Search - :: The Best Of Badfinger

Classic Rock Music From A Misunderstood Band

Ronald J Cashwell | Greensboro, NC | 03/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very fine compilation of songs that Badfinger recorded for Apple Records from 1969 to 1973. Contrary to popular belief, Badfinger was not a cheap imitation of the Beatles. Their music was undeniably influenced by the Beatles, but it was original and stood on its own merits. The tragic suicides of Pete Ham and Tom Evans have been well documented, so I won't go into them here. The hit singles on this CD are as follows: "Come And Get It","No Matter What","Day After Day", and "Baby Blue". Another song,"Without You", was a #1 single for Harry Nilsson in 1972. The melodies and lyrics on almost every of the 21 songs are top rate, and should not be dismissed as "filler". The last 4 songs on the compilation are from the album "Ass", which has never been released on CD. The last song,"Apple Of My Eye", is Pete Ham's message to Apple Records that it's time for the band to move on to another label. Badfinger was a band that was misunderstood by critics and fans, and never got the credit that it deserved."

I guess you had to be there....

Wayne Klein | 10/24/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"With the exeption of a few classic hit singles,this CD had me reaching for the "skip" button on my remote.The sound quality also was not up to par;I found it to be too harsh. And with 21 tracks, this is a case where less would have been more.The fans would want the complete albums anyway,so a nice 12 track disc,eliminating the filler would have been plenty for me."

Almost, but not quite

Chuck Yoakum | Atlanta | 09/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The song selections here show only the Iveys/Badfinger up to the time of their departure from Apple. And while fans quibble about which songs were included and how they spotlight each of the members as personalities and performers, something everyone seems to agree on is the lack of punch this "remastering" has. Songs that should leap out of the speakers seem to have had a sonic neutering. A couple of good examples are "Rock of All Ages" and "Baby Blue". On vinyl and tape, these two songs literally scorch the grille cloth and pin the listener against the wall with their rocking power. Now they sound as if they've been mixed for a Muzak system. The depth of sound in ballads like "Name of the Game", "Day After Day" and "When I Say" so vibrant and rich previously has been reduced and compressed making these exceptional songs sound thin and hollow. Even the earlier songs like "Carry On Til Tomorrow" and "Maybe Tomorrow" sounded better with pops and crackles on my old vinyl LPs. This collection, though, was a must have for fans until the newest collection is released on September 12. That collection, even with fewer tracks, spans more of their career and hopefully will give the songs and fans better treatment this time. Tell everyone you know to catch the VH-1 "Behind The Music" segment on Badfinger when it premiers."