Eaten alive by the music industry, Badfinger's story stands as a testament about the dangers in the music biz. It's taken a long time for the band to get the recognition they deserved and this great collection will hopefully increase that recognition. The inclusion of several tracks from the band's underrated Warner Bros albums makes this collection the most comprehensive available.
The recordings for Badfinger's third Warner album began at the end of November 1974. You would expect the members of the band at this point to be totally exhausted from touring, financial worries and the departure of Molland; and of course they were. Never the less they were still convinced that they could/had to work their way out of their crisis. For their latest British tour they had recruited Bob Jackson (keyb.), because of a short departure of Pete Ham.
Produced by Chris Thomas, this album is reckoned by many Badfinger fans to be their best, but its commercial prospects were killed when it was pulled from stores shortly after release due to the band's ever-ongoing legal and financial struggles. A flat-out power pop classic that should have been a hit!
This is a great album by the most underrated rock band of all time. Their self-titled debut for Warner Bros. featured production by Chris Thomas and songwriting contributions from everybody in the band. Cut for Warner Brothers in 1974 as the band was trying to extricate itself from the legal and financial mess at Apple Records, have held up remarkably well given the circumstances under which they were recorded.
Long unavailable, ASS was Badfinger's fourth and final album for the Apple label. Their self-titled debut for Warner Bros. would be released a mere three months after ASS. That, coupled with the fact that Apple did little to promote the album, resulted in an album that failed to chart. Despite the album's poor chart showing, it is not without it's highlights.
While most critics cite STRAIGHT UP as Badfinger's best album, this is the album I return to time and time again. Though technically Badfinger's second album, it's the first to feature the classic lineup of Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins and new guitarist Joey Molland. Peaking at No. 28 in the US, it was their highest charting album.
STRAIGHT UP may be one of the most underrated albums in rock. From FM radio classics "Baby Blue" and "Day After Day," to the haunting gem "Name Of The Game," this is British power pop at its best. There's not a bad song on the disc, and the production talents of George Harrison and Todd Rundgren bring out the best of the band's sound. Pick up a "greatest hits" package if you must, but STRAIGHT UP is essential listening for any fan of Badfinger, '70s power pop, or British rock. A masterpiece!
Though technically their 2nd album, this was the first after they changed their name from The Iveys. What a great disc! 3 songs from the Peter Seller/Ringo Starr film THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN (hence the title) include Paul McCartney's classic "Come And Get It" as well as the wildly frenetic "Rock Of All Ages" and the sentimental "Carry On Til Tomorrow". And that's only the start!
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