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)

Free Appreciation Society Magazine - Issue #147.... FINALLY

FAS #147

 

Well, the new issue is finally ready to go. Overseas copies went into the mail on Saturday and all the UK copies will go into the post tomorrow. Sorry for the delay but we wanted to make sure it was right. 

Issue #148 will be out very soon with #149 to follow quickly afterwards making up our three issue 50th Anniversary overview of the 2nd album.

PHEW!!

FAS #147 Delay.

Yes, we know its a bit late but don't worry it is getting there. The magazine was in fact printed a couple of weeks ago but there were some problems with the photographs -  or rather, there were some photographs that came out as blank spaces in a black frame!! No good. So we are printing it all over again this week. Hang in there, it's coming. When they go into the mail I'll post the magazine info and the cover up here, so you'll know it's on the way.

FREE (ILPS 9104) - 50 YEARS OLD TODAY.

FREE (ILPS 9104)

Released (after a couple of delays)

50 years ago today.

Pull it out and give it a play. It's still sounding pretty fantastic really. Brilliant sleeve art if you have a vinyl copy to hand.

Sorry its been a bit silent here BUT I've been VERY busy.The new FAS issues are just about ready to print. Finally...

We are just making the final checks before we run them.

Yes, I said ISSUES, as Free 'No.2' and our historical anniversary coverage will come in three magazines over the next two months. Three seriously packed issues too.

 

FAS #147 'Songs Of Yesterday #1' (November)

The history of the band from the release of 'Tons Of Sobs', through the release of 'Free', and on to the end of 1969. April 1969 - December 1969. This includes the recording of the 'I'll Be Creeping' single (with the 'g'), the sessions for the second album, the first trip abroad (to Paris), the Blind Faith American Tour, the Isle Of Wight Festival 1969, radio sessions, live recordings and more. All enhanced with lots of media and photographs from the period including press releases, reviews, tour ads, and gig posters.

56 pages.

FAS #148  'The Pictorial Scrapbook' (December #1)

This is the pictorial scrapbook. 

Lots more period press ads and photographs from the time. Many are full page and plenty of previously unpublished images. Awesome stuff.

56 Pages.

FAS #149 'Songs Of Yesterday #2' (December #2)

All the release information. UK, USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Japan and others. Details on first issues, first pressings, matrix numbers and more. LPs, singles, CDs, cassette and 8-track. All fully illustrated. Also the day to day diary.  Where they were and what they were doing April 1969 - December 1969. Gig ads, gig posters, contracts, set lists and more.

56 Pages.

Creepin' 'round your door soon...

And blowin' your mind!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL KOSSOFF

Paul Kossoff would have been 69 today,
so Happy Birthday Paul.


We still talk about you,

We still play your music,

And we still miss you.

The playlist at FAS towers 
in Nottm today will 
include, from the
Paul Kossoff
'Back Street Crawler'
180g vinyl -
remastered beautifully
by Andy Pierce -
 
'Tuesday Morning' 

Nice and loud!!

Free Appreciation Society Magazine - Issue #146

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #146

March / April 2019 (#3)  

Free - Green Hills Pt. 3

From the first rehearsal to 'Tons Of Sobs'

Extra Large 56 Page full colour issue covering the complete history of the band from April 1968 to March 1969. 

This edition is the final part of our 'Tons Of Sobs' trilogy and features the album itself as released world-wide, with information on pressings, matrix numbers and different editions across the globe. Included are press releases, adverts, foreign issues, albums, singles and compilations. The UK, USA, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and Canada are all represented with information and images.

Also in this fantastic magazine is the day to day diary. Covered here is the complete life of the band - gigs, recording and more - in a journal / sequentially dated format, similar to that in the back of 'Heavy Load'. This new version is updated with nineteen years worth of additional information, along with cuttings, ads, contracts and memorabilia of all kinds. 

The most in depth look at this period of the FREE history EVER. This completes a trio of issues that look at this specific phase of the band evolution over #144, #145 and #146. 'Tons Of Sobs' indeed.

The back cover of #146 features the original release advert for the 'Sobs' album in March 1969. Much more memorabilia, photographs. press and cuttings inside.

56 packed colour pages. Get it now!!

Why not subscribe?

 

Subscriptions/donations to the FAS run for three issues

The magazine is full colour and between 44 and 56 pages

For more info just email:

fasarticle@aol.com

UK £14.00 (Paypal £14.85)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

Europe

£18.80 (Paypal £21.13)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

Rest Of the World

£20.90 (Paypal £22.16)

Saving of around £2.65 on buying individual issues

The issues can also be found individually on Ebay but subscriptions always go out before any new magazine is made available elsewhere by a week or so.

You can also buy individual issues and back issues from the above email address. with any credit card via Paypal. Its safe and easy! 

FREE - Broad Daylight / The Worm 50 years Old

These anniversaries come around thick and fast. So here's the next from our '50 Years Old' list. Today, in March 1969, Free's first single 'Broad Daylight / The Worm' was released. It didn't rip up the charts. It didn't set the world on fire - but it does feature one of my favourite early Free songs 'The Worm' on the flipside.  

'Broad Daylight' itself has always been a bit of an oddity. Somewhat jaunty and with weird time signatures it was a one off. You can find a BBC session version of the song. Rodgers plays bass there while Andy plays rhythm guitar. Its quite rare to find the single these days but it does turn up. Here in the UK there are actually two different pressings. If you can find either for under £50 in excellent condition you'd be doing very well.