By Steve Newton
If you were type of rock fan in the ’70s who thought it was the end of the world when guitarist Mick Ralphs left Mott the Hoople–only to be blown away when he formed a supergroup called Bad Company with singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke (from Free) and bassist Boz Burrell (King Crimson)–then start saving your sheckles.
Warner Music has just announced that on April 7 Rhino Records will release remastered deluxe editions of Bad Co’.s first two albums, featuring previously unreleased tracks, takes, and mixes from the original sessions.
Here’s some of the promo bumph released today:
For the first time ever, the band has remastered Bad Company (1974) and Straight Shooter (1975) using the original tapes to create new Deluxe Editions. It was paramount to founding member Paul Rodgers that the CD and LP be copied from the original tapes to guarantee the best sound possible. Each set includes a newly remastered version of the original album, along with a number of rare and unreleased recordings. The CD versions of these Deluxe Editions include all of the newly discovered bonus tracks, while their 180-gram vinyl counterparts offer a selection of the bonus material.
The second disc of the Bad Company Deluxe Edition features 12 tracks, including eight previously unreleased recordings such as the demo for the ballad “The Way I Choose,” a take of “Bad Company” recorded right before the album version, and an unedited version of “Superstar Woman,” a song that Rodgers later recorded in 1983 for his solo album Cut Loose. Also featured is the single edit of “Can’t Get Enough,” and the b-sides “Little Miss Fortune” and “Easy On My Soul.”
Of the 14 bonus tracks on Straight Shooter, all are previously unreleased except the b-side “Whiskey Bottle.” Among the standouts is a stripped-down version of “Shooting Star,” a remix of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” with alternative guitar and vocals tracks, as well as two lost gems, never released before: “See The Sunlight” and “All Night Long.”
Now here’s a tune to get all you Bad Company diehards even more psyched:
That shit never gets old.
Track Listings
Bad Company (1974)
Disc One
1. “Can’t Get Enough”
2. “Rock Steady”
3. “Ready For Love”
4. “Don’t Let Me Down”
5. “Bad Company”
6. “The Way I Choose”
7. “Movin’ On”
8. “Seagull”
Disc Two
- “Can’t Get Enough” (Take 1)*
- “Little Miss Fortune” (Demo Reel 1)*
- “The Way I Choose” (Demo Reel 1)*
- “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 2-73 Session)*
- “The Way I Choose” (Version 1 Inc. F/S)
- “Easy On My Soul” (Long Version)
- “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 8-73 Session)*
- Studio Chat/Dialogue
- “Superstar Woman” (Long Version)*
- “Can’t Get Enough” (Single Edit)
- “Little Miss Fortune” (B-side of “Can’t Get Enough”)*
- “Easy On My Soul” (B-side of “Movin’ On”)*
Straight Shooter (1975)
Disc One
1. “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad”
2. “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
3. “Weep No More”
4. “Shooting Star”
5. “Deal With The Preacher”
6. “Wild Fire Woman”
7. “Anna”
8. “Call On Me”
Disc Two
- “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)*
- “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Take Before Master)*
- “Weep No More” (Early Slow Version)*
- “Shooting Star” (Alternate Take)*
- “Deal With The Preacher” (Early Version)*
- “Anna” (Alternate Vocal)*
- “Call On Me” (Alternate Take)*
- “Easy On My Soul” (Slow Version)
- “Whiskey Bottle” (Early Slow Version)
- “See the Sunlight”
- “All Night Long”
- “Wild Fire Woman” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)*
- “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Harmonica Version)
- “Whiskey Bottle” (B-side of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” )
* Tracks featured on Deluxe Edition LPs
Bad company was fantastic !! Paul Rodgers keep on rocking !! See you again soon!!