Customer Reviews

Fame & Fortune

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know I'm in the minority here, but as much as I enjoy the early Paul Rodgers albums, the late 80's/early 90's albums with Brian Howe on vocals are my favorite Bad Company releases. They were just completely slick, catchy, melodic (and yes commercial) AOR albums, and Howe's voice was perfect for that style of music. The AOR/melodic rock sound was getting its second wind (and plenty of airplay) at that time, and Howe helped Bad Company capitalize on that.

Unfortunately, that winning sound wasn't quite in place on 1986's Fame and Fortune, Howe's first album with Bad Company. It sounded like the band was trying to continue the sort of synthy, sort of bluesy sound of Rough Diamonds without any regard for their new singer's considerable strengths. Howe isn't the guy to bring in if you want Paul Rodgers lite. He has a voice made for arena rock, which fortunately is what the band would serve up with their next three releases.

Fame and Fortune remains a confused effort that is not really a credit to the band's impressive past or their immediate future. If you're a Bad Company completist, or like me are a big Brian Howe fan, you're obviously going to want this album. Just don't expect too much from it.

NOTE: Wounded Bird reissued Fame and Fortune in 2005. It's nice to see the album back in circulation, but like all WB reissues it has not been digitally remastered nor does it have any bonus material. If you have an older version of the album there's no need to replace it.

Well yeah, there you go: The first Bad Company album released by the reformed Bad Company. Released in 1986, the album features original members Mick Ralphs (Guitar) and Simon Kirke (Drums), with the addition of new frontman Brian Howe (formerly of Ted Nugent's band) substituting for original singer Paul Rodgers. While original bassist Boz Burrell appears credited as part of the lineup, a closer inspection of the liner notes reveals that session player Steve Price plays on the album, so it is unknown how much playing Burrell actually does. Many people complain with the usual "if it's not the original lineup, is not BC..." kind of thing... but the truth is that this lineup managed to produce some great music (reaching a moderate success with later albums) too. Some other people criticize the change in vocalists, and some even go as far as to accuse the band of choosing a "Richard Marx" (author of the late 80's fluffy, piano ballad "Right Here Waiting") clone. I got news for you: Brian Howe had already sung on Nugent's "Penetrator" album in 1984, which is at least a good 3 years before Marx's debut album and rise to fame, so if any one copied any one, it was Marx (I personally don't think so. People can actually sound like somebody else naturally, you know...).

This one is their first release after 3 years in hiatus, and the band sounds very different from its previous incarnation. Some of the elements of the last two BC records (Desolation Angels and Rough Diamonds) remain, such as the increased experimentation with keyboards/synthesizers, but for the most part, it is a departure from the traditional BC sound, which was very rooted in blues, country and a little R&B. "Fame and Fortune" is a (deliberate, if you ask me) move towards modernizing the band's sound to make it fit with what was being made in rock at the time. Instead of trying to compete with "hair metal", BC decided to explore the confines of AOR, producing rock that could appeal to adult listeners (possibly their long time fans) while at the same time tackling a younger (predominantly female) audience.

Consequently, the album features more synthesizer use than ever before, as well as some sax solos, which ultimately create a sound that can easily remind you of bands like Journey, Foreigner or even Toto. And there is a very simple explanation for that: the album was produced by Foreigner producer Keith Olsen, and Foreigner's very own Mick Jones serves as executive producer and co-writer of several tracks. These influences are most evident on tracks such as "This Love" (featuring both extensive use of synths and sax), "Tell it like it is", "Valerie", "Hold on my heart" and "When we made love". The opening track, "Burning Up" is probably the one that comes closest to the band's trademark sound, even though it also features prominent synths. "Fame and Fortune", "That Girl", "Long Walk" and "If I'm sleeping" are other tracks where, keyboards and other refinements notwithstanding, the bands sounds closer to their early sound.

