Awaiting on you all (George Harrison) (LP 811)

George Harrison and Friends  The Concert For Bangla Desh (Vinyl, Apple Records - NZ pressing, 1971) *****  

Genre: Beatle pop/rock

Places I remember: DJ Records (Otahuhu)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: It Don't Come Easy (Ringo et al)

Gear costume: Here Comes The Sun (George and Pete Ham)

Active compensatory factors: Along with the triple All Things Must Pass, this was easily the most lavish purchase I made as a young teenager back in 1971.

It came in a box for one thing! Wowsers. A triple record set! And it had a big colour 63-page booklet. Ecstasy. And it was on Apple Records! Oh boy! 

It seemed impossible that I could actually own it but yet here it was playing on my Garrard SP 25 Mk 3 turntable in my bedroom at 18 Korma Ave., Auckland, New Zealand.

It's an expansive set that shows George's generosity of spirit - not only for the people of Bangla Desh (that almost goes without saying) but he allows Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar a third of the triple album, plus Ringo, Leon Russell, and Billy Preston also feature. No hogging the limelight for George - the supposed quiet Beatle who put out two triple albums in the early seventies.

The set itself weaves a certain type of magic over its six sides. It seemed vast to me in 1971 and I was staggered when the film of the concert came out on DVD and they were shown all playing close together on a small stage.

Where do they all belong? It's a landmark benefit concert and although I seldom play it these days, it is a lavish bedrock of my collection.

Live love all of your days (Pete Ham) (LP 359 - 360)

Pete Ham 7 Park Avenue (CD, Ryko, 1997) *** 
Pete Ham Golders Green (CD, Ryko, 1999) *** 


Genre: Apple Records/Dark Horse/ Ring O Records

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records Auckland

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Catherine Cares (a song for his mother - sounds pretty finished to me)





Gear costume:  No Matter What, Island (on 7 Park Avenue); Shine On, Makes Me Feel Good (both versions on Golders Green)

Active compensatory factors: Pete Ham's story is ultimately a tragic one (he took his own life in 1975), but he left a body of work with Badfinger and in these demos that will live on and he certainly lives on in my heart.

There are a smattering of demos here that did see the light of day with Badfinger versions, but the vast majority didn't, and there are a number of songs on these two CDs that would have made terrific Badfinger songs.

Regardless of that, these demos were well recorded and they contain Pete's beautiful vocals and guitar, and are well worth hearing if you are at all interested in quality pop music.

Rest in peace Pete.


Where do they all belong? That's it, unless you have the Japanese versions of these CD's in which case you have some bonus material.

Nothing to show (Badfinger) (LP 138 - 140)

Badfinger Airwaves (Vinyl - Elektra, 1979) *** 
Badfinger Apple Daze (CD - Raven Records, 1991) * 
Badfinger Head First (CD - Snapper, 2000) ** 

Genre: Apple/ Dark Horse Records

Places I remember: Respectively - Marbecks Records; Real Groovy Records; Fives (Leigh-on-sea, UK)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Love Is gonna Come At Last (from Airwaves)




Gear costume: The Dreamer (another Joey Molland song from Airwaves)

Active compensatory factors: Airwaves could have been called 'And Then There Two' as only Joey Molland and Tom Evans appear on it. When I got a glimpse of the album while working at Marbecks Records in the late seventies, my expectations were low as my favourite Badfinger songs mostly came from Pete Ham. 

Depending on your point of view, the album stands as either a brave attempt to move the Badfinger story on or to cash in. 

Tom and Joey were both strong vocalists in the original band, so it does have enough of the classic Badfinger sound to make it a brave attempt for my money. 

Whatever, given Tom Evans' suicide in 1983, it ends up as another sad chapter in the end (as is, I suspect, Say No More, a follow up by the duo under the Badfinger name which I have yet to find anywhere).

Apple Daze is an interesting interview disc with Tom Evans about Apple, Beatles, Badfinger related content. One for obsessives though.

As is Head First, recorded at Apple Studios. It was supposed to be the follow up to Wish You Were Here but was put on hold. It's no surprise to find that it's a miserable slog of an album - songs about the dire situation with management (Hey, Mr Manager, Rock'n'Roll Contract) don't help the situation one bit.

