks,with three bonus cuts tagged on.Nice.

5 Stars = Masterpiece

In 1976 Ted released what is his heaviest album (next to "Craveman) in the 70's," "Free For All." If there was ever an aptly named album, "Free for All, is the one! Here, Ted takes his great "Ted Nugent" album, & cranks it up two frets! This sharp toothed crocodile just rocks my world, with killer songs like the gigantic "Dog Eat Dog," a monster from the Nuge if there ever was one! The titular song "Free for All," with its incessantly catchy rhythm guitar! "Writing on the Wall,"& its mountainous thick soaring leads, a real heavyweight out of many heavyweights here. "Turn it up," yeah; the song title says it all! The beautiful "Together," a ballad Ted did not want on the album, but I'm sure as hell glad it's there! "Hammer Down," another song that is aptly titled! Last, & maybe least "I Loved You So I told you a Lie," still potent Nuge, but it seemed to lose a little focus. The album also featured on some songs the fine voice of one Meatloaf, which was a plus.

"Free for All" may be my favorite Ted album. It sure is the dark horse of his three immortal masterpieces of the 70's, "Ted Nugent," "Free For All," & "Cat Scratch Fever." It is an album that still shakes my ear wax loose today, & hey, that's a good thing (I think), & the album is...well... IMMORTAL!

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