"Encouraging Words" by BILLY PRESTON - September 1970 UK Album on Apple Records featuring George Harrison (October 2010 UK Apple 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster)

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"…Learn To Live The Golden Rule…Don't You Go Through Life Being A Fool…"

Monday 25 October 2010 has seen 14 of the 'Apple' label albums remastered and reissued alongside "Come And Get It" - a first-time-ever label 'Best Of'. This reissue is one of them.

"Encouraging Words" was the second and last album on Apple Records for long-time friend and sometimes collaborator with The Beatles - American keyboardist and Soul Singer Billy Preston. And along with his excellent debut LP the year before (1969's "That's The Way God Planned It") – it's not just one of the labels better offerings, it's a criminally forgotten Seventies Soul gem and arguably the best album of his long career.

UK released 25 Oct 2010 - "Encouraging Words" by BILLY PRESTON on Apple 5099990823923 (Barcode is the same as catalogue number) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows (54:44 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 13 are the LP "Encouraging Words" released 11 September 1970 in the UK on Apple SAPCOR 14 (Stereo only) and on Apple ST-3370 in the USA.

BONUSES:

Tracks 14 and 15 are the 2 bonus tracks given with the 1993 reissue - "As Long As I Got My Baby" (a Preston original) and "All That I Got (I'm Gonna Give It To You)" (a co-wrote with Doris Troy).

"As Long As I Got My Baby" was intended to be the B-side of Preston's version of "My Sweet Lord" on Apple 29 (scheduled for September 1970 release in the UK) but withdrawn.

"All That I Got (I'm Gonna Give It To You)" was co-produced with GEORGE HARRISON and released as a 7" single on 30 January 1970 in the UK on Apple 21. It's B-side "As I Get Older" is on the "That's The Way God Planned It" CD reissue as a bonus (Track 14) – both songs were non-album at the time of release.

Track 16 is a new bonus for this 2010 issue - the previously unreleased fully formed song - "How Long Has the Train Been Gone". It was co-written with Bruce Fisher, recorded in January 1970 and then later re-recorded for Preston’s 1973 album on A&M Records – "Everybody Loves Some Kind Of Music" (he would also re-record "When You Were Mine" for his 1976 A&M album “Billy Preston”).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:
Noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the disappointingly weedy 12-page booklet (EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and it's peppered with some very tasty full-page colour photos of Preston from the time. No UK singles were issued around the record (possibly why it disappeared so quick), but there is a full-page reproduction of an advert for the American single of "My Sweet Lord" on Apple 1826 (it also names Radio Stations supporting the song).

PLAYERS:
The cast is impressive (if not a little vague) – GEORGE HARRISON co-produced the entire album with Preston, ERIC CLAPTON played guitar on 3 tracks – “Right Now”, “Use What You Got” and “Encouraging Words”. RINGO STARR and KLAUS VOORMAN are said to be on Drums and Bass respectively, while DELANEY BRAMLETT also plays guitar on “Encouraging Words” with Eric. The Rhythm Section for THE TEMPTATIONS are on there (Bass, Guitarist, Drums) while members of SAM and DAVE’S band played Drums and Bass too. Both MADELINE BELL and DORIS TROY provided beautiful soulful backing vocals (Doris Troy’s lone album on Apple “Doris Troy” was released the week earlier – 4 September 1970) while the EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS are on “My Sweet Lord” and “Sing One For The Lord”.

CONTENT:
Six of the 13 are Billy Preston originals with "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things (Must) Pass" being George Harrison compositions. "Let The Music Play", "The Same Thing Again" and "Sing One For The Lord" are co-writes with Jesse Kirkland, James Herndon and George Harrison respectively. Which leaves two cover versions – The Beatles' "I've Got A Feeling" (from "Let It Be") and "You've Been Acting Strange" written by Ronnie Lee Williams (also covered by Merry Clayton on her 1970 "Gimme Shelter" album). Unlike some of the other Apple issues, there are no extra tracks via download. But the really big news is the SOUND...

