"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.  

"Run With The Pack" by BAD COMPANY – January 1976 UK and US Third Studio Album on Swan Song Records featuring Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell and Simon Kirke (May 2017 UK Swan Song '2-CD Expanded Edition' with The Album Remastered on CD1 and CD2 Containing 14 Previously Unreleased Tracks – Jon Astley Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Run-Pack-Deluxe-Bad-Company/dp/B06XFR47N2?crid=262N24B4AKHXB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LqqMwZI2hPCTNMgatDYvkpa_Abuow6r3vrrX680cBPY.Uhh50t8dogH_dKhIUB6fYcoH7wKZxLxcOPE-Drc_C6Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=081227953645&qid=1709668094&sprefix=081227953645%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=276cc02280053f3ad15f4a8230a7bc65&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

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1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

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RATING: ****

"...Silver, Blue & Gold..."

After the barn-storming of the self-titled "Bad Co." debut album in 1974 and especially "Straight Shooter" in 1975 with its two huge hits "Good Love Gone Bad" and "Feel Like Making Love" – it seemed that the ex-Free mob known as Bad Company could do no wrong. Island's coolest Rock Band seemed to take the best of what made Free (before them) so damn special and enhance that simple Rock sound for the rest of that halcyon decade. 

Then the Classic Seventies Rock band made the (perceived at the time) more than slightly lacklustre "Run With The Pack" and by early 1976 – that initial twofer outburst was already dust. Despite healthy chart positions of No. 4 in the UK and No.5 in the States where the album secured one-million sales – the writing seemed already on the washed-out wall for Bad Co. Their third studio effort was always the first LP fans would part with when hitting secondhand record shops and even in 2024 its less than £2.00 price-tag speaks volumes. The two studio efforts that followed "Burnin' Sky" and "Desolation Angels" (1977 and 1979) got lost in the Punk and New Wave explosion that made Bad Co music sound dated and tired in a cheesy macho way.

But – and this is always the big but – in hindsight - and with this toppermost 2017 Remaster and a slurry of very cool outtakes on CD2 (all fourteen of them unissued) – it is time to do right by your mangy cur once again. 

Deep LP dives like "Simple Man", "Silver, Blue & Gold" and "Do Right By Your Woman" are fabulous Bad Co tunes and sound suddenly HUGE on this '2-CD Expanded Edition' from Rhino/Swan Song. Throw in an inspired cover version of an Coasters Fifties R&B tune on Atlantic Records ("Young Blood"), the kicking radio-friendly opener "Live For The Music" and a couple of power ballads on either side – and "Run With The Pack" might just be one of those guilty-pleasure albums you return to more than the lauded pieces in their catalogue. Maybe its rainbow is overdue – to the Young Blood…

UK released 26 May 2017 – "Run With The Pack" by BAD COMPANY on Swan Song 081227953645 (Barcode 081227953645) is a '2-CD Expanded Edition' with the 10-Track Album Remastered on CD1 and 14 Previously Unreleased Tracks on CD2 that pans out as follows:

CD1 "Run With The Pack" Original Album Remaster (36:39 minutes):
1. Live For The Music [Side 1]
2. Simple Man
3. Honey Child
4. Love Me Somebody
5. Run With The Pack
6. Silver, Blue & Gold [Side 2]
7. Young Blood
8. Do Right By Your Woman
9. Sweet Lil' Sister
10. Fade Away 
Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Run With The Pack" – released January 1976 in the UK on Island ILPS 9346 and Swan Song SS 8415 in the USA. Produced by BAD COMPANY – it peaked at No.4 in the UK LP charts and No.5 in the USA.

