Badfinger – Ass

I was excited when I found this, but it’s honestly JUST as muddy as my US pressing, but without any of the fun bass— save your money with this one, or maybe just stick with the 2010 remaster.

I've done usa vs uk comparisons with many Badfinger lps (all but the 1st 2 and last 2) and Ass was the only one where I preferred the usa. The uk is cut well and is very crisp but lacks low end which this pressing has in spades, and when it's lacking you miss it.

This isn't terrible, but...I can't say it's particularly memorable. This pressing has decent sound, but the mix is on the boomy side. My copy is in fine shape, with minimal surface noise.

Apple U.S. releases are aweful in general, but this one is the real pain in the ass.

referencing letter from T.J. Smith, from June 17, 2012
If you're thinking of acquiring the best stuff by Badfinger, Ass is certainly NOT a recommendation. Their previous two albums, 'No Dice', and 'Straight Up', were not only their two biggest selling albums, they're really great too and a lot better than Ass. Todd Rundgren produced Straight Up and was present when they went to record Ass too, although unfortunately, Rundgren left early in the project and most of the production was done by the band. Their record company rejected the tapes and Badfinger brought in engineer/producer Chris Thomas to work on an 'improved' or rather, re-mixed version of Ass, which is what was finally released to the public. It still was never an especially great album. It's not a total piece of crap, the song Apple Of My Eye is pretty good but most of the stuff on Ass isn't very memorable. Thomas produced their next two albums too, which both came out in 1974, on their new label, Warner Brothers Records. The first of those two was the self titled album, 'Badfinger', which is on a par with Ass, although the next album 'Wish You Were Here', is excellent and praised by many Badfinger fans as one of the group's best. Some say it's THE best Badfinger album.
There's also the two 'comeback' Badfinger albums, 'Airwaves'(1979) and 'Say No More' (1981), both of which are really great, even though Pete Ham (and Mike Gibbins) were no longer in the band. Don't assume the albums suck just because Ham was no longer in the band. They're a lot better than Ass and the S/T album, which both featured all the earlier too.
There's the 'Head First' album also, (from 2000), although it was actually recorded in 1975 and released 25 years later. There's some pretty good songs on Head First, especially 'Moonshine' and 'Back Again' and the album is recommended.
I hope my input on Badfinger's recordings will help people make good decisions when shopping for music by this great band.

Badfinger's final album on the famed Beatles' Apple label did not give the band such a big send off as they would have pleased. A change in labels from Apple to Warner Brothers by their American manager Stan Polley, and a release of a Warner Brothers album soon after "Ass" self titled "Badfinger" sent both albums to low positions in the charts. Because of this, "Ass" is usually looked over in the music world except for Badfinger fans who know this album is full of good numbers by a wonderful band in their own right.

The album kicks off with Pete Ham's "Apple of My Eye". This song is about Pete's feelings about leaving the Apple label that had brought them to near Beatle like fame. The song is a nice ballad with the beautiful voice of Pete Ham most prominent. The next three tracks are the Joey Molland tunes "Get Away", "Icicles" and "The Winner". All three being nice rocker tunes with the emphasis on guitar and some background piano work. Joey Molland songs dominated most of the album which were some of his best works since "Suitcase" and "Sweet Tuesday Morning" off of their 3rd Apple album "Straight Up". The final track on side one is a Tom Evans tune called "Blind Owl". Tom's voice is the dominant here with roaring guitar tracks and backing vocals from Pete and Joey creating a Beatle like vocal sound.

Side two starts off with Mollands Hard Rocker titled "Constitution". A rare hard rock song usually only heard live by the band makes for a fine addition to this album. The next track was from Tom Evans titled "When I Say" which was a beautiful love ballad. In my opinion this song could have been a single along with "Apple of My Eye" by Pete Ham. "Cowboy", a country tune by drummer Mike Gibbons and "Can I Love You", a rocker, by Molland are enjoyable for the second side of "Ass". The final song, "Timeless" by Pete Ham resembles "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" from Abbey Road. Stretching nearly 8 minutes it slowly builds to a loud engulfing conclusion. Only the second Ham song on the album, it is an amazing and sought after conclusion. In my opinion it is a hell of a way to end an album.

I recommend this album not only to Badfinger fans, but anyone who wants to hear a mix of beautiful ballads and rockers from a great rock band that has been sadly lost and looked over in this world.