Julian Lennon, Micky Dolenz, Jason Scheff, Mark Hudson, Steve Holley and many others…
In 2020, Joey Molland, formerly of Badfinger got together with noted record producer Mark Hudson who has also produced Ringo Starr, and recorded a fine album entitled “Be True to Yourself.” Julian Lennon and Micky Dolenz added backing vocals to some of the tracks, former Wings drummer, Steve Holley and Chicago bassist and singer, Jason Scheff, also lent their considerable talents to some of the recordings. Credits to the personnel who worked on the album are noted and shown below. Julian Lennon is also credited as having taken the front and back cover photos for the album.
Because I made a contribution to the funding of the LP, I was fortunate that the promotional outfit sent me a signed copy of the cd which I was very pleased with along with another special item featured at the bottom of this post!
Joey Molland – CD
Joey Molland – CD
Omnivore Recordings
Release Date : 2020
TRACK LISTING:
This Time
Better Tomorrow
Rainy Day Man
Heaven
All I Want To Do
I Don’t Wanna Be Done With You
All I Do Is Cry
Loving You
Shine
Be True To Yourself
A book about Badfinger member Joey Molland written by Michael A. Cimino in 2011 is shown below. It was rumored that Joey was also considering writing his own book, but at this point in time, that has not come to fruition.
Many people over the years have cited the late Dan Matovina’s book about the group entitled “Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger” as being the best print work about the band! Hope to see more books about the band in the future and would also love to see a feature film created about this fabulous band!
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform– Published July 22, 2011, Author Michael Cimino
Biography of Joey Molland
Generally regarded as the best biography about Badfinger shown below:
Frances Glover Books- Published in 2000, authored by Dan Matovina:
Without You – Badfinger Biography
“BE TRUE TO YOUR SELFIE”
Julian Lennon and Joey
Not sure who took the above photo but it probably was Mark Hudson or a member of the studio personnel for the Molland album “Be True To Yourself.” If you can provide the name of the individual who took the photo, would be happy to acknowledge their work:Thank you!
I have posted this photograph before in a Badfinger post on this blog. As part of the promotional campaign for the financing for the production of the “Be True To Yourself” album, for a specific donation amount, Joey would handwrite the lyrics to any Joey Molland or Badfinger song that you desired, whether he wrote the song or not. I chose “Apple of My Eye” written by Pete Ham, because it was on the last Apple LP by Badfinger and it poignantly refers to the band leaving the label. Business problems would not only spell the end of the Beatles, but Badfinger was to suffer a similar fate.
Would like to conclude this post with an excellent interview conducted by podcaster and host of many YouTube and Online programs, Ken Michaels. He interviews Joey Molland where they discuss the “Be True To Yourself” LP. Check it out… !!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I36-UezuZqA&t=9s
Interview with Joey Molland and Ken Michaels
Buzz
Find out more about Apple Records here
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
The tragic story of Pete Ham and Badfinger is certainly one for the musical history books. The subject of today’s post will be the magnificent job that the late Dan Matovina did and the person he handed the mantle to prior to passing away, Badfinger super-fan Tom Brennan, in order to help preserve the wonderful legacy of a great songwriter, Pete Ham!
Both Matovina and Brennan in ensuring that the voluminous songwriting output of Peter Ham is shared and enjoyed with the public at large, deserve our accolades! It is truly amazing at the amount of unreleased material that Ham left his family in his personal archive. Both Matovina and Brennan have performed an extraordinary job in assisting the families in both cataloging and preserving the magnificent legacy of the Iveys and Badfinger. Today we will highlight some of the Pete Ham releases that have been issued since Matovina began his project to share the precious unreleased material with the rest of the world…
The photos of the material presented in this post are items from my collection that I have purchased from eBay, Discogs, or directly from the links provided by Dan Matovina or Tom Brennan
The Badfinger Library
First of all, here is an excellent site where you can locate some of the disks you will see mentioned here. Tom Brennan is an excellent authority on all Badfinger/ Iveys releases over the years!!!
I want to show you some of the releases concerning Pete Ham or Ivey demos in recent years that I have purchased for my collection. This list does not claim to be all-encompassing or totally comprehensive of everything that is out there on the marketplace but these are some of the ones that I individually have purchased. The links to acquire many of these releases can be found by clicking the above link to Tom Brennan’s website! (badfingerlibrary.com)
My latest acquisition was a very limited edition vinyl 45 of Pete Ham put together by Dan Matovina in an issue of 500 copies. The limited edition 45 is very difficult to find and can be very expensive to obtain! Please note that these entries are not being presented in the chronologic order of original release. Some of you will love these tunes but may object to the overdubs being added to some of them to enhance the sound of the recording. That is a matter of personal opinion and individual subjective assessment. I personally enjoy all of the recordings because now we have them all to listen to and to enjoy and to remember!!!