CD2 "Run With The Pack" Bonus Tracks (51:09 minutes):
1. Live For The Music (Take 1, Alternative Guitar and Vocal) 3:35 minutes
2. Simple Man (Take 3, Early Mix) 3:41 minutes
3. Honey Child (Early Mix, Alternative Guitar Sound) 3:20 minutes
4. Run With The Pack (Extended Version, Alternative Vocals) 6:00 minutes
5. Let There Be Love (Take 1, Previously Unreleased Outtake) 4:11 minutes
6. Silver, Blue & Gold (Take 1, Early Mix) 5:14 minutes
7. Young Blood (Alternative Vocal) 2:45 minutes
8. Do Right By Your Woman (Alternative Vocal) 2:55 minutes
9. Sweet Lil' Sister (Live/Studio Backing Track) 4:31 minutes
10. Fade Away (Early Mix, Alternate Guitar Solo) 2:54 minutes
11. Do Right By Your Woman (Acoustic Version) 2:57 minutes
12. (I Know) I'm Losing You (Studio Jam, Previously Unreleased Outtake) 3:22 minutes
13. Young Blood (Alternative Version) 2:44 minutes
14. Fade Away (Island Studios Demo) 3:00 minutes

BAD COMPANY was:

PAUL RODGERS - Lead Singer, Keyboards, Guitar (Harmonica on "Do Right By Your Woman")

MICK RALPHS - Lead Guitar

BOZ BURRELL - Bass

SIMON KIRKE - Drums

These '2-CD Extended Editions' all come in a gatefold card Digipak - a threeway foldout two Swan Song logo CDs and usually a flap depicting the original master tape boxes (same here). The 16-page booklet features new liner notes from DAVID CLAYTON who promptly declares "Run With The Pack" as a bit of a guilty-pleasure nay even favourite. The text is peppered with rare Euro Picture Sleeves (Germany, Turkey), Tour Posters, Trade Adverts, Publicity Photos and interviews with Singer Paul Rodgers and Drummer Simon Kirke. It's a nice job done and Remaster Engineer JON ASTLEY who did much of The Who catalogue has done a fabulous job with the Remasters. In fact I can't stop playing CD2 as an alternate album - the outtakes and alternate versions are that good. 

Of the fourteen on CD2 fans will leap to Track 5 "Let There Be Love" - an unreleased Ralphs smoocher that is mid-tempo - its good without being great - but is a definite asset here. Better is the extended mix of "Run With The Pack" which has more guitar but they were right to tighten it up. Fans will thrill to a genuine fave like "Silver, Blue & Gold" having a Take 1 on here - it's remarkably similar to the finished version but just as lovely and lilting (time it takes for a love to go cold). Ralphs does cool guitar strums that smack of such musicality - a rainbow overdue. And dig those end-of-song vocal interplays they didn't use on the LP mix. 

Their grungy cover version of The Coasters 1957 Atco Records B-side "Young Blood" gets a grittier take - the call and response voices not as witty as the finished version (they were still working it out). But it is so well recorded - the band Funky as they Rock. Then the magic hammers home - an Alternate of "Do Right By Your Woman" - it's not as 'produced' as the finished version but that gorgeous Free/Bad Co. lilt is still there in its seductive flange sway. You get an Acoustic Version of "Do Right..." later (Track 11) which has a count-in and gorgeous audio - slide acoustics - I dig this the most even if it feels like they probably dubbed the original vocals over re-recorded acoustic guitars. And then a Harmonica echoed and lonesome. The second genuine outtake comes in a studio jam on piano doing "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - the old Motown hit the Faces turned into a Rock-Soul anthem. It's ramshackle for sure but damn is it cool to hear them still sound so good (even on a throwaway). And I prefer the Demo of "Fade Away" to the finished LP cut - feels more genuine.

These 'Deluxe Editions' are a hit and miss affair especially if the core album doesn't have the greatest reputation in the pantheon of Rawk Glory. But Bad Company's "Run With The Pack" in this 2-CD Expanded Edition form from 2017 is a winner. And as I say, I keep going back to Disc 2 as my go-to Play. Fantastic stuff really...

"Bad Co." by BAD COMPANY (2015 Swan Song/Rhino 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Yeah That’s The One!"