SOUND:
The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, PHIL HICKS and SIMON GIBSON. I always thought the initial 1993 reissue was dull-as-dishwater soundwise - well not so now because the audio quality here is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement. It also makes you reassess a lot of the songs and appreciate more Harrison's excellent production contributions.

"Right On" is a superb opener and sets the tone for the overall funky feel of the album (surely it would have been a hit single). "When You Are Mine" is a sweetheart too as is "Use What You Got" (with great wah-wah guitar from Clapton). Very cool stuff. Conversely - the two most famous 'early versions' of Harrison classics "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things (Must) Pass" are the ones that work the least well for me. Not so the stunning blues-soul of "The Same Thing Again" co-written with the noted Gospel singer James Herndon – it's a monster. It had customers coming to the counter in our shop wanting to know which Ray Charles tune we were playing (praise indeed).

"Encouraging Words" is a brilliantly brassy dancer with a message for the kids to be kind, stay in school and don't get suckered (lyrics above). It really is so good. The brass, the great production and the remaster combine to fill your room with superlative soul-funk. But for me the absolute dog's undercarriage is the fabulous Beatles-meets-Gospel "Sing One For The Lord" - Preston's huge organ playing combines with the choir feel of the backing vocals, George's meaty guitar riff and a lingering Sitar-sounding instrument called the Indian Tamboura which floats over the whole thing – it’s a stunning cross-pollination of cultures and music and as close to post-Beatles magic as you can get.

Although a little hissy - the new song "How Long Has The Train Been Gone" is a slow soulful gem – it's fantastic and I can't believe its been lingering in vaults all these years. And like the new bonus track "Something's Got To Change" on the "That's The Way God Planned It" CD reissue (see separate review) - it's that rarest thing, a genuine must-have bonus track.

Niggles - the gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). But these are truly minor points…

To sum up – I've loved rehearing this forgotten peach of an album in this hugely improved sound quality - Seventies Soul lovers need to discover this great record. I’m also reminded of crying uncontrollably when I saw Preston play "Isn't It A Pity" live with Clapton and that fantastic band at the "Concert For George" in 2002 in The Royal Albert Hall - magical. Too many losses man…remember his this way.

A brilliant reissue and recommended big time...

"No Dice" by BADFINGER - November 1970 Second Album on Apple Records (October 2010 UK Apple 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Knock Down The Old Grey Wall...Be A Part Of It All..."

Monday 25 October 2010 in the UK saw 14 of the 'Apple' label albums remastered and reissued (see list below) - alongside a first-time-ever label 'Best Of' compilation CD not surprisingly called "Come And Get It" (named after a huge BADFINGER hit penned by Paul McCartney specifically for the band). This zippy little expanded CD reissue of their 2nd album "No Dice" is one of them. Details...

"No Dice" by BADFINGER on Apple 5099990580727 (Barcode 5099990580727) is a 25 Oct 2010 CD Reissue and Remaster with Five Bonus Tracks that breaks down as follows (57:42 minutes):

1. I Can't Take It [Side 1]

2. I Don't Mind

3. Love Me Do

4. Midnight Caller

5. No Matter What

6. Without You

7. Blodwyn [Side 2]

8. Better Days

9. It Had To Be

10. Watford John

11. Believe Me

12. We're For The Dark

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Stereo LP "No Dice" by BADFINGER released 27 November 1970 in the UK on Apple SAPCOR 16 and on Apple SKAO-3367 in the USA (it reached number 28 on the American Billboard Top 100). Note: "Love Me Do" is not Beatles cover but a Joey Molland original and "Without You" is the song made famous by NILSSON (Number 1 in the UK in February 1972).

