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Today saw the reissue of Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin’s first album on the band’s own Swan Song Records label.  So it’s appropriate that Rhino chose today to announce the deluxe, expanded reissue for the very first album on Swan Song – the self-titled debut of British hard rock supergroup Bad Company.  That 1974 chart-topping album will be joined on April 7 by Bad Company’s 1975 sophomore effort, Straight Shooter in a similarly expanded edition.  These reissues, to be available on CD, LP and digital download, have been remastered from the original multi-track tapes, and both feature a full disc’s worth each of previously unreleased tracks, takes and mixes.  The CD versions of these Deluxe Editions will include all of the newly-discovered bonus tracks, while the 180-gram vinyl versions offer a selection of the bonus material.

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Paul Rodgers, formerly of Free, founded Bad Company with his old Free bandmate, drummer Simon Kirke, King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell and Mott the Hoople guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs.  With Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant on board in the same capacity for Bad Company, the band recorded its debut album utilizing Ronnie Lane’s mobile studio at a favorite Zeppelin recording locale, Headley Grange.  Bad Company reached No. 3 in the U.K., but fared even better in the U.S. where it hit No. 1.  It was eventually certified 5x platinum thanks to hits like “Can’t Get Enough” (U.S. No. 5) and “Movin’ On” (No. 19).

The second disc of the Deluxe Edition features 12 tracks, eight of which are previously unreleased.  Among the new discoveries is the demo for the ballad “The Way I Choose,” an early take of “Bad Company,” and an unedited version of “Superstar Woman,” a song that Rodgers re-recorded in 1983 for his solo album Cut Loose. Also included is the single edit of “Can’t Get Enough,” and the b-sides “Little Miss Fortune” and “Easy on My Soul.”

Bad Company released its second album, Straight Shooter, in April 1975, 40 years to the month of the new deluxe edition. It fared almost as well as its predecessor, reaching No. 3 on both sides of the Atlantic.  The 3x platinum success also yielded the hit singles “Feel Like Makin’ Love”(U.S. No. 10) and “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” (No. 36) as well as radio perennial “Shooting Star.”  Of the 14 bonus tracks on the second disc, all are previously unreleased except the non-LP B-side “Whiskey Bottle.” Among the standouts is a stripped-down version of “Shooting Star,” a remix of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” with alternative guitar parts and vocals, as well as outtakes “See the Sunlight” and “All Night Long.”

The Deluxe Editions of Bad Company and Straight Shooter arrive from Swan Song and Rhino on April 7 and can be pre-ordered below at Amazon U.K.; Amazon U.S. links are forthcoming!

Bad Company, Bad Company (Swan Song/Atlantic SS 8410, 1974 – reissued Rhino, 2015)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

CD 1

1. “Can’t Get Enough”
2. “Rock Steady”
3. “Ready For Love”
4. “Don’t Let Me Down”
5. “Bad Company”
6. “The Way I Choose”
7. “Movin’ On”
8. “Seagull”

CD 2

1. “Can’t Get Enough” (Take 1) (*)
2. “Little Miss Fortune” (Demo Reel 1) (*)
3. “The Way I Choose” (Demo Reel 1) (*)
4. “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 2-73 Session) (*)
5. “The Way I Choose” (Version 1)
6. “Easy On My Soul” (Long Version)
7. “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 8-73 Session) (*)
8. Studio Chat/Dialogue
9. “Superstar Woman” (Long Version) (*)
10. “Can’t Get Enough” (Single Edit)
11. “Little Miss Fortune” (B-side of “Can’t Get Enough”) (from Atlantic SS 70100, 1974) (*)
12. “Easy On My Soul” (B-side of “Movin’ On”) (from Atlantic SS 70101, 1974) (*)

(*) denotes bonus track included on 2-LP vinyl edition

Bad Company, Straight Shooter (Swan Song/Atlantic SS 8413, 1975 – reissued Rhino, 2015)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

CD 1

1. “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad”
2. “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
3. “Weep No More”
4. “Shooting Star”
5. “Deal With The Preacher”
6. “Wild Fire Woman”
7. “Anna”
8. “Call On Me”

CD 2

1. “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar) (*)
2. “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Take Before Master) (*)
3. “Weep No More” (Early Slow Version) (*)
4. “Shooting Star” (Alternate Take) (*)
5. “Deal With The Preacher” (Early Version) (*)
6. “Anna” (Alternate Vocal) (*)
7. “Call On Me” (Alternate Take) (*)
8. “Easy On My Soul” (Slow Version)
9. “Whiskey Bottle” (Early Slow Version)
10. “See the Sunlight”
11. “All Night Long”
12. “Wild Fire Woman” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar) (*)
13. “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Harmonica Version)
14. “Whiskey Bottle” (B-side of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad”) (from Atlantic SS 70103, 1975)

(*) denotes bonus track included on 2-LP vinyl edition