The 500 limited edition vinyl of “No, Don’t Let It Go” and “You’re Such a Good Woman”
The back cover of this rare 45:
The A and B sides of the 45:
Another recent acquisition: Pete Ham Demos Variety Pack
The track listing for the cd above:
The brand new release of GWENT GARDENS: I personally love this new release
The track listing for Gwent Gardens:
Pete Ham -7 Park Avenue release
The back cover with the track listing:
Keyhole Street-the 2 cd Ivey’s era demo set:
TRACK LISTING:
Testing
I Want You
Come A Bit Closer
Horse With A Green Tail
Come and Join Us
You Don’t Know Each Other Very Well
Never Felt Like This
1988- Bass Ron Griffiths
I’ll See You Tonight
Think Twice
Happened Again
I’ve Cried Bass – Ron Griffiths
Blackjacks (Instrumental)
I’m Only Crying
Dressed Myself in Black
Heartburn
Girl Next Door In A Miniskirt – Ron Griffiths
Grand Prix
Can’t Stop Bass – Ron Griffiths
Graham Hill
Cavalier Club Rock (Instrumental)
Memories Bass – Ron Griffiths
Free Sample
Loved By You
Punch With Judy
I’m In Love
For My Sympathy
Black And White Rainbows
Keyhole Street
I’ll Kiss You Tonight
Mrs. jones Bass Ron Griffiths
Little Sue
Knocking Down Our Home
DISK 2
Testing (Grampian)
Church
How Much Is The Sky
Do What You Like
Open Your Mind
Down Down Down
Never Been Alone
Tender Embrace Bass – Ron Griffiths
I’ve Been There Once Before
Genie
Stink
Beautiful Dream
Another Day
When I’m Asleep
Hurt Too Many Times
Has Someone Really Got Into My Heart
Get Up
Joker
Hempstead Heath (Instrumental)
I Need You
I’m Alone
Weep Baby
THE RAVEN (Horror Soundtrack)
He’s A Raven
Meeek
Frank Gravity
Nightwing
Drifting
Taking Flight
Raven Reprise
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Heirs & Estate of William Peter Ham
Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Electric Guitar, Vocals – Pete Ham
Composed By – Pete Ham
Executive-Producer – Allan Wodtke, Bill Koumarelos, Darren English, John Schwartz, Stefano Zuppet
Liner Notes –Dan Matovina
Producer [Project] – Dan Matovina
Notes
Funded for release on disc via pledges. These are Pete’s earliest demos, recorded with a sound-on-sound tape machine in a small soundproofed room in a house located at 7 Park Avenue, Golder’s Green, London, when Pete was in The Iveys. Rear cover has the artist as ‘Pete Ham of The Iveys’
Pete’s “Golders Green” cd:
The back cover with the track listing:
A wonderful 1968 recording of the Iveys that has survived:
A 1968 live recording of the Iveys:
It is amazing that these early Ivey recordings still exist: Here is the cover of the Iveys South Wales live recording:
The contents of this wonderful early live recording of the Iveys:
On Amazon and another link provided at Tom Brennan’s site link above there is a “digital only” streaming release of Pete Ham recordings entitled “Misunderstood” I just purchased this streaming only recording and I am thoroughly enjoying it!