Rhino used to be a force in the reissue world – a label genuinely worth getting excited about. Then they seemed to lose the WEA contract that gave them so many superb reissue sets and for the last decade have treaded water with reissues of 'what they can do'. But since their excellent multiple issue of Van Morrison's "Moondance" and the equally brilliant Captain Beefheart 4CD Box Set "Sun Zoom Spark" – they’re back. This time we get two superb 2015 2CD 'Deluxe Editions' of classic rock gems from the Free/Mott The Hoople offshoot band BAD COMPANY - their "Bad Co." debut from 1974 and the equally brill follow-up "Straight Shooter" from 1975. And both are hoisted up by their tight pants with genuinely exciting Remasters and lots of Previously Unreleased outtakes actually worth owning. Here are the bad boy details…

UK released April 2015 – "Bad Co." by BAD COMPANY on Swan Song/Rhino 081227955540 (Barcode is the same number) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remaster and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (34:58 minutes):

1. Can't Get Enough

2. Rock Steady

3. Ready For Love

4. Don't Let Me Down

5. Bad Company [Side 2]

6. The Way I Choose

7. Movin' On

8. Seagull

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut LP "Bad. Co." – released June 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9279 and Swan Song SS 8410. It went to No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in the USA.

Disc 2 (61:49 minutes):

1. Can't Get Enough (Take 8)

2. Little Miss Fortune (Demo Reel 1)

3. The Way I Choose (Demo Reel 1)

4. Bad Company (Session Reel 2)

5. The Way I Choose (Version 1 including False Start)

6. Easy On My Soul (Long Version)

7. Bad Company (Session Reel 8, Take 2)

8. Studio Chat/Dialogue

9. Superstar Woman (Long Version)

10. Can't Get Enough (7" Single Edit) (Non-Album Version - UK 7" single released May 1974 on Island WIP 6191)

11. Little Miss Fortune (Non-Album B-side to "Can't Get Enough" - UK 7" single released May 1974 on Island WIP 6191)

12. Easy On My Soul (Non-album B-side to "Movin' On" - US 7" single released January 1975 on Swan Song SS-70101)

13. Can't Get Enough (Hammond Version)

NOTES: all tracks on Disc 2 are Previously Unreleased except 10, 11 and 12 that first appeared in March 1999 on the 2CD set "The 'Original' Bad Co. Anthology" on Elektra.

The 20-page booklet is excellent – liner notes from Free expert DAVID CLAYTON that fill in all the blanks about Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke from Free, Mick Ralphs from Mott The Hoople and Boz Burrell from King Crimson. The two-page centrespread features trade adverts for the album's launch, the UK debut single "Can't Get Enough" and 1974 British tour dates. There's Spanish, Dutch, French, German and Japanese pictures sleeves for "Can't Get Enough" (all different) as well as the US debut 45 "Movin' On" on Swan Song. The British inner gatefold of Hipgnosis photos (live shots with their names beneath) and American inner gatefold artwork (a head shot of the band – no names) are featured on Pages 2 and 3 and Pages 18 and 19 respectively (they differed). There are song-by-song explanations of the 13 Bonus Tracks - 10 are Previously Unissued outtakes – the other three non-album B-sides that first showed on CD in 1999. The potted history goes into meeting Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant, how the band's seeds were sown as early as 1971, their conquering on America right from the outset. Even the see-through CD trays have master tapes beneath them and the flaps are covered in cool memorabilia. It's very tastefully done…

JON ASTLEY has handled the Remasters and RICHARD DIGBY SMITH the mixes from for Disc 2 (done at Close To The Edge in November 2014). They’ve had access to the original multi-track production tapes and does it show – always a slightly odd sounding album – like it could have been better – here we get real muscle and power. Tracks like "Rock Steady" is startling and the utterly infectious - "Movin' On" is the same.

The album opens with a total winner and obvious single "Can't Get Enough" – it made 15 in the UK but like the album went top five with a bullet in the USA (no 1 on Cashbox's chart). In fact as the liner notes state – five of the eight tracks here still get played on American FM – "Rock Steady", "Bad Company" and "Movin' On" being amongst them. The "Ready For Love" track has huge punch now and Rodgers plays all instruments on "Seagull". Mel Collins plays Saxophone on "The Way I Choose" while 60ts gals Sue and Sunny provide backing vocals to the hurting "Don't Let Me Down". Mick Ralph's axework throughout all eight numbers is the business – economic and to the point (he adds  keyboard work to "Ready For Love") while Rodgers has one of the best voices in the business and that rhythm section gels like a well-oiled machine. What a winner for a raw debut LP – and 1975's "Straight Shooter" was even better in my book...

