Customer Reviews

Ass (Chi)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Additional comments to the 2010 remastered release:

"Ass" is undoubtedly the Badfinger album that has benefitted most from the new remastering. On the first CD release from 1996 the sound was very muddy and certainly not on par with the other Apple reissues. This is now thankfully corrected with this new 2010 release.

Also disappointing was it that the 1996 version contained only one single bonus track. This has also improved with this release, which now includes five bonus tracks, several of which are really exciting additions.

"Do You Mind" was the lone bonus number on the first release. On the new edition is the number again to find, but in a different version, which unfortunately is not better. I am missing Tom Evans fine harmony vocals on the chorus, a little frustrating since Molland himself is no great singer.

Pete Ham's "Apple of My Eye" is found in an earlier edition produced by the group themselves, good, but not as good as the final version which Chris Thomas helped to produce.

Tom Evans's "Blind Owl" is also found in an earlier version which "Apple of My Eye" is interesting, but not quite as good as the final version.

"Regular" is an unpretentious Joey Molland song that has never before been released. The song appear finished, but has probably originally not been found good enough to get on the album. Another outtake from "Ass" is Pete Ham's "Piano Red", which unfortunately is only available as a digital download, unless you want to invest in then Apple Box set. A shame, as the album generally lacks Pete Ham songs - it must be said that "Piano Red" is a somewhat atypical Ham song which may also have been deselected by being too different.

The last number is a different mix of Pete Ham's magnificent "Timeless". The mix is not as clear as the album version, but sounds like it's the same basic track, but with a different and shorter end. Since the album version is over seven minutes, some might feel that this slightly shorter version is to be preferred.

Original review:

The story behind the release of Ass is in several ways similar to that behind "Straight Up". The first recordings for this album, that turned out to be their last for Apple Records, began in January 1972; and the final recording took place in April 1973. The album was not released until late 73 in the USA and in March 74 in Europe. Their change of record company from Apple to Warner Brothers was one among other reason for the delay. Actually a first version of the album had been completed by the end of 72, but it was rejected by Apple. The original version of Ass had been produced by the band themselves, and they were going for a more basic rock album.

In early 73 Apple called in Chris Thomas to produce new recordings and to look through, what had already been finished. A similar situation had occurred when Todd Rundgren had been recruited for finishing "Straight Up". The two earliest recordings on this album were in fact ("The Winner" and "I Can Love You") produced by Rundgren. Pete's "Apple Of My Eye" and "Timeless" were re-recorded and two new Molland songs ( "Icicles" and "Constitution") with Chris Thomas were added. The rest of the album are leftovers from the scrapped version.

The album turned out to be a commercial failure; not because of the music but because of other things like little promotion, bad timing, the change of record company, lack of recent hit-single etc. The album was different from their earlier albums - they had wanted to do basic rock album representing the music they performed live, and that is mainly what "Ass" became. People who'd expected and hoped for another album similar to "No Dice" and "Straight Up" were obviously disappointed. Pete Ham only contributed 2 songs, of which only "Apple Of My Eye" was a typical Ham composition. Tom Evans wrote two very strong tracks, "When I Say" and "Blind Owl" - the first a lovely ballad and the second a wonderful rocker, which became a live favourite. Mike Gibbins wrote "Cowboy", a country styled song, which sound somewhat unfinished and which does not fit very well into the concept of the album. The rest of the album was written by Joey Molland. 3 straight ahead blues/rockers and two ballads. The album is the first where Pete Ham really gets a chance to demonstrate what a great lead guitarist he was, f. ex. on tracks like "Blind Owl", "Constitution" and "Timeless". The only bonustrack "Do You Mind" is an outtake from the first version of the album - it's written by Molland and it's one of his best early Badfinger songs.

My favourites: "Apple Of My Eye", "Blind Owl", "When I Say", "Timeless" and "Do You Mind"

While Badfinger's Straight Up and No Dice albums are widely and deservedly considered classics, their Apple swan song, "Ass" gets so little attention that it's never even been released domestically. Few people outside the core of die-hard fans even know it exists. Too bad, because they're missing some stellar moments. While power-pop was the buzzword that surrounded much of the rest of the band's catalog, "Ass" doesn't come off quite as sweet and is all the better for it. "Ass" was Badfinger stretching out and showing that they were more than recycled Beatle hooks and harmonies. While "Apple Of My Eye", Ham's achingly appropriate tip of the hat to the band's soon to be ex-label, captures the band's sound of old, several of the other songs seem to come from a harder edged, refreshingly different vein. "Timeless" is quite possibly Pete Ham's finest recorded moment with it's slow-building intensity, harrowing guitar and fade to infinity ending, and if nothing else shows just how huge a talent the world lost a short time later. Pete was not only a gifted songwriter, but as this song also shows, a brilliant guitarist. These two songs along with "Constitution", "Icicles", "Blind Owl" and "I Can Love You" are the albums undoubted highlights, but only Mike Gibbins' "Cowboy" seems out of place on the album. Despite it's thrown together, admittedly rushed feel, Ass is a great Badfinger album that has never recieved a fair shake. It's nice to see this import only re-release for those who missed it the first time around, but I have my doubts as to whether this will wake people up to what they've been missing. Again, too bad.