Tracks 13 to 17 are all previously unreleased and exclusive to this 2010 reissue:

13. "I Can't Take It" is an Extended Version - 4:14 as opposed to 2:55minutes

14. "Without You" is a Studio Demo Version

15. "Photograph (aka "Friends Are Hard To Find')" is a Previously Unreleased Version

16. "Believe Me" is an Alternate Version

17. "No Matter What" is a Studio Demo Version

Requiring extra payment there are also 2 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon - an Instrumental Version of "Love Me Do" and an Extended Stereo Version of "Get Down" (see either site for details).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The gatefold sleeve of the original vinyl LP is reproduced while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long - EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and there are 4 superb colour portraits of the band - PETE HAM, TOM EVANS, JOEY MOLLAND and MIKE GIBBINS.  It's cute, but you do wish there was more...

PLAYERS/CONTENT:

The original album was produced by GEOFF EMERICK of Beatles/Abbey Road fame (except for "No Matter What", "Believe Me" and the bonus tracks from 14 through to 17 which were produced by MAL EVANS). Unlike so many of the sessions of the time, the recordings 'didn't' include a number of The Beatles and their talented friends - so the band got to shine all by themselves.

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, SAM OKELL and SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement - makes you reassess a lot of the songs.

The album opens strongly with a Pete Ham original "I Can't Take It" - rocking guitars and pumping brass - it sounds really great. It's followed by the Big Star feel of "I Don't Mind" co-written by Tom Evans and Joey Molland - a song that starts out gently and then builds into an impressive melodious tune - it's excellent. Not so I'm afraid with "Love Me Do" (no relation to The Beatles song) - it's a poor man's rocker and doesn't really work. But then you're hit with a double-whammy of Badfinger excellence - "Midnight Caller" and the sublime "No Matter What" (lyrics above). Both stand the test of time - especially "No Matter What" - surely a contender for a Top Ten position in the list 'best 7" single ever released'.

"Without You" would of course be taken by NILSSON and transformed into one of the most extraordinarily powerful cover versions ever made. I heard in a car on the radio a few weeks back in the early morning on the way into work - and to this day it moves me - its opening chords still capable of calling up a shivering memory. "Blodwyn" is a ditty while the excellent "Better Days" turned up as the B-side to the UK 7" single of "No Matter What" (Apple 31) in November 1970 - they used "Carry On Till Tomorrow" as the B on the USA 7" (Apple 1822) - a track off their debut album "Magic Christian Music". The Mike Gibbins penned "It Had To Be" is a lovely song, while the band-composed "Watford John" is a rocker written about an Apple Studio Engineer called John Smith. The last two on the album are huge favourites among fans - Tom Evans' sweet "Believe Me" and Pete Ham's acoustic "We're For The Dark" - accomplished playing, melody builders - both define that certain 'Badfinger' sound. They end the album proper on a definite musical high note.

But like the other issues in this series, the best seems to be kept until last. Having grown used to the short album cut of "I Can't Take It" - I must say that I love the way it's spread out more on the fantastically rocking 'Extended Version'. You can see why it was cut, but in 2010 I'll take the 'indulgent' version any day of the week. Then fellows the 'Demo' of "Without You" which I find more affecting than the finished track - more akin to what Nilsson did with it - it's a gem. "Photograph" is a rough rock song - it's good, but it's eclipsed big time by a sweet-as-honey Alternate Take of "Believe Me" with more Piano and Electric Guitar - what a treat. The 'Demo' of "No Matter What" is close to the finished track, but without that killer electric guitar that made it. I must say that the bonus tracks are impressive rather than being superfluous. Very, very good indeed...

Niggles - the 2 download tracks will be desirable to fans and making them pay extra dollars for them via Download is cheapskate and crappy - and as you can see from the playing time above, there was plenty of room to include them on here (they're available as hardcopy on the double-CD that comes with the "Apple Box Set"). The gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should also have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). They're minor points I know, but they're worth making...

One star or Five - Badfinger have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight. I'd say that if you're coming to them cold in 2014 then it's probably somewhere in between. But fans will see it differently - they will eat this reissue up big time. To sum up - I still see "No Dice" as a great album - with songmanship that shines through even now. And they repeated that craft and warmth on their next album "Straight Up" too.

Recommended - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality and those shockingly good bonus tracks.