Now, don't get judgmental just yet: yes, I admit it, both the synths and the sax threw me off a little on a first listen, but they really don't take away from the quality of the music. Sure, there's nothing groundbreaking here, but I think that it ultimately is a fine effort from a band that was trying to find its identity in a new decade with a new frontman. While this record failed to make much of an impression on fans and critics alike, I believe that it was the stepping stone necessary in their career, essentially doing all groundwork for their future success. Just to give you an idea: the keyboards aren't nearly as distracting as they were on Van Halen's "1984" (the most universally known record to feature synths), and they are more akin to the ones featured on Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" or "Faithfully", meaning that you'll hear them for sure, but they won't distract you from the song, as many of the synth-heavy records of that age tend to do nowadays. So, if you like the music and the sound of all those bands that I mentioned, you might wanna pick this one up. On the other hand, if you're more into the classic BC sound, this CD may not be the one for you. And finally, if you, like me, are one of those late BC fans that discovered the band around this time (I was born in '78, so I missed their glory days...), you'll probably appreciate this one.

Hardly a disaster, but easily the weakest entry in the band's catalog, "Fame And Fortune" was a confused and convoluted comeback. There is nothing wrong with the new vocalist; he is fine. The performances by all concerned are good, when they can be made out underneith all of the sappy '80's synth-gloss. A few good songs do emerge and overall this is a decent, if somewhat forgettable and definitely unremarkable album. Not the place to start with Bad Company; for diehards and completists only.

After Bad Cmpany parted ways by 1983, 3 outta 4 members decided to give it another go around in 1986. Unfortunately, it's the 3 outta 4 that don't really matter. Mick Ralphs regrouped without supervoice Paul Rodgers, and to call itself Bad Comapny on this is just sad. Bringing aboard annoying yelper Brian Howe, formerly of Ted Nugent, Howe didn't bring back any old Nugent fans on Ted's Penatrator, and he's not going to make any old Bad Company fans return for Fame and Fortune. A nice attempt to cash in on the band's name, but this proves nothing, of their former selves.

The First album with Brian Howe replacing Paul Rodgers the music fits in with the 80s sound lots of keyboards few guitar rockers but old fans will like the title track this album gets alot of mixed views one being the horrible cover (what were they thinking???) but if you love the Holy Water era Bad Company give this a listen

I am a fan of the Brian Howe years of Bad Company. I own every cd of his Bad Company years. However, I don't think this is his best cd. I prefer Holy Water or Here Comes Trouble. That does not mean that this is a bad(no pun intended) cd. I like it and am glad that he took over as lead sing for Bad Company on this one.

"When We Made Love" is in my mind, easily one of the best love songs to come from any band in the 80's.

Both critics and fans tend sometimes to regard bands in extremely rigid categories.However,there is some decent pop-rock on this album,very much tied to an era marked by an extensive employment of keyboards.'Burning Up'shows that the fire is there and gives hints of the things to come,i.e.,their next excellent album.

After Paul departed in '82, badco disbanded. Reuniting in 1986, with vocalist Brian Howe was a smart thing to do. Lashed at by Badco fans and critics, "Fame & Fortune" is a fine addition to the Badco catalogue. With Howe sounding like Lou Gramm or a 80's version of Paul Rodgers, songs like "This Love" and "If I'm Sleeping" are cool tunes meshed with light guitars and heavy keyboards (hey, it's the 80's!)

This CD gets a bad rap because most people that hear it are hoping to hear the 'classic' bad company sound like on 'feel like makin' love' or 'shooting star' so if you are looking for that sound you won't find it here
however you will find a great album!

I was very surprised when I picked this up
because it sounds a lot like Survivor (in my opinion) which is a great thing as I'm a fan of that band as well...
this is the only release from the band that sounds like that because the next one they released finds the keyboards all but removed and has a whole new sound (and a sound they would stick to for four albums in a row)
but fame and fortune is a great CD and is actually one of my favorites from this band
songs like 'burning up' and 'hold on my heart' and 'that girl' and 'this love' really rock
the year was 1986 and this is the sound that was huge on the radio
unfortunately for Bad Company this didn't really hit nearly as huge as it should have

the upside - some really great and catchy tunes in the style of Night Ranger and Survivor...the best songs are 'that girl' 'this love' and 'burning up'

the downside - definitely don't buy this if your hoping for the 'classic' Bad Company sound but if you are just looking for great music this is a great album...

the bottom line - if you love Survivor you'll love this CD...this is a really solid Bad Company release that deserves a listen...donutman says so!!!