By: Ric Cottrell

Ric Cottrell — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:43:22 +0000

Badfinger’s album and CD release of the Album ‘Straight up” Was filled with many. many keepers, one of the best albums ever. Take it all, Perfection, I’d die Babe all could’ve been radio hits, as well many others.
L:ike the albums mostly written by Mark Farner of Grand Funk and Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep. I saw them live while I was in Spain from 74 to 76 causing me to miss any chance to see the early years version of Grand Funk, though through Billboard, and Rock magazines I was able to keep up the Funk and a few months after following my future wife to the Detroit suburbs running my own Radio Shack on the infamous 8 Mile Road and Dequinder and was successful enough to be promoted to the 3 highest selling store in my District, I just knew I’d be seeing Grand Funk somewhere, little did I know the band was already history. Their album with the late great Frank Zappa was a raw straight through first take album, and all the Farner sonds reflected his prowess growing in his music, with the same very early cry to save our World and ecology, well before his time, Mark like this Badfinger album as well as Hensley “Demons and Wizards and Magician’s Bithday were 2 of the greatest albums to follow, Funk had several when Mark was wher he should be, the major writer, Brewer wrote decent lyrics but 3 chord wonders can only be leaned on so many times before they grow old.
Straight up is an album of hits Day after Day, Baby Blue were very successful, But unlike a lot of other Badfinger albums this one stayed with similar quality songs, You could hear Harrison influence on Day after Day and others, and Rundren always got the best out of bands. American Band and most of Shinin On, the album was far too heavy in Brewer Frost 3 chord wonders.
“Straight Up” follows in the successful side of Rungren’s genious, If you like “Come and get it” “No Matter Waht” ” I hear you Knockin” along with this album’s Baby Blue and Day after Day” you will love this album and especially the CD with original versions and demos of the future products, showing the way a song is done, makes all the difference in the world, And bands that sound great live, often are first take recorders, when it wasn’t a novice Terry Knight, which the artistry and the year it was recorded prevented them from being the hits they later became. I heard them all over the world and played them in Spain and America and know the effect they have on a dance floor, even “Closer to home” with a song almost 9 minutes long with different tempos a great bridge and the end with orchestration was what makes it a mainstay on Classic Rock stations. Voted by Vietnam vets as the song that helped them remember what was dear to their hearts “Home” they asked him to sing the song at the 25th anniversary of the Wall. And he treated them to a free 90 minute concert with full band for nothing. Everytime I saw him play it , there’s always a dedication to the Vietnam vets and all others, a song Farner prayed to God to give him a song to touch the hearts he most wanted to touch, The song was “Closer to Home” written in the reverse order Farner usually writes.
Badfinger’s “Straight Up” was their masterpiece. Buy it you’ll like it!

By: Howie R

Howie R — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:03:44 +0000

Looking foward to your next CD review. You are definitely ROCK

Comments on: The Life and Death of ‘Badfinger’

By: Ric Cottrell

By: Howie R