On October 25th, Apple Records will reissue remastered versions No Dice and Straight Up by power pop pioneers Badfinger. Both albums feature new liner notes and a generous helping of bonus tracks. They will also appear on Itunes for the first time.
Badfinger's recording career started when the band was signed by Apple Records, the Beatles' label, as the Iveys in 1968. A year later, the group released Magic Christian Music (also being reissued with several other Apple titles on 10/25), which featured the Paul McCartney penned hit "Come And Get It". The album came out under the name Badfinger, even though they were still the Iveys during the recording sessions. Prior to that record's release, there was a band member change, along with the name change, and the classic Badfinger lineup of Pete Ham (Guitar/Vocals), Tom Evans (Bass/Vocals), Joey Molland (Guitar/Vocals) and Mike Gibbins (Drums/Vocals) were poised to record No Dice in 1970 and Straight Up in 1972.
All the members of Badfinger wrote songs and sang lead vocals, but Pete Ham dominated the group in both areas at this point. No Dice's first single was Ham's "No Matter What", which is the very definition of power pop, featuring crunchy guitars, hooks galore, and Pete's unique gift for melody. "Without You", written by Ham and Evans, and now considered a standard, is also included on this album. But it was Harry Nilsson's version, which went to #1 in 1972, that really made the song famous. Mariah Carey's cover peaked at #3 in 1994.
Straight Up was the group's most commercially successful album. Produced by George Harrison and Todd Rundgren, the LP features 2 hit songs written by Pete Ham, the melancholy Day After Day (with slide guitars by Ham and Harrison), and "Baby Blue", which is a piece of power pop perfection. Ham's yearning lead vocal, Evans' harmonies and Molland's lead guitar playing elevate the song to another level. Other highlights from the album includes Pete's "Name Of The Game", and 3 standout Joey Molland rockers, "Suitcase", "Sometimes" and "I'd Die Babe", the latter featuring George Harrison on acoustic guitar.
Badfinger would continue to tour and record, however they would eventually break up in 1975 due to bad management and the tragic suicide of Pete Ham in April of that year. Molland and Evans would reunite in 1978 and release 2 more albums under the Badfinger name, but horrifically, Tom Evans would also take his own life in 1983.
But during the first few years of the 70's Badfinger were on top of the world. Not only were they putting out their own hit records, but select members of the group would also record with ex-Beatles Ringo Starr on the drummer's hit single "It Don't Come Easy", George Harrison on All Things Must Pass, and John Lennon's Imagine album. The whole band also played at the Concert For Bangladesh.
If you want to hear some fine power pop, Badfinger's No Dice & Straight Up are great places to start.
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