Badfinger - The Very Best of Badfinger

Having not lived in the '60s and '70s when these recordings were first made, this collection is outstanding for me, as it not only combines albums from two different record labels onto one CD, but it also features every song I know by Badfinger.

I saw Joey Molland at Hippiefest in 2007, and his 15-minute set featured four songs: "Baby Blue," "Come and Get It," "Day After Day" and "No Matter What." I know a little about Badfinger, but not so much as what songs come off of what albums, or what songs could've/should've been put on this disc but weren't.

What I can say is, I love a lot of the songs on this CD. In addition to those previously mentioned, I also really enjoyed the Iveys song "Maybe Tomorrow," and the sweet ballad, "Without You." I am not a diehard Badfinger listener. I just like to hear a few of their songs once in a while. So this album suits my needs quite well.

I have slogged thru all the available domestic and import Badfinger discs, including all the Japan mini-sleeves. Without a doubt, the remastered audio on this disc is superior to anything else out there.

It sure would be great if whoever remastered this collection would go back and do the rest of the catalog.

As evident by the other reviews, there are a lot of fabulous tracks that didn't make this compilation. However, the great audio makes this CD certainly worth the purchase.

The biggest advantage of this single disc set is that it brings together the Apple & Warner Bros. recordings together. Like most groups that have been contracted to more than one label in their career, the fan wasn't able to get a best of or greatest hits collection that covered their entire career. It would always be split down the lines of the songs that were recorded for whichever label. In recent years, though, many labels have come together with their competitors to give the fan comprehensive collections that include songs from more than one label. Such is the case here. I would very much like to commend the recording industry for coming together in this manner, I feel, at the very least, that this cooperation had the fan in mind.

I was never a big fan of Badfinger, never owned anything that was issued in their name. Oh, I knew who they were, their early period has some monster hits. Of course, being a big Beatle fan, I knew this group was closely associated to them. It was, in fact, Paul McCartney who suggested that they change their name to Badfinger, it was McCartney who wrote & produced their first major hit "Come and Get It". Badfinger was also signed to the Apple label which was the Beatles own. Even George Harrison served as a producer for them. I remember when they first hit it big, it was discussed how similar Joey Molland & McCartney looked & the slight similarity that Pete Ham & John Lennon shared. In one way it's sad that Badfinger would have the misfortune to be compared to the greatest rock group ever.

Badfinger is, perhaps, the first group that got tagged as being power-pop, nothing wrong with that. And though they suffered in comparison to the Beatles, they were, nevertheless, a talented unit in their own right. Pete Ham was the principal vocalist & writer, very capable in both capacities. Ham wrote most of the hits that were products of the group. All the big hits are here: "No Matter What" (Ham) #8 on the charts, "Day After Day" (Ham) #4 on the charts, "Baby Blue" (Ham) #14 on the charts & "Come and Get It" (McCartney) #7 on the charts. Those were the BIG hits. Charting also was "Maybe Tomorrow" (Evans) #67 on the charts (actually recorded by the Iveys). They actually had two more songs that received chart action but aren't included here: "Love Is Gonna Come at Last" (Molland) at #69 & "Hold On" (Evans, Tansin) at #56.

Unless you're a big fan of Badfinger many of the songs beyond the four major hits won't be familiar. The only other song in this collection that will be familiar is "Without You" (Ham, Evans). This song wasn't ever issued as a single by Badfinger but Harry Nilsson would record it later & have a huge hit with it going to #1 in 1972. Comparisons between the two versions leaves one without little doubt as to the why one was a hit & the other wasn't. "Without You" is actually two songs put together (another unfortunate similarity to Lennon & McCartney); Ham wrote the verses & couldn't finish it & Evans wrote the chorus but couldn't finish it. So, they did as Lennon & McCartney sometimes did, put their two pieces together in order to make a complete song.

The only other outstanding song on this cd is "Carry on Til Tomorrow" (Evans, Ham). There are some songs here that won't particularly interest the casual fan of Badfinger. The booklet has some decent liner notes & has several photographs including two of the Iveys.

