Born Free (Matt Monro song)

The song's composers John Barry and Don Black asked British singer Matt Monro, who was managed by Black at the time, to record the song for the film's soundtrack. The producers of the film considered the song uncommercial, however, and deleted it from the print shown at its Royal Command premiere in London. When Monro, who attended the event, made Black aware of the edit, they successfully lobbied the producers to restore it. Monro's interpretation appeared over the closing credits in a shortened version recorded especially for the film, which enabled it to qualify for the Academy Award. Monro's complete commercial recording was released on the film's soundtrack album and became the singer's signature tune for the remainder of his career.

Matt Monro's version never charted.

However, Roger Williams recorded a version which was noted for its use of a male chorus, which is heard in the second half of the song, which followed the instrumental portion. The song reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult contemporary chart for six non-consecutive weeks in September/October 1966[2]

The r&b group The Hesitations recorded a cover that peaked at #38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1968.[3]

"Born Free" also appeared on the Vic Reeves album I Will Cure You. Released as a single, this version peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart in 1991.[1]

• Andy Williams recorded a version for his 1967 album Born Free.
• Frank Sinatra recorded a version for his album The World We Knew.
• Connie Francis recorded a version released as a single in 1967 and performed it live on The Ed Sullivan Show on June 25, 1967.
• Ed Ames recorded a version of the song on his 1968 album Ed Ames Sings Apologize.
• An instrumental rendition of the song was recorded by Hank Marvin in 1969, released both as a single and on his eponymous album.
• Trumpet player Maynard Ferguson on his 1969 album The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson.
• Calypso singer Mighty Sparrow and Byron Lee recorded a rendition for their 1969 collaboration album Sparrow Meets The Dragon.
• Ike & Tina Turner released a version on their 1973 album Let Me Touch Your Mind.
• In November 2012 Queen guitarist Brian May and West End and Broadway singer Kerry Ellis released their version of "Born Free" in aid of the Born Free Foundation.[4]

• The song was also parodied in The Simpsons, in the episode "Whacking Day" (aired 1993), which was sung by Gene Merlino.
• A recording by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was featured in the 2005 film Madagascar.
• The song is featured on the 2007 soundtrack Dexter: Music From the Television Series.
• The song is featured in a 2012 TV commercial for the Land Rover LR4. Land Rover has a history with Born Free, being a corporate sponsor of the Born Free Foundation,[5] and their vehicles were mentioned prominently in the original Joy Adamson book.
• The 2012 video game Silent Hill: Downpour features the song which can be heard throughout on gramophones. The significance of "Born Free" is in relation to the game's theme of prison and captivity.
• In 2018, Born Free was used in a UK television commercial for Cow & Gate's Follow on Milk.
• In July 2020, the Unilever brand Axe began airing a TV campaign for its deodorant line that spoofed the restrictions on dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Monro's version as the soundtrack theme.[6]

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1966 (U.S.)

• George Adamson information website with photos, letters and much information and featuring Elsa the Lioness.
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics