BADFINGER (FOR LOVE OR MONEY)
June 19-November 22, 1973
Olympic Studios, London
Chris Thomas
Expanded
Edition released on November 2, 2018 on
Real Gone/Rhino RGM-0757
Tracks:
01.
I Miss You (2:32)
02. Shine On (2:49)
03. Love Is Easy (3:09)
04. Song For A Lost Friend (2:51)
05. Why Don't We Talk? (3:45)
06. Island (3:38)
07. Matted Spam (3:09)
08. Where Do We Go From Here? (3:22)
09. My Heart Goes Out (3:14)
10. Lonely You (3:50)
11. Give It Up (4:33)
12. Andy Norris (3:04)
Bonus
Tracks:
13. Love
My Lady [unreleased song] (3:08)
14. Shine On [1973 work in progress mix] (2:51)
15. Song For A Lost Friend [1973 work in progress mix] (2:53)
16. Island [1973 work in progress mix] (3:37)
17. Matted Spam [1973 work in progress mix] (3:44)
18. Where Do We Go From Here? [1973 work in progress mix] (3:28)
19. My Heart Goes Out [1973 work in progress mix] (3:15)
20. Lonely You [1973 work in progress mix] (3:11)
21. Give It Up [1973 work in progress mix] (4:13)
22. Andy Norris [1973 work in progress mix] (3:03)
Studio work: Dan Matovina
Reissue Design: Tom D. Kline
Thanks to: Chris Thomas and Tom Brennan
So Fine (Record
Store Day 2019 red vinyl limited edition of 2000 copies) - Sides
A and B
released
on April 13, 2019 on
Real Gone Music/Rhino Custom Projects OPLP-9028
Laquer Cutting by John Golden at Golden Mastering
Front cover
photo courtesy of Barry Wentzell
Gatefold photo courtesy of Michael Putland
Compilation produced by Gordon Anderson and Dan Matovina
These 1973 work-in-progress mixes were originally crafted by
producer Chris Thomas for the band members to take home and review.
Luckily, we can now hear them to study the album’s development
further...
Shine On – 1973 work in progress mix
Here you hear scratch lead vocals by Pete Ham and Tom Evans. Notice,
one lyrical line is sung “Slip and slide, and fall into the fantasy”
instead of the final version’s “Slip and slide, so I’ll forget
reality.” The solo guitar by Joey Molland is up and brief guitar fills
missing from the record are heard now.
Song For A Lost Friend – 1973 work in progress mix
You hear more of the bass guitar in this mix. The lead vocal is also
up. The big difference is the dramatic end. Missing here are the
incredible background vocals, as designed by Tom Evans. Also missing
is the ending distorted electric guitar emphasizing one of the parts.
The climbing guitar parts can be heard in their root development.
Island – 1973 work in progress mix
The lead vocal has less effect. The drums are more melded in this
rough. The middle solo is by Molland, but Ham’s ending solo is not yet
recorded. Still, the driving rhythm, even without a lead, is engaging.
Matted Spam – 1973 work in progress mix
Here is the song without any saxophones by the legendary Jim Horn. A
raw and funky version with the bass guitar up, it’s extended with
vocal vamping by Ham. This song in original form had more of a
“Feelin’ Alright” feel. Ham loved “soul” and “funk” and took a stab at
getting the band into it.
Where Do We Go From Here? – 1973 work in progress mix
You hear the song longer and without so much effect on the lead vocal.
This draws you in more directly to the emotion of Tom’s lyric. It also
pops a bit more on the rhythm. Instead of the bizarre steel drum solo
from Russ And The Flames (even Chris Thomas finds it odd in
retrospect), the melody of that solo is played by a piano.
My Heart Goes Out – 1973 work in progress mix
Mike Gibbins’ poignant, touching song with a scratch vocal is here and
without the backgrounds included in the final. Notice, one lyric line
is sung “You turn me down, I wanna die” instead of the final version’s
“You turn me down, I wonder why.” Chris Thomas liked this rough mix,
as the cascading delay effects came closer to a seagulls-flying effect
he heard in his head.
Lonely You – 1973 work in progress mix
The song was the single that never was, which frustrated fans and the
band to no end. Immediately, you’ll notice the missing lead guitar
over the opening piano backing. Pete’s vocal is a raw scratch take.
