Edited review from FAS #134
REVIEWS…
BAD COMPANY
Bad Co. (Rhino/Warner Music R2-547485)
Straight Shooter (Rhino/Warner Music R2-547485)
Released April 3, 2015 (April 8, 2015 Japan).
Bad Co.
CD2: Can't Get Enough (Take 8) / Little Miss Fortune
(Demo Reel 1) / The Way I Choose (Demo Reel 1) / Bad Company (Session Reel 2) /
The Way I Choose (Version 1 Inc. F/S) / Easy On My Soul (Long Version) / Bad
Company (Session Reel 8) / Studio Chat / Dialogue / Superstar Woman (Long
Version) / Can't Get Enough (Single Edit) / Little Miss Fortune (B-Side Version)
/ Easy On My Soul (B-Side Version) / Can't Get Enough (Hammond Version)
Straight Shooter -
CD1: Good Lovin' Gone Bad / Feel Like
Makin' Love / Weep No More / Shooting Star / Deal With The Preacher / Wild Fire
Woman / Anna / Call On Me.
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CD2: Good Lovin' Gone Bad (Alternate Vocal &
Guitar) / Feel Like Makin' Love (Take Before Master) / Weep No More (Early Slow
Version) / Shooting Star (Alternate Take) / Deal With The Preacher (Early
Version) / Anna (Alternate Vocal) / Call On Me (Alternate Take) / Easy On My
Soul (Slow Version) / Whiskey Bottle (Early Version) / See The Sunlight
(Unreleased Song) / All Night Long (Unreleased Song) / Wild Fire Woman
(Alternate Vocal & Guitar) / Feel Like Makin' Love (Harmonica Version) /
Whiskey Bottle (B-Side Version)
It has to be said so far as these
releases go... And about time too! I wasn't a particular fan of the original
remastered set of these albums by George Marion and Todd Jensen at Sterling
Sound back in the mid 1990's (1994?). They sounded a bit brittle to me, and
didn't have enough thump. Since then we're had Steve Hoffman remasters of the
first two albums and the Japanese mini albums in 2006! They were nice. Also
there were the original CD issues back in the late 80s and the vinyl's in the
70s. So I've bought these albums at least five times before - in fact, pretty much once a decade since
they came out!
SO... Now we have newly
remastered versions as 2CD 'Deluxe Editions' and also as 2LP 180g sets for
those who still bleat on about how vinyl is the only way to listen too music...
blah blah blah... These are all new for 2015 and not simply repackaged versions
of previous digital masters. Everything has come from the original tapes,
nothing from any other source than the Warner archive (who now own the SwanSong
catalogue). I don't feel the need to review the original albums again as we did
that pretty comprehensively recently in FAS #105 (Bad Co.) and FAS #108
(Straight Shooter). I guess for the record I just need to say that these
original albums do sound very good indeed this time around - both on CD and
vinyl. Rhino do have a reputation for high-quality mastering and these are no
exception. I found them nicely rounded
at the bottom and not having that nasty glass scratching high end that
sometimes slipped through in the 1990s particularly. To my ears these sound
excellent and I've had them on quietly, loudly (very loudly actually!) and also
in headphones. I'm satisfied and hopefully I won't have to buy them again
sometime in 2020!
The packaging here is without
doubt the best so far. Hugh Gilmore has done a fine job and the sleeve notes
are great. There's always been a problem with the artwork for these two Bad
Company (re)issues as both the UK and US sleeve inners were different. That
problem is resolved here as you get both sets of original Hipgnosis design
work. These albums have previously been badly (actually VERY badly) packaged.
That is finally resolved. With sound and product wrapping covered and coming in
with top marks I know that its the bonus material here that's really going to
have you reaching into your pockets. The vinyl issues, due to format
constraints of space and time (Yeah Man!) don't have as much extra material but
there is nothing on the vinyl that isn't on the CD issues, so if you want one
format go for compact disc and you get everything that has been released.
