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 #2 on the U.S. country chart and #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 #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 #4 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
- Dinah Washington released a version of the song which reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
- Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra released a version of the song which reached #8 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1951.
- LaVern Baker and Jimmy Ricks released a version of the song which reached #103 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.
- Starr re-released a version of the song as a solo sing which reached #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 #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 #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 ".
- 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 in 1995 as part of the Days Like This album.