Where do they all belong? Next up is a brace of live albums by the original band.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (Badfinger (LP 114)

Badfinger Wish You Were Here (Vinyl - Warner Bros, 1974) ****

Genre: Apple/ Dark Horse Records (yes, I know it's not on either of those labels, but I group all the related stuff under that umbrella 'genre').

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records (Auckland)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Know One Knows (yes - that's how it's spelt on the album)




Gear costume: Dennis (another Pete Ham classic)

Active compensatory factors: Maybe their best album, and pretty much know one knows it (sic). Their second album of 1974 was withdrawn soon after being released and its appearance on CD is severely limited.

Blame naff lawsuits for this travesty. My copy was a great find at a second hand shop in Auckland way back at the end of the seventies. It has a 'Promotional Copy: Not For Sale' pink sticker and originally came from the USA.

The album stands as Pete Ham's last contributions to the much loved, but badly treated Badfinger. His vocals alone are worth your time.

Like The Beatles, the band had a number of song writers and so variety of approach (and quality) can be an issue on their albums. All contributions here are strong and stand the test of time.

Where do they all belong? Wish You Were Here was a peak; afterwards - heart breaking suicides, patchy records with various combinations of old and new band members, live and lost recordings. A sad slow winding pathway for a once magnificent band.

I miss you (Badfinger) (LP 90)

Badfinger Badfinger (Vinyl - Warner Brothers, 1974) ***

Genre: Apple/Dark Horse records

Places I remember:  Real Groovy, Auckland. It cost me $2.50. I know this because some plonker wrote that figure on the cover!

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: My Heart Goes Out




Gear costume:  Lonely You and Shine On.

Active compensatory factors: In a parallel universe Pete Ham is a huge star and his band, Badfinger, are second only to The Beatles in popularity (whatever Universe you pick the Fabs ROCK IT). I've said it before, and there - I've said it again!

This album was the first one for Warner Brothers after leaving Apple Records, reluctantly, behind. Badfinger was the accidental title - not having a proper one, this is what it's come to be known as over the years.

It's patchy. Love is Easy was the first single lifted from the album. A Joey Molland song. Sadly it's not one of his best and it's no surprise it failed to chart. One of his best is the FAB selection for this entry. An amazingly deep song with some killer mandolin work.

Again, though, it's the Pete Ham songs that impress the most. I love his voice and his songs are always a cut above the rest. What a waste of huge talent! For you now, my heart goes out, once again.

Where do they all belong?  Next up, a clear post-Apple Badfinger peak, the mighty one - Wish You Were Here.

Apple of my eye (Badfinger) (LP 63-64)

Badfinger Straight Up (Vinyl - Apple, 1972) *****
Badfinger Ass (Vinyl, CD - Apple, 1973) ****

Genre: Apple/ Dark Horse Records

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: So many wonderful songs on the classic five star Straight Up. Picking one stand out is grossly unfair but Day After Day was my first ever taste of Badfinger power pop on the radio (and Solid Gold Hits) so... Ass' best moment is Pete Ham's heartfelt Apple Of My Eye natch.




Gear costume: Baby Blue, I'd Die Babe (featuring belting Ringo style drumming), Sweet Tuesday Morning (Straight Up); Icicles (Ass).




Active compensatory factors: Straight Up is peak Badfinger on Apple Records. Not that it's clear cut. No Dice is a wonderful record but, for me, the songs/ production/ playing/ harmonies on Straight Up are beyond great!

From the classic Beatle's style cover, to the classic Beatle pop inspired sound, to Beatle George's involvement, Straight Up is all class!

Sadly, though, Ass was the final Badfinger album on their beloved Apple Records. Although patchy (only a few Pete Ham songs), as a band, they got their shot and they took it and their legacy lives on!

Where do they all belong? Leaving Apple, Badfinger were given a home of sorts on Warner Brothers and the greatness (and sadness) was not done yet!

Rest in peace Tom, Mike and Pete.

Believe Me (Badfinger) (LP 35)

Badfinger Magic Christian Music (CD + Vinyl - Apple, 1970) ***
Badfinger No Dice (CD + Vinyl - Apple, 1970) *****

Genre: Apple/ Dark Horse

Places I remember: The vinyl came from Marbecks in the seventies, during my searches for Apple Records product in the company of Greg Knowles. The CD reissues are from Real Groovy in the nineties.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: No Dice has an embarrassment of riches. But even among great company, two Pete Ham songs - Without You, No Matter What still stand out.