The bonus material covers a wide
spectrum and uses the some of the singles (where they are noticeably different
to the album versions) and their B-sides along with brand new material from ¼
tapes mixed at the time and completely original mixes for this set from the
multi-track tapes by Richard Digby Smith in 2014. The majority of the
recordings here are previously unavailable in any form. Bearing that in mind it
makes buying the original album again less of a pain. Consider it a freebie
with the new material if it makes you feel better when you get your money out.
Lets start at the very beginning
(as Julie Andrews says)! Okay, Bad Co, disc 2 track 1. Booting open the bonus
disc on the set from the debut album is a brand new alternative version of
'Can't Get Enough'. This is actually a weird one. The box dates it June 4, 1974
- which is AFTER the album came out, and there are mixes of the song (the
single) that go back to February 19, 1974. Those mixes come from these tapes
(as the master is on these reels) so something went wrong somewhere. This is
also a reel from Island Studios in Basing Street, not the Ronnie Lane Mobile
which also throws a bit of a spanner into the wheels of research, but what can
you do. Regardless of the date issue its a solid run at the track with the band
playing it live in the studio. Rodgers is singing and he's also playing one of
the dual lead parts in the solo. This was the last recorded take and there are
three other complete versions including the master on another reel (take 1 is
the master!). This is the best of the two complete unreleased takes from the
session that day. Its good that the band were recording as a unit rather than
doing backing tracks without vocals as it gives us complete performances,
'Little Miss Fortune' follows,
and this comes from 'demo reel 1' which is undated but looks like it probably
comes from Island Studios too. The title and track sheet is stuck to the box
rather than a label giving more information. This appears to be another live
performance with Paul playing through the Leslie (Hammond Organ Speaker Cab) with
a cleaner tone while Mick puts in the solos. I've always liked this track and
its interesting to hear Paul sing it in a lower register and without the piano.
Great playful lyric and I've no idea why this song didn't make the cut for the
album. 'The Way I Choose' comes from the same reel as the band simply record
versions of the material they are considering for the record. This is again
quite stripped down and actually a little faster than the final master used on
the album. There's a really nice relaxed vocal here to enjoy.
'Bad Company' comes from the sessions
at Headley Grange and the reels have the LMS (Lane Mobile Studio) labels. This early version is an initial attempt to
get the song onto tape and doesn't feature Mick at all. Recorded November 6,
1973 it shows the band still working out the arrangement and this is
highlighted when at the end Paul says "Si... You know that beat you were
just doing. That's the one..." Even with just Paul, Simon and Boz this
sounds great and its really moody. Already the song has its 'Epic' quality and
you can tell its a bit special.
Another version of 'The Way I
Choose' follows and this comes from 'demo reel 3' where it is actually listed
as 'Question' - which is strange when its correctly titled on 'demo reel 1' but
there you go. Here Paul sings an octave up which really changes the feel of the
tune and makes it sound much more urgent. I like this version, and you can hear
how the song has tightened up from the previous one. This seems much more
muscular and confident. The false start has been left on here for your
enjoyment, there's a bass boob that stops the song and Paul's reaction is
great. Very funny.
'Easy On My Soul' left me with a
real dilemma. It was featured on the B-Side of 'Movin' On' in the USA but was
actually recorded when the band started work on the second album (November 6,
1974). Also there are lots of REALLY good versions of it - far to good to be left 'in the can'! The
flipside was always going to be included on this disc and bearing that in mind
I decided to include also the original full version of the B-side as the vamped
section by Paul at the end is fantastic. This was faded on the released version
due to the length but its just too good not put out in its longer form. I was
never a fan of this when they did it live as they stretched it for far too long
but here its great. I really like this.
A second version of 'Bad Company'
comes from 'session reel 8'. Now its sounding much tighter and is taken at a
slightly faster tempo. Full band in performance here with Mick playing some
really good rhythm chops like some kind of ghost rider. Nice atmospheric stuff.
There's a really great vocal here too.
The studio chat was just a piece
of messing around that Digby liked. Its a shame Simon didn't actually whack the
snare so it sounded more like a gun shot but its just a bit of fun. Its not
something I choose to use. 'Superstar Woman' made its first appearance on the
'Anthology' 2CD set in 1999 but strangely there are two mixes of this from that
time. The one previously released is actually an edit of a longer mix, so
that's what you have here - the
unedited version.