The October 2011 Apple CD Remasters are (I've reviewed most):

1. Magic Christian Music - BADFINGER (January 1970)

2. No Dice - BADFINGER (November 1970)

3. Straight Up - BADFINGER (1972)

4. Ass - BADFINGER (1974)

5. Postcard - MARY HOPKIN (1969)

6. Earth Song - Ocean Song - MARY HOPKIN (1971)

7. Is That What You Want? - JACKIE LOMAX (1969)

8. Under The Jasmine Tree / Space - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1968 and 1969 - 2LPs on 1CD)

9. That's The Way God Planned It - BILLY PRESTON (1969)

10. Encouraging Words - BILLY PRESTON (1970)

11. The Radha Krishna Temple - THE RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971)

12. The Whale / Celtic Requiem - JOHN TAVENOR (1970 and 1971 - 2LPs on 1CD)

13. James Taylor - JAMES TAYLOR (1968)
14. Doris Troy - DORIS TROY (1970)

"Ass" by BADFINGER - November 1973 Fourth Album on Apple Records USA (March 1974 in the UK) - featuring Todd Rundgren (October 2010 UK Apple CD Reissue and Remaster with Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...ple Label in 1973/1974 – Now Reissued Onto A 2010 Extended CD.

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"…I'm Sorry But It's Time To Move Away…"

By the time the British band BADFINGER had reached 1974 - and despite a fresh signing to the mighty Warner Brothers - no one was really listening.

 

Hence their last album for The Beatles Apple label "Ass" - which snook out just before their self-titled Warners debut - got lost in a confusing mix of conflicting material and contractual shenanigans (November 1973 US release, but it would have to wait until March 1974 in their own UK). That doesn't mean to say that there isn't great music on worth checking out…

UK released Monday 25 October 2010 - "Ass" by BADFINGER on Apple 5099964243924 is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (53:46 minutes):

1. Apple Of My Eye

2. Get Away

3. Icicles

4. The Winner

5. Blind Owl

6. Constitution [Side 2]

7. When I Say

8. Cowboy

9. I Can Love You

10. Timeless

Tracks 1 to 10 are the LP "Ass" released 26 November 1973 in the USA on Apple SW-3411 and 8 March 1974 on Apple SAPCOR 27 in the UK (it reached number 122 on the American Billboard Top 100).

Tracks 11 to 15 are bonus tracks exclusive to this 2010 CD reissue:

"Do You Mind (Previously Unreleased Version)" is a Joey Molland song (11)

"Apple Of My Eye (Previously Unreleased Early Mix)" is a Pete Ham song (12)

"Blind Owl (Previously Unreleased Version)" is a Tom Evans song (13)

"Regular (Previously Unreleased)" is a Joey Molland song (14)

"Timeless (Previously Unreleased Version)" is a Pete Ham song (15)

Requiring extra payment, there are also 5 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon – "Get Away (Bonus Track Version)", "I Can Love You (Bonus Track Version)", "Piano Red (Previously Unreleased)", "When I Say (Bonus Track Version)" and "The Winner (Bonus Track Version)" (see either site for cost details).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The front & rear of the original vinyl LP sleeve is reproduced on the gatefold card sleeve (with the black and white 'Ass' inner bag on the inside of the gatefold), while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long - EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and there are black & white studio shots of the band - PETE HAM, TOM EVANS, JOEY MOLLAND and MIKE GIBBINS.  It's cute, but you do wish there was more...

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, SAM OKELL and SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement - makes you reassess a lot of the songs.

PLAYERS/CONTENT:

The album was produced by CHRIS THOMAS except for "The Winner" and "I Can Love You" - which had TODD RUNDGREN at the controls (Todd also produced their preceding album "Straight Up"). The 'bonus tracks' were self-produced by the band.

