Happy (Joe Molland) (LP 465)

Joe Molland This Way Up (CD, IA Records, 2001) ****

Genre: British pop/rock 

Places I remember: Vinyl Countdown (New Plymouth)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Three Minute Warning

Gear costume: This Must Be Love (this sounds so much like a track on a Ringo Starr album that I had to check - nope. But it sounds perfect for Ringo!) 

Active compensatory factors: The terrible cover likely turned off a lot of potential buyers. If they could find it that is, as it was independently released.

That's a shame, as it's really pretty good - I can definitely justify the four star rating. Not Badfinger clearly - he's much older and experienced now, but at times it's close.

Whatever, it's great to hear those distinctive Molland vocals over classy pop material. I can warmly recommend this one.

Where do they all belong? For some reason, maybe he felt he'd outlived the youthful Joey moniker, he adopted Joe for this one. 

A worthwhile addition to the Badfinger group of albums.

You can do it (Natural Gas) (LP 175)

Natural Gas Natural Gas (Vinyl - Private Stock Records, 1976) ***

Genre:  Apple/ Dark Horse Records (of course Private Stock is neither of those but I group Badfinger related albums all together)

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Christmas Song




Gear costume: Little Darlin'

Active compensatory factors: Of course, Joey Molland's voice is very familiar from those Badfinger songs, but hardly anyone remembers this band. The band is obscure enough that there is not even a wikipedia article on them!

On the surface it's a supergroup of sorts. Some of the bands the membership of Natural Gas have been part of: Badfinger, Humble Pie, Colosseum, Uriah Heep, Rare Bird, Sutherland Brothers & Quiver.

It's a nice collection of largely undistinguished songs from various band members. Naturally, I'm more partial to Joey's tunes, but even his contribution doesn't come anywhere near his Badfinger output.

Where do they all belong? Natural Gas was a brief interlude before Joey went back to the Badfinger name with Tom Evans.

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.