Customer Reviews

Say No More

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

 

 

With Joe Tansin no longer gumming up the works, Evans/Molland managed to put together a pretty good album. While Airwaves sounded to cater to radio listeners, Say No More is pure rock. That's not to mean that this is a hard-rocking album--Badfinger sounds overall as poppy as ever on this one. However, there is nary a ballad to be found here (though a couple of the lighter songs come close) and the production barely sounds "80's" on most of the tracks.
Say No More honestly isn't a GREAT collection of songs and the best ones don't stand out TOO much, but what it IS is a solid album, which is more than what can be said about its predecessor. It doesn't stand up too strongly next to Badfinger's "classic" albums, but it is definately a worthwhile listen.

Joey Molland and the late Tom Evans have outdone themselves with this, the final release under the Badfinger moniker. It doesn't compare with the classic Badfinger, as Mike Gibbins and the late Pete Ham are not part of the line-up - rather, it accentuates it. The crystal clear vocals from Evans; coupled with the gritty, bluesy style of Molland; give the listener a musical treat that rivals anything the band did in the early seventies. Songs such as 'Crocadillo' and 'Rock 'N' Roll Contract' (a remake of a song on the still unreleased Head First LP) have a drive that carries the listener from the first note to the last (and the autobiographical lyrics of 'Contract' give the story of the band's problems with management and contracts circa 1974/5 - and unchanged in 1980/81). 'Because I Love You' is a pleasing ballad with positive emotions. You know how the singer feels. Ditto for 'Too Hung Up On You'. The title track ('No More') is a fitting closer to a fine, fine album. One can only wish that the legal problems had been solved by this time and that Tom Evans was still with us - what would the third album from this duo have been like? (Airwaves being the first). Then again, if the legal problems hadn't happened and the world hadn't lost Pete Ham - the original Badfinger line-up would have given us something different, based on the boots of Head First.

But things being as they became, 'Say No More' is a superb effort from two supreme musical talents. Finally out on CD, one doesn't have to listen to a 20 year old vinyl pressing with a defective (noisy) side two. Excellent tracks in excellent quality. Gotta have. Better get.

to be honest, if you held this album up to the band's glory years (1969-1974), it would be a little weak. but standing on it's own, it is a masterpiece. Joey Molland & Tom Evans first reunited and started recording again as Badfinger for the "Airwaves" album. despite a few good songs, the album came up short. 2 years later, they gave it another shot with "Say No More". i believe that this is their best album. the songs have a ragged, hard rocking sound to them, that you would not know was Badfinger, if not for the title on the album cover.

"Hold On", which was the album's first (and only) single, climbed up the charts and stalled at #56, while the album sat near the bottom of the Top 200. "Hold On" is an excellent piece of pop, with it's rolling piano and drum melody. that song alone is worth buying the album, but Molland/Evans actually kept the ball rolling throughout the album. "Come On" is an excellent rocker, with power chord guitar riffs and shouting vocals by Evans. Evans' other highlights on the album were "Too Hung Up On You", which for my money, was more heartbreaking than his song "Lost Inside Your Love" (from the "Airwaves" album). Molland & Evans' harmonies on this song are so beautiful, it makes you wonder why this song was never released as a single.

the other song by Evans which is great is "Rock & Roll Contract". this is actually a remake of the unreleased song on the 1975 unreleased Badfinger album "Head First". Evans sings in a bitter mood about his let-downs in the music industry and having this song on a flopped album, only increases the irony.

Joey Molland was firing on all pistons, too. the album's opener "I Got You", is a fast rocker, with excellent guitar playing that sticks in your head for days. "Three Time Loser" was Molland's own opinion about the record business and he sings it like a beaten person who has given up on everything. however, his masterpiece (and the album's) is "No More". words cannot describe how great this song is. this song is the kind of song that thousands of lesser bands would kill for. a hard rocker, with blazing synth and guitar leads, will blow you away. Molland and Evans sing like there's no tomorrow. on the CD release this song is moved to the next to last position, where it weakens the song a little bit. but if you have ever heard this song on the original vinyl (where it was the closing track), you would see what i mean that this song was THE song to finish the album.

it's sad that Molland/Evans wasn't able to turn their bad luck around with this album. but, as the last album by the "Near Original" Badfinger, it wasn't a bad way to bow out.

Although this isn't up to the best material that Badfinger recorded in its prime, "Say No More" is less slick and more rock orientated than its predecessor "Airwaves". The It's still a fine album despite its production flaws. "I Got You" and "Hold On" are highlights both featuring strong melodies and top notch singing from Joey and Tommy. The addition of keyboardist Tony Kaye from Yes expands the sound on this album. The "band" sounds more like a "band" here--the previous incarnation that recorded "Airwaves" broke up before they ever toured and this version actually DID tour. The band sounds tight and while the material here isn't always the best, even the weakest material works pretty well with the tight playing by the band.

