"Desolation Angels" by BAD COMPANY – March 1979 Fifth Studio Album on Atlantic Records featuring Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell and Simon Kirke (January 2020 UK Swan Song/Rhino 40th Anniversary '2-CD Expanded Edition' Reissue with 19 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and New Jon Astley Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desolation-Angels-40th-Anniversary-Company/dp/B081WW8RKT?crid=1AH4NWA5WQ7ZF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3TYHuX9KAbYlXM5JIHRTg.Bh40EbMokb8X17EhVaxrm21oUWaDMawWGY9bgRzga7A&dib_tag=se&keywords=603497849345&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733487207&sprefix=603497849345%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=0b7cc5fa189454dbf1c4e38c4c772783&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATINGS:

Overall **** to *****

Presentation *****

Audio *****

"…Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy…"

45-years ago (in March 1979 when this album was released) - I was a dapper 20-year-old Hippie/New Wave musical hybrid. I would be 21 in September 1979 and much partying was had and hangovers acquired.

Picture the scene. Me and my head-shaking teen-tribe had grown-up on 1970 to 1974 sounds - and at heart were Rock Band enthusiasts. Sure, we got into Prog and Reggae and Soul and even Jazz Funk and we embraced the hedonistic explosion of ideas and sounds and Two-Tone genres that took place across 1977, 1978 and 1979 with hair-flying gusto. But deep down inside our Desert Boots, Scandi Clogs, Cheese Cloth Shirts and patch-sewn Wranglers (thanks gals) - I remained (like many) a Zep, Deep Purple, Free, Status Quo, Montrose kind of guy with some Doobie Brothers, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Jethro Tull, Cockney Rebel and Lou Reed thrown in to spice up the stew. And of course, we worshiped at the babe-laden feet of the no-nonsense crotch-stroking feel-like-making-lurve Rawk of England's Bad Company - a band millions loved back in the day and for good reason. 

So, after two initial wham-bam-thank-you-mam corkers in "Bad Co." and "Straight Shooter" in 1974 and 1975 followed unfortunately by two dismissible efforts in "Run With The Pack" and "Burnin' Sky" in 1976 and 1977 – the flash very-with-it Hipgnosis gatefold artwork of "Desolation Angels" caught my ravenous eye in March 1979. For most of us rockers, Bad Co. had been away and not in a good way. So, maybe this one would return us to the party-faithful – even be good in places – God forbid! And lo – in parts at least - "Desolation Angels" was a peach.

But what makes these '2-CD Extended Edition' reissues so damn good (this is No.5 in the series – see list below) is that you are not just getting the album raw as a new Remaster – you get the process that led to it. And man are some of these Outtakes and Alternate Versions good. The band is looser, the Rock rawks and Hell – it's even fun in places. And the final let down of the "Rough Diamonds" last LP in 1982 was years away and not yet in our minds. Bad Company were back and sounding snotty. To the details and the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasies…

UK released 10 January 2020 - "Desolation Angels" by BAD COMPANY on Swan Song/Rhino R2 607224 – 603497849345 (Barcode 603497849345) is a '40th Anniversary 2-CD Expanded Edition' Reissue and Remaster of their 5th studio Album from March 1979 on Swan Song Records. It comes with upgraded Digipak packaging, a 16-page colour booklet with new interviews, 19 Previously Unreleased Tracks and it plays out as follows:

CD1 Original Album Remastered (69:44 minutes): 
1. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy [Side 1]
2. Crazy Circles
3. Gone, Gone, Gone
4. Evil Wind
5. Early In The Morning
6. Lonely For Your Love [Side 2]
7. Oh, Atlanta
8. Take The Time
9. Rhythm Machine
10. She Brings Me Love
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fifth studio album "Desolation Angels" – released March 1979 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59408 and March 1979 in the USA on Swan Song SS 8506. Produced by BAD COMPANY – it peaked at No.10 in the UK and No.3 in the USA on the LP charts

Bonus Tracks, Outtakes and Alternative Takes
11. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 1)
12. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 2)
13. Rock Fever (Outtake)
14. Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Fender 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)

