Bad Company were a “supergroup” formed in 1973 with vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke of Free (“All Right Now”), King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell and former Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs. Their second album, Straight Shooter, was full of energy and hard rock and remains on radio “play lists” all over the world. Bad Company could do ballads or blues with soul and grace. Rodgers had the voice of rock, and his bandmates were more than a backdrop to his vocals. They were a great group.

Kicking off with “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” and then “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” the romance groove is subtle, but not sappy “Weep No More” sounds like the Eagles, but has a jazzier feel (versus country) to it. Of course, there’s “Shooting Star,” the ballad of Johnny, who becomes a rock star and “died in his bed Ö bottle of whiskey, sleeping tablets by his head.”

Another great rocker “Deal With The Preacher” is stock Bad Company, with Rodgers’ vocals over a nasty guitar licks. “Wild Fire Woman” is Hendrix meets the Doors, and in this description I give both artists love, because this track is one of the best on the album.

“Anna” pretty much borrows the southern rock sound, and the final cut, “Call On Me,” wraps up a pretty mellow album that is great to listen to on a drive or a laid-back Sunday morning.

Bad Company cranked out five great albums from 75-79. Their first album, Bad Company, is harder, and a little better, but I have always preferred Straight Shooter.

Rodgers had success in the 80s with Jimmy Page and a band called The Firm (“Radioactive”) and still tours as a solo artist and with former members of Bad Company.

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