It opens well with Pete Ham and Joey Molland double – the melodic "Apple Of My Eye" (lyrics above) followed by the rocking "Get Away". "Apple Of My Eye" was in fact chosen as the album's lone single (March 1974 in the UK on APPLE 49, Apple 1864 in the USA) both with "Blind Owl" on the B-side. "Icicles", "The Winner" and "Constitution" are all Joey Molland songs and aren't great – typically dull mid-Seventies rock fare. The pretty "When I Say" by Tom Evans lifts things a bit, while "Cowboy" sounds like a poor man's Ozark Mountain Daredevils or McGuinness Flint looking for a hit they couldn't find. The last two tracks, however, finish the album with conviction – Joey Molland’s world-weary "I Can Love You" and Pete Ham's epic "Timeless". On here twice (a superb final bonus track), "Timeless" drags out its near eight minutes duration like "I Want You" that ends Side 1 of "Abbey Road" by The Beatles - it's huge in every way with equally impressive multi-layered instrumentation.

Their 2nd album "No Dice" from 1970 is a gem, but Badfinger surpassed even that with their 3rd from 1972 "Straight Up" - leagues ahead of their patchy 1969 debut "Magic Christian Music" both in terms of songwriting quality and sheer polish. "Ass" was their last album for Apple and even then seemed like an afterthought. Perhaps with more Pete Ham compositions… It dribbled out in late November 1973 in the USA and early March 1974 in the UK - and even as it was released - they'd moved on to Warner Brothers and begun recording for them. “Ass” also used to be the easiest one of Badfinger's valuable catalogue to find in dollar bins. In order words, it’s a good album rather than a great one.

Niggles – in order to give a fuller review, I paid for the extra 5 downloads – and typically their quality is superb. When you add their 18 minutes or so onto the 54:36 minutes playing time, you see that they could all have easily fitted onto 1CD. I've Bear Family titles that regularly push past 85 minutes with no deterioration in sound for God's sake, so it's a crappy scam to have us fork out five more pounds for versions EMI know fans will want – and badly. There’s also a MONO MIX on the promo 7" single of "Apple Of My Eye" that is nowhere to be seen.

The gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should also have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). The packaging issues are minor points I know, but this least desirable of their albums could have been made into something superb with 5 more quality bonuses (there's a 2CD set called "Complete Ass" which has 37 tracks!).

One Star or Five - Badfinger have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight (most of the first album, bits of the second and some parts of this – their 4th). But there’s still so much on here to genuinely admire and love.

To sum up – I still recommend it - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality and those shockingly good bonus tracks. Shame about those downloads though…

PS: see also my reviews for other releases in this October 2010 series:

"That's The Way God Planned It" (1969) and "Encouraging Words" (1970) by Billy Preston, "Doris Troy" (1970), "James Taylor" (1968), "Is This What You Want?" (1969) by Jackie Lomax, “Magic Christian Music” (1969), “No Dice” (1970) and “Straight Up” (1972) by Badfinger

"Straight Up" by BADFINGER (October 2010 Apple 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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CLASSIC ROCK & POP 1970 to 1974 - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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"...A Game We've Been Playing For So Long..."

Monday 25 October 2010 in the UK saw 14 of the 'Apple' label Sixties and Seventies albums remastered and reissued (see list below) - alongside a first-time-ever label 'Best Of' compilation CD not surprisingly called "Come And Get It" (named after a huge BADFINGER hit penned by Paul McCartney specifically for the band). This zippy little expanded CD reissue of their 3rd album "Straight Up" is one of them.

UK released October 2010 - "Straight Up" by BADFINGER on Apple 5099964244020 is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (61:50 minutes):

1. Take It All

2. Baby Blue

3. Money

4. Flying

5. I'd Die Babe

6. Name Of The Game

7. Suitcase

8. Sweet Tuesday Morning

9. Day After Day

10. Sometimes

11. Perfection

12. It's Over

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Stereo LP "Straight Up" released late December 1971 in the USA on Apple SW-3387 and 4 February 1972 on Apple SAPCOR 19 in the UK (it reached number 31 on the American Billboard Top 100).

