Desolation Angels

アトランティック・レコード75周年記念!
アナログ・プロダクションズの「アトランティック75」シリーズ!

・180グラム45回転2LP
・オリジナル・マスターテープからBernie Grundmanがマスタリング
・クオリティ・レコード・プレッシングでプレス
・Stoughton Printingによるチップオン・オールドスタイル・ゲートフォールド・ダブル・ポケット・ジャケット

79年名盤5作目『Desolation Angels』がANALOGUE PRODUCTIONSの「アトランティック75」シリーズから45回転180グラム重量盤2LPリリース!

1978年の晩夏からイギリスはサリー州にあるリッジ・ファーム・スタジオで数週間かけてレコーディングされた本作は、バンドにとってアメリカで最大のヒットとなった「Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy」、「Gone, Gone, Gone」などのヒットや、「Lonely For Your Love」、「She Brings Me Love」といったポール・ロジャースの魅力を最大限に引き出した楽曲などによりファンの支持を得て英国チャート10位、米国チャート3位を記録。全米でダブル・プラチナ・アルバムに認定されました。

By the time Bad Company released Desolation Angels, it was evident that even Rodgers and Ralphs were getting tired of their '70s-styled, conveyor-belt brand of rock & roll, so they decided to add keyboards and some minor string work to the bulk of the tracks. Although this change of musical scenery was a slight breath of fresh air, it wasn't enough to give Desolation Angels the much added depth or distinction that was intended, and only the vocal passion of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" really comes out on top, eventually becoming a gold single. The good news is that Desolation Angels is a noticeable improvement from 1977's Burnin' Sky, with Bad Company's sound taking on a smoother, more polished feel than its predecessor. "Gone, Gone, Gone," "Lonely for Your Love," and "She Brings Me Love" work best in Rodgers' favor, and fans did prove their loyalty, pushing the album to the number ten mark in the U.K. and to number three in the U.S. The campaign toward a new sound does cause a few of the cuts ("Crazy Circles," "Evil Wind") to appear a bit forced and overly glitzy (especially the use of electronic drums), and the album spawns a smattering of a few attractive moments rather than evolving as a complete, constructive listen. Things didn't get much better for Bad Company, and it was after the release of 1982's Rough Diamonds, a much weaker and unattached effort, that Rodgers decided to call it quits. ~ Mike DeGagne