Bad Company 2020 Desolation Angels Expanded.

Seems Rhino have finally announced this. It was actually pretty much ready to go in May/June (2019) but it was held back for some reason. Quite funny really as it now gets a 41st anniversary re-issue, not 40th. But at least it is coming out. Available in January it is released as a 2CD, 2LP and digital download. The vinyl is 180g and all the others have been great quality, so this will be no exception. Compiled by Hugh Gilmour and myself, I also did the sleeve notes. Never my favourite Bad Company album, but it has expanded very well and there is some nice 'bonus' material on this new set.

The press release is below with the CD track listing. Interestingly it notes  "Desolation Angels was recently remastered from the original multi-track tapes" when it fact no multi-tracks were used at all. This actually all comes from the original quarter inch mix tapes. All sounding very good indeed. They'll be an FAS issue next year to go along with it.

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Bad Company Expands ‘Desolation Angels’ For 40th Anniversary

Bad Company will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 1979 album, Desolation Angels, with a newly expanded edition. The Dec. 6 announcement notes the release will include many previously unreleased recordings from the original studio sessions. The new edition, available on 2-CDs or 2-LPs, arrives Jan. 10 via Rhino.

Desolation Angels continued the classic rock band’s significant commercial success. The LP was the British supergroup’s fifth studio album and became a double-platinum hit, peaking at #3 on the U.S. album charts, thanks to the success of “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy,” the best-selling single of the band’s career.

Desolation Angels was recently remastered from the original multi-track tapes for Bad Company‘s The Swan Song Years 1974-1982, a boxed set that was released in 2019. That remastered version of the album is also used in this new anniversary collection.

In the late summer of 1978, Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell spent several weeks recording songs for Desolation Angels at Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, England. The album – named after Jack Kerouac’s 1965 novel – was released in March 1979, and spawned two singles, “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy” and “Gone, Gone, Gone.” The album also introduced fan favorites like “Evil Wind” and “Rhythm Machine.”

The second disc that accompanies the 40th anniversary edition presents unreleased versions of seven album tracks. Highlights include alternate takes for “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy,” “Early In The Morning” and “She Brings Me Love.” Also, the version “Oh, Atlanta” included here is played at slower tempo and adds a Fender Rhodes keyboard into the mix.

In addition to alternate versions of album tracks, the new collection also features two unreleased outtakes from the sessions. The first is “Smokin’ 45.” (This version is different from the one that appeared on the 1999 compilation The Original Bad Co. Anthology.) The second outtake, “Rock Fever,” has never surfaced on any Bad Company release until now.

Desolation Angels 40th Anniversary Edition CD Track Listing

Disc One
01. Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy
02. Crazy Circles
03. Gone, Gone, Gone
04. Evil Wind
05. Early In The Morning
06. Lonely For Your Love
07. Oh, Atlanta
08. Take The Time
09. Rhythm Machine
10. She Brings Me Love

11. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 1)

12. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 2)

13. Rock Fever (Unreleased)

14. Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Rhodes)

15. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 1)

16. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 2)

17. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 3)

18. Crazy Circles (Alternative Version)

Disc Two
01. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Take)

02. Early in the Morning (Alternative Version 1)

03. Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 1)

04. Take the Time (Alternative Version 1)

05. Evil Wind (Alternative Version)

06. Take the Time (Alternative Version 2)

07. Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 2)

08. She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version)

09. What Does It Matter (Blues Jam)

10. Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version)

11. Amen (A cappella)