Then we round up the single edit
of 'Can't Get Enough' and the two single flipsides - 'Little Miss Fortune' and 'Easy On My Soul'. Nice to have 'Little Miss Fortune' mastered properly. I love this
song. It was in the live set for quite while and always a surprise it never made the album.
To end this disc of surprises is
a version of the 'Can't Get Enough' master with the unused Hammond track mixed
up. The Organ really changes the texture of the song and actually lightens the
chorus. I can see why they didn't use it on the final mix but I thought it was
interesting enough to include. This second disc offers a nice selection of the
outtake material available and its a good companion to the original album for
fans that wanted to hear a bit more. Hopefully you will enjoy it. I do.
The bonus disc for 'Straight
Shooter' really is a little treasure trove with an abundance of bounty for all. With alternate performances from the master tapes, unused takes, B-sides and
completely new songs this is a fine companion to the original album. Only one
previously released track on here so it does offer an awful lot of new audio
for you to enjoy. It opens with a new
version of 'Good Lovin' Gone Bad' (by far my favourite Bad Company single) and
here there's an alternative vocal take and guitar from the master multi-track.
Paul always delivered the vocal on this song really well and there's lots of
grit in the performance. I think its a
fabulous way to start the disc. This is followed by an alternate take of
probably the best known song on the album. Still gathering huge amounts of airtime
in the USA 'Feel Like Makin' Love' really cemented the bands reputation in
America and this version (the take before the one used as the master) shows
them playing through it live in the studio. No overdubs here, just Bad Company
recording as a 3-piece with a singer. Its always interesting to hear the songs
stripped back like this and its really a sketch of the song that was to come on
the album when they'd enhanced it a bit.
'Weep No More' comes from the
sessions at 'The Kitchen' in London during March 1974. The biggest surprise is
how slow the early versions were and how much more 'dark' the song sounds. The
track we are used to is quite 'bouncy' but this has a very different feel. Its
about as slow as a shuffle can ever get but has a really fine vocal from Paul
and some really good Hammond padding the song out.
The alternate take of 'Shooting
Star' comes from the sessions at Clearwell Castle with Ronnie Lane's mobile
studio on Oct 3, 1974. Again its just the band working the song live in the
studio. There are no overdubs and its just the three-piece with Paul at the mic
singing. Interesting bass tone here. It could almost be described as 'sticky'
as it has a kind of 'boot being pulled out of mud' consistency going on. No
guitar solo as Mick holds the rhythm down but another really good vocal from
Paul who truly was on fire during these sessions.
Its always been the more rocky
tracks on this album that have appealed to me and this early version of 'Deal
With The Preacher' from 'The Kitchen' on March 13, 1974 is really interesting
as its showing the bones of the song before they really stuck the 'heavy' onto
it. The song still has the 'skipping' little groove but is much lighter and the
middle section here is really nice.
Some great bass playing here from Boz too.
From the master tapes comes a
really nice alternate vocal for 'Anna'. I've always liked the KKTR version
myself but I can see why Simon would want to save it from the black hole of
'overlooked', as that album still sadly is to this day. Paul does give the
track a much more 'soul' feel and you can hear those Otis Redding / Al Green
tones coming through as influences here, also in the phrasing of the lyric.
Personally I have a bit of a
love/hate relationship with 'Call On Me'. It was briefly in the proposed set
list of a band I was with and while I love the electric piano lick and the
middle section the lyrics always used to wear me out - Care/There - Cold/Hold
etc. This studio live take is nice enough. The band jangle through it and Paul
sings it far better than I ever could while he keeps that tricky little piano
motif going. With that in mind its actually the end section I really like here
where they just circle the refrain over and over. There's something quite hypnotic
and comforting about it. Paul was getting good with these interesting piano
riffs, and 'Electricland', from much later in their career, is another good
example of that repetitive type pattern used to great effect.