Long unavailable, ASS was Badfinger's fourth and final album for the Apple label. Their self-titled debut for Warner Bros. would be released a mere three months after ASS. That, coupled with the fact that Apple did little to promote the album, resulted in an album that failed to chart. Despite the album's poor chart showing, it is not without it's highlights.

The album is bookended by two first-rate efforts from Pete Ham. The opening track is a kiss off to their former label. [Badfinger left Apple on acrimonious terms.] The closing track is the majestic "Timeless." [At nearly eight minutes it is the longest song in the Badfinger canon.]

Co-founder Tom Evans also turns in two equally fine songs. First, the uptempo "Blind Owl" and the lovely "When I Say." Mike Gibbins lone contribution is the country-flavored "Cowboy."

The remaining five tracks (along with the bonus track "Do You Mind") were penned by Joey Molland. The rockers like "Get Away," "Winner" and "Constitution" are serviceable, but the highlights are the love songs "Icicles" and "I Can Love You."

While not up to the high standards of their previous LP STRAIGHT UP, this is still a necessary purchase for Badfinger fans. RECOMMENDED

A darn good album and a brilliant song is "Apple Of My Eye". Pete Ham's beautiful voice and a fantastic sentiment about leaving behind the Beatles label. has there ever been anyone like him since? Hopefully this reissue is remastered. All the material is great. Ham's guitar at the end of "Constitution" is excellent. Molland's "I Can Love You" is another favorite of mine. Too bad he turned out to be such a dip, putting out that atrociously produced not-really live LP, a let's-make-a-quick-buck collection of some demos of his that was shoddy, and his horribly embarrassing covers CD's of many Badfinger classics that take away from people buying the legitimate stuff. Joey --- Come back to reality!! It's not about the money--- Granted this album isn't perfect, like "Straight Up," but it's my second favorite Badfinger LP. Thanks to Mike B. for turning me on to it.

I don't care what anyone says....after only having a cassette tape of this for years, being unable to find a vinyl copy or a CD, I am GLAD that it finally came out on CD! I'd like to THANK whoever is responsible for the "bonus" tracks, they're great! You can never get enough Badfinger!

The final non-Beatle release on Apple Records, Badfinger's "Ass" signaled the end of the Fab Four's label. While not one of my favorite Badfinger releases, the history behind the recording is interesting. Badfinger began recording the album in January 1972 with Todd Rundgren. The sessions lasted one week before a falling out between the band and Rundgren occurred. Badfinger then convinced the executives at Apple to allow them to produce themselves. They delivered a complete album to the label in late 1972 and Apple Records promptly rejected it (as they had done with the first version of Badfinger's classic "Straight Up" album in 1971). In order to complete the album, producer Chris Thomas was brought in. Most of the songs on the album were written by guitarist Joey Molland. Guitarist Pete Ham, who wrote Badfinger's most well-known songs ("No Matter What,""Day After Day," and "Baby Blue") contributed only two songs on this outing, "Apple of My Eye" which was released as the single, and "Timeless," a song that showed off Ham's incredible lead guitar skills. Bassist Tom Evans contributed one of my favorite Badfinger songs, "When I Say." While the album was completed in early 1973, it was not released until November 1973 in the US and March 1974 in the UK, long after the band had left Apple Records. The band had moved to Warner Brothers Records and released a new album on that label in February 1974. With two albums out on two different labels, the listening public was over-saturated with Badfinger and neither album sold well. The remastering of "Ass" was completed by the same team that remastered the entire Beatles catalog (released last year) and thir skills are evident even during my first listening. If you are new to Badfinger, start with either "Straight Up," their third album or "Wish You Were Here," their final Warner Brother album, both masterpieces before purchasing this album.

As an aside, if you are a Badfinger completest, purchase the digital-only downloads in addition to the CD. With the digital downloads and the bonus tracks on the CD, one can now created the first, rejected and unreleased version of "Ass." The track listing is as follows:

Get Away (Previously Unreleased)
When I Say (Previously Unreleased)
Apple of My Eye (Previously Unreleased)
The Winner (Previously Unreleased)
Blind Owl (Previously Unreleased)
Do You Mind (Previously Unreleased)
Piano Red (Previously Unreleased)
Cowboy
Regular (Previously Unreleased)
I Can Love You (Previously Unreleased)
Timeless (Previously Unreleased)

Both "I Can Love You" and "The Winner" were produced by Todd Rundgren. As with the first unreleased version of "Straight Up," it is an interesting piece of Badfinger history that is now available officially instead of as a low quality bootleg.

Just as the title suggests, this was the end of Badfinger's contract with Apple records. The Beatles label was falling apart as the band members continued to sue each other and try and dissolve the bonds that held them together.

