Brian presents Bad Company “Run with the Pack” from March of 1976 (Live for the Music / Run with the Pack / Silver, Blue & Gold / Young Blood). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme from the Television series “The Bionic Woman” STAFF PICKS: “Money, Honey” by The Bay City Rollers — Wayne. “Love Is the Drug” by Roxy Music — Rob. “Something for Nothing” by Rush — Bruce. “Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop — Brian. COMEDY TRACK: “Junk Food Junkie” by Larry Groce **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
English supergroup Bad Company continued their successful streak with their third studio album, Run with the Pack. Frontman/guitarist/panist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke came out of the band Free, guitarist/keyboardist Mick Ralph came out of Mott the Hoople, and bassist Boz Burrell was originally with King Crimson. Paul Rodgers' voice is quite distinctive, and you can tell a “Bad Co.” song just from that voice.
The name of the group came from a book of Victorian morals. It showed a picture depicting a child looking up at a ruffian leaning against a lamp post. The caption under the picture read, “Beware of bad company.”
The band would continue until 1982 when Paul Rodgers disbanded the group and left to join another supergroup, The Firm. Bad Co. would reform in 1986 with new personnel, including new frontman Brian Howe (formerly vocalist for Ted Nugent). Rodgers would return to the band in 1998 and Bad Co. would tour off and on until today.
Let's see what happens when we spend some time in Bad Company, shall we?
Live for the Music
Mick Ralphs wrote this track that leads off the album, and was released as a single, though it would be considered a deeper cut. “Live for the music you know you're gonna find a lot to ease my mind.”
Run with the Pack
The album takes its name from this song written by Paul Rodgers, which finishes off side 1. It was also released as a single, and may be familiar to some, especially the introductory piano riff. Rodgers was a primary songwriter for the group. It finishes off with a long outro with a symphonic sound that may remind you of the Moody Blues.
Silver, Blue & Gold
Although this track may be the best known song on the album, it actually was not released as a single at the time. It is a breakup song, but with a beautiful melody and an ultimately positive outlook. “My rainbow is overdue.” Paul Rodgers wrote this one, which leads off side 2.
Young Blood
This cover of The Coasters classic song hit the top 20. It tells the tragic tale of a boy who meets a girl, then meets her father, who causes her to lose the girl. “You'd better leave my daughter alone!”
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
The theme from the television series “The Bionic Woman”
After a tragic parachute accident, tennis pro Jamie Sommers becomes The Bionic Woman following in the footsteps of her former boyfriend, Steve Austin
STAFF PICKS:
“Money Honey” by The Bay City Rollers
Wayne's staff pick features an early boy band from Scotland with their follow-up to "Saturday Night." They got their name by throwing a dart at a map of the United States, and taking the name from Bay City, Michigan. The dart landed on Arkansas first, but ...they felt that it wouldn’t work out with Kansas already in full swing!
“Love Is the Drug” by Roxy Music
Rob brings us the lead single from Roxy Music's album Siren. Bryan Ferry lends vocals to this song written by Andy Mackay. The album cover features Jerry Hall as a blue mermaid (siren). “I say go, she say yes, dim the lights, you can guess the rest.”
“Something for Nothing” by Rush
Bruce's staff pick comes off Rush's concept album 2112. It has a libertarian message, based off graffiti that Neil Peart spotted in Los Angeles that read "Freedom isn't for free."
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop
Brian rolls around to a soft rock hit from guitarist Elvin Bishop, featuring Mickey Thomas on vocals. The song tells the story of a guy who wants to play the field, and accidentally falls in love. Thomas would go on to join Jefferson Starship and have several hits as front man for that group.
COMEDY TRACK:
"Junk Food Junkie" by Larry Groce
The struggle is real, folks! "But at night I'm a junk food junkie. Good Lord, have pity on me!"