The Very Best of Badfinger

by

Badfinger

Edit

I'll begin by saying that I have very mixed feelings about this collection. As a single-disc compilation, it is obviously not as comprehensive as the two previous volume of "The Best of Badfinger". On the other hand, it does condense their Apple and Warner Brother years onto one tidy disc for the first time ever. For anybody who's never really experienced Badfinger, this collection is probably a good place to start. Yes, many people have heard several of the hits before, but they don't know who sang them. Play this at any gathering and I guarantee that everybody will know at least two or three of these songs (you may even create some new Badfinger fans).

Now for the critique...

The compilers pretty much culled all of the essential tracks from their album as the Iveys and from their first album as Badfinger (except for maybe "Crimson Ship" from _Magic Christian Music_) The same goes for the tracks from their second album, _No Dice_. One can never tire of the likes of "No Matter What" or "We're for the Dark". The inclusion of the "rare" "I'll Be the One" is a nice surprise.

The selections from _Straight Up_ and _Ass_ are, however, highly suspect. Yes, we have "Day After Day", "Baby Blue" (simply the best power-pop song ever recorded by anyone), and "When I Say". But what possessed the producers to replace the majestic piano-driven _Straight Up_ take of "Name of the Game" with a highly inferior guitar-based recording from the same sessions? This is NOT the way for the casual listener to be introduced to such a great song!

As for _Ass_, why does Capitol insist on mistreating this highly underrated album so much?! First, they choose not to reissue it in the U.S., then they practically ignore it on this collection. "When I Say" is a great song, but what about "Apple of My Eye", "I Can Love You", or "Timeless"?

The big news here, of course, is the inclusion of several WB tracks, all of which are worth the price of admission, especially "Love Time" and the stunning medley "Meanwhile at the Ranch/Should I Smoke".

I recommend this collection to anyone who's never really heard Badfinger aside from there few hits. From here, though, the listener is advised to check out their individual albums, especially _Straight Up_, _Ass_ (good luck!), and _Wish You Were Here_.

Nothing can bring the past back so vividly to so many people than a song from a certain time in a life. Though I no longer have my 45's with the big green apple on them to signify my Badfinger records, my boyfriend's nephew did a song with his band the other night, "No Matter What". As I sang along with the words that I knew by heart, I couldn't remember who did that song, so I asked him on the break. When he told me it was Badfinger, I immediately said to him "do you know Baby Blue?" He shook his head. "No, unfortunately we don't. Great song though!" True! That prompted me to go back in time to this great band and just get all the great songs I remember of theirs on a Greatest Hits compilation. And as I look at the band members, I remember how much my hair was like the drummer's!! Too much, dude! But anyway, this CD is a definate piece of work for all the Badfinger fans; a band that in its time was great but never really got the recognition they deserved. Hmmm....here's an idea......let's remove the Eagles (the EAGLES?!) from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame (what the hell are they doing in there to begin with??!) and put Badfinger in their place!