Airwaves (Badfinger album)


Airwaves is the eighth studio album released by British rock band Badfinger in 1979 on the Elektra label, the seventh album released that was credited to Badfinger. Anticipated as a comeback album for the group at the time, expectations were not quite realized, as the "group" now consisted of just the duo of Tom Evans and Joey Molland, accompanied by guitarist Joe Tansin and various session musicians.

History

Following the "hold" placed on the last Badfinger album, Head First, and the suicide of group co-founder Pete Ham in 1975, Badfinger disbanded, and the remaining members joined various other groups or dropped out of music for the next two years.
At the behest of Chicago musicians Joe Tansin and Kenny Harck, the then-unemployed Joey Molland formed a new group with the duo in Los Angeles. Molland later enticed his fellow former Badfinger member Tom Evans to also join the unnamed band.
After the band shopped demonstration records around the L.A. area, they discovered they would have more marketing power if they revived the Badfinger moniker. Although the name helped the group open doors to potential record labels, it also caused an inequality and friction between old and new Badfinger members within the band. As recordings commenced for the album, Harck was released by the band. Former Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins auditioned for the group but was not hired, and session musician Andy Newmark was finally brought in for the drum tracks. Tansin, whose songs were largely bypassed during production in favour of Evans and Molland tunes, quit the group immediately upon the album's completion.
With a short running time and basically only eight songs, Airwaves did not leave a strong impression on music reviewers upon its release. Critics also complained about the album's "West coast" production and the loss of the famous Badfinger sound. Molland, however, has often defended the album and its production. The band toured frequently in support of the album, but sales figures failed to garner optimism with Elektra and the label passed on issuing a follow up LP.
Two singles were released from the album. "Lost Inside Your Love" did not enter the U.S. charts, "Love Is Gonna Come At Last" managed a peak position at #69 on Billboard. The actual album peaked at #125 in the US charts.

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Airwaves" – 0:29
  2. "Look Out California" – 3:27
  3. "Lost Inside Your Love" – 2:42
  4. "Love Is Gonna Come at Last" – 3:37
  5. "Sympathy" – 4:28

    Side two

  6. "The Winner" – 3:26
  7. "The Dreamer" – 5:20
  8. "Come Down Hard" – 3:48
  9. "Sail Away" – 3:31

    1997 CD bonus tracks

As listed in liner notes of 1999 re-issue.
  1. "Airwaves"
  2. * Words and music: Joey Molland and Tom Evans
  3. * Lead vocal: Tom Evans
  4. * Acoustic guitar: Joey Molland
  5. * Leg, hands and feet: Peter Clark
  6. "Look Out California"
  7. * Words and music: Tom Evans
  8. * Lead vocal: Tom Evans
  9. * Harmonies: Tom Evans and David Malloy
  10. * Guitars: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  11. * Bass: Tom Evans
  12. * Drums: Ken Harck
  13. * Synthesizer: Duane Hitchings
  14. "Lost Inside Your Love"
  15. * Words and music: Tom Evans
  16. * Lead vocal: Tom Evans
  17. * Harmonies: Tom Evans, Joe Tansin and Joey Molland
  18. * Guitars: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  19. * Bass: Tom Evans
  20. * Acoustic piano: Nicky Hopkins
  21. * Drums: Andy Newmark
  22. "Love is Gonna Come at Last"
  23. * Words and music: Joey Molland
  24. * Lead vocal: Joey Molland
  25. * Harmonies: Joey Molland, Tom Evans and Joe Tansin
  26. * Guitars: Joey Molland
  27. * Percussion: Steve Foreman
  28. "Sympathy"
  29. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  30. * Lead vocal: Tom Evans
  31. * Harmonies: Joey Molland and Tom Evans
  32. * Guitars: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  33. * Bass: Tom Evans
  34. * Electric piano: Joey Molland
  35. * Percussion: Steve Foreman
  36. * Drums: Ken Harck
  37. "The Winner"
  38. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  39. * Lead vocal: Joey Molland and Tom Evans
  40. * Harmonies: Joey Molland, Joe Tansin and Tom Evans
  41. * Middle eight vocal: Joe Tansin and Tom Evans
  42. * Lead guitar: Joe Tansin
  43. * Bass: Tom Evans
  44. * Acoustic piano and Synthesizer: Duane Hitchings
  45. * Drums: Steve Foreman
  46. "The Dreamer"
  47. * Words and music: Joey Molland
  48. * Lead vocal: Joey Molland
  49. * Harmonies: Joey Molland and Tom Evans
  50. * Guitar: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  51. * Lead guitar: Joe Tansin
  52. * Bass: Tom Evans
  53. * Piano and Hammond organ: Nicky Hopkins
  54. * Percussion: Steve Foreman
  55. "Come Down Hard"
  56. * Words and music: Joey Molland
  57. * Lead vocal: Joey Molland
  58. * Guitar: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  59. * Lead guitar: Joe Tansin
  60. * Bass: Tom Evans
  61. * Drums: Andy Newmark
  62. "Sail Away"
  63. * Words and music: Tom Evans
  64. * Lead vocal and Harmonies: Tom Evans
  65. * Acoustic piano: Nicky Hopkins
  66. * String arrangement: David Campbell
  67. "One More Time"
  68. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  69. * Lead vocal: Joe Tansin
  70. * Harmonies: Joe Tansin and Tom Evans
  71. * Guitars: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  72. * Lead guitar: Joey Molland
  73. * Cardboard box: Ken Harck
  74. * Cricket noise: cricket
  75. "Send Me Your Love"
  76. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  77. * Lead vocals, guitar and keys: Joe Tansin
  78. "Steal My Heart"
  79. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  80. * Lead vocal: Joe Tansin
  81. * Guitars and keys: Joe Tansin
  82. * Tom Toms: Ken Harck
  83. * Saxophone: Barry Sperti
  84. "Love Can't Hide"
  85. * Words and music: Joey Molland and Joe Tansin
  86. * Lead vocal: Joey Molland
  87. * Guitar: Joey Molland
  88. * Bass: Tom Lecher
  89. * Piano: Harry Pulver, Jr.
  90. * Drums: Bob Millea
  91. "Can You Feel the Rain"
  92. * Words and music: Joe Tansin
  93. * Lead vocal: Joe Tansin
  94. * Backing vocals: Dean Ford and Joe Tansin
  95. * Slide guitar: Rick Salon
  96. * Acoustic guitar: Joe Tansin
  97. * Piano: Scott Greer
  98. * Mandolin: Joe Tansin