Badfinger - No Dice

This album is right with STRAIGHT UP and WISH YOU WERE HERE. I love the opening I CAN'T TAKE IT. All of the songs just rock on this album. NO MATTER WHAT is like one of the greatest songs ever, and WITHOUT YOU is known to be covered by Nillson, Heart, and Mariah Carey; Badfinger's is the definitive version in my eyes, though. Joey Molland joins the band and his debut song is LOVE ME DO. I love that track! The bonus tracks are great too. I'LL BE THE ONE and MEAN MEAN JEMIMA rock out, and I love WE'RE FOR THE DARK, BLODWYN and WATFORD JOHN. BELIEVE ME rules too. Excellent stuff here.

Well. I guess you all heard the news by now. "The Daily Snitch", one of London's top newspapers printed a story with huge headlines, "TOP SEER TO RETIRE FROM REVIEWING", including a picture of me being rushed into a waiting taxi cab. I want to assure all my fans that this is not the case. While it is true that I have stated that I wanted to cut back because of all the work involved. I was thinking of just submitting two sentences as a review, like many others (you have seen them, haven't you?). Two blerbs that say nothing and aren't challenging in the least. Of course it would be safe and non-threatening. And everyone goes home happy. Who cares if Metamorpho's Universal sacrifice is shattered like fine Lennox crystal dropped on the floor? Well.....at least there's glue. :)
But, let's move on to Badfinger, shall we? I knew they were excellent a long time ago, and while I listen to it now, it has lost none of the magic it had since the first time I heard it. Such a phenomenal pop outfit that reminds one of the Beatles. And why shouldn't it since two of them (Paul McCartney and George Harrison) guided Badfinger in so many ways? It was the wisdom and experience of how recording gets done that contributed to their superior sound. Also the smarts to recognize the talent that existed. It is the quintessential format of a pop quartet that is employed here. The harmony vocals, although rougher than the Beatles would use, are used here. We have the rythmn guitar keeping constant as tasty bits from the lead guitar color and shape the sound. The nice bass fill, jumpy and essential, and the sometimes active and sometimes understated drum breaks. Add to that, piano, some horns, and you have a very nicely put together album indeed.
But let us not forget that the songwriting here is above parr in so many respects. They all could write tunes - and none of them were shabby in the least! When you listen to the album you will be astounded on the variation of construction. They include tough rockers like "I Can't Take It", "Love Me Do", "No Matter What", and "Watford John". Semi-sweet odes such as like "Midnight Caller", "Without You", "It Had to Be", and "We're for the Dark". Included with this is the country-flavored rock of "Blodwyn". In fact people, if you like the diversity of what pop/rock can be, then you should investigate this album. There is not one bad cut here.
I suppose by now that everyone knows the story of Badfinger. Pete Ham's suicide, the non-support and atrocious activity of their record company. It is an amazement to me that a group this talented shouldn't have been mega. But, that only supports my wise Seer's outlook (after much reflection) that the best music out there is music you have never heard. Keep in mind, that, in some weird way, we are victims as much as Badfinger in the fact that the music industry has vast power of what you do or do not hear. We are the ones who have to do the work and seek out the gems. This one really was a no-brainer for your Metamorpho (stop that snickering--I hear you!).
Anyway, enough braying on my part. If you like nice melodies, great songs, and beautiful construction, get this c.d. You won't be disappointed. It is a pure joy.
Time to go and see if the newspaper will print a retraction. Hmmm...I think I'd have better luck purchasing another Lennox crystal. Oh well.

Well beyond the looking glass - your "non-retired" Metamorpho

Badfinger's best, most cohesive album. This is on par with Lou Reed's Transformer, T. Rex's The Slider, Mott the Hoople's All The Young Dudes, and David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. I have personally worn out three vinyl LPs, I like this album so much. Pete Ham's guitar work is the under-rated under-appreciated strength of this album. Soaring vintage Les Paul solos, both laidback and in-your-face, are the common thread connecting the feel and atmosphere of all twelve original songs. This is a great guitar album. The extra tracks are dismissable, with the exception of the superb "I'll Be The One". (Rumor has it that the cover model is Joey Molland's wife, Kathy.)

For a short time Badfinger filled the void left by the breakup of the Beatles. "No Dice" and the following album "Straight Up" are classic pop albums that had the harmony, melodic sense, energy and feeling that were the hallmark of the best of the Beatles music. While the Beatles had Lennon and McCartney Badfinger only had one "great" singer songwriter-Pete Ham, though Tom Evans was an excellent singer and wrote some memorable songs. The other members wrote and sang but it was Ham who provided the group with the best songs and the most inspired vocals.
The heartbreak of his finest song "Without You" (co-written by Evans) is only heightened by the knowledge of his tragic suicide (years later Tom Evans ended his own life the same way), and with no disrespect to Harry Nilsson, this is the definitive version.
Pete of course was surrounded by a group of solid singer, writer, players that made Badfinger one of the best groups in the early 1970's and "No Matter What" is one of the few songs that have stood the test of time and still seem fresh every time you hear it.

No Dice (1970.) Badfinger's second album.

From their infancy when they were known as the Iveys to Pete Ham's untimely suicide in the mid-seventies, Badfinger was a damn fine (and severely underrated) classic rock group. Because they were on Apple Records, they were often forced to live in the shadow of the Beatles - and some people unfairly coin them a Beatles rip-off. This really is a shame. Badfinger's music is nothing short of excellent, and there's no place this shows like on the band's sophomore LP, No Dice. Read on for my review.

