There were two versions of Badfinger: The rugged, hard-rocking Badfinger that released anthemic classic rock tracks like "No Matter What," and the precise, heavily-polished power pop Badfinger that produced wistful gems like "Day After Day." The band's third album, Straight Up, introduced the world to the latter version. And though that may seem like a bit of a downgrade, especially to those who prefer their power ballads "November Rain" style, it's actually the most consistently brilliant album Badfinger ever delivered. Principal songwriter Pete Ham was certainly in top form on Straight Up, penning the band's signature song, "Baby Blue," which would pretty much lay the groundwork for their sound going forward. And "Perfection," with it's crisp acoustic melody and simple political message, is an endearing throwback to the peace and love movement that's still relevant today. Unfortunately, it's also a bittersweet reminder of Ham failing to live by his own words and committing suicide in 1975. Elsewhere, though, guitarist Joey Molland does his best John Lennon imitation, channeling "I Feel Fine" and "Revolution" for the album's other highlights, "Sometimes" and "Suitcase," respectively. Thanks to the various songwriting presences (bassist Tom Evans gets a few good punches in there, too), Straight Up never felt stagnant, and maintained a sense of cohesion with Todd Rundgren's flawless production.
