Cliffs Vinyl Blog
Guitarist was in Pop Heaven Before it Turned to Hell
Joey Molland Born June 21 1947 Died March 1 2025
Joey Molland, a guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for such 1970s hits as “No Matter What” and “Day After Day,” has died at age 77.
Molland joined Badfinger in 1969 as guitarist, and guitarist Tom Evans switched to bass. Thus with Pete Ham on guitar, and Tom Evans on drums.Molland is the last surviving member of the tragic four-piece band that went from heaven to hell.Badfinger, (then called The Iveys) were one of the first acts signed to Apple after its formation. Renamed Badfinger, (after John Lennon “Badfinger Boogie”) their first record was “Come and Get It” a Paul McCartney written song. This hit was followed by “No Matter What” and “Day After Day” with George Harrisson on slide guitar. It was all heaven for a while, with Harry Nilsson having a worldwide hit with “Without You”, a Joey said about this time “ I couldn’t believe the luck I was having, hearing our music on the radio, tour all over, and make records.”Then it all went badly wrong. Apple collapsed. The Beatles split. Stan Polley the American shonky manager was ripping them off taking most of their earnings in commission. On April 24 Ham took his own life. In November 1983, Evans also took his own life after a failed attempt with Molland to get a new version of Badfinger going. Joey died on March i, aged 77.Drummer Mike Gibbons died of a brain aneurysm in his sleep.
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You Can’t Keep a Great Album Down! “Abbey Road” a Winner Again!
The Beatles seem to be as popular today as ever. There is always a Beatles album hanging in the Billboard charts, usually the ever popular “Red Album” (1962-1966) or “Blue Album” (1967-1970).But now, some decades after its release, the classic “Abbey Road” album has appeared on three Billboard charts. In fact, on the top Rock and Alternative Albums it re enters at No. 41.And, on the Top Album Sales chart it slips into the No. 46 slot. On their Top 200 albums, it sneaks in at No.194.In the past, the “Abbey Road” album featured on all three Billboard charts. It has scored at least 300 stays on all the Billboard charts.At this rrate, watch the album notch up 500 weeks on the Billboard 200, one of very few albums to do so…
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61 Years Ago! The Show That Stopped A Nation!
In February 1964, an extraordinary event unfolded that would reverberate throughout American culture and music history: "60 Years Ago This Month! A Show that Stopped a Nation!" This event was none other than The Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, a pivotal moment that became a turning point not only for the band but for generations of music fans, forever transforming the American music landscape.
On that fateful evening, Ed Sullivan, the shrewd impresario with a keen eye for talent, introduced to America an unassuming British band with mop-topped hair and an electrifying energy. Ed's decision to bring The Beatles to his show was influenced in part by the monumental impact Elvis Presley had on American audiences just a few years prior when he appeared on the very same stage. Sullivan understood that he was not just offering entertainment; he was showcasing the future of music.
The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was a spectacle like no other. The band performed five songs across three separate appearances in February 1964, including iconic hits like "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," and "All My Loving." Their charm, charisma, and groundbreaking sound captivated the viewing audience, many of whom were witnessing the birth of Beatlemania—a cultural phenomenon that swept across the nation and the world.
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Marianne Faithfull Dies
Born in Hampstead in December 1946, she was known for hits like As Tears Go By, which reached the UK top 10 in 1964, and for starring roles in films including 1968's The Girl On A Motorcycle.
She was also famously the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 1960s, inspiring songs such as Wild Horses and You Can't Always Get What You Want. After a period of heroin addiction in the 70s, she resurrected her career with the classic album Broken English.
Paying tribute, Jagger described Faithfull as "a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress," saying he was "so saddened".
Wings Venus and Mars Released 50 Years Ago!
Yep, seems like yesterday "Venus and Mars" arrived in my record shop in Adelaide. The EMI rep came in just after the batch had arrived, and we played the album. We loved it, and the first 50 copies went very quickly. A great album.It weny on to top the charts. Preceded by the single "Listen to What the Man Said", Venus and Mars peaked at number 1 in the US, the UK and other countries around the world. It also received mostly favorable reviews from music critics, unusual at the time, as Lennon was the preferred Beatle.Today, The Beatles' influence on American music endures in modern pop, rock, and alternative genres. Their innovative approach to songwriting and production set a new standard that continues to inspire artists worldwide.
"60 Years Ago This Month! A Show that Stopped a Nation!" serves as a reminder of the singular power of music to unite, inspire, and transcend. The Ed Sullivan Beatles appearance effect on Americans was both profound and enduring, a testament to the timeless appeal and influence of one of the greatest bands the world has ever witnessed.
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