Description
Fame and Fortune is the seventh studio album by British rock band Bad Company, released in 1986. It was the first album released by the reformed group, featuring original members Mick Ralphs (guitar) and Simon Kirke (drums), with the addition of new frontman Brian Howe (formerly of Ted Nugent’s band) substituting for original singer Paul Rodgers. While original bassist Boz Burrell appears credited as part of the line-up, the liner notes reveal that session player Steve Price played on the album.
The album peaked at No. 106 on the Billboard 200.
Production
The album was produced by Foreigner producer Keith Olsen. Foreigner’s Mick Jones served as executive producer and co-writer of two tracks.
“This Love” is a song by English rock band Bad Company. The song was released as the lead single from the band’s seventh studio album Fame and Fortune, the group’s first single since reforming earlier that year with ex-Ted Nugent vocalist Brian Howe.
A music video was created for the song, showing the band performing the song on a stage.
Chart (1986) Peak position:
New Zealand 12
Billboard Hot 100 85
Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs 12
Personnel:
Brian Howe – lead vocals, saxophone
Mick Ralphs – guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
Steve Price – bass
Simon Kirke – drums
Bad Company – Fame And Fortune
Label: Atlantic – 81684-1, Atlantic – 7 81684-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, SP – Specialty Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock
A1 Burning Up [Written-By – Jones*, Ralphs*] 4:02
A2 This Love [Written-By – Fretwell*, Howe*] 4:02
A3 Fame And Fortune [Written-By – Ralphs*] 3:35
A4 That Girl [Written-By – Howe*, Ralphs*] 4:01
A5 Tell It Like It Is [Written-By – Howe*, Ralphs*] 3:52
B1 Long Walk [Written-By – Howe*, Dechert*] 3:34
B2 Hold On My Heart [Written-By – Howe*, Dechert*, Jones*] 4:25
B3 Valerie [Written-By – Howe*, Ralphs*] 3:29
B4 When We Made Love [Written-By – Howe*, Bettis*, Kirke*] 4:18
B5 If I’m Sleeping [Written-By – Howe*, Dechert*, Ralphs*, Kirke*] 3:30
Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Atlantic Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Copyright © – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Direct Metal Mastering By – TJ*
Engineer – Brian Foraker, Jay Healy, Stuart Epps
Executive-Producer – Mick Jones
Management – Bud Prager, Phil Carson
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Mixed By – Frank Filipetti, Mick Jones
Performer [Bad Company Are] – Boz Burrell, Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke
Producer – Keith Olsen
Technician [Band] – Sid Pryce
“SP” in label matrix denotes a Specialty Records Corporation pressing
Barcode: 0 7567-81684-1 3
Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): ST-A-866119-SP
Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): ST-A-866120-SP
Other (Embossed Around Center Hole SideB): E A S T
BAD COMPANY PLAYS FOR NEW GENERATION
PUBLISHED: December 5, 1986 at 5:00 a.m.
The day Bad Company formed in 1973, they were already being called a “supergroup.” They didn’t have any albums out or singles being played but they did have a past. Ex-Free members vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell made up the state-of-the-art band that went on to influence generations of musicians and carve a niche in musical history.
Bad Company is scheduled to open for Triumph Saturday at Hollywood Sportatorium.
Drummer Kirke cites one advantage of the Triumph tour. “We’re reaching a new market with the Triumph crowd because they’re younger than what we were used to playing for.
“Say they were 12 when we stopped working. So now they would be 18 and there’s a whole generation that hasn’t seen us play,” Kirke said.
It has been five years since Bad Company recorded a studio album. The last two to emerge were a compilation and greatest hits package. Although there was no new material surfacing, the band never actually broke up.
“We just sort of went underground,” Kirke said. “Paul expressed the desire not to tour for about a year in 1980 and during that time we all got involved in solo projects. In 1983 Paul started working with Jimmy Page in conjunction with the Ronnie Lane A.R.M.S. Appeal benefit; and out of that grew the Firm.
“By 1984 we had already put a compilation album out and there was nothing forthcoming from Paul so we decided to steer ahead.”
With Paul Rodgers gone from the lineup, some critics and fans feel Bad Company is no longer a viable issue.
Kirke says, “Rodgers’ voice was important to the band, just as important as Mick’s guitar or my drums. Obviously the lead singer of a band will get the spotlight but bear in mind that most of the hits were written by Mick Ralphs. Paul wrote an awful lot of material but it was mostly album-oriented songs. So it’s kind of unfair criticism.”
The band went into the studio with Mick Jones of Foreigner, and Foreigner producer Keith Olsen. It was Jones who suggested Brian Howe as a vocalist and since then Howe has been an integral part of the band.
“Brian has handled the road very well. It’s not easy coming into the band and Brian had quite a gap to fill but he’s doing very well. He’s a natural and there hasn’t been one snide remark made,” Kirke said.
Years away from concert touring hasn’t left the band rusty, and Kirke admitted it wasn’t half as difficult getting back on the road as they thought it would be.
“We were very well-rehearsed and had our set down and were very confident about the material so once you go onstage that’s half the battle. The other half is winning the crowd over, especially kids who have never seen us before.”
Their new album Fame and Fortune is a step into the modern age for Bad Company, who use more keyboards and sax on the record but glimpses of the past are still reflected throughout the songs.
“This album is better than the last two of Bad Company’s,” Kirke said. “As the old Bad Company, I think we were running out of ideas, running out of steam and just about to run out on each other. But this album was great. We had a good producer and a great remix and we are all very satisfied with it. I think you’ll see the next Bad Company, however, returning to its roots.”
— Bad Company is scheduled to open for Triumph at 8 p.m. Saturday at Hollywood Sportatorium, 16661 Hollywood Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Tickets are $15 plus $1.25 service charge. For information call BASS, 428-0917.
