Badfinger

Before Badfinger's catalog was reissued on CD, Straight Up was a highly sought-after, near legendary piece of vinyl. Taking finely crafted, harmony-laden songs to new heights, Badfinger stormed the charts with "Day After Day." "Baby Blue," "Flying" and "Name of the Game" add credence to why this 1971 release is still revered in the new millennium.

Straight Up is a big disappointment coming after Badfinger's previous superb album, No Dice.
I remember reading a quote by drummer Mike Gibbons saying that Straight Up would be a
"natural progression" from the previous album–as is usually the case with such supposed
progressions, the result here is self-consciousness in place of spontaneity, solemnity in the
place of former exuberance, and a general all-around deadness where infectio... More >

Once again I'm forced to wonder whether I wouldn't like this record if it were by the Beatles. But without mentioning what the question says about the group, which is called Badfinger, the answer is that the Beatles couldn't have made this record. Except for "Day After Day" and "Perfection," not one of these unabashedly tuneful tunes has any magic to it, which isn't simply a matter of cautious tempos and harmonies--it's a matter of magic. Nor will any of them add any phrases verbal or musical to our common language, although they might keep a few in circulation. Also,the Beatles put nicer pictures on the cover--pictures of themselves. (Grade - B-)