You get a true sense of what a great band they were from Track 1 of Disc 2 – a rollicking Take 8 of "Can't Get Enough" that has wicked studio chatter and a slightly different vocal to the finished item (this is thrilling stuff and feels like a real discovery). The demo reel of the B-side "Little Miss Fortune" is an early version and is therefore only o.k. – a band searching for something but not quite there yet. Still when you hear the finished article (Track 11 on Disc 2) – you realise how much they polished that thing to make it swing (very impressive). I actually prefer the Demo Reel 1 of "The Way I Choose" which extends the polished album cut from 5:06 to 6:40 minutes. There's just something more soulful in its raw delivery – his simply vocals and those wicked guitars give it a mini epic feel. Mick Ralphs also gets to solo more as it fades out which is tremendous stuff (someone excitedly shouts "...that was great man!" at the end of the take).

"Bad Company" from Session Reel 2 features more piano up front and again I can't stop playing the sucker over the LP cut. FREE fans will know "Easy On My Soul" from their last studio album "Heartbreaker" when it first appeared on Side 2 in late 1972 (another great Paul Rodgers song). Here we get a thrilling Bad Co 'long version' of the single B-side version recorded during the "Straight Shooter" sessions in November 1974 (it's the flip of the second single "Movin' On"). Because it stretches to 6:15 minutes as opposed to the single version at 4:41 minutes (single version is Track 12) – Rodgers gets to vamp it up with his vocals. What's also noticeable is the huge improvement in sound quality that came with the 'Shooter' sessions – this thing sounds amazing. That melodic change where he sings "...I want to tell you my story…I want to tell you I’m flying…" is just so damn good and Ralphs plays a guitar blinder on it (this outtake is undoubtedly a real highlight on here). "Bad Company" is Take 2 and with the next version being the one used for the album – the band is in full swing – and at 5:33 minutes swaggers along in that sexy Bad Co way. "Studio Chat/Dialogue" clocks in at just 23 seconds and is a discussion about high-hats and dogs!

"Superstar Woman" originally appeared as a Previously Unreleased album outtake (recorded Nov 1973) on the 1999 2CD Set "The 'Original' Bad Co Anthology" on Elektra Records. That version was cut to fit - here we get the unedited 'Long Version' at 6:11 minutes. It has a duet vocal between Rodgers and Ralphs in portions and is another winner. The 7" single edit of "Can't Get Enough" cuts the LP version down from 4:15 to 3:30 minutes with an early fade. It was issued May 1974 in the UK on Island WIP 6191 and on Swan Song SS-70015 in the USA - announcing the album with a ballsy kick. Both "Little Miss Fortune" and "Easy On My Soul" are non-album B-sides ("Easy On My Soul" was the flip of "Movin' On" in the USA on Swan Song SS 70101) and easily as good as anything on the album – and in my not so humble opinion actually better (they sound brill too). It ends on a great curio – a Hammond Organ version of "Can't Get Enough" which runs to 4:41 minutes. They've taken the final album master and mixed in a Hammond Organ into the background for our delectation (mostly to the right of the speakers) and I'm digging it big time.

"...Yeah that's the one..." – Bad Company are heard to shout at the end of that 'Hammond Organ' version of "Can’t Get Enough" on Disc 2. Too damn right. Along with "Straight Shooter" (see separate review) – these are the best Rhino Deluxe Editions I've had the pleasure of hearing in years. Way to go boys…and more please...

"Straight Shooter" by BAD COMPANY - April 1975 UK Second Studio LP on Swan Song Records (2015 UK Rhino/Swan Song 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Set – Jon Astley and Richard Digby Smith Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Shooting Star..."

There can't be many FREE and BAD COMPANY fans the worldwide that don't look misty-eyed at the cool Hipgnosis cover art for 1975's "Straight Shooter" and feel a quickening of the pulse and parallel movement in their ever so tight leather pants (well maybe not so tight in 2015). Bad Company’s self-titled debut from 1974 and this "Straight Shooter" (their 2nd smash album on Island Records in 1975) were always going to get 'Deluxe Edition' treatment at some point - and a 40th Anniversary seems like as good a time as any. 

