A new collection of previously unheard demo recordings by Pete Ham called Acoustic has just been released in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the late Badfinger singer/guitarist’s death.
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As its title suggests, the album features various tunes and song snippets featuring just Ham’s voice accompanied by his acoustic guitar, or without any vocals. The compilation was put together with the full support of Ham’s estate.
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The album was released on Friday, April 25, via digital formats and as a limited-edition CD. The CD comes packaged in a six-panel digipak, and features 31 tracks, one more than the digital release. The album’s tracks were compiled and edited by Badfinger archivist Tom Brennan, who also penned liner notes for the collection.
Only 1,000 copies of the Acoustic CD are available.
The recordings span from 1966, when Badfinger still was known by its original name, The Iveys, through 1975.
The album features demo versions of several songs that Badfinger recorded, including “Midnight Sun” and “We’re for the Dark.” Acoustic also features early renditions of a few tunes that later developed into Badfinger songs.
In addition, the album boasts alternate versions of tunes featured on the previously released posthumous Ham demo collections 7 Park Avenue (1997) and Golders Green (1999).
The bonus track on the Acoustic CD is a rock ‘n’ roll medley that combines the Ham original “Are You Ready” with Pete’s renditions of the 1957 Elvis Presley hit “Mean Woman Blues” and the Gene Vincent classic “Be-Bop-a-Lula.”
More About Pete Ham and Badfinger
Ham was a founding member of Badfinger and its predecessor group The Iveys. The Iveys signed with The Beatles’ label, Apple, in 1968. After changing its name to Badfinger, the group scored its first hit in 1970 with the Paul McCartney-penned “Come and Get It.” McCartney also produced the song and a couple of other tracks on Badfinger’s debut album Magic Christian Music.
George Harrison and Todd Rundgren co-produced the band’s third studio album under the Badfinger moniker, Straight Up.
Pete was a principal songwriter in the group, and was responsible for composing Badfinger’s three biggest original hits—“No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” and “Baby Blue.”
As the 1970s progressed, Badfinger experienced financial issues and legal troubles for which the group’s manager, Stan Polley, is widely blamed.
Distraught over his money troubles and struggling with his mental health, Ham died by suicide on April 24, 1975, three days before his 28th birthday.
Acoustic Track List:
- “Little Bit of Rock and Roll”
- “Midnight Sun” (Original Demo)
- “I Don’t Need a Reason Why”
- “Rusty Sunday”
- “I Need Your Love”
- “I Can’t Forget (Perfection)”
- “Pete’s Postcard” (Instrumental)
- “One Lonely Day”
- “Our Song”
- “We’re for the Dark” (Demo)
- “Hand in Hand” (Alternate Version)
- “Look Around”
- “Army Man”
- “Pete’s Idea” (Instrumental)
- “Sweet Josephine”
- “British/Wake Up Little Lamb”
- “Can You Deny”
- “Can You See”
- “Let’s Get Together”
- “Songs of Nature”
- “Give Out to Me”
- “You’re Such a Good Woman” (Original Demo)
- “Suspicious”
- “Hey Blues”
- “I’m Just a Hermit”
- “She’s Got a Way”
- “I Can’t Take It” (Demo)
- “Slug”
- “Pete’s Melody” (Instrumental)
- “Something to Hide”
- “Are You Ready”/“Mean Woman Blues”/“Be-Bop-a-Lula” (CD Only Bonus Track)
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