"Ass" the last Badfinger album released on Apple was overlooked at the time of release lost in the shadow of the band's first Warner album (released almost at the same time) and it received little in the way of promotion. "Ass" is closer in tone to "No Dice" rather than "Straight Up" focusing much more on trying to capture the band's concert sound rather than the studio perfection of "Straight Up".

The EMI team that did the Beatles remasters and Lennon remasters do an exceptional job remastering this lost gem. The previous album was buried in noise reduction which blunted the sound of the album. This edition sounds marvelous--detailed, nice bass and has considerable "kick". Although Pete Ham only contributes two songs here they are among the best--"Apple of My Eye" is his bittersweet farewell to The Beatles and their label while "Timeless" is a rare almost progressive track from the band running well over 7 minutes.

The original album was flawed only by a couple of weaker Joey Molland songs that probably could have been balanced out by another Ham or Evans song that the band already had in the can ("Sing for the Song" for example still hadn't been released at this point although it might have sounded a bit out of place on this album). This is all subjective of course.

We get five bonus tracks (compared to the single one on the original CD)-"Do You Mind?"-a different mix from the prevous bonus track (the one that was on the previous edition is only available on the "Apple Bonus Disc" in the boxed set); "Apple of My Eye" in an early, slightly different rough mix; "Blind owl" a previously unreleased performance/mix; "Regular" a Joey Molland song originally slated for the this album was cut by producer Chris Thomas which receives its first offical release; "Timeless" an alternate mix that runs about two minutes shorter than the final version that closed out the original album.

The new edition also has sleeve notes with new comments by Joey Molland about the making of this album and older comments from Ham, Evans and Gibbins (all of whom are now deceased). It seems appropriate for Joey Molland to have the final word since he dominates this album with five songs (he has seven total here including the two previously unreleased tracks) to Ham and Evans two. This was Molland's shining moment and he does a great job of carrying the band during a period of transition when Ham was having writer's block/doubts about his abilities as a songwriter (he would recover with five strong tracks on the band's next album).

The only negatives here is that it would have been nice if Apple had included the other outtakes (which are download only and not available at the time of this writing to U.S. fans unless you buy the boxed set)from these sessions included on the Badfinger "Apple Bonus Disc". The packaging mimics the Beatles and Lennon CDs although the cardboard and paper isn't quite as heavy so they are more prone to ripping. While I'm not a big fan of digipaks, it also would have been nice if EMI had included a sleeve to house the CD in so it isn't scratched by the cardboard of the packaging. These are minor complaints and shouldn't prevent you from buying the album.

Recommended.

This album is not the dog that many would have you believe. Blind Owl, The Winner, and Constitution are great rockers. Apple of My Eye and I Can Love You are very decent ballads. Cowboy is a goof, but quite listenable. Timeless is a nice song with both quiet and louder elements. Badfinger fans will undoubtedly find much to enjoy here, but those who are unfamiliar with the band would be better to start off with No Dice and Straight Up.

Highlights of this great groups 4th album for Apple are...
Apple of My Eye - The late Pete Hams bitter farewell song to Apple

Winner - Joey Mollands open letter to John Lennon who often critisized the band, Joeys best song

Blind Owl, Constitution double shot from the underrated bass player singer writer late great Tom Evans

Cowboy - even the drummer Mike Gibbons writes songs, amazing group

Timeless - Pete Hams best song, unfortunately not many have ever heard it, should have been a hit.

Others have discussed, quite thoroughly and elegantly, the details and virtues of Badfinger's final Apple album, so I'll just add some brief thoughts.

Though I have some issues with him personally, I thought Joey Molland, who contributed the lion's share of the material on "Ass," did a very capable job of taking up the slack during Pete Ham's bout with self-doubt and songwriting insecurity, writing such terrific numbers as "Icicles," "The Winner," "Constitution," and the absolutely gorgeous "Do You Mind," which I think dated from the "Ass" sessions but was left off the original LP for some unfathomable reason.

Though it can be argued that Molland dominated these sessions, Tom Evans and Pete Ham each contributed a couple of classics to the Badfinger canon, Evans writing "Blind Owl" and "When I Say" and Pete penning the immortal send-off "Apple of My Eye" and the incredibly bold and edgy album closer, "Timeless." Only the jaunty, country romp of Mike Gibbins' "Cowboy seems out of place here. Personally, I think "Do You Mind" would've been a better fit, but "Cowboy" still is a fun little diversion.

The cover of "Ass" is telling: a donkey with headphones on being lured by a hand holding a huge carrot. It was a sad indication of the band's mood at the time. They were promised untold millions by their devilish manager, Stan Polley, yet found themselves broke and barely able to sustain themselves and their families. The dream that they had as youths was quickly fragmenting, and the tone of the songs on "Ass" reflected their disillusionment.

Overall, I think "Ass" deserves recognition as a classic Badfinger LP. It's not as consistently brilliant as "No Dice," "Straight Up," or "Wish You Were Here," but if it were released today, critics would probably be lauding it as a modern-day pop classic; that's how great and (pun intended) timeless the music is here. Maybe one day "Ass" will be recognized for what it is: a brilliant pop album. It certainly deserves that recognition.