Medley: Meanwhile, Back At the Ranch/Should I Smoke
No band in rock 'n' roll has quite the hard-luck story to match that of Badfinger. Despite abundant songwriting and performing talent, a Beatles connection and critical acclaim, the band ended up penniless, with two of its... more » members committing suicide. These two records, 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. In fact, we're kind of in shock that the label let them go out of print and then let us license them! Again 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!« less
No band in rock 'n' roll has quite the hard-luck story to match that of Badfinger. Despite abundant songwriting and performing talent, a Beatles connection and critical acclaim, the band ended up penniless, with two of its members committing suicide. These two records, 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. In fact, we're kind of in shock that the label let them go out of print and then let us license them! Again 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!
"Nothing short of a pop/rock masterpiece. In my opinion, the band's best album. Unfortunately it was overlooked by just about everyone and received very little or no airplay in the US during a time when airplay was crucial to an album's sales and success."
Just superb
bdlove@earthlink.net | Los Angeles, California | 04/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is perfect. Buy it. It will make you understand why we never needed Oasis in the first place."
A classic
Norman Stotland | Ottawa, Ontario | 11/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It may take a listen or two to get used to the tracks, but once you do there is no looking back. Shades of the Beatles and ELO. This album is as good as Abbey Road. A tragic story about this talented band, but if you like their four hits heard all over 'oldies' radio then you will love all these new songs. 'Meanwhile Back at the Ranch- Should I smoke? will bring you back to that classic British sound. I can't put this CD away."
More brilliance from Pete Ham
J. Scott | 01/07/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Pete Ham was never content to simply step into the empty, spotlit stage remaining in the Beatles' wake. He shed any direct inclinations of being a Macca or Lennon clone years before - "Name of the Game" from Straight Up remains a defining statement of Pete's singular ability. While "Just a Chance" rocks like a mother and "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" makes you want to put the top down and step on the gas, he takes another step forward in declaring his emerging songwriting genius with "Dennis". Simple, yet poetic in its lyric, the melody is as haunting and compelling as any in music. Sometimes when a song touches one so deeply, it is difficult to define what about the tune is so moving. Pick up this record and hear it for yourself. No rock fan should be without it. Incidentally, Joey Molland turns in one of his prettiest melodies in "Love Time" - silly title, beautiful tune."