It is on this album that Badfinger truly discovered their sound. Their Iveys LP and first Badfinger LP were excellent, too, but it was obvious that the band was still strugging to find their sound. Well, they found it here. Pete Ham and the boys serve up a damn fine classic rock and roll album here, that doesn't have a single weak track. One of the band's biggest hits of all, the classic No Matter What, comes from this album. The track still get classic rock radio play to this day, and with good reason. But, the other non-hit tracks are also excellent. Many are what you'd expect from a classic rock band, and many even take on somewhat of a country-rock sound, reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. All in all, this is probably Badfinger's strongest LP overall.

The new reissue of this album doesn't just remaster the album and expand the liner notes - it also adds some rare bonus tracks! The original album, as it was, was already a five-star masterpiece, but these bonus tracks are the icing on the cake - they take an already-great album and make it even better.

In the end you were left with a damn good classic rock album, arguably Badfinger's finest. It's a shame these guys tend to be so underrated in this day and age, because their music was some of the finest classic rock out there. If you like classic rock, this album is not to be missed.

I dont need to repeat everyone here, but this is a must own cd. You can thank us (and Joey when you see him at the Chicago Beatlefest in August) later.

No Dice was Badfinger's first masterpiece ( and my first Badfinger album!). The inspiration from The Beatles can be heard on most of these songs, but this album shows that they're much more than just a Beatles rip off. Some changes had been made since the recording of Magic Christian Music. Geoff Emerick (known from his work with The Beatles) produced most of the album; the rest of it was produced by Mal Evans who also produced some of Magic Christian Music. Ron Griffiths had already left before the release of the previous album so Tom Evans had now taken over the bass. Joey Molland ,who had played with Gary Walker, was chosen for a new guitarist. The material (the songs) on this album is very strong. "Without You" written by Tom and Pete has become an all-time classic - here's the original version - superior to any version I've heard so far. Enjoy Pete's organ line at the end of the song - sounds like something Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum could have done. "No Matter What", "Midnight Caller" and "We're For The Dark" all show what a brilliant songwriter with an unique sense of melody Pete Ham had already become. The album is a perfect blend of ballads, rockers and a bit of country ("Blodwyn"), generally performed with more rocking feeling than their earlier recordings. Though the album is obviously dominated by Pete Ham's songs all other members contribute to it. The bonus-tracks are all very good - 4 of them hail from the never-released follow-up album to "No Dice" recorded early 1971. The strongest of them is the group-composition "I'll Be The One", which at a certain point was considered as a single - I believe it had the hit-single potential.

My favourites: Midnight Caller, Without You, No Matter What, We're For The Dark and I'll Be The One

Less than 6 months after Badfinger's debut "Magic Christian Music" was released, the public is treated to the first real(with the new lineup) Badfinger album--"No Dice." The change is instantly noticeable. Gone is the silly dated Brit-pop that was the Iveys, replaced by the harder edged power pop that is Badfinger. "I Can't Take It" is the nonsensical raver that starts the disc off in fine fashion with Pete Ham shouting it out. The boys would use this song in their live act for years. "I Don't Mind" comes floating into the speakers next. Tom and newcomer Joey Molland do a good job vocally. It's a good song, handled with great feeling by the singers. "Love Me Do" is another song in the rocking mode. Also used in their stage show for the next few years, one can see why--lots of energy, good guitars. "Midnight Caller" is a nice mournful ballad with the drums mixed surprisingly high. The backing vocals shine while Pete Ham delivers a sterling lead vocal. Ham shows why many people referred to him as the best songwriter in the band as he shifts gears next and brings us the classic "No Matter What." All you have to do is hear the opening chord to know that it's Badfinger. Joey Molland plays a very fitting lead guitar. "Without You" is next and it's the one that got away. Badfingers version really sounds like a demo compared to the version that Harry Nilsson made and created into the monster that now stands as the definitive one. "Bloodwyn" is up next and it shows the boys can handle different types of music. Here the boys work the country angle with Pete again doing a tremendous vocal job. His slightly nasal readings give his songs an edge to them. Also, his lead guitar in this song is nothing short of perfection. Joey's "Better Days" is up next. While more of a shuffle than an out and out rocker, its nice to have. I like the way the acoustic guitars keep time, almost buried in the chorus. "It Had to Be" is the song drummer Mike Gibbins wrote although Pete Ham sings it. This is probably the song with the least to commend it. His writing would grow alot stronger in the future. "Watford John" is a song written by all four but sung by Pete. Nice guitar work here although the song as a whole fails to impress. "Believe Me" marks the first solo written number by Tom Evans who wrote much of the material on their debut disc. Highly impassioned vocals, while kept in check for the first couple of verses, erupt, then lead us to dueling guitars leads, then back into the song again. Tremendously impressive. "We're For the Dark" finishes the disc proper with Pete Ham and his mates on their trusty acoustic guitars. Of course, it helps that the
lush orchestra cradles this beautiful tune. Regarding the bonus cuts: "Get Down" sounds like an idea they're working on but its not coming together for them. "Friends Are Hard to Find"(Originally titled Photograph), is one of the first songs to be recorded with new memeber Joey Molland. Its interesting, but the same time its easy to see why it wasn't used. "Mean, Mean Jemima" however is a really, really good song. the interplay between guitarists(which wasn't a factor on the previous album)really stands out on this song and this disc. "Loving You" is a slow song sung by Mike Gibbins. Interesting and nice to have but also, easy to understand why it wasn't originally released. "I'll Be the One" is a puzzle. It sounds like a radio hit. Amazingly catchy and very singable. Yet this is the first time it's appearing anywere. Another point I'd like to make is that newcomer Joey Molland's presence, writing-wise, on the bulk of the disc. Not many bands would allow a new person to be involved so heavily so early. Improved vocals(both harmony and backing, a harder edge(due to Joey Molland) and improved songwriting(mainly Pete Ham) gave Badfinger one the best discs of 1970.