Free (Deniece Williams song)

"Free"
Single by Deniece Williams
from the album This Is Niecy
B-side	"Cause You Love Me Baby"
Released	1976
Length	3:25
Label	Columbia
Songwriters	Deniece Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts, Susaye Greene
Producers	Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Deniece Williams singles chronology
"Yes, I'm Ready" (1970) "Free" (1976) "It's Important to Me" (1976)

"Free" is a song by American singer Deniece Williams that was included on her album This Is Niecy . The song was written by Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts and Susaye Greene and produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney. ^[1]

"Free" was Williams' breakthrough single reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in May 1977.

Covers

• Tammy Payne covered the song in her release on Warner Records in 1990 in the UK. ^[2]
• In 1998, M-Doc's version of the song for his album Young, Black, Rich and Famous and released as the lead single charted at number 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. ^[3]
• Bassist Marcus Miller recorded "Free" for his 2007 album of the same name. Corinne Bailey Rae provided lead vocals. ^[4]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1976–1977) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 57 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 18 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [7] 32 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [8] 39 Ireland (IRMA) [9] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [10] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [11] 14 UK Singles (OCC) [12] 1 US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 25 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [14] 38 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [15] 2 US Cash Box Top 100 [16] 21

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM) [17] 198 UK Singles (OCC) [18] 30

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [19]	Silver	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Andy Kellman. "This Is Niecy - Deniece Williams | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
2. "Tammy Payne". Bristol Archive Records. 21 February 2021.
3. "Young, Black, Rich and Famous - M-Doc | Awards". AllMusic. October 27, 1998. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
4. "Jazz Vibes by Ginger Dee". Atlantajazz.info. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
6. "Deniece Williams – Free" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5274a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
8. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4353." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Deniece Williams". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
11. "Deniece Williams – Free" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
13. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
14. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
15. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
16. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. XXXVIII, no. 44. March 19, 1977. p. 4. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
17. "Top 200 singles of '77". RPM . Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved October 23, 2019.
18. Hunter, Nigel; Scaping, Peter, eds. (1978). "Top 100 Singles in 1977". BPI Year Book 1978 (3rd ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 216–17. ISBN   0-906154-01-4.
19. "British single certifications – Deniece Williams – Free". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 30, 2021.