Badfinger : Wish You Were Here- First released in 1974, on Warner Brothers - WB K56088 (UK) / WB 2827 (US) |
| Tracks: | Written By: | Lead Singer: | Time |
| 1:Just A Chance | (Ham) | Pete | 2.58 |
| 2:You're So Fine | (Gibbins) | Pete and Joey | 3.03 |
| 3:Got To Get Out Of Here | (Molland) | Joey | 3.30 |
| 4:Know One Knows | (Ham) | Pete | 3.17 |
| 5:Dennis | (Ham) | Pete | 5.15 |
| 6:In The Meantime | (Gibbins) | Mike | 3.08 |
| 7:Some Other Time | (Molland) | Joey | 3.37 |
| 8:Love Time | (Molland) | Joey | 2.20 |
| 9:King Of The Load | (Evans) | Tom | 3.31 |
| 10:Meanwhile Back At The Ranch | (Ham) | Pete | 2.39 |
| 11:Should I Smoke | (Molland) | Joey | 2.38 |
| 12:Queen of Darkness* | (Evans) | Tom | 2.38 |
My comments:Badfinger's second album for Warner Brothers was recording during two sessions - the first took place at The Caribou Ranch, Colorado in April/May 1974; the second at AIR studios, London in June. Though financial worries had begun to have great influence on the 4 members; they all felt that they had to put everything they had into these recordings. And this really shows on the album - another masterpiece - one of the really great albums of the seventies. It has been called "The Sergent Pepper of the 1970's"; personally I feel that it has more in common with "Abbey Road".
Badfinger had grown into an albums-band, and this album really works as a whole, especially the original side 2 which features two very succesful medleys. The album opens with Pete's very powerful Just A Chance and with Mike's light and catchy You're So Fine song by Joey and Pete - once again Mike proves himself as a competent songwriter. Joey's Got To Get Out Of Here really shows how Joey felt about about the music business and being in the band ( as we know he left shortly after the album's release) a very strong song by Joey. Know One Knows is another powerful melodic rocker by Pete - I love the Japanese voice that meddles with leadguitar part. The first side closes with another grand production which characterizes most of the album; Pete's Dennis written to his step-son. Besides the two medleys side two features Tom Evans' King Of The Load ( one of my favourite Tom Evans songs) and Joey's quiet Love Time. No singles were released from the album; this was a period when hit-singles didn't matter much to the progressive/ambitious bands. Just a Chance or Know One Knows might have been able to make the charts with the right promotion, though none of them have immediate hit-potential.
My favourites: You're So Fine, Know One Knows, Dennis, King Of The Load
Other very good songs: Just A Chance, Got To Get Out Of Here, In The Meantime/Some Other Time, Love Time, Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke
Of 10 possible stars I would give this album: 10
