"I Want to Be Free" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1957 motion picture Jailhouse Rock. Its first release on record was on the soundtrack EP Jailhouse Rock in 1957.
In some countries in 1958 the song was released on a single as the reverse side to "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care".
The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller specially for Presley's 1957 film Jailhouse Rock. They wrote several famous songs: "Jailhouse Rock", "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care", "Treat Me Nice" and "I Want to Be Free" in one afternoon.
Jerry Leiber recalled:
Presley recorded "I Want to Be Free" on May 3, 1957, at the soundtrack recordings for the MGM movie Jailhouse Rock (that took place on April 30 and May 3, 1957, at the Radio Recorders Studio and on May 9 at the MGM Soundstage in Hollywood, California).
7" single (1958)