Without You Music Released: 2023 May 19
Track listing: 01. Ringside [original demo] (Pete Ham) (1:11) Previously issued on Without You-The Tragic Story of Badfinger 2nd edition book CD (2000). 02. No, Don’t Let It Go [dubbed version remixed 2023] (Pete Ham) (3:51) Previously issued on Demos Variety Pack (2022). 03. Keep Your Country Tidy [Remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (2:20) Acoustic guitar demo previously released in 2000 on Head First CD2. 04. It Doesn’t rally Matter [dubbed version remixed 2023] (Pete Ham) (2:46) Previously issued on Demos Variety Pack (2022) and 7 Park Avenue (1997). 05. Helping Hand [dubbed version remixed 2023] (Pete Ham) (3:46) Previously issued on Golders Green (1999). 06. Are You Satisfied (Pete Ham) (1:53) Previously unissued acoustic guitar demo. 07. Nothing To Show [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (0:59) Acoustic guitar demo previously released in 2000 on Head First CD2. 08. Smokin’ Gun [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (1:20) Acoustic guitar demo previously released in 2000 on Head First CD2. 09. Time Is Mine (instrumental) [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (1:40) Acoustic guitar demo previously released in 2000 on Head First CD2. 10. It Doesn’t Really Matter (acoustic demo) [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (2:52) Previously issued on Without You-The Tragic Story of Badfinger 1st edition book CD (1997). 11. Pete’s Escape (instrumental) (2;03) Previously unissued acoustic guitar instrumental. 12. Just How Lucky We Are [dubbed version remixed 2023] (Pete Ham) (3:38) Previously issued on 7 Park Avenue (1997). 13. I Can’t Believe In [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (2:05) Acoustic guitar demo previously released in 2000 on Head First CD2. 14. No More [remixed 2023] (Pete Ham) (3:56) Previously unissued unedited version. 15. Ringside (acoustic demo) [remastered 2023] (Pete Ham) (4:06) Previously issued on Without You-The Tragic Story of Badfinger 1st edition book CD (1997).
Pete Ham – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, harmonica
Additional post overdubbing by other musicians / technical people (listed alphabetically): Derrick Anderson, Richard Anton, Scott Bledsoe, Donnie Bott, Bennett Bowman, Nelson Bragg, Tom Brennan, Rick Cammon, Tom Evans, Damon Fox, Pete Fox, Anthony Gliozzo, Kent Gray, Probyn Gregory, Ron Griffiths, Bob Jackson, Andy Jones, Bruce Kaphan, Jonathan Lea, Adam Marsland, Dan Matovina, Kevin McElligott, Terry Messal, Jim Mills, Eric Nielsen, Fernando Perdomo, Tony Perkins, Steve Refling, Derek Ritchie, Michael Romanowski, Guy Slater, Tom Sullivan, and Chris Von Sneidern.
Production, engineering, editing and mastering – Dan Matovina
Special thanks to Tom Brennan, Anne Herriot, Tony Herriot, Petera Ham.
In conclusion I have also seen on the internet, on eBay specifically, BBC recordings of the Iveys and Badfinger. However I am not sure that those recordings have been authorized or licensed by the estates of the band members or if they even own those recordings in order to officially release them one day or if they are soley controlled by the BBC. One can only hope that one day we shall be able to purchase it all. Hope you have enjoyed the exposure to many of these rare recordings obtained thanks to the great efforts and hard work of the late Dan Matovina and the Badfinger/Iveys specialist and very knowledgeable, Tom Brennan! Don’t forget to check out Tom Brennan’s wonderful site!
Heavenly Encounters: Wish You Were Here Part 2 (Paperback)
Inspired by the group Badfinger.
Rock star Tomas Alvers finds that searching for his friend Paul isn’t as simple as he’d hoped. Still in Heaven, Tomas meets past souls from times gone by, such as Marc Bolan and Marylin Monroe. Along the way, Tomas discovers a strange and mysterious stone and stumbles upon an exact replica of a club where his Earthly band debuted.
A MAGIC CHRISTIAN MYSTERY and BEATLE CONNECTIONS GALORE
According to reports, this version of the Paul McCartney song was released around the same time as the Apple Badfinger version. The Magic Christian version was not a hit. Produced by the late keyboardist, Gary Wright, who was to back both George Harrison and Ringo Starr in their solo careers.
Ex-Move guitarist Trevor Burton was supposedly involved with this recording and speculation abounds that Denny Laine and Steve Gibbons also played a role in the record. I believe Beatles associate Tony Bramwell has mentioned at one time that Denny Laine had a role in this recording. I was able to find a copy of this recording at the DISCOGS site. Some of the 45’s issued had the song title listed as “If You Want It” rather than “Come and Get It.” The first pressings had the publisher listed as Apple. Later copies had the publisher listed as Northern Songs!
Come and Get It
A different title is used on this McCartney tune as well as having a different publisher listed.
If You Want It
If You Want It by The Magic Christians
THE MAGIC CHRISTIANS
There is another connection. The Magic Christians were supposedly made up of some of the members of the group Balls which included Denny Laine who was with the Moody Blues and later with Wings and the flip side of one of the 45’s by Balls was written by both Denny Laine and Alan White who was to join the Plastic Ono Band and later the group Yes. Alan and Denny both passed away a while back. Because of the scarcity of a Denny Laine/ Alan White co-authored track and the multiple solo Beatles and McCartney connections, I bought a copy of the 45 at the Discogs site.
