Tag Archives: Bad Company

Mick Ralphs

In June 2025, Michael Geoffrey Ralphs died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), vocalist and songwriter, member of the bands Buddies, Doc Thomas Group and Mick Ralphs Blues Band, but was best known as founding member of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. As leader, he released three albums.

Bad Company: Desolation Angels

On March 17, 1979, “Swan Song” label released “Desolation Angels” the fifth Bad Company studio album. It was recorded August – September 1978, at “Ridge Farm Studio” in Surrey, UK, and was produced by Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell and Simon Kirke.

Personnel:

  • Paul Rodgers – vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizers
  • Mick Ralphs – guitar, keyboards
  • Boz Burrell – bass
  • Simon Kirke – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Rodgers except where noted.

  1. Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy
  2. Crazy Circles
  3. Gone Gone Gone – Boz Burrell
  4. Evil Wind
  5. Early in the Morning
  6. Lonely for Your Love – Mick Ralphs
  7. Oh, Atlanta – Mick Ralphs
  8. Take the Time – Mick Ralphs
  9. Rhythm Machine – Simon Kirke, Boz Burrell
  10. She Brings Me Love

Doc Pomus

On March 14, 1991, Jerome Solon Felder aka Doc Pomus died aged 65. He was singer and songwriter, co-writer (together with Mort Shuman) of big number of hits, many of them became rock and roll standards, including: “A Teenager in Love”, “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “Hushabye”, “This Magic Moment”, “Turn Me Loose”, “Sweets For My Sweet”, “Go, Jimmy, Go”, “Little Sister”, “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, “Suspicion”, “Surrender” and “His Latest Flame”. He also co-wrote with Phil Spector few successful tracks including “Young Boy Blues”, “Ecstasy”, “First Taste of Love” and “What Am I to Do?” His songs were performed by hundreds of artists including The Beatles, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bad Company, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Buble, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Harry Nilsson, John Hiatt, The Beach Boys, B.B. King, Dion, The New York Dolls, Shawn Colvin and Los Lobos. As singer Pomus performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, and King Curtis. In 1991 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, in 1992, in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and in 2012 into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.

Keith Olsen

On March 9, 2020, Keith Alan Olsen died aged 74. He was music producer and sound engineer, worked on more than 100 albums. As producer he earned 24 Platinum and 14 multi-Platinum album certifications. He has worked with many artists including Eternity’s Children, The Millennium, James Gang, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Sons of Champlin, Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, Foreigner, Santana, The Babys, Rick Springfield, Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar, Rick Springfielld, Heart, Kim Carnes, Joe Walsh, 38 Special, Bad Company, Saga, Whitesnake, Starship,  Carlos Santana, Ozzy Osbourne, Night Ranger, Kingdom Come, Magnum, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Journey, Eddie Money, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Scorpions.

Bad Company: Fame And Fortune

On October 22, 1986, “Atlantic” label released “Fame and Fortune”, the seventh Bad Company studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “The Sol Berkshire”, and was produced by Keith Olsen.

Personnel:

  • Brian Howe– vocals, saxophone
  • Mick Ralphs– guitar, keyboards
  • Steve Price – bass
  • Simon Kirke– drums
  • Gregg Dechert– keyboards, guitar
  • Stuart Epps, Brian Foraker, Jay Healy – engineer
  • Mick Jones – mixing, executive producer
  • Frank Filipetti – mixing
  • Sid Pryce – technician

Track listing:

  1. Burning Up – Mick Ralph, Mick Jones
  2. This Love – Brian Howe, Andy Andy Fretwell
  3. Fame and Fortune – Mick Ralph
  4. That Girl – Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs
  5. Tell It Like It Is – Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs
  6. Long Walk – Brian Howe, Gregg Dechert
  7. Hold on My Heart – Brian Howe, Gregg Dechert, Mick Jones
  8. Valerie – Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs
  9. When We Made Love – Brian Howe, Simon Kirke, John Bettis
  10. If I’m Sleeping – Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, Gregg Dechert

Peter Grant

On November 21, 1995, Peter James “G” Grant died aged 60. He was music manager, working with Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, Terry Reid,  The New Vaudeville Band, Bad Company, Maggie Bell, The Nashville Teens and Stone the Crows. He was known as “one of the most ruthless and successful managers in rock history”.

Bad Company: Rough Diamonds

In August 1982, “Swan Song” label released “Rough Diamonds”, the sixth Bad Company studio album. It was recorded March – April 1981, at “Ridge Farm Studios” in Surrey, UK, and was produced by Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell. It was the last band’s album with the original line-up.

Personnel:

  • Paul Rodgers– vocals, guitar, piano
  • Mick Ralphs– guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
  • Boz Burrell– bass
  • Simon Kirke– drums
  • John Cook – piano, synthesizer
  • Mel Collins– saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Electricland – Paul Rodgers
  2. Untie the Knot – Paul Rodgers; Simon Kirke
  3. Nuthin’ on the TV – Boz Burrell
  4. Painted Face – Paul Rodgers
  5. Kickdown – Mick Ralphs
  6. Ballad of the Band – Boz Burrell
  7. Cross Country Boy – Paul Rodgers
  8. Old Mexico – Mick Ralphs
  9. Downhill Ryder – Paul Rodgers
  10. Racetrack

Bad Company: Holy Water

On June 12, 1990, “Atco” label released “Holy Water”, the ninth Bad Company studio album. It was recorded 1989 – 1990, and was produced by Tony Harris, Andrew Scarth and Terry Thomas. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Brian Howe– lead vocals, saxophone
  • Mick Ralphs– guitar
  • Terry Thomas- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Felix Krish – bass guitar
  • Simon Kirke– lead and backing vocals, drums, acoustic guitar

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian Howe and Terry Thomas, except where noted.

  1. Holy Water
  2. Walk Through Fire
  3. Stranger Stranger – Brian Howe, Simon Kirke, Terry Thomas
  4. If You Needed Somebody
  5. Fearless
  6. Lay Your Love on Me – Mick Ralphs
  7. Boys Cry Tough
  8. With You in a Heartbeat
  9. I Don’t Care
  10. Never Too Late – Mick Ralphs, Terry Thomas
  11. Dead of the Night – Mick Ralphs, Terry Thomas
  12. I Can’t Live Without You – Mick Ralphs, Terry Thomas
  13. 100 Miles – Simon Kirke