Badfinger — Can’t Get Enough

Badfinger’s spectacular rise to stardom in a short time during late sixties is a well-known phenomenon that no other music group can match. Their popularity and hype in the early 70’s led everyone to believe that Badfinger would be heir apparent to The Beatles. This was mainly because of their close working relationship with the «Fab Four» and of course, the Beatnic hairstyle, they kept.

The origin of Badfinger dates back to 1965 when keyboard player and guitarist Pete Ham got together with a group called The Panthers with Ron Griffiths (bass guitar) and David «Dai» Jenkins (guitar). The group was called The Iveys, named after a street in Swansea, Wales. Mike Gibbins joined the group as the drummer, and the band began playing locally with such groups as the Who, the Moody Blues and the Yardbirds. The following year, The Iveys moved on to the action city of London and started playing as a full-fledged band and provided back up for a local singer David Garrick (Dear Mrs. Applebee fame). This power pop/rock band signed with The Beatles label Apple Records in 1968 and released a single, «Maybe Tomorrow». In 1969, an album with the same title was released in European countries and Japan with thundering success. Badfinger band tab remains very popular among the fans and music lovers even today.

The Iveys decided to change from the ’60s pop sound to that of a rock band and changed their band name to Badfinger. The name «Badfinger» was a Beatles-inspired mark, which was a reference to «Bad Finger Boogie», an early working title of «With a Little Help from My Friends», from «Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band». The group got the big break with the song «Come and Get It», which was written by Paul McCartney. It was a hit throughout Europe and the United States, where it reached the Billboard Top 10. During the recording session for «Come and Get It», two other compositions «Rock of All Ages» and «Carry On Till Tomorrow» were also recorded. These three songs appeared in the film and soundtrack album «Magic Christian Music», that was released later. As a music lover, you can appreciate Badfinger guitar riff in these hits.

Badfinger added the next feather to their cap in late 1970 with the release of «No Dice». It was accompanied by the single «No Matter What», which also reached the Billboard Top 10. Another No Dice track, «Without You», became a bigger hit when recorded by Harry Nilsson in 1971 (where it reached the Billboard #1 slot) and again by Mariah Carey in 1993. This highly talented band kept getting popular and ended up helping George Harrison with his album «All Things Must Pass», Ringo Starr on «It Don’t Come Easy» and John Lennon with «Imagine» album. Their close association with Beatles was reflected once again when all members of the band appeared as backup musicians during George Harrison’s charity Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971.

Badfinger’s next album, «Straight Up» was released in 1972 with two big hits, «Day After Day» and «Baby Blue.» Many decades down the road, Straight Up has been ranked as the most-requested CD release among out-of-print albums in a Goldmine Magazine reader’s poll. Their other successful albums include Ass (1973), Badfinger (1974), Wish You Were Here (1974), Airwaves (1979), Say No More (1981) and Head First (2000).