I'll Never Be Free

"I'll Never Be Free" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin and George Weiss and performed by Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford. It reached No. 2 on the U.S. country chart and No. 3 on the U.S. pop chart in 1950.

Other charting versions

• Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald released a version of the song which reached No. 7 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
• Annie Laurie and Paul Gayten and His Orchestra released a version of the song which reached No. 4 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
• Dinah Washington released a version of the song which reached No. 3 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
• Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra released a version of the song which reached No. 8 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1951.
• LaVern Baker and Jimmy Ricks released a version of the song which reached No. 103 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.
• Starr re-released a version of the song as a solo sing which reached No. 94 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.
• Johnny and Jonie Mosby released a version of the song as a single in 1969 which No. 26 on the U.S. country chart.
• Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius released a version of the song as a single in 1978 which reached No. 11 on the U.S. country chart.

Other versions

• The Skylarks released a version of the song as a single in 1950, but it did not chart.
• Janis Martin released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1957 single "Love and Kisses".
• Johnnie Ray released a version of the song on his 1957 EP The Big Beat.
• Lillie Bryant released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1959 single "Smoky Gray Eyes (Stroll Smoky)".
• Chris Connor released a version of the song on her 1959 EP Pop Goes Chris in Witchcraft.
• Joanie Sommers released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1960 single "One Boy".
• Roy Hamilton released a version of the song as a single in 1961, but it did not chart.
• Jimmy Norman released a version of the song as a single in 1961, but it did not chart.
• Kelly Gordon released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1963 single "A Phonograph Record".
• Pat Boone and Shirley Boone released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1964 single "Side by Side".
• Mel Carter released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1964 single "The Richest Man Alive".
• Bill Pursell released a version of the song as a single in 1964, but it did not chart.
• Van Morrison released a duet version of the song (with daughter Shana Morrison) in 1995 as part of the Days Like This album.

References