BEVERLY BREMERS - "We're Free" (1972)

Follow up to "Don't Say You Don't Remember." Didn't receive as much airplay, probably due to the controversial nature of the lyrics at the time. Oddly, WIP, the mainstream, family-oriented station, didn't have any problem playing it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1970s
• pop
• rock

[cooplag4927]

I played this song on the air when I was a disc jockey back in the 1970's. I always thought this song was a beautiful love ballad, but Beverly mentioned (in an email correspondence) that the executives at Sceptor records couldn't decide whether to promote the song. "We're Free" was controversial because it (supposedly) promoted a couple living together out of wedlock. (Gasp!) Some radio stations were even complaining about the lyrics! Nixon was President back then, so go figure ...

[MrTrashcan1]

@cooplag4927 I was surprised that it was played on WIP, the #1 MOR station in Phila. The same station bleeped out the word "crap" on Kodachrome a year later. Go figure. Back then did you know that her name was pronounced "Breemer?." All the DJs I heard pronounced it as "Bremmers."

[MrTrashcan1]

@MrTrashcan1 I meant Breemers, not Breemer.

[yandrsupreme]

I see why this dind't receive much airplay. "I'll Make you Music" should have been the followup single. It had HIT written all over it.

[MrTrashcan1]

@yandrsupreme Then maybe you should post it, because unless it's being blocked, no one else seems to think it's that great. I like the chords in "We're Free."

[bellbrookbob]

Remember it well on local Dayton OH radio but it's never played any more. Mr trashcan are you from Philly? I recall WIP when I was in town. My dad recalls it from the 20s-grew up in Philly and Camden NJ

[MrTrashcan1]

Yes, I'm from Philly. WIP was the second commercial station in Philly behind WCAU, and it's the only station in Philly that still retains its original call letters and frequency. It was originally owned by Gimbels Dept. Store. See if that rings a bell with him.

[rednova55]

MR TRASHMAN 1 !!! THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE MADE IT UP TO THE VERY, VERY TOP OF THE CHARTS!!!! WHAT A FANTASTIC SOUND!!!!!!!

[johnmichaelm]

I also played this on the radio when it came out, and thought I one of the best pop/A/C songs of the time. And yes, my radio station pulled it in about six days because of listener complaints. Probably one little old lady who had nothing else to do but listen to every minute for something to bitch about. There were a lot of those back in the 70's, as there are today.

[gayboylaca]

I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it.

[mattlove1]

@yandrsupreme The played it a lot on my hometown station, and I loved it. Have had a hankering to hear it again for years. Finally did just now, still love it.

[TomInSF]

Thanks for posting this! I only knew Beverly from "Don't Say You Don't Remember," one of my faves from back in the day. I like this one too.