Bad Company – Live 1977 & 1979
Rhino
http://www.badcompany.com/

Rating: A

Bad Company was one of the biggest, and baddest super-groups to hit the musical landscape in the 1970s.

The original lineup of Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell already had a pedigree of rock royalty.  Rodgers and Kirke were veterans of UK rock gods Free, while Ralphs spent time with Mott the Hoople and Burrell was part of King Crimson.  Together, they meshed together as one of hard rock’s greatest treasures.

The band’s sound was centered around the amazing songwriting of Ralphs and Rodgers.  While Mick was not a guitar god, he was a master of finding the right chord, or lick, to make the song memorable.  Rodgers is one of the best vocalists on the planet.  In fact, on these songs, from a bygone era, he sounds damn good.  Truth be told, however, in 2016 he sounds even better.  He composed some of the decade’s biggest hits in “Shooting Star,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”  He is a talent unlike any other.  He has the soul of a bluesman, the heart of a rocker and the longevity of a god.  Kirke is a solid drummer and the late Burrell was a solid bassist.  Together, they combined to form a band that has both a sound, and an attitude, that is uniquely their own.

Up until this release, Bad Co had never released an official live album.  As damn fine as these two and a half hours of music are, one has to wonder... why? Ah, who cares why, as we have them now!

One show comes from a May 23rd, 1977 show in Houston, Texas in support of their album Burning Sky.  The track listing is strong on this one, and includes the classics “Shooting Star," "Ready for Love," "Movin' On" and "Feel Like Makin' Love."  The other show comes from March 9th, 1979 in London, which was recorded during the band’s tour for Desolation Angels.  This was a classic album and it is a solid set that includes the iconic tunes “Bad Company,” “Gone Gone Gone,” “Shooting Star,” “Oh Atlanta,” “Run with the Pack” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” among others.  There is also a killer remake of the Jimi Hendrix tune “Hey Joe.”  Rodgers simply knocks this one out of the park! The tune was actually recorded from a different show in the USA on the 1979 tour.

Between the two shows, all of the hits are there and these concerts are over-dub free, meaning what you hear is what the band and crowd heard on both nights.  No fixes in the mixes, this is a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy come true for Bad Company’s fans around the globe.

Look for Bad Company on the road with Joe Walsh this summer.  Until you can get to a show, snap this sucker up.  It’s guaranteed to put a huge smile on your face!

CD 1
1. Burnin’ Sky (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
2. Too Bad (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
3. Ready For Love (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
4. Heartbeat (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
5. Morning Sun (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
6. Man Needs Woman (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
7. Leaving You (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
8. Shooting Star (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
9. Simple Man (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
10. Movin’ On (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
11. Like Water (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
12. i. Live For The Music (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
13. ii. Drum Solo (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
14. Good Lovin’ Gone Bad (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)
15. Feel Like Makin’ Love (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas – 23rd May 1977)

CD 2
1. Bad Company (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
2. Gone, Gone, Gone (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
3. Shooting Star (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
4. Rhythm Machine (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
5. Oh, Atlanta (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
6. She Brings Me Love (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
7. Run With The Pack (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
8. i. Evil Wind (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
9. ii. Drum Solo (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
10. Honey Child (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
11. Rock Steady (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
12. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
13. Hey Joe (Live at Capitol Center, Washington, DC 26th June 1979)
14. Feel Like Makin’ Love (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)
15. Can’t Get Enough (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979)

By Jeb "Deslolation Angel" Wright