Top Ten Songs by Badfinger
Perhaps the group Badfinger was destined for failure and heartache from the very beginning. Immediately compared to the Beatles, who actually discovered them, they were never given the chance to be just Badfinger. And even though most people only remember three of their tunes, “Come And Get It”, “No Matter What” and “Day After Day”, this group had a number of great albums and some incredible songs to go with them. I’m going to take a shot at listing their top ten tunes. You are certain to not recognize quite a few of these unless you’re a hard core Badfinger fan. If that’s the case, good luck finding these gems as most of their material is long out of print.
Number 10. Come And Get It. This was the group’s first hit. Unlike most of their other hits, what few their were, this one was sung by Tom Evans the group’s co founder. Tom kind of faded into the background as Pete Ham took over as the leader and lead “McCartney like” voice of the group. If you want it, here it is. Come and get it. Pretty suggestive lyrics for 1970.
Number 9. Maybe Tomorrow. This was actually the group’s first single, even though it was not a big hit. Actually it was originally released under the name The Ivys. This song sounded nothing like the Badfinger we all grew up to know and love. Still, there was something very haunting about this tune. It was definitely a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Number 8. In The Meantime/Some Other Time. While Pete Ham was the group’s commercial sound, Joey Molland was the heart and soul of Badfinger. Molland didn’t write and record the happy pop tunes that Badfinger was known for. Perhaps he was trying to get away from that mold. Whatever the reason for these haunting tunes, In The Meantime/Some Other Time was one of his best. A six minute epic that plays more like three. The tune came off of what was arguably their best album, “Wish You Were Here.”
Number 7. No Matter What. This was the first hit single, albeit a moderate hit, that featured Pete Ham on lead vocals. The opening guitar riff on this one is just awesome, even to this day. The song, like many Beatle’s songs, just come right at you from the first note.
Number 6. Baby Blue. This was the followup to Day After Day, which was the group’s biggest hit. It never did reach the popularity of their previous song. After Baby Blue, which was another Beatlesque tune, the group really went downhill from there. Not musically, as their best was yet to come, but professionally. Ultimately their lack of popularity caused both Ham and Evans to take their own lives.
Number 5. Know One Knows. This is another tune from “Wish You Were Here.” It was another Pete Ham commercial sounding song and yet it was never even released as a single. This album really did spell the end for the group as there were so many legal problems tied up with its release that eventually it was pulled from the stores. Along with it went a lot of great music, including this classic Ham offering.
Number 4. I Can Love You. This song comes off an album of theirs, the title of which is unprintable here. I Can Love You is another one of those heartbreaking Joey Molland tunes that is as haunting as it is beautiful. The guitar riffs in this song are truly unique. Molland once again shows how underrated he was in this group.
Number 3. Day After Day. This was the group’s biggest hit and arguably their most commercial sounding song. In spite of this, it is actually an excellent tune. The George Harrison inspired leads only further pigeonholed them as Beatles want-to-be’s. Sadly, their biggest hit may have been the beginning of the end for them.
Number 2. Gotta Get Out Of Here. Deciding between number one and two is like trying to choose between your two children. Talk about impossible. Gotta Get Out Of Here is another Joey Molland tune that is without a doubt his most haunting and one of the group’s all time best songs. It is simply amazing that this was never released as a single. Another one off the album “Wish You Were Here”, this song was played maybe once or twice on the radio and then pulled because of legal problems with the record label. A real travesty.
Number 1. Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke. For all you die hard Badfinger fans, this song is their anthem. It’s about 5 minutes of pure genius. There is no other way to describe it. This is a combined Ham and Molland effort which shows that the two of them really could make some great music together. This was their best, also off of “Wish You Were Here.”
All I can say is this. Badfinger, we all wish you were still here.
You deserved better.