It’s just that few of us could have expected such a bonanza of properly classic 70ts Rock on Disc 2 - because this is a wickedly good 2-disc 'DE' when a lot in the last few years have felt superfluous to requirements or worse - callous cash-ins. Here are the loaded dices...

UK released April 2015 – "Straight Shooter: Deluxe Edition" by BAD COMPANY on Rhino/Swan Song 081227955533 (Barcode is the same) is a 2CD Reissue of Remasters that breaks down as follows:

CD 1 – Original Album (2015 Remaster) – 38:49 minutes:

1. Good Lovin' Gone Bad

2. Feel Like Makin’ Love

3. Weep No More

4. Shooting Star

5. Deal With The Preacher [Side 2]

6. Wild Fire Woman

7. Anna

8. Call On Me

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd studio album "Straight Shooter" – released April 1975 in the UK on Island ILPS 9304 and in the USA on Swan Song SS 8413. It peaked at No. 3 on both charts.

CD 2 – Bonus Tracks: Alternate Takes & Unreleased Songs – 68:48 minutes:

1. Good Lovin' Gone Bad (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)

2. Feel Like Makin' Love (Take Before Master)

3. Weep No More (Early Slow Version)

4. Shooting Star (Alternate Take)

5. Deal With The Preacher (Early Version)

6. Anna (Alternate Vocal)

7. Call On Me (Alternate Take)

8. Easy On My Soul (Slow Version)

9. Whisky Bottle (Early Piano Version)

10. See The Sunlight (Previously Unreleased Song)

11. All Night Long (Previously Unreleased Song)

12. Wild Fire Woman (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)

13. Feel Like Makin' Love (Harmonica Version)

14. Whisky Bottle – non-album track, B-side to "Good Lovin' Gone Bad' released as a 7" single in March 1975 on Island WIP 6223 in the UK and Swan Song SS-70103 in the USA

A clever touch in the foldout Deluxe Edition digipak is the photos adorning the inner flaps (they were on the inner sleeves of the original LPs). The leaning over the crap-table photo with the band dressed up in duds was taken by Aubrey Powell – but for some reason the US and UK inners had slight differences. The one used on the left flap of the digipak is the American version where Simon Kirke (on the far left) has just flung the two dices and they’re caught in mid air – the right flap has the UK variant where the dices have settled on the table (both showing sixes). What's also noticeable is that terrible photo of their posteriors that was on the other side of the LP inner sleeve is AWOL completely (someone clearly wants to forget that photo). The other inner flaps show master tape boxes and both CDs sport the Swan Song logos. The 20-page booklet is superbly laid out with new liner notes from band expert DAVID CLAYTON (author of "Heavy Load: The Story Of Free") and wonderful repros of French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian and Yugoslavian singles in rare Picture Sleeves (as well as other relevant memorabilia). Clayton (who coordinated and compiled the release) discusses the album's making and better still – gives a song-by-song breakdown of the Alternates so you know their musical history. Very tastefully done...

JON ASTLEY did the Remaster for the album at Close To The Edge Studios in the UK from the original production tapes - while RICHARD DIGBY SMITH did the Alternates and Bonuses on Disc 2 (mixed from the original multi-tracks). GEORGE MARINO did the original Remaster in 1994 and bluntly it's hard at times to hear the difference except that the Rhythm Section is clearer – a subtle warmth to the Bass and clarity to the Drums. What you can't mistake is the sheer power of the original RON NEVISON Production - this album sounds amazing - and Rocks for all the right reasons. Those who haven't heard it before on CD will be in for a treat...

Featuring Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke of Free on Vocals and Drums, Boz Burrell of King Crimson on Bass and Mick Ralphs from Mott The Hoople on Guitar - BAD COMPANY was virtually a Rock Supergroup right from the get go (apparently they took their name from a 1972 Jeff Bridges film). "Straight Shooter" is short as an album but oh so sweet (probably their best record). To tempt the market a month before the LP’s release Island Records put out the kick-ass "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" in March 1975 as a 7" single with the non-LP "Whisky Bottle" on its flip. It rose to a respectable 31 in the UK - but for such a Mick Ralphs winner you would have expected a better position. When the album turned up in April 1975 and the public realised how good it 'all' was – it sold in truckloads and leapt up to No. 3 on both sides of the pond. And with killer ballads like "Weep No More", "Anna" and the epic boy-does-good-then-dies storytelling of "Shooting Star" – somehow the lyrics of this song alone echoed the British band's fortunes. 

