Mike, I agree 100% with both Kevin and Big Doggie. I bought
the special edition of "Long Way From Love" a couple of
years ago, and it instantly became one of the most prized
albums in my collection (of over 2000). It's never possible
to give someone a 100% guarantee that they'll like something,
but given your musical preferences, I can't imagine your not
recognizing Mark Free's talent both as a singer and a
songwriter. The man is extremely highly respected, but IMO,
that isn't enough. He should be a legend. At least that's my
opinion. My advice to you: Track down "LWFL" at all costs.
It's the most AOR (a la Foreigner, et al) of all his albums and
regardless of peoples' preferences, I don't think too many people
would/could dispute that it contains the most diverse range of
his material. It'll give you a really good idea as to what he's
capable of as a singer. Then, if you like what you hear (and
I'm sure you will), you can build on your collection from there.
He really has done a wide variety of material (in terms of
heaviness, etc.). Hope this helps.
Don