It’s still beautiful, but has a few rare strained notes from the
usually flawless singer. There’s no acoustic guitar and no background
vocals. No bass guitar. Just the underwater piano sound, which Thomas,
in retrospect, wasn’t sold was the best idea, though he can’t deny the
commerciality of the tune and was disappointed a single was never
released.
Give It Up – 1973 work in progress mix
Molland’s emotive lament to a commercialized world is here with his
scratch lead vocal and none of the brilliant background vocals as
arranged by Tom Evans. Some of the buzzing Ham guitars are missing,
too, but Molland’s solo at the end is extended.
Andy Norris – 1973 work in progress mix
Here is a take with scratch lead vocal by Molland, showing unfinished
lyrics. Joey’s wife, Kathie, help him finish these at some point and
received co-writing credit. Joey talks and even screams swear words.
It’s a wild ride of a track that Thomas laughingly called “early
punk!” Andy Norris is actually Andy Morris, who was a very young
second engineer on this album’s recordings at Olympic Studios. Morris
later said he had no idea at the time that Joey titled it in his
tribute and as it was, Kathie and Joey happened to misspell his name!
Love My Lady - previously unreleased song – reference
1973 mix
This Tom Evans tune reminds one more of Little Feat than Badfinger.
Bluesy and tasteful, until an explosive middle section during which
Tom exclaims “Oh, Wow!” at some point, which actually was this track’s
early reference title. Crazy synth leads and Joey’s lead guitar cut
through. But this song didn’t make the cut, and showcases here with a
raw, unfinished lead vocal.
Original
vinyl releases:
U.S.
release on February 11, 1974
on WB BS 2762. [Test
pressing information for U.S.: November 27, 1973] [front
cover | back
cover]
Entered the Billboard charts on March 9, 1974 at #173; peaked at #161.
Entered the Cash Box charts on March 16, 1974 at #138; peaked at #119
on April 6. Charted in top 175 for 6 weeks until April 20.
U.K. release in February, 1974 on WB K56023.
Note: Original U.S. and U.K. release dates were December 28, 1973.
Side One [label]:
I Miss You
(P. Ham) [see YouTube
for Pete Ham's 1968 demo version]
Shine On (P. Ham, T. Evans)
Love Is
Easy (J. Molland) [Apple Publishing Ltd.]
Song
For A Lost Friend (P. Ham)
Why
Don't We Talk? (T. Evans)
Joey Molland: "Pete
and Tommy were getting tired of the work going into the song and
getting a bit punchy, so they started singing "Why not eat pork?" And
somewhere down the line, they slid that line into the song to put some
inside Badfinger humor into the music."
Island (J. Molland)
Side Two [label]:
Matted Spam (P. Ham)
Where Do
We Go From Here? (T. Evans)
My
Heart Goes Out (M. Gibbins)
Lonely You (P. Ham)
Give It Up (J. Molland)
Andy Norris (J. & C. Molland) [actually J. & K. Molland]
Credits:
Recording engineer: Phil Chapman
Mixed at AIR & Olympic Studios, London
Love Is Easy single mixed at Abbey Road Studios, London
Horns arranged by Jim Horn (Matted Spam)
Pans by Russ & The Flames (Where Do We Go From Here)
Special effects: Tag & Fergie [as Fag & Tergie] (Why Don't We
Talk?)
Cover prepared by John Kosh
Photography by Peter Howe
CDs
Japanese
release on July 25, 1991 on Warner
Brothers WPCP-4081
Japanese
reissue in 1997 on Warner
Brothers WPCR-1714
German
release on January 17, 1997 on 7599-26539-2 (WE 835)
U.K. release on January 2, 2001 on Warner Brothers 926539
U.S. release on February 8, 2005 on Rhino/Warner Brothers
U.K.
release on July 23, 2007 on Collector's
Choice CCM-809
U.S. release on September
18, 2007 on Collector's Choice CCM-809
U.K. release on October 28, 2013 on Rhino/Edsel
EDSK 7036
U.S. release on November 5, 2013 on Rhino/Edsel EDSK 7036
(U.K. import)
U.S. release
(Expanded Edition) on November 2, 2018 on Real Gone/Rhino
RGM-0757
