"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.
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