Tracks 13 to 18 are bonus tracks exclusive to this 2010 CD reissue:

13. "I'll Be The One" is a band composition that was once muted as a possible UK Apple single (no number allocated), but never released

14. "Name Of The Game" (a Pete Ham song) was also considered for a single (Apple 35), but again never issued

15. "Baby Blue" (a Pete Ham song) was also considered for a UK single (Apple 42), but again withdrawn. It was, however, released in the USA on Apple 1844 in April 1972 and rose to number 14 on the Billboard charts. With added reverb on the drums, it's presented here as the `US Single Mix' - its B-side is the album track "Flying"

16. "Baby Please" (Pete Ham/Joey Molland/Mike Gibbins song) is previously unreleased

17. "No Good At All" (Tom Evans song) is previously unreleased

18. "Sing For The Song" (Tom Evans song) is previously unreleased

Requiring extra payment, there are also 7 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon - "Money (Earlier Version)", "Flying (Earlier Version)", "Perfection (Earlier Version)", "Suitcase (Earlier Version)", "Sweet Tuesday Morning (Earlier Version)", "Mean Mean Jemima" and "Loving You"  (see either site for cost details).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The front & rear of the original vinyl LP sleeve is reproduced on the gatefold card sleeve, while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long - EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and there are black & white studio shots of the band - PETE HAM, TOM EVANS, JOEY MOLLAND and MIKE GIBBINS.  It's cute, but you do wish there was more...

PLAYERS/CONTENT:

Studio wizard TODD RUNDGEN famously produced the album except for "I'd Die, Babe", "Name Of The Game" and "Suitcase" - these had GEORGE HARRISON at the controls (he also played Guitar on "I'd Die, Babe"). The `bonus tracks' were produced by GEOFF EMERICK of Beatles/Abbey Road fame - except for "Baby Blue (US Single Mix)" which was Rundgren.

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters has done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, SAM OKELL and SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement - makes you reassess a lot of the songs.

Their 2nd album "No Dice" from 1970 is a gem, but Badfinger surpassed even that with "Straight Up" - leagues ahead of their patchy 1969 debut both in terms of songwriting quality and sheer polish. This is immediately evident on the two Pete Ham openers - "Take It All" and "Baby Blue" - the Todd Rundgren production values on the guitars and drums now so clear. "Money" with its "buys you freedom" lyrics has great chunky guitars and harmony vocals, while "Flying," sounds not unlike 10cc circa "The Original Soundtrack". The liner notes tell us that Beatle George was literally dancing in the studio during the recording of "I'd Die, Babe" - it's easy to hear why - it's a catchy little ditty and similar to own songwriting style.

Joey Molland's keyboard funk of "Suitcase" opened Side 2 of the original album and talks of the weariness of being on the road forever without too much success (lyrics above). The lovely America-type acoustic tune "Sweet Tuesday Morning" follows - it was the B-side to the only single issued off the album in the UK ("Day After Day" - 7 January 1972 on APPLE 42). But then you're hit with a triple-whammy of Badfinger songwriting excellence - "Day After Day", "Sometimes" and "Perfection". All three offer up different facets of the band's capabilities - the lovely "Day After Day" is essentially a mid-tempo ballad from Pete Ham and that it wasn't a huge UK chart hit is sort of inexplicable, "Sometimes" is a Joey Molland rocking gem that sounds like The James Gang on a roll, while the thinking man's strum of "Perfection" comes closest to that Big Star comparison of out-and-out genius. As if that isn't enough, you get superb guitar playing on the Tom Evans album finisher "It's Over" - it's all so shockingly good, it really is. And like almost all of the releases in this series, the bonus tracks are impressive too rather than being superfluous. Very, very good indeed...

Niggles - in order to give a fuller review, I paid for the extra 7 download alternate versions - and typically their quality is superb - must haves. I burned them onto a CD-R and they clocked in at 23:59 minutes - when you add that onto 61:50, you see that they could all have easily fitted onto 1CD. I've Bear Family titles that regularly push past 85 minutes with no deterioration in sound, so it's a crappy scam to have us fork out seven more pounds for versions EMI know fans will want - and badly. The gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should also have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). The packaging issues are minor points I know, but this otherwise brilliant reissue is docked a star for creaming fans on the download front.

