A LITTLE BADFINGER BACKGROUND

Badfinger, famed for their close association with The Beatles and the world-wide smash hit "Without You," formed in late 1969.  The group then consisted of (left to right) Mike Gibbins, Pete Ham, Tom Evans, and Joey Molland.

A little history*:  Pete (guitar/vocals) and Mike (drums), both from Wales, Great Britain, performed in a backup band to Liverpool crooner David Garrick along with some other mates by the names of Dai Jenkins (guitar) and Ron Griffiths (bass/vocals).  At this time the name of the group wasn't Badfinger - it was the Iveys.  Before recording properly Dai split, his slot being filled by Tom Evans (formerly of the Calderstones), a native Liverpudlian.  The Iveys signed with The Beatles' Apple Records on the strength of their songwriting talents and in November of 1968 released their first single, "Maybe Tomorrow."  They followed this with a full LP in July of 1969, also titled Maybe Tomorrow.  Sales were less than expected and distribution was dismal.  Open to suggestion, the group entered the studio with Paul McCartney now controlling the situation.  McCartney provided a song, "Come and Get It," and supervised.  During the sessions Ron Griffiths fell ill with the chicken pox and Evans switched to bass.  Griffiths also had just become a father and with circumstances escalating he was voted out of the band with the group deciding that they should look for another guitarist instead of a bass player.  Enter Joey Molland, late of fame with Gary Walker & the Rain, The Merseys, and the Masterminds, another Liverpudlian. Hence Badfinger was born.  The single "Come and Get It" (with Griffiths playing bass) became a smash, reaching #7 in the US.  They followed this with their own compositions "No Matter What" (#8), Day After Day (#4), and Baby Blue (#14).  During this time American singer Harry Nilsson placed Badfinger's song "Without You" on top of the charts, Mariah Carey doing the same in 1994.  Badfinger also carry the distinction of having played with all of the solo Beatles, appearing on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Ringo Starr's "It don't come Easy," and John Lennon's Imagine.  After leaving Apple for a contract with Warner Brothers in the US, Badfinger recorded more fine records but failed to chart.  Distraught over personal and professional problems, Peter Ham committed suicide in April of 1975.  Evans followed in 1983.  Gibbins and Molland worked together on and off throughout the eighties and nineties until a lawsuit over royalty payments put a wedge between them in 1995.  VH1 has produced a documentary about the band and one unauthorized biography, Without You - The Tragic Story of Badfinger, has been written.  Today, Joey Molland owns the rights to the Badfinger name and tours frequently as Joey Molland's Badfinger while releasing new records under his own name.  His latest is This Way Up, and his life story entitled Badfinger and Beyond - The Authorized Biography of Joey Molland is being written.  Read Excerpt Here

*I know die hard fans are going to be disappointed that there is nothing new here to discover, but this is a synopsis only. 

click on photos and album covers to enlarge

Badfinger Discography

Magic Christian Music by Badfinger (Apple Records, 1970)

    Contains the hit single "Come and Get It," the McCartney supervised sessions, and remixed tracks by the Iveys.  Joey Molland does not appear.

 No Dice (Apple Records, 1970)

    Contains the hit single "No Matter What," and the original version of "Without You."

Straight Up (Apple Records, 1971)

    Contains the hit singles "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue."  Guests include George Harrison and Leon Russell.

Ass (Apple Records, 1973)

Badfinger (Warner Brothers, 1974)

Wish You Were Here (Warner Brothers, 1974)

    Guests include Mika and the Average White Horns.

Head First (recorded 1974, not released until 2001)

    Badfinger lineup:  Pete Ham, Mike Gibbins, Tom Evans, Bob Jackson (keyboards/vocals).  Joey Molland does not appear.

Airwaves (Elektra, 1979)

    Contains the hit single "Love is Gonna Come at Last."  Badfinger lineup:  Joey Molland, Tom Evans, Joe Tansin (guitar/vocals).  guests include Nicky Hopkins (piano), Tony Kaye [uncredited] (keyboards), Andy Newmark (drums).

Say No More (Radio Records, 1981)

    Contains the hit single "Hold On."  Badfinger lineup:  Joey Molland, Tom Evans, Tony Kaye, Richard Bryans (drums), Glenn Sherba (guitar).

Shine On (Edsel, 1989)

    Compilation of Warner Brothers material

Day After Day (Rykodisc, 1990)

    Live recording by original band - 1974

The Best of Badfinger Volume 2 (Rhino, 1990)

    Compilation of Warner Brothers  and Elektra material.

The Best of Badfinger (Apple, 1995)

    Compilation of Apple material.

BBC In Concert (Strange Fruit/Fuel 2000, 1997, reissued 2000)

    Live recordings by original band - 1972/1973

The Very Best of Badfinger (Apple, 2000)

    Compilation of Apple and Warner Brothers material.

Other discs that carry the Badfinger moniker...

Apple Daze (Raven Records, 1991)

    Interview disc with Tommy Evans

The Best of Badfinger featuring Joey Molland (Excelsior, 1994)

    Digital recording of Joey Molland singing Badfinger songs while being backed by Nashville session musicians.  Intended for the budget market.

Joey Molland's Badfinger - Timeless (Crosstown, 1996)

    Four song demo recorded by Joey Molland and friends, with Heart's Howard Leese guesting.  Not intended for distribution.  Now a highly valued collectors item. 

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