Free

Between the endlessly awesome title cut and the enduring (if cheesy) "All Right Now," for which Free is famous, Fire and Water almost absolves singer Paul Rodgers of the sins he committed in the 1970s and '80s: namely, Bad Company, the Firm, plundering Jimi's grave, not dying -- take your pick. Regardless, this is one of the first-ever true hard rock albums.

From sodden blooze to steady, unpretentious rock and roll in three progressively simpler--as opposed to easier--albums, climaxing with "All Right Now," a bone-crunching single you can groan along with. Recommended follow-up: a shortened "Mr. Big." Predicted follow-up: the already shortened "Fire and Water." (Grade - B)