Disco de Bad Company: “The Best of Bad Company Live: What You Hear Is Wha”

THE BEST OF BAD COMPANY-LIVE/WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU GET: A misnomer is what you're getting here. Blooze-spewing ex-Free frontman Paul Rodgers put the "Bad" in Bad Co. via earthbound, grit-saturated vocals and climactic lyrical ad-libbing, but once replaced (and I use that term loosely) by pedestrian singer Brian Howe, the band's shooting star fizzled. This concert cash-in on hits old and new is also minus the rock-steady bottom line of bassist Boz Burrell, but Rodgers is the key omission; better to check out the 2002 live offering MERCHANTS OF COOL, still featuring only half the original members, but at least one of 'em is Paul. On WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU GET, early Bad Co. staples FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE, CAN'T GET ENOUGH and ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY clearly have the edge over the newer stuff, but coming out of HOWE's mouth, this could be ANY hard rock cover band riffing away, not the instantly recognizable BC. As far as "classic" rock goes, this is a barely servicable live experience that will put the listener in some pretty bad company.

RATING: TWO BAD

By the time this CD was released,vocalist Brian Howe had been with the band for eight(8)years so it's a bit easier to at least 'sort of' accept Bad Company the way they are.I saw Howe with Bad Co. twice and this is pretty much a typical live album.More recent tracks here include "How About That","Here Comes Trouble","Take This Town" and "If You Needed Somebody".For some reason,these tunes seem to grow on you,probably because guitarist Mick Ralphs is STILL able to pen out good songs.The older/vintage Bad Co. cuts are nicely done,considering.Like "Ready For Love","Rock&Roll Fantasy","Shooting Star",their signature love song "Feel Like Making Love"(show me a female that doesn't like this song),"Movin' On","Good Lovin' Gone Bad" and "Can't Get Enough".My only complaint is that "Shake It Up" isn't on here.Nice cover,though.

There are some groups that just don't seem the same after the lead singer leaves the group. Van Halen is one example; I have never liked their music all that well ever since Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth. I don't have that problem with Bad Company. To me, Bad Company is still Bad Company, whether they are fronted by Paul Rodgers or Brian Howe. They have different styles, but they both bring good things to the mix. I can appreciate each one for their own individual talents. To be sure, if your definition of Bad Company is Paul Rodgers--and Paul Rodgers alone--then you will be disappointed here.

There is a lot to like about this CD. It consists of 15 tracks, mostly all hits. It was recorded live in 1993, with Brian Howe doing the singing. I think that Howe does a good job, even on the songs from Rodger's era. There is only one disappointment for me, and that is on the last encore of "Bad Company." Howe sounds very unconvincing to me on this track, but otherwise I think this is a fine effort.

...if you only want to hear Bad Co. with Paul Rodgers then this disc isn't for you. If you don't mind hearing another vocalist with the band then

you might actually like this disc. The disc isn't bad but it all depends on your loyalty to Rodgers, simple as that.

I picked this up a little while ago, not realizing Paul Rodgers was not in the band. On the jacket it says this performane is "a true live recording", in other words, no re-done parts or overdubs, everything you hear is exactly as it was performed. With that in mind, seldom have a heard such a nicely produced and well-played live recording. Only Pink Floyd comes close to this quality (and who knows if they re-do or overdub). If you like Brian Howe, this album is excellent. But I think it's almost too good - I preferred the edgier BadCo w/Paul Rodgers so this gets 4 stars, otherwise 5. Seriously, if you take out the crowd, this would sound like a studio album.