CD2 Bonus Tracks (45:16 minutes):
1. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Version)
2. Early In The Morning (Alternative Version)
3. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 1)
4. Take The Time (Alternative Version 1)
5. Evil Wind (Alternative Version)
6. Take The Time (Alternative Version 2)
7. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 2)
8. She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version)
9. What Does It Matter (Blues Jam)
10. Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version)
11. Amen (A Capella)

The foldout card Digipak is pretty enough using those bleached white Hipgnosis photos the original LP gatefold did. But fans will prefer the four inside flaps all used to show rare 45-Single Picture Sleeves ("Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" and "Gone, Gone, Gone" from the USA and Japan) while the 16-page colour booklet has outtake photos, a two-page period-memorabilia collage shot plus 2019 liner-notes from fan and band-admirer DAVID CLAYTON who co-authored the book 'Heavy Load: The Story Of Free'. Drummer Kirke and Guitarist Ralphs contribute memories of the mammoth 86-show American Tour that began in April 1979 where the album and its two singles were well received. And even though Bad Co. had done only four shows in years in the UK – new gigs to support the 1979 album were met with Sold Out concerts and a huge resurgence in interest. Clayton also rightly praises the quality of the work-in-progress unreleased stuff that bolster up both CDs.

Audio Engineer JON ASTLEY of Who-fame has done the Remasters from original tapes and like all his transfers – muscle and clarity emanates from even the hookiest of things like the Gospel chant of Amen. Particularly digging the Smokin' 45 and Rock Fever outtakes and the Rough and Ready Blues Jam on CD2. To the bad boys and their mirror shades…

"Desolation Angels" opens with a treated guitar of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" rolling across your speakers and here comes the jesters (one-two-three). It's a good start if not quite a great one. The Remaster pumps out that great guitar solo - all economy and doing the business. Acoustic guitars introduces the merry-go-round of life in 
"Crazy Circles" - a surprisingly uplifting song with more than a touch of Gordon Giltarp's 'Heartsong' in its structure. But proper riffage swagger arrives with the wickedly catchy "Gone, Gone, Gone" (better get the boys around and do some drinkin' fast). "Evil Wind" sounds amazingly clear and as it goes into that neck-jerking rhythm when the lyrics start - the extra oomph in the Remaster has upped its game - so Very Bad Co. The big ballad "Early In The Morning" ends Side 1 - sounding good if not entirely convincing - "Shooting Star" it ain't. 

Side 2 opens with "Lonely For Your Love" - an album highlight - a rollicking tune that could be AC/Dc-lite as Paul Rodgers stretches those high notes with his fantastic croaking voice. A hugely enjoyable tune. Harmonica and Rhythm combine for "Oh, Atlanta" - Rodgers an old hound dog roaming around Georgia's finest city. "Take The Time" is the kind of Bad Co. melody song I love - not rocking by any means - but just so good on the ear and head - the kind of hooky catchall that Free used to do so often. "Rhythm Machine" punches the Bass and Keyboards above a Funky Rock beat - the music man playing the Blues in his own fat-man way. Side 2 closes with what could have been single number three - the excellent mid-tempo ballad "She Brings Me Love" - another Paul Rodgers winner. The Remaster on this is gorgeous - warm and powerful. 

We now start in on the Alternates and Unreleased – and for me anyway - "Smokin' 45" is way better than some on the actual album. I like the lighter Take 1 but also dig the grittier Take 2 – very cool inclusions. Then comes another great outtake that I feel is better than "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" – I would have opened the album on "Rock Fever" – Ralphs doing the guitar parts with precision and heart while the organ gives it a joy that could be Humble Pie on a good day. Rodgers starts a Harmonica Blues with a shimmering electric piano note – the alternate version of "Oh, Atlanta" coming as a shock and a treat after being used the more rocking version on the released album. Then comes Takes 1, 2 and 3 of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" which alter the finished version in small ways. CD1 ends with Supertramp-type walls of Acoustic Guitars on an Alternate of the rather good "Crazy Circles" (lovely gut-string guitar solo). 