Janie Slow Down by Balls
BALLS
This is the rare Denmark picture sleeve to the Balls 45 which contains the obscure Denny Laine/ Alan White co-authored track called “Janie Slow Down.” Odd that Denny Laine would play with Wings and Alan White would end up being in a band with John Lennon and also backing George Harrison!
Here is a brief history of the group Balls provided by this internet link:
Several Iveys/ Badfinger print Items that I have acquired over the years which I hope you will find interesting to peruse.
The first series of items are petty cash invoices signed by Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, and Mike Gibbins. One of the tragic elements of having Badfinger petty cash invoices is their tragic story of how their recording success did not translate into financial security. According to many sources, financial mismanagement by impresario, S. Polley, ultimately led to drive two members of the band to commit suicide. The drummer, Mike, is also now deceased and the only surviving member of Badfinger is Ron Griffiths, formerly of the Iveys, who was with Badfinger for only a short time, and Joey Molland, who replaced Griffiths in the band.
Pete Ham petty cash invoice:
Pete Ham Petty Cash Receipt
Tom Evans petty cash invoice:
Tom Evans Petty Cash Receipt
Mike Gibbins petty cash invoice:
Mike Gibbins Petty Cash receipt
Joey Molland petty cash invoice:
Joey Molland Petty Cash Receipt
Petty cash voucher signed by early Iveys/ Badfinger manager-Bill Collins:
Petty Cash Receipt for Bill Collins
A nice handwritten inscribed message to me from early Iveys/Badfinger member, Ron Griffiths. Ron wrote the Badfinger song “Dear Angie.”
Autograph of Ron Griffiths
For a recent cd release, Joey Molland did a fundraising event with Kickstarter whereby pledging a certain amount could secure a handwritten Badfinger song by Joey even if Joey did not write the song. I chose “Apple of My Eye” for several reasons. It was Pete Ham’s song of regret of having to leave Apple Records and it also referred directly and indirectly to the problems that artists have in dealing with record companies. This was unfortunately to get much worse for Badfinger when they moved on to their new record company. Sad to realize that the end of the both the Beatles and Badfinger were issues related to business and management. This song summarizes for me what business problems can lead to with a band.
Apple of My Eye by Pete Ham of Badfinger
If you would like to learn more about the tragic story of Badfinger, I highly recommend the following book by the late Dan Matovina which is superb. It is difficult to track down and commands high prices because of the great demand.
Without You – The Tragic Story of Badfinger
Without You – The Tragic Story of Badfinger
Buzz
Two Great Books about Badfinger at The Beatles Bookstore
Heavenly Encounters: Wish You Were Here Part 2 (Paperback)
Inspired by the group Badfinger.
Rock star Tomas Alvers finds that searching for his friend Paul isn’t as simple as he’d hoped. Still in Heaven, Tomas meets past souls from times gone by, such as Marc Bolan and Marylin Monroe. Along the way, Tomas discovers a strange and mysterious stone and stumbles upon an exact replica of a club where his Earthly band debuted.
The Iveys (Badfinger) in their PERMISSIVE PARADISE in the PLEASURE GARDEN
Young London: Permissive Paradise
was issued to illustrate the Swinging London of the Sixties. Included as a bonus flexi disk in early copies of the book, was a rare song recorded by the Iveys which they did not write but they recorded to supplement their income. The song was entitled “Permissive Paradise.” The Iveys used the pseudonym group name of The Pleasure Garden to record this song!
This is the book that the flexi disk appeared in.
Young London – Permissive Paradise
Author: Heather Cremonesi and Robert Bruce (Photographs by Frank Habicht)
Title: Young London: Permissive Paradise
Publication: London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1969
Discover Some Great Books Linked to Badfinger at The Beatles Bookstore
Heavenly Encounters: Wish You Were Here Part 2 (Paperback)
Inspired by the group Badfinger.
Rock star Tomas Alvers finds that searching for his friend Paul isn’t as simple as he’d hoped. Still in Heaven, Tomas meets past souls from times gone by, such as Marc Bolan and Marylin Monroe. Along the way, Tomas discovers a strange and mysterious stone and stumbles upon an exact replica of a club where his Earthly band debuted.