We also get the Tommy's bitter classic "Rock 'n' Roll Contract" which is quite good (although I prefer the version that was recorded for "Head First"). Molland and Evans did their best to carry in after the death of Pete Ham. Both were talented songwriters and players but, truly, the heart of Badfinger was Ham and without him much of their passion was missing on this comeback record. Sadly, this would be the last album that Molland and Evans would make as Badfinger. Evans and Molland would split with Evans touring with a competing version of Badfinger that featured former Badfinger member (from "Head First") Bob Jackson and drummer Mike Gibbins fighting with Molland over the use of the name. Throughout it all the band was picked apart by the vultures in the music biz. Evans would later kill himself while original drummer Mike Gibbins died from cancer a couple of years ago.

A pity that the demos for the album couldn't be included (including the demos that Tom Evans and Joey Molland submitted to Radio Records for the follow up album that was never done). Sadly, this album had very bad distribution when it was original released (the album actually started moving up the charts and the band had a minor hit with "Hold On" which made it to #57 on the Billboard singles chart)and the original distributor Radio Records just didn't do a good job getting this into stores at a critical time for its success.

The Badfinger line-up that recorded "Airwaves" had already disbanded before the album was released. For "Say No More" Tom Evans and Joey Molland had brought together another strong version of Badfinger. Tony Kaye ( known from Yes) played the keyboards, Glen Sherba played guitars, Richard Bryans played drums and Tom and Joey played their usual bass and guitar. This album would be the last Badfinger album; Tony Kaye and Tom Evans actually did rehearse for a second Radio Records album, but nothing came out of that.

Their ideas for "Say No More" was to produce a rock album; not so slick and commercial as "Airwaves". Unfortunately the material on the album is not up to the same standards as its predecessor. A few strong tracks can be found here, though. "Too Hung Up On You" by Tom Evans is the outstanding track on the album; to my ears the only song where the vocals sound like classic Badfinger. "Hold On" is a good song too; it actually was a minor hit.

Some of Joey Mollands songs also rocks nicely!

An ironic title to this last release by Tom and Joey together. This time they did what they liked to do, pull out all the stops. This was strickly high energy with the most outrageous lead guitar ever on a Badfinger release, provided by Glenn Sherba. Fantastic keyboards were also added by Tony Kaye and the great songwriting of Tom and Joey continued. If "Airwaves" didnt convince you that Tom and Joey were back, "Say No More" should have. "Say No More" was an excellent final release that didnt get the attention it truly deserved.

This was Badfinger's last album, which was released in 1981. Original members Joey Molland (guitar & vocals) and Tom Evans (bass & vocals) were joined by Tony Kaye (keyboards), Glenn Sherba (guitar), and Richard Bryans (drums). This isn't a great album, but it has its moments. I really like "I Got You" and "Hold On". "Passing Time" and "No More" are pretty good songs as well. If you're a Badfinger fan, you'll probably want to download this album.

Either way, an enjoyable album. It doesn't have the standout cuts that Airwaves had, but is probably stronger overall. I was very happy to have it when it came out in the spring of '81, and it is honestly a pleasant listen today. Most of the songs are good, not great, and the same can be said of the production and playing. Word was that Mike Gibbons was too out of shape (drugs?) to be included on these last 2 LPs, and I do kind of miss him. He wasn't a great drummer, but actually slowly developed into a decent songwriter and singer who made good contributions to their last Apple and 2 WBs albums. However, Joey and Tom soldier on, and really do a pretty good job, considering that Tom for sure was still using lots of drugs. I've always particularly liked No More, which is a dead ringer for 1966 Lennon/Beatles. I'm quite sure that was not accidental.

If you're a fan of the albums with Pete Hamm, you should not overlook this or Airwaves. Pete (and, to a lesser extent, Mike) is missed, but this is a solid, rocking album. Again, no classics, but a good overall listen.

Say No More is one of my favorite Badfinger Albums, one that I wore out years ago. My only concern, is that it sounds like this CD was taken from vinyl. Are the Master tapes lost ?

Side One
1. I Got You 3:39
2. Come On 3:23
3. Hold On 3:24
4. Because I Love You 2:48
5. Rock N' Roll Contract 5:36
Side Two
6. Passin Time 3:30
7. Three Time Loser 3:30
8. Too Hung Up On You 3:21
9. Crocadillo 4:29
10. No More 3:21