2024 has been quite the year for Badfinger fans. While the band have attained a cult following for decades, there haven’t been too many new releases. In this year of 2024, fans have been treat to demo albums of Pete Ham and Tom Evans, along with an anthology of Iveys demos. Though in this month of December, the estates of Badfinger have rolled out a release no one thought would ever happen: a remix of the band’s lost Head First album on CD and vinyl LP. While Head First was released in 2000, this new version is sourced from the multitrack tapes. Despite it isn’t a perfect release, the new remix of Head First is a nice addition to the Badfinger discography.
A Little History
Badfinger’s line up on Head First. L to R: Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Bob Jackson and Mike Gibbins
By December 1974, Badfinger were going through a rough time. Within the span of 18 months, the band had released three studio albums (Ass, Badfinger and Wish You Were Here). None of these albums charted the way their earlier albums had charted and there were tensions in the band. Band leader Pete Ham left the band in the fall of 1974, after which was replaced by keyboardist Bob Jackson. Though when the band’s record label, Warner Brothers, threatened to drop the band without Ham in it, Ham rejoined. For one tour in 1974, Badfinger toured as a five piece band. Once it ended, guitarist Joey Molland left the band. This left Badfinger a four piece band again: Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins and Bob Jackson.
Sooner or later, Warner Brothers discovered there was $100 K missing in an escrow account. Stan Polley, the band’s manager, made the band book studio time at Apple Studios in December 1974, where the band cranked out a new album within two weeks. When the new album was turned over to Warner Brothers, they weren’t happy with what they heard or saw. The album was seen as a way of making up for the missing money. With that, Warner Brothers rejected the album and pulled the band’s latest album Wish You Were Here out of circulation. By early 1975, the band were left with almost nothing. Sadly in April 1975, Pete Ham took his own life at the age of 27, thus leading to the band folding.
In the years that followed, the tapes for Head First would go missing. Several songs from those sessions were released on early 1990s Badfinger compilations until finally in 2000, Head First was released by Snapper Records. This 2000 release, however, was sourced from the rough mixes that were given to each band member back in the day. The multitrack source tapes, at that time, were still missing until now.
The album cover for the 2000 Snapper release.
The Album
While nowhere near as masterful as Wish You Were Here, Head First is a solid effort from the band. In a way, the band went back to basics with this album. While this was due to the circumstances they were under, it’s still nice to hear. Head First is a solid collection of catchy power pop tunes. While known for writing most of the band’s material, Pete Ham only wrote two songs (three if you count the instrumental “Saville Row”) for this album: “Lay Me Down” and “Keep Believing.” The former is a top notch catchy and infectious power pop rocker while the latter is a beautiful and hopeful love song. Drummer Mike Gibbins also shows his song writing chops with the haunting “Back Again” and the skiffle fun of “Rockin Machine.” While neither are personal favorites from the album, it shows that Gibbins was underrated as a songwriter.
Despite his years of service with various incarnations of Badfinger, Head First is the only album that keyboardist Bob Jackson appears on. Even then, he co writes some of the best songs from the album. This includes the celestial “Moonshine” and the dramatic “Passed Fast.” He even takes full lead vocals on the hard rocker “Turn Around.” While the song sounds more like a Uriah Heep song (which, funnily enough, Jackson would end up joining David Byron’s post Heep band in the early 1980s), it’s a strong song nevertheless. Though if Head First had a defining set of songs, both of them would come from Tom Evans in the form of “Hey Mr. Manager” and “Rock N Roll Contract.” Both songs were written by Evans as not-so-thinly-veiled attacks on the band’s manager Stan Polley. The former is a pop rocker while the latter is an all out rocker. It’s somewhat surprising that Polley gave these songs any approval of being on the album.
The Remix
When released in 2000, the mix of Head First that was used was the seven inch tapes that were given to each of the band members. For years, the master tapes and/or multi-track tapes were missing. Though now in 2024, they’ve not only been found but have also been remixed by Andy Nixon and Bob Jackson. The remixed album is, well, a mixed bag to say the least. For one thing, the tracking order is changed. While this might be bothersome to those familiar with the 2000 tracking order, it can be forgiven.
For the most part, the remix sounds fine. The songs sound a little more fuller and there’s more bass in the mix. This, however, doesn’t do favors for some songs. The rockers, such as “Lay Me Down” and “Rock N Roll Contract,” sound as if the music is way to up in the front. The heavier the song is, the harder it is to hear the vocals. The songs that do sound the best, however, are lighter songs. “Back Again” and “Moonshine” sound sensational and, in parts, better than the 2000 versions. Another nice surprise on the remix is that songs are full length. Hearing the endings of these songs is an added bonus to this release.
Conclusion
While not perfect, the new remix of Badfinger’s Head First is a solid release. Along with the new remix comes a booklet and liner notes. Still, it would’ve been nice to see the 2000 version of the album get a vinyl release or even included as a bonus second disc. The 2000 Snapper issue of the album is out of print and might go up in value with the release of this new remix. Still, it’s nice that Badfinger fans can finally own a version of Head First on vinyl. In addition to the band’s other discography, younger generations can finally stream this on music platforms of their choice. With all that in mind, we should be grateful for this new release.
Overall Album: 7/10
Remix: 6.5/10
You can purchase your copy of Head First from Bandcamp on CD and vinyl LP. Please note that at this time (12/14/24) that the shipment of the physical releases have been delayed and probably won’t ship out until after Christmas. You can, however, stream and purchase the album in MP3 form from Bandcamp.
Please click here for the Bandcamp page on the album.
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.