Assorted Artists “Shine On: A Tribute To Pete Ham”
Pete Ham, the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the band Badfinger, was one of the great emerging stars of the early 1970s. One of the first power pop bands, the Beatle’s shadow loomed large over the group, and despite his tragic story, his musical skill was undeniable. Rather than me go into history on the band – get Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger by the late great Dan Matovina. That tells the tale.
All of Badfinger’s hits are here “No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” “Baby Blue,” and many more. The project, which includes 35 new recordings of songs Ham wrote or co-wrote, will benefit Mental Health America of Southeast Florida. The project’s goal is boosted by the wide range of musicians who pay homage to Ham classics and deep cuts on the two-disc set.
I enjoyed many of the covers, including Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) as part of The Chefs on a fun, infectious “I Can’t Take It.” I also liked The Smokin Novas faithful take on “Shine On” and the reverent approach by Shelby Lynne on “Day After Day.” Other standouts include “Mary Lou Lord’s “Baby Blue,” Rob Bonfiglio’s “Lonely You,” and the spirited country version of “Lay Me Down” by Diane Ward. Like all big compilations, there are tracks I didn’t like – but don’t let them sway you. Badfinger fans will enjoy this for sure. Highly Recommended.
The Mosquitos “This then are The Mosquitos!”
Long Island musician Vance Brescia formed a Beatles-influenced punk-pop band in the early ’80s, very much in parallel to Tommy Marolda (The Toms) from New Jersey or Paul Collins’s band The Beat from Los Angeles. The Mosquitos were also ahead of their time, as the sound was a mix of Merseybeat, punk, and new wave. They were poised for 80s stardom. The title track from the band’s EP “That Was Then, This Is Now” was chosen by Arista Records’ Clive Davis for The Monkees to record as their comeback single in 1986 following a couple of nominations at the New York Music Awards. The Monkees version entered the Top 20 that summer. Shortly thereafter, the band split up.
The band never really had a major album release, so this massive project was expanded to a 47-song double CD by Kool Kat Musik. This allowed for the publication of nearly all of their original songs, demos, and covers. Highlights include “I Know A Secret,” “I’m So Ashamed,” “Put Your Foot Down,” and others. More than enough to make this highly recommended.