Bad Company's 1974 self-titled release stands as one of the most
important and accomplished debut hard rock albums from the '70s. Though
hardly visionary, it was one of the most successful steps in the
continuing evolution of rock & roll, riding on the coattails of
achievement from artists like the Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and
Young. From the simple electric guitar lick on "Can't Get Enough" to the
haunting bassline in "Bad Company" and the fast beats of "Movin' On,"
Bad Company exemplified raw rock & roll at its best. Erupting out of
an experimental period created by the likes of Pink Floyd, Bad Company
signified a return to more primal, stripped-down rock & roll. Even
while labelmates Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy and IV featured
highly acclaimed, colorful album artwork, Bad Company's austere black
and white record cover stood out in stark contrast. Six years later,
AC/DC used the same idea on their smash Back in Black. Throughout the
35-minute album, Paul Rodgers' mesmerizing and gritty vocals hardly vary
in tonal quality, offering a perfect complement to Mick Ralphs'
blues-based guitar work. Several songs include three-chord verses offset
by unembellished, distorted choruses, filled rich with Rodgers' cries.
Bad Company is an essential addition to the rock & roll library;
clearly influential to '70s and '80s hard rock bands like Tom Petty,
Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Boston.
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