[3] Harley wrote and recorded "Freedom's Prisoner" and the rest of the material for The Candidate in 1979, after moving back to the UK from Los Angeles.

[3] Speaking to the Daily Mirror in 1979, Harley spoke of his predictions for the song, stating, "I reckon the single is a top ten record".

[15] Upon its release, Pauline McLeod of the Daily Mirror described "Freedom's Prisoner" as a "raunchy rock 'n' roller with lots of gutsy vocals".

[16] Simon Ludgate of Record Mirror called it as a "great single" and added, "Corny but fun, Dr Zhivago-style Russian chorus and danceable melody clicks very nicely.

"[21] Jim Ward of the Harborough Mail stated, "Contract filler – I hope" and added it was a "disappointing return for the talented but wayward Harley".

He added, "When 'Freedom's Prisoner' single hit the airwaves, it would have taken a lot to convince the longtime fan that the man hadn't resparked all his old glories again, and was about to embark upon a musical journey as scintillating, and as fascinating, as that which launched him in the first place.