"Free Hand" is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1975. It marked the band's debut with their new label, Chrysalis Records, in the UK. The album is recognized for its high production values and a less dissonant, more accessible sound compared to their previous album, The Power and the Glory. It achieved significant success in the US, becoming their highest-charting album and the only one to reach the Top 50 on the Billboard 200.
In addition to the standard stereo version, Free Hand was mixed in 4-channel quadraphonic sound in 1976. However, this quadraphonic mix was not made available until 2012, when it was released on DVD with multichannel LPCM, DTS, and Dolby Digital surround sound formats.
A 1990 CD reissue in the US by One Way Records featured an alternate stereo mix, which presented some different musical and vocal details. This edition may have been a variation or reduction of the original 4-channel mix.
In 2009, Alucard Music/EMI Records re-released the CD, using a high-resolution 24-bit 96k transfer from the original 1/4-inch tapes.
On June 25, 2021, a new remix by musician and producer Steven Wilson was released, featuring Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound, along with custom animated visuals for each track on Blu-ray. This release also included a flat transfer of the original mix, the 1975 quad mix, and an instrumental mix in a digipack CD. Additionally, a double vinyl album was released containing both the original mix and Steven Wilson's remixed versions.