'Easy On My Soul' was something the
band seemed to enjoy playing. Its curious as the version on the 'Heartbreaker'
album is perfectly good and while it was used on the B-side of 'Movin' On',
released late in 1974 from the previous album, the band played it quite a bit
in the studio while they were working on the 'Straight Shooter' songs. They'd
been playing it live, and 'The Stealer' too. Both of these helped them fill a
set while new material filtered in but it seems they were quite serious about
'EOMS' - and they were good at it! This
version is from Clearwell Castle. Its long, has a great vibe and a nicely
relaxed jamming feel. Bad Company are definitely having fun here and its become
something of a favourite. Its at a slightly slower tempo, features a superb
vocal and some very cool bass playing.
Next up there's an early version
of 'Whiskey Bottle' recorded at Basing Street with Richard Digby Smith on April
27, 1974. This is actually marked 'Master' on the box and they've been working
at it as this is pretty much done, overdubs and all. The 'busy' piano gives the
track quite a different feel to the one used as the B-side to 'GLGB' and I
really like it. There's yet another great vocal here too.
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Now something completely new!
'See The Sunlight' was also recorded during sessions at Island Studios with
Digby the day after 'Whiskey Bottle' (April 28, 1974). Finding this really was
exciting. Great Beatlesque song from Paul and Mick with the Island Studio
Leslie making its presence felt. Its a
real surprise this was just left in the can but then perhaps its not quite fitting with the rest of the 'Straight Shooter' material. Its a big bright
song, very 'up' and along with The Beatles there's a good dose of Traffic
influencing the arrangement. Besides another fine vocal from Paul there's good
performances throughout. Simon keeps the groove light and Boz is fantastic as
he slips around the beat with some really exceptional playing. The Leslie
guitar (as always) has a great sound and Mick's use of slide is both unexpected
and inspired. These elements make the song sound like absolutely nothing else
from these sessions. It seems everybody had taken a happy pill! I'm glad Paul
let this one out as it would have been criminal to have left it unheard.
There's lots on this disc I like but if I had to pick one thing this is it.
Superb!
The unreleased 'All Night Long'
is very much a quick sketch of a song idea. Undoubtedly it would have made an
interesting B-side but its not up to the standard of the rest of the material
and there's certainly an air of 'Movin' On' about it. Given that something as
strong as 'Whiskey Bottle' ended up on the flipside of a single and that 'See
The Sunshine' wasn't used at all this tune never stood a chance. Nice to
finally let it see the daylight nonetheless.
'Wild Fire Woman' comes from the
master tape (where its still actually titled 'Drive My Car') and is a new mix
featuring an alternate vocal and guitar track. Great song and it really pushes
along. Nothing not to like here. Paul should put this song into his live set
for a change, its somewhat overlooked and a fabulous little song.
Following this is a new mix of
the 'Harmonica Version' of 'Feel Like Makin' Love'. This was originally used on
the promo video but sadly the master for that original mix couldn't be found.
Still, Digby did a fine job here with a nice new mix and Paul's 'harp' playing
can now be heard. I wonder if US radio will find this new version and air it?
I've always liked this and its a good addition especially as it now runs right
to the end and I think that guitar reprise as it closes is magical. This bonus
disc finishes with the original single B-single version of 'Whiskey Bottle',
and that's as good a way to close the set as any.
It has to be said that these
deluxe editions (like the Led Zeppelin ones) are LONG overdue. It seems that
generally Atlantic/Atco were always slow off the mark but now Warners have
taken over there appears more of a drive to get things out (and make money of
course). The Bad Company catalogue really has been neglected for a long time
and its nice to see these sets out as hopefully the first in a run that will
work through all the albums. I think both these now offer not only seriously
upgraded packaging but also very good quality remastering and a substantial
amount of additional material all at a good price considering what I paid for
the first CD issues back in the 1980s. The option of 180g 2LP sets with bonus
material should also keep the vinyl lovers happy so the bases have been well
covered. In the end you are buying the album yet again but I think on this
occasion its a good option, and if you love the band you are getting more for
your money this time around. Its a choice, you don't have to invest but
personally I'm all for it. Both sets are FAS Recommended.
