In 1969, British rock band Badfinger andApple Records launched what should have become … one of the most successful unions in rock history.
THE IVEYS (Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Ron Griffiths and Mike Gibbins) signed onto The Beatles label (Apple Records) in 1968. The following year, longtime Beatles road manager and compatriot Neil Aspinall, suggested the band change their name to Badfinger.
Paul McCartney generously presented one of his unreleased compositions to the band under his strict supervision. The song entitled, “Come and Get It” would be spotlighted in a motion picture called The Magic Christian starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. In 1970, “Come and Get It” became a hit single for Badfinger peaking at #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and selling over a million copies.
Watch for the release of Joey Molland’s new CD ‘Return to Memphis’
Photo credit:
www.badfingersite.com
After the release of “Come and Get It,” bassist Ron Griffiths left the band. Badfinger replaced Griffiths with guitarist Joey Molland while moving singer/songwriter Tom Evans to bass guitar.
BADFINGER became an incredible force of virtuoso musicians churning out hit after hit while being supported by the biggest band in the world. The band’s first album was the soundtrack to the movie The Magic Christian(Magic Christian Music). Their follow-up album, No Dicespawned the Pete Ham penned classic “No Matter What”(#8 U.S. Hot 100 Hit -1970) and an Evans/Ham composition“Without You” which became a #1 Hit in 1971 for Harry Nilsson and a #3 Hit for Mariah Carey in 1994. No Dicereached #28 on Billboard’s Hot 200 albums chart.
The bands third album Straight Up was regarded by many to be their best. George Harrison had considerable input on the album including playing slide guitar on “Day After Day” (#4 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1971). Leon Russell played piano on the track. The album also generated the hit single "Baby Blue" (#14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart in 1972). George Harrison left before the album was completed to work on The Concert for Bangladesh and Todd Rundgren was brought in to finish the album. Production credits were shared between Harrison and Rundgren.
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