YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / Zharth's Music Log / Week 135 (Band Connections 4)
(Originally finalized on April 18, 2025)
Preface: I was prepared to close the book on this series after my last episode of Band Connections, but then I thought of another subject that would make for a good one. And it all hinges on the members of Bad Company, and the other bands they played for and were connected to. I'll have more to say on that as we go through the week.
Monday: Free - Fire And Water [Fire And Water, 1970]
Comments: We begin with Free, an underrated British rock band that was active right in that sweet spot from 1968 to 1973. It could very well be described as the prototype for Bad Company, combining the vocal stylings of one Paul Rodgers with the guitar prowess of another Paul - Paul Kossoff. Although their smash hit All Right Now was a commercial success, it's a bit of a shame that it eclipses the rest of their offerings - like this title track from the same album.
Tuesday: David Bowie - Suffragette City [Ziggy Stardust, 1972]
Comments: Having secured his reputation as a rock singer, Paul Rodgers was fielding invitations no less prestigious than to replace Jim Morrison in The Doors, and Ian Gillan in Deep Purple. Meanwhile, a little-known band by the name of Mott The Hoople - featuring singer Ian Hunter and guitarist Mick Ralphs - was struggling until David Bowie gave them a hand up. He initially offered them the song Suffragette City, but ended up writing their biggest hit All The Young Dudes instead, as well as producing the album, which also features a cover of The Velvet Underground's Sweet Jane.
Wednesday: Mott The Hoople - Ready For Love/After Lights [All The Young Dudes, 1972]
Comments: I have to confess, the only reason I'm familiar with Mott The Hoople is from browsing my dad's CD collection once upon a time. I had always assumed that this was a cover of the Bad Company song, until I looked into it and learned that guitarist Mick Ralphs wrote the song, recorded it with this band, then left to join Bad Company, and re-recorded it for that band's debut album! I actually prefer this version, largely due to the extended instrumental outro.
Thursday: Spooky Tooth - Evil Woman [Spooky Two, 1969]
Comments: After Mick Ralphs left the band to form Bad Company, Mott The Hoople continued on without him - recruiting guitarist Luther Grosvenor (under the pseudonym Ariel Bender). Grosvenor had previously played in a pyschedelic rock band called Spooky Tooth, which also featured Gary Wright - the keyboard player who would later record the hit Dream Weaver. By happy circumstance, I became acquainted with Spooky Tooth through this song, on one of those rare occasions when corporate radio would dig deep and play a hidden treasure... at three in the morning.
Friday: Queen - Keep Yourself Alive [Queen, 1973]
Comments: It turns out that Queen had a great working relationship with Mott The Hoople, after touring in support of them during 1973-74, while their star was on the rise. Additionally, after Freddie Mercury's unfortunate AIDS-related demise in the early '90s, the remaining members of the band would reunite with Paul Rodgers at the helm for a temporary interval in the 21st century. Which makes this a great opportunity for me to share one of my favorite Queen songs, which is not only the opening track to their debut album, but also their first single - qualifying it for a First Impression!
Saturday: Bad Company - Feel Like Makin' Love [Straight Shooter, 1975]
Comments: After Free disbanded, Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke recruited Mick Ralphs from Mott The Hoople, along with Boz Burrell, a bass guitarist who briefly played with King Crimson. Together, they formed Bad Company. Over the next eight years, they would release six albums, three of which charted in the Top 5 (with another in the Top 10). Since I've just about exhausted all the hits from their debut album on this music log, and I wanted to play Mott The Hoople's version of Ready For Love, here's a hit from their sophomore album.
Sunday: The Firm - Midnight Moonlight [The Firm, 1985]
Comments: In the mid-'80s, Paul Rodgers formed a short-lived supergroup with Jimmy Page called The Firm - and it wasn't the only connection between their two bands. Bad Company had been managed by Peter Grant - "the fifth Zeppelin" - and their albums were released on Led Zeppelin's own label, Swan Song Records. Furthermore, the closing track on The Firm's first of only two albums is actually built from an unfinished piece Page worked on while in Led Zeppelin - which was, at the time, appropriately titled Swan Song!
Honorable Mention: Great White - Once Bitten Twice Shy [...Twice Shy, 1989]
Comments: Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist - not to mention Mott The Hoople alumnus - Ian Hunter had a fairly influential career, recording several songs that would be covered to more prominence by other bands. For example, the theme song to hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show - Cleveland Rocks, performed by The Presidents of the United States of America - was written and originally recorded by Ian Hunter. So was a song titled Once Bitten, Twice Shy - which was one of post-'70s retro rockers (and Led Zeppelin fan band) Great White's biggest hits.