Great but gloomy thinking about how the leader, Hamm, hanged himself and then one of the other members did the same. Joey is the only one that is doing well today. Had this group not had such a horrid manager that would not buy them equipment or repairs nor give them money to live on, they would probably still be around.

Timeless music...there are just no other words. Badfinger is one of the most under-appreciated bands. You know many of their songs, you just don't realize it's them.

Badfinger is the 1st rock band I ever saw when I was just 14. I had the pleasure of seeing the last living member Joey this summer in concert. Since then I've been wanting to get one of their CD's. The Very Best of Badfinger is a great CD!!! It has all their hits & famous songs. It brought me back to a very happy time in my life.

If you buy the cd you won't be disappointed. I only hope that Joey will be on tour again.

Debbie
Waterbury, CT

I went to a Badfinger concert in the 1970s and loved it. This CD brought back a lot of memories of that concert.

This album does indeed give us a generous sampling of what Badfinger could do. This CD amply proves that Badfinger was a great band; and they remain influential upon emerging artists today.

The track set begins with the famous hit "No Matter What." They harmonize to perfection and the electric guitars work really well! "No Matter What" rocks hard; I admire them for this ballad alone! "Name Of The Game" sports a somewhat slower tempo that almost reminds me of folk rock; the vocals are great and the guitars carry the bulk of the melody. Great! The strings bolster "Name Of The Game," too. In addition, "Come And Get It" sports a melody and vocals that remind me of The Beatles--and, of course, Paul McCartney himself both wrote and produced this fine number. "Come And Get It" lets the band singing of how their character's girlfriend needs to decide if she wants to spend life with him or not.

"I'll Be The One" boasts a great musical flourish; and when the band starts singing and playing guitars this number takes off for a high flying hit! The folk rock flavor for "I'll Be The One" enhances the beauty of this number. I think that you will like "I'll Be The One" very, very much. "Without You" starts with some relatively tame guitar and the vocals and guitar together create a beautiful rendition of this classic ballad. Badfinger makes their rendition of "Without You" the definitive rendition of this song using their sublime vocals, guitar--and a piano in the background at just the right time.

"I'd Die Babe" has that early 1970s rock flavor; and the band harmonizes to perfection! Awesome! Badfinger uses great electric guitar to bolster the number; and they handle the tempo changes like the professionals they always were. "It's Over" has great guitar and piano as the band harmonizes flawlessly at the beginning; this excellent tune rocks hard and slow at the same time as they sing of a love that has gone wrong.

"Love Time" is so sweet that it stuns me with its beauty; the band performs this without a superfluous note; the melody works well with its use of the guitars and drums. Love it! "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke" rocks hard with meaningful lyrics; this tune provides a strong ending for this album.

The liner notes include a lengthy, informative essay by Andy Davis; and the artwork impresses me. The notes list the years each song was recorded, too.

Badfinger will remain a great band amongst other less potent bands because of their thoughtful, careful harmonies; their singing and their many singularly beautiful rock ballads. I highly recommend this CD for Badfinger fans; and if you want to get acquainted with Badfinger this certainly would be a great choice.

Enjoy! Thank you, Badfinger!

I got this CD for my brother's birthday and he loved it! It arrived right away and everything was in very good shape! Thanks

While I agree that there are some key tracks missing, this is still a good single-CD overview of an incredibly versatile and talented band. The sound quality is outstanding. It's an interesting mix of rockers and ballads that demonstrates the range and musicianship of the group. While it would take two CDs to do justice to a band with as much great material as Badfinger, this CD is a good place to start.

The good thing about this album is that it presents material from both principal parts of Badfinger's career (the Apple and the Warner period) and thereby provides the listener with a more complete picture of this great but tragically unfortunate band than previous compilations. A minor weakness is that the selection is a bit unbalanced, including some rather weak tracks from the early years and lacking a number of much better songs from Badfinger's late production. Anyway, this is the most comprehensive Badfinger compilation so far and the digital remastering adds to the pleasure of listening to one of the best Beatles successors and one of the first - if not THE first - power pop bands.

