‘Slow Ride’ vs. ‘Free Ride’ – Clash of the Titans
When being taken from point A to point B, would you prefer to take the scenic route, or are you more focused on saving a few bucks along the way? You can settle this quandary in our latest Clash of the Titans, which pits Foghat's 'Slow Ride' against the Edgar Winter Group's 'Free Ride.'
'Free Ride' hit first and went furthest, debuting as a single from Winter's 'They Only Come Out at Night' album in 1972 and rising all the way to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Written by former Group member Dan Hartman and produced by ex-Group guitarist/vocalist Rick Derringer, the song was part of a huge year for the band, as 1973 also included their No. 1 smash 'Frankenstein.' It's been a staple of Winter's live sets ever since, and has spent the last 40 years more or less cemented into heavy rotation at rock radio.
'Slow Ride' arrived at the end of 1975, and true to its title, it took its time moseying up the charts; after nudging its way into the Top 40, the song spent more than two months inching upward until it finally hit its peak position of No. 20. A standout cut from the band's fifth LP, 'Fool for the City,' it went on to become Foghat's biggest hit, outpacing subsequent favorites such as 'Drivin' Wheel' and 'Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool).' 'Slow Ride' has been updated repeatedly across the band's catalog, surfacing on multiple compilations and live albums along the way.
They're both great rides, in other words. But which 'Ride' gets your vote in this Clash of the Titans matchup? Check them both out below, and remember: you can cast a ballot once an hour between now and when voting ends on Sunday, August 3 at 11:59PM.
Listen to Foghat's 'Slow Ride'
Listen to the Edgar Winter Group's 'Free Ride'