They were indeed ‘shooting stars’ – suddenly Bad Company had became huge. And being on the same label as Led Zeppelin in the States (Swan Song) and having the same maverick manager (Peter Grant) – helped proceedings too. By the time the sexy Rock Riffage of "Feel Like Makin' Love" hit the streets in August 1975 on island WIP 6242 – fans were digging the blistering axework of Side's 2 "Deal With The Preacher" and the funky swagger of “Wild Fire Woman" – as catchy a tune as Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralphs have ever penned. And the whole shebang sounds rip-roaring. But then you're hit with a genuine shock – nearly 70 minute of unreleased goodies on Disc 2...

CD2 - what's noticeable (and I'm sure this has been picked by many fans) is just how like FREE Bad Company sounded in rehearsal rather than the slick Rock machine of "Straight Shooter". There's a thrilling roughness and loose feel to these outtakes that makes you think you’re eavesdropping on a band recording greatness. Even though the earlier version of "Deal With The Preacher" (March 1973) lacks the magnificent riffage of the finished 1975 version – there's a gorgeous keyboard break and you can hear the amazing rhythm section of Burrell and Kirke for real this time. Simon Kirke's "Anna" has always been a pretty song – but here on the Alternate Vocal version Paul Rodgers gives it a really Soulful go and makes you appreciate what a great singer and interpreter he is (still sounds and looks great). Rodgers also keeps the keyboards going on a very rough version of "Call On Me" – the worst recorded of the lot.

Fans will know that Paul Rodgers' "Easy On My Soul" is a FREE track that turned up on their 6th album "Heartbreaker" in 1973. Here Bad Co. gives the songs a 'live-in-the-studio' spruce up and you can hear why – there's great stuff going on in the song as it boogies funkily along (I'm loving this outtake the most). We then get a barroom brawl version of that wicked B-side "Whisky Bottle" which was apparently marked as a master but never used (I'm glad – I think the version they did use is far better). That's not to say this take isn't worthy - it is. Here we get a Snafu/Micky Moody type slide guitar from Mick Ralphs and its properly great. Its at this point that things really take off with the inclusion of two new songs left in the can for 40 years – "See The Sunlight" and "All Night Long" – and both are fabulous. For "See The Sunlight" Ralph cranks up the boogie through those Island Studios Leslie Speakers and at times it feels like really good Foghat with Paul Rodgers on the mike. It's surmised that "All Night Long" sounded too much like "Movin' On" from the 1974 debut LP - but actually it feels like a lesser version of “Good Lovin' Gone Bad" to me – but in a really good way.

How cool is to hear one of the album’s hero tracks "Wild Fire Woman" in Alternate Form – here it features both different vocals and guitars and is just brilliant (you can hear the band cooking). It cleverly ends on a lethal double-whammy – a Harmonica Version of "Feel Like Makin' Love" and the finished mix of the kicking B-side "Whisky Woman". Then we get broadsided. Originally used on a short Promo Film of the band doing the single – the Alternate "Feel Like Makin' Love" has all the huge Production values of the finished article but different Vocal passages and at 2:46 - suddenly a lonesome cowboy Harmonica comes sailing in making Bad Co. sound like "Jailbreak" Thin Lizzy a year before the 1976 event. All the huge guitars are there and more – Ralphs letting it rip towards the end – and it even has a little Zeppelin "Physical Graffiti" mellow guitar moment as it fades out - wow - what a total winner this is. The released version of the rare "Whisky Bottle" B-side only cements this DE’s 5-star status.

Their following albums "Run With The Pack" (1976), "Burnin' Sky" (1977) and "Desolation Angels" (1979) somehow all fell way short of the opening salvo of "Bad Co." in 1974 and its best buddy "Straight Shooter" in 1975. But this 'Deluxe Edition' finally reminds us why we loved them in the first place...and how. No fallen angels here...