Be Free with Your Love

"Be Free with Your Love" is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released as the second single from their 1989 album Heart Like a Sky. It received mostly negative reviews and became their second consecutive single that failed to make the top 40 in the UK.

Background
In October 1987 Spandau Ballet lead guitarist and songwriter Gary Kemp serendipitously reconnected with actress Sadie Frost, who had appeared in the band's videos for "Gold" and "Fight for Ourselves". He began a romance with her that replaced his tendency to be cautious with a devil-may-care attitude. The newfound freedom he felt as a result of the relationship recharged his desire to write again, which lead to several songs for their 1989 album Heart Like a Sky, including "Be Free with Your Love".

Kemp and his brother, band bassist Martin Kemp, accepted an offer to portray twin gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray in what became the 1990 film The Krays. Some of their work on the film interrupted the recording of Heart Like a Sky. The album's first single, "Raw", was released on 22 August 1988, but the band's manager, Steve Dagger, did not want to release the album until their work on the film was finished. Financial issues prolonged the completion of The Krays, however, which pushed back the release of Heart Like a Sky to September 1989.

The music video for "Be Free with Your Love" was filmed in Los Angeles.

Release and commercial performance
"Be Free with Your Love" was released in the UK on 14 August 1989 and peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number 11 in Italy, number 37 in Belgium, number 44 in the Netherlands, number 52 in West Germany and number 110 in Australia.

Critical reception
"Be Free with Your Love" received mostly negative reviews upon its release. Record Mirror's guest critic Stephen Duffy felt that he'd heard everything the song had to offer in its first minute. Smash Hits guest critic Dr. Robert of The Blow Monkeys criticized Gary Kemp's songwriting and found the instruments added during the bridge to be preferrable to Tony Hadley's singing.

Track listings

 * 7-inch single
 * A. "Be Free with Your Love" – 4:39
 * B. "Be Free with Your Love" (Dance Mix Edit) – 3:56


 * 12-inch single
 * A. "Be Free with Your Love"(Extended Dance Mix) – 6:36
 * B1. "Be Free with Your Love" (Dub Mix) – 5:07
 * B2. "Be Free with Your Love" – 4:39


 * CD single
 * A. "Be Free with Your Love" – 4:39
 * B. "Be Free with Your Love" (Dance Mix Edit) – 3:56
 * C. "Raw" (Extended 12" Mix) – 7:46


 * Picture CD single
 * A. "Be Free with Your Love" – 4:39
 * B. "Be Free with Your Love" (Dance Mix Edit) – 3:56
 * C. "Through the Barricades" – 5:55