I grew up listening to Badfinger and I loved their sound. Since two of the original members are no longer with us, there is little chance of seeing the remaining members on stage. Thus I have to do with what is recorded which is simply amazing. From the mournful sounds of Without You to the teasing of Come and Get It, this CD is, in a word, awesome. It puts together all the hits and some of their lesserknown works together. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Some say Badfinger is a bit of everything. Bit of Beatles, bit of Paul McCartney. All true, but they add a bit of their own to it which makes them very good to listen to.
They've written most of their songs themselves, with succes (so do think Nilsson and Maria Carey among others anyway!).
I bought the book as well (Without you, the tragic story of Badfinger). If only everthing had run just a little bit smoother they would have been one of worlds most succesfull bands.

a must for any badfinger fan. this is the one you wamt.

What a refreshing sound! It still stands the test of time. They are unique, with harmony and really tight music. I am so glad that I got this for myself because I listen to it all the time. I actually remember shopping for the "45" singles at the time they were hits. Fantastic!

In the early seventies, Bad finger represented an adequate link between the tradition and the new. Since the days of "The strawberry statement" they were widely known through his well reminded "Day after day". And since then, his presence established a perfect balance between the pop and the soft rock, simple melodies, but filled of inspiration and expansive creativity.

This band was fundamental during the emerging Seventies Decade and his style still maintains freshness and style.

Badfinger was a wonderful band and there popular singles are power pop nuggets. There is no doubt that they, to a certain degree, emulated the Beatles.

What I like the most about their songs is that although they were very popular, radio driven songs...the tunes also had a very personal, soulful and organic quality.

"Baby Blue", "No Matter What", and "Come and Get it" are the most popular songs. Def Leopard did a very credible take on "Baby Blue" for their latest "covers" album. When I saw Def Leopard live, they played the song and got an ethusiastic ovation. I mention this b/c it is a testament to the enduring quality of these songs.

Put this in your cd player and you will get a positive response from your guests.

Songs that are so old and nostalgic still sound so good!

This is a perfect band for a compilation.

Badfinger was a memorable group in the early years of the 70s. After the Beatles disbanded at the turn of the decade, Badfinger seemed to be an heir apparent to the style of the Beatles. Badfinger was signed to the Apple label, which belonged to the Beatles, and there was involvement in the group by various Beatles, most notably Paul McCartney, and involvement by the group in various Beatles projects. A string of hits in the early 70s powered the group along and all seemed well in the world for Badfinger. Unfortunately, politics, personal differences, and critics spelled the end of the group, forever. However, the music remains; a testament to a group that seemed on the verge of dripping gold.

Most of these songs have a strong Beatles flavor to them. In some cases, the group sounds just like the Beatles. Fortunately, the group was very good and was much more than Beatles imitators. "No Matter," "Day after Day," "Baby Blue," and "Come and Get It" were all successful singles for the group, and were indications of what the group could have been. The Badfinger penned song "Without You" became one of Harry Nilsson's biggest hits, winning Harry a Grammy award.

Moving beyond the well known songs, "Carry On Til Tomorrow" is a psychedelic song with lovely harmonies reminiscent of the Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The vocal on "Midnight Caller" sounds eerily like Paul McCartney. "We're for the Dark" sounds much like the songs released as singles, and is similarly enjoyable. "I'll Be the One" sounds like a Beatles song. The song even sounds like the Beatles are singing it. Yet another song that falls in this category is "Love Time."

Most of the songs on this album are mellow and friendly. As I keep pointing out, these songs frequently sound much like those of the Beatles. If you like the Beatles, and you like the singles you have heard from Badfinger, then you are going to like this collection. You might even want to move on to buying their albums.

Badfinger had a lot of potential. Just when the group was moving forward they had a falling out with Apple Records. Then the wife of one of the members attempted to exert control over the group. Soon the members of the group were disagreeing, and the group disintegrated. Eventually two members of the group committed suicide. Another member of the group has also passed away. Each time I listen to this CD I enjoy the music so very much. I have to wonder what might have happened if the members of the group would have remained together as they were; what kind of greatness might they have achieved? Then I become a little sad.

[...]

Badfinger is most definitely a band who's music is preceeded by it's legend, because, yes, they've had one of the saddest stories of any band you could think of. I won't recount it here, but it's messed up and sad for a band of such immense talents.