Gear costume: We're For The Dark, Midnight Caller.

Active compensatory factors: Badfinger - four young badass guys oozing pop smarts, desire, belief, and not shy about their love of Beatles and Apple: I love Badfinger!!

Don't believe me? Who else would have the balls to call a song Love Me Do and make it a guitar/drums fueled rocker on the Beatles' Apple label? I love Badfinger!!

Magic Christian Music is the big brother record to The Iveys' Maybe Tomorrow (they have six songs in common). The Magic Christian movie of 1969 (starring Ringo and Peter Sellers) throws a lifeline and Paul McCartney donates the hit single Come and Get It and yet...it's still just a first step.

The variety of styles on offer don't help the cause much as the next record would show.

No Dice is much more fully formed statement. Churning power pop guitars, amazing harmonies, terrific songs are all to the fore.

And it's on Apple! 

Mmmm mmm...I love Badfinger.

Where do they all belong? Badfinger were yet to peak. Extraordinary!

I set to sea on a ship called Emptiness (Eric Carmen) # 79

Eric Carmen She Did It/ Someday (Arista BL 345,  1977)

Eric had it all and he gave it all away.

The ecstasy he created in The Raspberries flamed out over a series of solo albums that produced diminishing returns. The Raspberries were a fantastic group - with Eric the Pete Ham/John Lennon of the band: rhythm guitar, great singer, great songwriter.

The eighties were not kind to him and although, yes, he had a couple of hits (Hungry Eyes from Dirty Dancing anyone?) the output and the quality dipped and then dwindled. Today he's pretty much retired and living off his royalties.

But in 1977 he still had it! Oh boy did he!

She Did It is a cool little song from the mostly excellent The Boats Against The Current album.

Hidden gem: The B side was left off Boats Against The Current but appeared on his next album, the patchy Change Of Heart. The decision pretty much shows what I mean about diminishing returns. Someday is good but not great, makes a great B side and is a worthy song but it wasn't considered strong enough to make BATC. Nuff said, I rest my case your honour. 

 

No matter what you do, I will always be around (Badfinger)

Badfinger No Matter What/ Better Days (Apple, Apple 31 1970)

Badfinger Day After Day/ Sweet Tuesday Morning (Apple, Apple 40 1972)

Badfinger Baby Blue/ Flying (Apple, Apple 42 1972)

Badfinger Apple Of My Eye/ Blindowl sic (Apple, Apple 60 1974)

These four singles have a lot of things in common. They are all on Apple, all by Badfinger, and all the A side hits were written by their rhythm guitarist Pete Ham.

I love Pete Ham and I am still extremely sad that he is no longer with us to share his gifts.

Tragically he killed himself in 1975 at the age of 27 (yes - another of the 27 club although not as well known as some other members).

Although Pete is best known for co-writing Without You, that song was never released by Badfinger as a single.

These four singles in the list above are the goods though. Each one a classic slice of pop.

I remember when I first heard Day After Day in particular because it was a song on Solid Gold Hits Vol 2, released in 1972. I bought that album and listened to it a lot in 1972.

Especially the Badfinger song. It had a creamy pop sheen that drew me in. It was like nothing I'd heard up to that point (even though it is Beatlesque thanks in part to George Harrison's guitar, it's still an original Badfinger sound).



Day After Day was the highest charting song of the four.

Baby Blue (like Day After Day, it's featured on their 1972 Straight Up album) is another great song. It has a harder rock edge to it but a soft centre - it's about his then girlfriend Dixie.

Apple Of My Eye was his love song (and farewell) to Apple Records. Badfinger were the last band to leave the label and they were reluctant to go. All things to their credit.

Pete sings lead on all of the A sides and his vocals are brilliant; exactly right for the songs. The Joey Mollard guitar sound is another fantastic feature of these four songs, and the production, the soundscape, is timeless.

Hidden Gems: All the B sides are album tracks so there's nothing rare on offer. My favourite of these B sides is Sweet Tuesday Morning: a great soft rock ballad. There is a bathos at work that isn't easy to achieve (I wouldn't think).