Legal status of free music downloads

[GSD4ME]

I used to have about a hundred songs on my PC (legally downloaded from a site that no longer seems to be working (audiogalaxy)) but then the computer repair shop managed to lose the WHOLE lot when my PC was playing up.
I would like to try and retrieve the songs and have searched the answerbank site for questions/answers regarding free music downloads. There are a multitude of answers regarding sites etc. that "allow" free downloads.
However, being someone with absolutely no money, I am terrified of being duped into downloading songs that seem to be 'legal' only to find a government/music industry legal letter dropping onto my doormat, fining me thousands of pounds for downloading what was not in fact legal. (I have read the horror stories about people in the UK and the US being fined a lot of money for downloading music)
Any guidance out there from answerbank members?

[Whickerman]

This is in its infancy - the trial site was only launched recently (today?). But should be well set up in a month or two.

Article:
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-peter-gab riel-tries-ad-supported-music-downloads-launch es-we7/

Actual site:
http://www.we7.com/

Hope this helps!

[Reverandfunk]

Just use the free version of limewire.