Now these guys weren't visionaries or anything. They just wrote solid Beatles style songs and they didn't particularly innovate with anything. They were however set apart by extraordinary melodic sense and song-writing ability. Consumate professionals and none-too-shabby musicians, there is no real reason why they should not have been successful. I also don't think people can complain too much about all the Beatles comparisons being 'unfair' or 'unjustified' because most of Badfinger's songs sound pretty much like mid-early period Beatles, which is not a bad thing, it still takes a lot of talent, especially melodically speaking.

And though it isn't good, Pete Ham and Tom Evan's respective suicides certainly have created this kind of...sad mystique around a lot of the songs. I mean, many of the lyrics are transformed into very heavy statements indeed. 'Without You' is truly one of the saddest, most melancholy, hopeless songs you'll hear.

Harry Nilsson's version was a double-edge sword, because while it made the song a 'standard' in the pop world with huge popularity, it overshadowed the original makers. And Mariah Carey's version, well, she goddamn BUTCHERED it! I grew up HATING this song, because my sister would play 'Without You' by Mariah Carey and I couldn't stand the crappy, emotionally void poppy sheen of it. She wails 'I can't lliivvvee'...compare that to the short, cold, desperate cry in the original. So much more effective. The original is heart-breaking, and should be the version that history remembers as the definitive take. I fear that Mariah Carey forever ruined this great song. And the meaning is different when Pete says 'I can't live if living is without you'. Without what? Success? Recognition? A helping hand? Or maybe it really is a stilted lover...whatever, it's powerful. 'You always smile but in your heart your sorrow shows'...

As for others, 'No Matter What' is prime Beatles style material. Catchy to a fault and heavenly tone. 'Carry On Till Tommorrow' gets you with it's 'when I was young, I told myself, my life would be my own'. There's that hindsight again. Their catchiest song in my opinion is 'Baby Blue'...what a slice or pure pop glory!

In conclusion, I know I'm looking at a different best-of here, but Badfinger were simply a great pop rock band. Not by todays god-awful pop rock standards, back when songwriting was songwriting and people had the guts to put a little authenticity into the preceedings. You can't go wrong with this great band.

Badfinger may be the greatest forgotten rock band ever. Proteges of the Beatles, they were nonetheless brilliant and original songwriters, musicians, and singers in their own right.

Self-interested management and a disastrous label change doomed this band.

Their albums are not easy to find here in the U.S. (though you can pick up everything through Amazon or its partners), so this "best of " of collection is a superb starting point.

Every track here is flawless, highlighting the glorious Badfinger melodies that rivaled those of Lennon and/or McCartney at their peak.

Also of great value is the fact that this collection covers all of the work Badfinger released before Pete Ham's suicide. From its original incarnation as The Iveys through its last fully completed studio album with the Ham/Evans/Molland/Gibbins lineup, this cd has a bit of it all.

So listen, enjoy, then buy everything else by this incredible and sadly overlooked band.

R.I.P. Pete Ham, Tom Evans, and Mike Gibbins. And best wishes to Joey Molland.

Ok, this Badfinger compilation isn't perfect, but it's still very good. The songs that are here are a joy to listen to and yes, one could say that it's missing some songs, but on any compilation, I believe that to be the case. No compilation is perfect, there is always going to be something that someone doesn't like. I, however, like this compilation, because what is here is very good and the sound is very good, so I feel it deserves 5 stars, for what it does have. I highly recommend it.

During the early 70's I remember listening to Badfinger on the radio, and enjoying their music very much.
The Beatles had signed James Taylor, Mary Hopkins and Badfinger to their Apple label.
It gave many artists a chance they might not have had otherwise.
In retrospect Badfinger was an outstanding band.
Three of the finest songs of the era appear on this compilation.
No Matter What, Day After Day and Baby Blue are three outstanding songs.
Come and Get It, a song Paul McCartney wrote for the Magic Christian is also on this.
To be absolutely honest I am not familliar with the rest of the CD but would buy it just for the four songs I have mentioned.
I have tried for years to find a good Badfinger Greatest Hits CD like this. This is by far the best compilation I have found.
If you like Badfinger you cant pass this one up

This album is the best compilation available of this fine group, what with the inclusion of tracks from the band's post-Apple period, but makes the mistake of trying to showcase the songwriting abilities of all the band members as if they were equal. They weren't. Pete Ham was the super-talent of the band. Tom Evans had his moments, but Ham's output dwarfs anyone else's.

