Out of the remnants of Free and Mott The Hoople came the band Bad Company. They were formed in 1973, and after some personnel changes, released their last album in 1996. However, they were at their peak in the 70s. In total, they sold over 40 million albums.
They produced some classic material, and we are going back in time to choose the Top 50 Bad Company songs. All subjective, of course, and there might be at least one surprise on the way.
Free At Last
Free had finally called it a day, and it became known that two of them, Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, wanted to form a new band. A certain Peter Grant of Led Zeppelin’s management immediately went to work. He wanted Paul Rodgers and started talking to potential musicians to join the band. Some were ruled out because of a lack of touring experience.
Mick Ralphs was already hired, and he completed the band with Boz Burrell. He had toured America with King Crimson and was an ideal candidate. Grant signed them to a management deal and the Swan Song label.
A Super-Group?
They were labeled as that by some, especially in America. One of those hideous and self-serving groups of musicians that wanted to pretend they were big-time.
So, was Bad Company a super-group? Not really. They were just a band, albeit a pretty good one. To call them a super-group is an insult to them as people in my book.
Bad Company broke up in 1982 but reformed a couple of times without Paul Rodgers. However, he did come back in 1998, but by then, it was all over.
How About That Name?
Despite a few suggestions of where it originated, it was taken from a picture that Paul Rodgers had seen years before. He liked the rebellious nature of the name.
So, let’s take a look at the best Bad Company songs. It should surprise you that I have chosen songs from early on when they were probably at their best. And, there will be, as I said, at least one surprise.
Top 50 Bad Company Songs
1 Burnin’ Sky
This is a song released as a single in 1997 from the album of the same name. The single only reached #78 in America and didn’t make the chart at all in the UK. Furthermore, their home country lost interest in their singles releases quite early. Their final British singles chart entry was in 1975.
However, Bad Company albums continued to do well, and this album did okay, reaching #17 in the UK and #15 in America. Therefore, the single is not included on this list because of its commercial success. But it is here for two reasons.
First, Rodgers delivers exceptional vocals that are deliberately back in the final mix to give the song a certain mystique. Second, it has a slightly bluesy feel to it and would have been a song made for one of Paul Kossoff’s solos in days gone by. “Burnin’ Sky” follows a common theme in Bad Company’s music – a fugitive on the run. It was written by Paul Rodgers.
2 Movin’ On
Back to 1974 and a track from Bad Company’s first album, the self-titled Bad Company. In the UK, there was eager anticipation before the album’s release. Previous admirers of Free were waiting to see what Paul and Simon were going to come up with. When the album emerged, some were a little bit disappointed.
It was never going to be “another” Free, although some were hoping it might be. Without Kossof and Andy Fraser, it just wasn’t possible. They had to do something different from Free, and this was it.
Much more Rock and Roll-inspired, it is a better track than some gave it credit for. It was written by guitarist Mick Ralphs. The guitar solo is rather ordinary, but the bass from Boz Burrell is creative and very good. Simon, of course, still hammering the hell out of his kit. I still think it was one of Bad Company’s best songs. It made #19 in America but failed to chart in the UK.
3 Run With The Pack
This is a track taken from the album of the same name, released in 1975. The single failed to make the chart anywhere, which I think they were disappointed about for two reasons. First, it was the lead single from the album, and as such, it was probably expected to do well. And second, they had obviously sat down and thought about the arrangement.
Every standard Rock Music idea was included here. The solo piano intro is quickly joined by accented bass, drums, and guitar. It moves into a steady Rock tempo, and when we get to the chorus, a half-beat tempo with some harmony lines on the vocal.
The album charted well, reaching #4 in the UK and #5 in America. As always, a superlative vocal performance from Paul Rodgers, who also wrote the song.
4 Electricland
Rough Diamonds was effectively the final album that was produced by the band’s original lineup. “Electricland” was the only single released from the album. It reached #74 on the American chart in 1982.
As a collector’s item for Bad Company fans, Rough Diamonds (the last with those members) is a must to have. It has to be said, though, that it isn’t their best. And, like most albums where the band is about to call it a day, it can sound a little tired at times. That said, “Electricland” is the high point in my view.
