Disco de Bad Company: “Straight Shooter”

This album is as good as their first one, which gained them masive popularity right from the begginning, and in my humble opinion, 'Straight shooter' is even better than 'Bad Co'. And that means it is their best record. There aren't any weak songs on this album, as some revewers have pointed out - anyone who knows what great rock and roll/hard rock is, will say that those statements are just bunch of c**p.

Ok, maybe lyrics aren't too strong allways (example, 'Anna'), but music is pure, 100%, straight-on rock, and it is hard /rock/ indeed. 'Good lovin' gone bad', 'Feel like makin love', 'Shooting star', 'Deal with the preacher' and 'Wild fire woman' are fine example of that. Other songs are great, too. The riff from 'Feel like makin love' may be stollen from The Who, but who cares! It is one of the greatest rock songs/ballads ever written. What a power during refrains! My personal favorite is 'Shooting star', and it is one of the greatest rock songs ever, too. Music is perfect, and lyrics are, simply put, tale-story masterpice. It's telling us abuot rock'n'roll ideals and song is allegoric story about rock star. That na-na-na vocals at the end of the song makes me cry every time I hear it. And solo is great touch, just superb.

Paul Rodgers always delivers some of the greatest and most emotional vocals in rock music, and here is, ofcourse, in great form. So, this is not only hard rock, is very emotional and solful music, preformed by great musitians. Hey, they were supergroup!

Anyway, this is a must for any rock fun. Just turn it up, and let it inside you. And when first tune begins, you can start to dance, or jump, or whatever you want..

AND COME ON JOHNNY, SING US A SONG ONE MORE TIME!

Bad Co.'s second album is as good as the first. "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" could be about any relationship, romantic or otherwise, on the rocks, "Deal With The Preacher" and "Wild Fire Woman" express pure lust, and "Shooting Star" warns against overindulgence, while "Feel Like Makin' Love" shows feeling of genuine devotion. This is an album of incredible intensity from the most straightforward English rockers of the 70s.

Badco's debut album was nothing short of excellent, and the second album (straight shooter) revealed not only the confirmation of the talent and energy they owned, but it also had a lot to say about each member's creativity and desire to express themselves musically. "Weep no more" and "Anna", both penned by drummer Simon Kirke, are to this day a piece of this singer's daily humming repitoire. If you are a singer and own this album you know what i'm talking about. "Good lovin' gone bad", penned by Mick Ralphs, was another mainstay of a continuing strand of rock anthems that Mick never seemed to run out of. Being the obvious success that drove this band, Paul Rodgers (aka "The Voice") not only proved himself worthy of top 3 best male singers ever, but he also proved himself worthy of top 3 best songwriters ever. "Feel like makin' love" and "Shooting Star", both penned by Rodgers, will forever come to mind for every rightminded musician who just found a good enough and willing singer to deliver these songs as close to Paul as possible. There simply isn't enough to say about Paul. I met him behind the Wiltern Theatre during Mark and Brian's X-Mas show in 99' and he was very polite and sincere. He also seemed a bit suprised to see a 17 year old in shock of his presence. Although our meeting was cut short due to his flight schedule, I will never forget it. While Boz had no writing credits on the album, he delivered a very unique stylistic set of riffs on both rockers as well as ballads on this album. Boz is one of the only bassists I have ever heard who intensifies the ballads twice as much as the guitar and drums do. He understood exactly where he needed to be every step of the way and his sound was very evident. From the moment I heard Badco when I was 15 I have never found a more raw and straight forward energized sounding band. Simplicity in their music is why they are so appealing. This album has met my approval almost every day for over 8 years and i'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I will now enter into the debate which was their best album, this one or the Bad Co. debut but I like this one better personally, it rocks more than the 1st album and has just a bit more intensity. Still many of the songs on this release are highly recognizable today. The ablum has stood the test of time even 33 years later.

THE BAND: Paul Rodgers (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Mick Ralphs (guitar), Boz Burrell (bass), Simon Kirke (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1975) 8 tracks clocking in at approximately 38 minutes. Included with the disc is a minimal 2-page foldout containing song titles/credits/times and original release date (4/2/75). Digitally remastered (edition released) in 1994. Recorded on Ronnie Lane's mobile truck at Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire, England. This is the band's 2nd album. Produced by Bad Co and Peter Grant (of Led Zeppelin fame). Label - Swan Song.

COMMENTS: Bad Co's debut from the year before was big (reaching #1 on Billboard). "Straight Shooter" was almost as big - reaching #3 on the Billboard charts. Song success - four big hits came from this album - "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" (#30), "Feel Like Makin' Love" (#10), "Deal With The Preacher" (#18) and "Shooting Star" (did not chart). Years later, I believe "Shooting Star" gained momentum (telling a great story of a kid being inspired to be a rock star, and later dying of an overdose) and is now one of Bad Co's best known songs. Decades later, "Straight Shooter" is still my favorite Bad Company album (and favorite album cover). I have always felt the band's debut was great, but fairly tame... like they were just getting started. With their 2nd album, they knew they had a good thing going and they really cut loose. Highlights include Ralphs guitar playing and amazing solos on "Shooting Star", "Deal With The Preacher" and "Call On Me"; Rodgers singing, rhythm guitar and piano/keyboard playing; and perhaps the backbone of the band - Simon Kirke's solid drumming. Every Bad Company album seems to have stellar drums - thanks to Kirke. Looking for which Bad Company studio albums to get first - start with their '74 debut, followed by "Straight Shooter", "Run With The Pack" (1976), and "Desolation Angels" (1979). If I could give "Straight Shooter" more than five stars, I would (5 stars).