One Star or Five - Badfinger have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight (most of the first album and bits of the second). You will not call them the latter after hearing "Straight Up" - it's a crafted gem.

To sum up - recommended - especially given the brilliance of the album itself, the massive improvement in sound quality and those shockingly good bonus tracks. Shame about those downloads though...

The October 2011 Apple CD Remasters are (I've reviewed most):

1. Magic Christian Music - BADFINGER (January 1970)

2. No Dice - BADFINGER (November 1970)

3. Straight Up - BADFINGER (1972)

4. Ass - BADFINGER (1974)

5. Postcard - MARY HOPKIN (1969)

6. Earth Song - Ocean Song - MARY HOPKIN (1971)

7. Is That What You Want? - JACKIE LOMAX (1969)

8. Under The Jasmine Tree / Space - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1968 and 1969 - 2LPs on 1CD)

9. That's The Way God Planned It - BILLY PRESTON (1969)

10. Encouraging Words - BILLY PRESTON (1970)

11. The Radha Krishna Temple - THE RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971)

12. The Whale / Celtic Requiem - JOHN TAVENOR (1970 and 1971 - 2LPs on 1CD)

13. James Taylor - JAMES TAYLOR (1968)

14. Doris Troy - DORIS TROY (1970)

“No Dice” by BADFINGER. A Review Of Their 2nd Album For The Beatles Apple Label in 1970 – Now Reissued Onto A 2010 Extended CD.

"...Knock Down The Old Grey Wall...Be A Part Of It All..."

Monday 25 October 2010 in the UK saw 14 of the 'Apple' label albums remastered and reissued (see list below) - alongside a first-time-ever label 'Best Of' compilation CD not surprisingly called "Come And Get It" (named after a huge BADFINGER hit penned by Paul McCartney specifically for the band). This zippy little expanded CD reissue of their 2nd album "No Dice" is one of them.

Apple 5099990580727 breaks down as follows (57:42 minutes):

1. I Can't Take It

2. I Don't Mind

3. Love Me Do

4. Midnight Caller

5. No Matter What

6. Without You

7. Blodwyn

8. Better Days

9. It Had To Be

10. Watford John

11. Believe Me

12. We're For The Dark

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Stereo LP "No Dice" by BADFINGER released 27 November 1970 in the UK on Apple SAPCOR 16 and on Apple SKAO-3367 in the USA (it reached number 28 on the American Billboard Top 100). Note: "Love Me Do" is not Beatles cover but a Joey Molland original and "Without You" is the song made famous by NILSSON (Number 1 in the UK in February 1972).

Tracks 13 to 17 are all previously unreleased and exclusive to this 2010 reissue:

13. "I Can't Take It" is an Extended Version - 4:14 as opposed to 2:55minutes

14. "Without You" is a Studio Demo Version

15. "Photograph (aka "Friends Are Hard To Find')" is a Previously Unreleased Version

16. "Believe Me" is an Alternate Version

17. "No Matter What" is a Studio Demo Version

Requiring extra payment there are also 2 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon - an Instrumental Version of "Love Me Do" and an Extended Stereo Version of "Get Down" (see either site for details).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The gatefold sleeve of the original vinyl LP is reproduced while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long - EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and there are 4 superb colour portraits of the band - PETE HAM, TOM EVANS, JOEY MOLLAND and MIKE GIBBINS.  It's cute, but you do wish there was more...

PLAYERS/CONTENT:

The original album was produced by GEOFF EMERICK of Beatles/Abbey Road fame (except for "No Matter What", "Believe Me" and the bonus tracks from 14 through to 17 which were produced by MAL EVANS). Unlike so many of the sessions of the time, the recordings 'didn't' include a number of The Beatles and their talented friends - so the band got to shine all by themselves.

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, SAM OKELL and SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement - makes you reassess a lot of the songs.

