Swan Song Failed To Promote This Gem!!
But in 1982 other styles of music were still viable. Rough Diamonds was released in a time when "new wave" began to take hold. Bad Co. 's obvious 70's blues rock zep-light was not going to vanish with the dawm of the new decade. In fact, Paul Rodgers and crew went even further down the R&B road on RD. The tracks are effervesent blues rock ditties. The music is far and away some of BC's best thus far. "Painted Face" was an AOR staple after the messmerizing "Electricland" shorted out. This album has amazing buoyancy and should have been mega platinum. "Untie The Knot", "Nothin On The TV" and "Kickdown" all exhibit that Paul Rodgers cool and some emotional playing by Mick and the boys. This is a bonifide front to back album. A touch of soul, boogie, funk and good ol' rock. Record companies are just a pain in my butt. This CD is another prime example.
The problem with this album ...........
. . . . . . is that it came out when Van Halen was laying the ground work for the next wave of artists for this particular brand of Rock and Roll.
It was all over for bands like Bad Company.
It's a shame because this album is better than 80% of the Van Halen catalog.
About what I expected
It seemed each album was worse than the previous. I became a huge Paul Rodgers fan because of Bad Company and I had never owned this CD until now because I was not please with Bad Company's direction. I still feel that way but having recently purchased all of Free's catalog and keeping up with Paul's solo career this was the only cd I did not own. Electicland is a great song but all-in-all the album is just okay.
If you're a big Bad Company fan and don't own it yet, go ahead. If you like Bad Company and don't own any Free albums, get them instead. A note about Free, their earlier albums are bluesy and as they progressed you can start to hear the early Bad Company sound coming through. .
DEFINITELY AN EXCELLENT ALBUM BY BAD COMPANY
When I first listened to it, it consisted of songs built around various keyboards instead of MICK RALPH's guitar riffs throughout the 1970s. I remember when I finally got this cd in 1992 after I graduated from high school since it was the only album I did not have at the time I became a huge fan of BAD COMPANY in 1985. However, the revamped sound of his honey surburst GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD plugged into a 100-watt MARSHALL amp really shines thoughtout this album like on the previous DESOLATION ANGELS, and SIMON KIRKE is still playing excellent drums throughout the album. Furthermore, lead singer PAUL RODGERS plays excellent lead guitar on PAINTED FACE, CROSS COUNTRY BOY, and the synthesizer driven DOWNHILL RYDER (one of my favorite songs with outstanding rhythm guitar riffs) besides the keyboards throughout the album. ELECTRIC LAND that has PAUL still delivering those soulful vocals and piano skills is an excellent opening song for the album. The RODGERS/KIRKE penned UNTIE THE KNOT that features excellent vocals and piano playing is an excellent sequel, and then comes BOZ BURRELL'S NUTHIN' ON THE TV that features ex KING CRIMSON sax player MEL COLLINS. All three of these songs have excellent sounding guitar riffs by MICK RALPHS. BALLAD OF THE BAND is a good fast-paced song with PAUL'S singin', MICK'S guitar riffs, and MEL'S sax playing. OLD MEXICO is a excellent ballad with MICK'S slide guitar playing and PAUL'S singin' and piano playing, and RACETRACK is an excellent closing track with the synthesizer, piano, slide guitar, and vocals by PAUL. Another one of favorite songs is MICK'S KICKDOWN with his guitar riffs, PAUL'S singing, the piano, and the organ. Plus, this song reminds me of the live version of DAVID GILMOUR'S THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE from his 1984 vhs live video tape that MICK RALPHS plays guitar on (I wrote a review about this video too). The only major complaint I have about this album is that Paul does not play a grand acoustic piano (although he used it on some of their songs) instead of the newer type of pianos, and I do not like the sound of BOZ'S bass guitar(the new unpleasant sound of the 1980s) throughout the album in contrast to the sound of his bass guitar on the BAD COMPANY albums from the 1970s. Furthermore, I heard how the recording sessions for this about were dark and rough going too, considering the death of SWAN SONG label mate JOHN BONHAM, the departure of manager PETER GRANT, and PAUL wanting to spend more quality time with his children. Meanwhile, this album is definitely a must have for all original BAD COMPANY fans, despite how the sound and style of their music are different from their 1970s albums.
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Paul Rodgers Fans only . . .
Electricland is a
strong opening number. This was Paul Rodgers last Bad Co album(1982). My Fave song on this album is Kickdown - I play it to death. Untie the Knot is classic
Pop/ Rock (I could never Figure out why it
didn't close the album). Straight Shooter & Runnin' with the Pack are Far Better albums.
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You can see a complete list of all Bad Company discography, or go back to the Bad Company tabs
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