# My Brother Jake

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"**My Brother Jake**" is a song and [single](/source/Single_(music)) by English band, [Free](/source/Free_(band)). Written by lead singer [Paul Rodgers](/source/Paul_Rodgers) and bass guitarist [Andy Fraser](/source/Andy_Fraser), it was first released in the UK in April 1971 on the [Island](/source/Island_Records) label.[1]

## Background and chart success

The song was the second chart success for Free, reaching number four in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) in 1971 and remaining in the chart for 11 weeks.[2] It was described by Dave Thompson of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) as a "gorgeous knockabout" of a song.[3] *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* said it was "their best since '[Alright Now](/source/All_Right_Now).'"[4]

The band performed the song on BBC's *[Top of the Pops](/source/Top_of_the_Pops)* on 13 May 1971.[5]

In 1991 Andy Fraser revealed that he had originally written the song about [Horace Faith](/source/Horace_Faith), saying: "It was written about a friend, a guy called Horace Faith. He was a great singer and around that time we were great friends. It was basically a sentiment to him, but I thought 'My Brother Jake' sounded better than 'My Brother Horace'."[6]

The song appears on the band's 1973 compilation album *[The Free Story](/source/The_Free_Story)*[7] and as a bonus track on the CD reissue of *[Highway](/source/Highway_(Free_album))*.

## Personnel

- [Paul Rodgers](/source/Paul_Rodgers) – vocals
- [Paul Kossoff](/source/Paul_Kossoff) – lead guitar
- [Andy Fraser](/source/Andy_Fraser) – bass guitar, keyboards, piano, rhythm guitar
- [Simon Kirke](/source/Simon_Kirke) – drums, percussion

## References

1. ["My Brother Jake"](http://www.discogs.com/Free-My-Brother-Jake-Only-My-Soul/release/5055558). [Discogs](/source/Discogs). 1971. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

1. ["Free."](http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14060/FREE/). www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

1. ["Highway — Free"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/highway-mw0000455202). www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

1. ["Single Product"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-07-24.pdf). *Record World*. July 24, 1971. p. 236. Retrieved 2023-04-14.

1. ["BBC Online - Top of the Pops - Video Archive"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/f/free/clips/my_brother_jake.shtml). *www.bbc.co.uk*

1. ["Free's Andy Fraser (1991). By Mat Snow : Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages."](https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/frees-andy-fraser-1991). *www.rocksbackpages.com*

1. ["The Free Story - Free | Songs, Reviews, Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-free-story-mw0000764394). *AllMusic*

## External links

- [My Brother Jake](https://www.youtube.com/y7N9Yvu-j-Y) on YouTube

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [My Brother Jake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Brother_Jake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Brother_Jake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.