The album opens strongly with a Pete Ham original "I Can't Take It" - rocking guitars and pumping brass - it sounds really great. It's followed by the Big Star feel of "I Don't Mind" co-written by Tom Evans and Joey Molland - a song that starts out gently and then builds into an impressive melodious tune - it's excellent. Not so I'm afraid with "Love Me Do" (no relation to The Beatles song) - it's a poor man's rocker and doesn't really work. But then you're hit with a double-whammy of Badfinger excellence - "Midnight Caller" and the sublime "No Matter What" (lyrics above). Both stand the test of time - especially "No Matter What" - surely a contender for a Top Ten position in the list 'best 7" single ever released'.

"Without You" would of course be taken by NILSSON and transformed into one of the most extraordinarily powerful cover versions ever made. I heard in a car on the radio a few weeks back in the early morning on the way into work - and to this day it moves me - its opening chords still capable of calling up a shivering memory. "Blodwyn" is a ditty while the excellent "Better Days" turned up as the B-side to the UK 7" single of "No Matter What" (Apple 31) in November 1970 - they used "Carry On Till Tomorrow" as the B on the USA 7" (Apple 1822) - a track off their debut album "Magic Christian Music". The Mike Gibbins penned "It Had To Be" is a lovely song, while the band-composed "Watford John" is a rocker written about an Apple Studio Engineer called John Smith. The last two on the album are huge favourites among fans - Tom Evans' sweet "Believe Me" and Pete Ham's acoustic "We're For The Dark" - accomplished playing, melody builders - both define that certain 'Badfinger' sound. They end the album proper on a definite musical high note.

But like the other issues in this series, the best seems to be kept until last. Having grown used to the short album cut of "I Can't Take It" - I must say that I love the way it's spread out more on the fantastically rocking 'Extended Version'. You can see why it was cut, but in 2010 I'll take the 'indulgent' version any day of the week. Then fellows the 'Demo' of "Without You" which I find more affecting than the finished track - more akin to what Nilsson did with it - it's a gem. "Photograph" is a rough rock song - it's good, but it's eclipsed big time by a sweet-as-honey Alternate Take of "Believe Me" with more Piano and Electric Guitar - what a treat. The 'Demo' of "No Matter What" is close to the finished track, but without that killer electric guitar that made it. I must say that the bonus tracks are impressive rather than being superfluous. Very, very good indeed...

Niggles - the 2 download tracks will be desirable to fans and making them pay extra dollars for them via Download is cheapskate and crappy - and as you can see from the playing time above, there was plenty of room to include them on here (they're available as hardcopy on the double-CD that comes with the "Apple Box Set"). The gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should also have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). They're minor points I know, but they're worth making...

One star or Five - Badfinger have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight. I'd say that if you're coming to them cold in 2014 then it's probably somewhere in between. But fans will see it differently - they will eat this reissue up big time. To sum up - I still see "No Dice" as a great album - with songmanship that shines through even now. And they repeated that craft and warmth on their next album "Straight Up" too.

Recommended - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality and those shockingly good bonus tracks.

The October 2011 Apple CD Remasters are (I've reviewed most):

1. Magic Christian Music - BADFINGER (January 1970)

2. No Dice - BADFINGER (November 1970)

3. Straight Up - BADFINGER (1972)

4. Ass - BADFINGER (1974)

5. Postcard - MARY HOPKIN (1969)

6. Earth Song - Ocean Song - MARY HOPKIN (1971)

7. Is That What You Want? - JACKIE LOMAX (1969)

8. Under The Jasmine Tree / Space - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1968 and 1969 - 2LPs on 1CD)

9. That's The Way God Planned It - BILLY PRESTON (1969)

10. Encouraging Words - BILLY PRESTON (1970)

11. The Radha Krishna Temple - THE RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971)

12. The Whale / Celtic Requiem - JOHN TAVENOR (1970 and 1971 - 2LPs on 1CD)

13. James Taylor - JAMES TAYLOR (1968)
14. Doris Troy - DORIS TROY (1970)