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Freedom's Prisoner

"Freedom's Prisoner"
Steve Harley Freedom's Prisoner Single Cover 1979.jpg
Single by Steve Harley
from the album The Candidate
B-side "One More Time"
Released 7 September 1979
Format 7"
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 3:51
Label EMI Records
Songwriter(s) Steve Harley, Jimmy Horowitz
Producer(s) Steve Harley, Jimmy Horowitz
Steve Harley singles chronology
"Someone's Coming"
(1979)
"Freedom's Prisoner"
(1979)
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (re-issue)"
(1981)
"Someone's Coming"
(1979)
"Freedom's Prisoner"
(1979)
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (re-issue)"
(1981)

"Freedom's Prisoner" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released in 1979 as the only single from his second solo album The Candidate. It was written and produced by Harley and Jimmy Horowitz. The song reached No. 58 in the UK.

After Harley's 1978 debut solo album Hobo with a Grin was met with commercial failure, Harley returned to the UK in late 1978, having spent almost a year living in Los Angeles. He soon started writing and recording his second solo album The Candidate, which was released in September 1979. During that month, "Freedom's Prisoner" was also released as the album's lead single. It reached No. 58 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 75 for three weeks, having originally debuted at No. 70 in late October. The limited commercial success of both the single and The Candidate resulted in EMI Records dropping Harley, leaving him without a record deal.

Speaking to Pauline McLeod of the Daily Mirror in 1979, Harley spoke of his predictions for the song, stating: "I reckon the single is a Top Ten record". "Freedom's Prisoner" features backing vocals from Reigate-based choir The English Chorale. Harley had asked Horowitz to find a choir for the plainsong parts, and in turn Horowitz booked the choir. They were directed by Robert Howes. The song was recorded and mastered at Abbey Road Studios, and mixed at Morgan Studios.

"Freedom's Prisoner" was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The B-Side, "One More Time", was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Horowitz. It also appeared on The Candidate. The UK and Netherlands releases came with a colour picture sleeve, featuring a close-up photograph of Harley. In the UK, a promotional 7" vinyl was also released.

Following its original release as a single and on The Candidate, the song has appeared on various Steve Harley compilations, including 1987's Greatest Hits, 1992's Make Me Smile: The Best of Steve Harley, 1999's The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and 2006's The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology.


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