Airwaves (album)

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Airwaves
Airwaves cover
Studio album by Badfinger
Released March 1979
Recorded 1978
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 30:49
Label Elektra
Producer David Malloy
Professional reviews
Badfinger chronology
Wish You Were Here
(1974)		 Airwaves
(1979)		 Say No More
(1981)

Airwaves is an album released by Badfinger in 1979 on the Elektra label, the seventh album released that was credited to Badfinger. Anticipated as a comeback album for the group at the time, expectations were not quite realized, as the "group" now consisted of just the duo of Tom Evans and Joey Molland, accompanied by guitarist Joe Tansin and various session musicians.

[edit] History

Following the "hold" placed on the last Badfinger album, Head First, and the suicide of group co-founder Pete Ham in 1975, Badfinger disbanded, and the remaining members joined various other groups or dropped out of music for the next two years.

At the behest of Chicago musicians Joe Tansin (guitar/vocals) and Kenny Harck (drums), the then-unemployed Joey Molland formed a new group with the duo in Los Angeles. Molland later enticed his fellow former Badfinger member Tom Evans to also join the unnamed band.

After the band shopped demonstration records around the L.A. area, they discovered they would have more marketing power if they revived the Badfinger moniker. Although the name helped the group open doors to potential record labels, it also caused an inequality and friction between old and new Badfinger members within the band. As recordings commenced for the album, Harck was released by the band. Former Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins auditioned for the group but was not hired, and session musician Andy Newmark was finally brought in for the drum tracks. Tansin, whose songs were largely bypassed during production in favor of Evans and Molland tunes, quit the group immediately upon the album's completion.

With a short running time and basically only eight songs, Airwaves did not leave a strong impression on music reviewers upon its release. Critics also complained about the album's "West coast" production and the loss of the famous Badfinger sound. Molland, however, has often defended the album and its production. The band toured frequently in support of the album, but sales figures failed to garner optimism with Elektra and the label passed on issuing a follow up LP.

Two singles were released from the album. "Lost Inside Your Love" did not enter the U.S. charts, although "Love Is Gonna Come At Last" managed a peak position at #69 on Billboard. The actual album peaked at #125 in the US charts.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Airwaves" (Evans/Molland) - 0:29
  2. "Look Out California" (Evans) - 3:27
  3. "Lost Inside Your Love" (Evans) - 2:42
  4. "Love Is Gonna Come At Last" (Molland) - 3:37
  5. "Sympathy" (Tansin) - 4:28
  6. "The Winner" (Tansin) - 3:26
  7. "The Dreamer" (Molland) - 5:20
  8. "Come Down Hard" (Molland) - 3:48
  9. "Sail Away" (Evans) - 3:31

[edit] 1997 CD bonus tracks

  1. "One More Time" (Tansin) - 2:57 +
  2. "Send Me Your Love" (Tansin) - 4:12 +
  3. "Steal My Heart" (Tansin) - 3:56 +
  4. "Love Can't Hide" (Molland/Tansin) - 2:45 ++
  5. "Can You Feel The Rain" (Tansin) - 4:03 +
  • + Produced by Joe Tansin
  • ++ Produced by Joey Molland