Bad Company Bad Company

Origin: USA / UK

Year: 1974

Subgenre: Hard Rock, Classic Rock

Rating:   77.38   Solid and Above-Average !

The Players:

Paul Rodgers               Vocals

Mick Ralphs                Guitars

Boz Burrell                  Bass Guitar

Simon Kirke                Drums, Percussion

After the breakup of British blues-rockers Free in 1973, vocalist Paul Rodgers was joined by ex-Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell, and an energetic young drummer named Simon Kirke. The resultant musical union came to be known as Bad Company, destined to become one of the most successful rock bands of the mid 70's. The band was the first group to sign with Led Zeppelin's fledgling Swan Song record label and, as a result, endeared themselves to one Peter Grant, Zep's unruly manager. After filling an open slot in Led Zeppelin's (an obvious pattern here) mobile studio at Headley Grange, the band quickly went to work laying down the entire record in just two weeks. 

This debut album, simply entitled Bad Company, was an unexpected smash hit; it went platinum five times over and boasted a number one single in the mid-tempo cruiser Can't Get Enough. Musically, the band's sound was a muscular blend of blues and hard rock, with a nice warm tone to the mix that was at once, earthy and strong. The aforementioned Can't Get Enough begins the album in hard rockin' style, instantly recognizable to old geezers everywhere as an anthem from the past. Other standouts include Rock Steady, Ready For Love, and Movin' On, all of which enjoy routine airplay on classic rock radio, especially in the States. The title track stands out above all though, demonstrating a gunslinger approach to the meanest of blues. Bad Company was actually recorded with the microphones set up in the fields of Headley Grange, while the band played live under a fall moon. The record does contain three mellow tracks, universally tame in tone and delivery, absent of any of the rockers' energy and fiery grooves. Oh well....the other tracks more than make up for these songs (Don't Let Me Down, The Way I Choose, and Seagull). 

In summary, Bad Company was not  only a financial coup for heavy music, but it was also a great example of thickly recorded hard rock that was meant to be played full blast out of car stereos. I write from experience.

Can't Get Enough   82

Rock Steady   79

Ready For Love   77

Don't Let Me Down   72

Bad Company   85

The Way I Choose   73

Movin' On   78

Seagull   73