I agree with the reviewer who thought "Apple of My Eye" and "Timeless," great album cuts, should have been included from the band's last Apple album "Ass." I also think "Take It All" from Straight Up belongs, as do "I Can't Take It" from No Dice, and "Midnight Sun" from Magic Christian Music.

Be sure to look into Ham's two posthumous compilations, "Golder's Green" and "7 Park Avenue", where you'll hear a number of stunning demos, and like me, you'll probably wonder why on earth Badfinger decided to be a democracy and leave so many great Ham tunes on the shelf.

Badfinger was one of the rare bands whose songs had excellent melody. In the melody department, this CD is easily worth its price for three songs: Baby Blue, Day After Day, and No Matter What. And if you want them on your iPod, iTunes doesn't have them (as of 8/1/05).

Sometimes I wonder that if the Beatles had continued on as a group and evolved throughout the 70's, that they'd sound like Badfinger. Pete Ham did sound Beatle-ish, varying between John and George. The thing is, with the exception of John Lennon's murder, the Beatles didn't end as tragically as Badfinger. Originally an all-Welsh group on the Beatles' label, Apple Records, by the time they hit it with the Magic Christian soundtrack, guitarist Pete Ham and drummer Mike Gibbins were the only two from the original lineup, having added guitarist Joey Molland and bassist Tom Evans.

Three songs from The Magic Christian, the movie starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, are included. The opening theme, the brisk "Come and Get It" penned and produced by Paul McCartney, was originally going to be sung by McCartney, and indeed it sounds like a Beatles song. Love that rhythm piano. This was their first Top Ten, peaking at #7. The other two songs from MC were the somber "Carry On Til Tomorrow," which is played during the opening credits showing the homeless Ringo down on his luck until Peter Sellers comes with his proposition. And the raucous "Rock Of All Ages" is a nod to Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally."

However, their debut single, produced by Tony Visconti (later of Bowie fame) was "Maybe Tomorrow" back when they were known as the Iveys. This nice ballad has a lush orchestra backing. It made it to #1 in the Netherlands. As for their other Top 40 hits, there was the light rocker "No Matter What," which reached #8, and sounded like something Paul McCartney would do solo. Then, with Leon Russell on piano and George Harrison on guitar solo with Ham and producing, was the reflective love song "Day After Day." Their highest charting single, at #4, has a melody that sometimes reminds me of Lulu's "To Sir With Love."

It was Ham and Evans who first did "Without You" before Harry Nilsson took it to #1 in 1972, where it spent 4 weeks on top. Others who have covered this include Heart on their Magazine album and Mariah Carey, who took it to #3 in 1993. While Badfinger were fully complimentary of Nilsson's rendition, it seems unfair that they were unable to take their own composition to the heights Nilsson did.

Two songs with distinct 60's stylings were "We're For the Dark" with its "Eight Days A Week" fade-in and stereo separation, and "I'd Die Babe," the latter which would be at home on any Beatles album from the White Album onwards. The tempo is very "Get Back."

If the Beatles had countrified "Eight Days A Week," they'd probably come up with "I'll Be The One." And "Love Time" has similar stylings to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass material. However, their link to McCartney and Harrison did cause frustrations, as did the music, which frustrated the band, who wanted to be seen as a group in their own right and not as a sequel of the Beatles. Add to this, the group was seeing none of the money they had earned, due to financial machinations of their management at Apple Records, still under Allan Klein, who had been the Beatles financial manager shortly before their implosion. This led Pete Ham to hang himself in 1975. An attempt to revive Badfinger in the 80s led to Tom Evans sharing the same fate following infighting within the surviving bandmembers.

Here is the oeuvre of a very talented band who deserved but didn't get the money and recognition they did when they were active. Hopefully, other bands and musicians will learn from them on how not to be exploited by greedy managers and record label honchos. As for the collection, well, "if you want it, here it is, come and get it."