For my own amusement, I programmed a new "Desolation Angels" running order for Side 1 & 2 that incorporates Album Tracks, Outtakes and Alternates and it rocks for me:

Side 1 Alternate

1. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternate Version)

2. Smokin' 45 (Alternate Version 1)

3. Rock Fever (Outtake)

4. Evil Wind 

5. Crazy Circles

6. Early In The Morning  

Side 2 Alternate

1. Lonely For Your Love

2. Oh, Atlanta

3. Take The Time

4. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy 

5. She Brings Me Love

CD2 gives you a real feel of the evolvement process - an 11-track 45-minute romp through the riffs and melodies. Not surprisingly it opens with the 'stealing all my booze' swagger of "Gone, Gone, Gone" - the piano boogie up there with the guitars and harmony vocals to mighty effect. The melodious Side 1 closer "Early In The Morning" gets a softer approach on the 'Alternate Version' - cool to hear but the LP cut is better. "Lonely For Your Love" is a lot heavier on Version 1 - a bit ham-fisted and you can so hear why they settled on the warmer approach of the released version. There are two Alternates for "Take The Time" where it feels that Ralphs is working out what's best for his guitar approach - Rock with a Funky flick - I like both and their raw feel. The Alternate "Evil Wind" seems to have a recording fuzzy glitch as it starts which is a shame because it grooves with real power when it gets going. 

But my faves here are the very Free-meets Bad Co of "Lonely For Your Love" and the ballad "She Brings Me Love". I never really liked "Rhythm Machine" on the album - but I dig the rawness and great Production values of 'Alternative' on CD2 (Fats Domino got our boy interested - not The Beach Boys). The Blues Jam "What Does It Matter" is a studio goof where the band are having fun - working out ideas and grooves - and yet you can hear Bad Co. magic in their even when they're goofing around. "Amen" is what you think it is - an all-vocal A Capella version of the Gospel Traditional - interesting but slightly out of place really. 

I have enjoyed these Bad Company '2-CD Expanded Edition' splurges because like Free or The Faces or Humble Pie - they are a British band that fill me with joy and great memories. 

I know that not everything on the twofer "Desolation Angels" is Primo or Grade A - but man when Bad Company were good - they were the best and that's good enough for me to press the Basket Purchase button. Recommended...

Albums in the BAD COMPANY 2-CD Expanded Edition Series

1. Bad. Co [June 1974 Debut] 
April 2015 UK Swan Song/Rhino 081227955540 (Barcode is the same number)
13 Bonus Tracks – 10 Previously Unreleased Tracks Plus 3 Others First Issued in March 1999

2. Straight Shooter [April 1975 Second Album]
April 2015 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227955533 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Takes and Unreleased

3. Run With The Pack [January 1976 Third Studio Album]
May 2017 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227953645 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Takes, Demos and Previously Unreleased Outtakes

4. Burnin' Sky [March 1977 Fourth Studio Album]
May 2017 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227953676 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Versions, Outtakes, Rough Mixes

5. Desolation Angels [March 1979 Fifth Studio Album]
January 2020 UK Swan Song/Rhino R2 607224 – 603497849345 (Barcode 603497849345) 
19 Bonus Tracks including Previously Unreleased (all), Outtakes, Alternative Versions

NOTE:
Issued 2 August 2019 in the UK-EU - Bad Company's 'The Swan Song Years 1974-1982' on Swan Song/Rhino R2 584500 - 603497854592 (Barcode 603497854592) is a 6CD Box Set that contains 2015, 2017 and 2019 Remasters of their first five studio albums (as listed above) - but also has a new 2019 Remaster of their final studio album "Rough Diamonds" originally issued August 1982. 

There was/is a September 1994 UK CD Reissue of "Rough Diamonds" on Swan Song 7567-92452-2 (Barcode 075679245229) available singularly with a Ted Jensen Remaster – but the new 2019 Jon Astley Remaster version is only available in this Box Set.