Recorded between November 1973 and November 1998. Includes liner notes by John McDermott.
Digitally remastered by Steve Croxford, Jack "Jacko" Adams, and Walter Coehlo
1974's BAD COMPANY laid the groundwork for much of the mainstream hard rock that would dominate FM radio and album sales in the 1970s and '80s. In contrast to the expansive canvases of psychedelic music and the virtuoso excesses of prog rock, Bad Company's debut stripped the blues-rock model down to its essentials, playing muscular, amped-up power chords over driving 4/4 beats. Though the singing of vocalist Paul Rodgers (who had previously been in the blues-based band Free) has a rather flat affect, it is powerful and distinctive, meshing perfectly with the bluesy riffs of guitarist Mick Ralphs.
The tightly structured songs are cut from similar cloth, but the exuberant "Can't Get Enough," the snarling "Bad Company," and moody, spectral "Ready For Love" provide enough variety to keep things interesting. The gentle "Seagull," though uncharacteristically introspective for the band, is one of Rodgers/Ralphs's finest compositions. Subsequent Bad Company albums would rework the same basic themes, but BAD COMPANY, the group's opening salvo, was their defining work. It remains a classic of straightforward, blues-based rock.
(Masterpiece Mastering, London, England).
Live Recording
Bad Company: Paul Rodgers (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano); Mick Ralphs (guitar); Boz Burrell (bass); Simon Kirke (drums).
Engineers include: Robin Black, Ron Nevison, Chris Kimsey.
Bad Company: Boz Burrell (bass instrument); Mick Ralphs, Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke.
Personnel: Paul Rodgers (vocals, guitar, accordion, piano); Sunny Leslie, Sue Glover (vocals); Mick Ralphs (guitar, keyboards); Mel Collins (saxophone); Simon Kirke (drums); Sonny (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Ron Nevison.
Recording information: Headley Grange, Hampshire, England (11/1973).
Photographer: Hipgnosis.
Additional personnel: Sue & Sunny (background vocals); Mel Collins.Entertainment Weekly (4/9/99, p.77) - "While never on a part with '70s contemporaries Led Zep or Lynyrd Skynyrd, these British medium-hard rockers made stern, lean headbanging rock..." - Rating: B
Q (1/95, pp.265-268) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "Sparse, unadorned and tuneful...alternates between good-natured...and soulful ballads....The title tracks became the blueprint for Bon Jovi's career..."
Q (5/99, pp.122-123) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Can't Get Enough of Your Love and Shooting Star reamin staples of mature drivetime radio and the band's chunky boogie, iced by Paul Rodger's lascivious holler, may still appeal to fanciers of The Black Crowes or Reef..."
cdUniverse
Bad Company Album Track Listing
1. Can't Get Enough
2. Rock Steady
3. Ready For Love
4. Don't Let Me Down
5. Bad Company
6. The Way I Choose
7. Movin' On
8. Seagull
Ready For Love
Bad@320
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