Desolation Angels

Released after the band's two years off and recorded at Ridge Farm Studios in Surrey in late 1978. Rodgers said the title came from Jack Kerouac's 1965 novel of the same name, and that he had nearly used it for Free's second album. Synthesizers and strings were added to the sound. Rodgers wrote Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy, from a guitar synthesizer riff, and Boz Burrell wrote Gone, Gone, Gone, which also got airplay. Ralphs's Oh, Atlanta was later covered by Alison Krauss on her 1995 album Now That I've Found You.

It reached number 3 in the US and number 10 in the UK, went platinum in 1979 and later double platinum, and was the band's final top ten album in both countries. Rhino issued a 40th anniversary edition in 2020.