Release 2001
Along with Chris’ songs, this recording includes some fine original songwriting by Bruce, as well as the lovely voice and expert production assistance of Rebecca Pellet.
Now
THE MUSIC TODAY
The Free Design’s music has become more and more popular as time goes on. The song “Love You” is featured during the credits of the film Stranger Than Fiction (2006), at the very end of season four on the Showtime hit show, Weeds, and as the theme song to the internet podcast “Jordan Jesse Go”, co-hosted by The Sound Of Young America host Jesse Thorn and Fuel TV correspondent Jordan Morris. “Love You” was also featured in TV commercials for Peter’s Drumstick ice creams in Australia (2007), “Smil” chocolate in Norway (2008), Toyota (2009), “Cosmote” in Greece (2009), DC Shoes’ second “Progression” short(2010) and in Toyota advertisements internationally (2009/2010). The song “I Found Love” can be found on Our Little Corner of the World: Music from The Gilmore Girls. The song plays as the start of “Sadie, Sadie” (Season 2, Episode 1).
RENEWED INTEREST IN THE FREE DESIGN
In 2000, Marina Records, a German record label put out Caroline Now, a tribute to the music of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys which included a version of “Endless Harmony”, newly recorded by Chris, Ellen, Bruce and Sandy as The Free Design once again. Due to this project, and based on the resurgence of interest in The Free Design, Sandy, Chris, and Bruce began working on a brand new album, and released Cosmic Peekaboo in 2001.
REISSUING THE ALBUMS
In 1995 Joe Zynczak, who co-wrote “Love You” with Sandy, purchased the rights to the master recordings of The Free Design and began to seek out a record label to reissue the albums. Despite having been mostly out of sight for over 20 years, The Free Design still had a following. Joe worked with record labels in Japan (Shinko), Spain (Siesta), and the United Kingdom (Cherry Red) to release singles and compilation albums and a Best Of album was released in the USA by Varese Sarabande Records. He also soon found Light In The Attic Records in Seattle, WA who released new vinyl versions of the original seven albums as well as reissuing them all on CD for the first time. The reissues were very popular and their successful return to the scene led to a fantastic “re-design” of many of The Free Design songs by today’s artists on a remix album put out by Light In The Attic appropriately entitled The Free Design – The Now Sound Redesigned. The Redesigned album included over a dozen reinterpretations from today’s finest music-makers: Madlib, Belle & Sebastian’s Chris Geddes & DJ Hush Puppy, Danger Mouse & Murs, Nobody, Caribou (formerly known as Manitoba), Super Furry Animals, Stereolab & the High Llamas, Kid Koala & Dynomite D., Koushik & Dudley Perkins, and more.