With different-sounding guitars, this would be a great Blues track. It jogs along at a great pace and builds the atmosphere. The usual Bad Company accents permeate the song. It also allows Mick Ralphs an extended solo in the middle, which has plenty of feel to it. And there is a nice A minor to F# minor chord interchange, which is different.
5 Can’t Get Enough
Now, this might be a shock. I imagine that some people think this should be #1 on a list of the Top 50 Bad Company songs. It isn’t down at #6 because it is not very good. It is here because, in my opinion, they produced better tracks.
That says a lot about the quality we are looking at. “Can’t Get Enough” from 1973 is a memorable track and is Bad Company’s first hit song. The song was written by Mick Ralphs and taken from their first album, Bad Company.
“Can’t Get Enough” reached #3 in Canada, #5 in America, and #15 in the UK. Whilst it wasn’t probably written as a Pop song, it could best be described as Pop-Rock. Good Pop songs always have great hooks, and this song is no exception. As a result, it’s one of the most well-known Bad Company songs.
6 Feel Like Making Love
This song was taken from what some would say was their best album, Straight Shooter. Released in 1975, Straight Shooter reached #3 in the UK, Canada, and America and outsold their first album.
It was an album with some outstanding tracks, and this is one. “Feel Like Making Love” reached #5 in Canada, #10 in America, and #20 in the UK. It was written by Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralphs. Unfortunately, it was their last single to make a chart position in the UK.
When the song opens acoustically, you expect a soft, delicate track. That all changes when the chorus arrives. Heavyweight drums and guitar turn this into more of a power ballad.
Two things to note…
First, the decent harmony vocals that occasionally arrive. And second, Boz Burrell’s intelligent bass lines are excellent. They made the right choice when they chose him. On parts of this track, the “ghost” of Andy Fraser is in some of the lines he plays.
7 Shooting Star
Staying with the Straight Shooter album from 1975, this is a song that has had its fair share of interpretations. It was written by Paul Rodgers and not released as a single. Musically, it isn’t that special. Once again, it starts with a nice acoustic part but then does the “Bad Co.” thing with a chorus full of an overdriven guitar and some nice vocals as well.
The Inspiration
There have been plenty of interpretations. Some think it might refer to the careers of Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, or Janis Joplin. It certainly tells the story of a young man desperate to be a star.
At the end of the song, the ‘Shooting Star’ is found dead with a bottle of whisky and some sleeping pills. It had all just gotten too much for him. I seem to remember someone else’s lifestyle causing a heart attack on a plane in 1976. Maybe the song was about him.
Either way, Rodgers is pleading with him to get himself sorted or just predicting that he wouldn’t be here much longer. His name was Paul Kossoff.
8 Ready for Love
Back to their first album, Bad Company, for this classic Bad Company song. And, once again, overdriven guitar riffs dominate the chorus with a “Fraser-like” bass from Boz Burrell. This was the song that showed the backing vocals they could produce were halfway decent. It wasn’t released as a single, but it was certainly one of the highlights of that first album.
9 Bad Company
I keep finding myself making references to Free and how the style of Bad Company at times was similar. Free could create atmospheric blues songs, and that has clearly overlapped with this track.
It wasn’t released as a single, but it is one of the greatest Bad Company songs, with some very effective piano playing by Rodgers. Deep, dark, and moody, it tells the story of a group of gunmen on the run from the law. They are referred to as “rebel souls” and “deserters.” Is that a reference to those Confederate soldiers who refused to admit defeat after the American Civil War?
An outstanding track written by Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke. There aren’t many songs where the song title, the name of the album, and the name of the band are all the same. Listening to it again today, it has lost none of its initial impact. Still a great song and very representative of what the early Bad Company was all about.
10 Seagull
And so, to my top choice on this list of the Top 50 songs by Bad Company and another track from that first album, Bad Company. However, it is not a big production Rock song as you might have expected. Instead, it’s acoustic guitars all the way through, apart from the final section, where a simple bass line is added.
This song might surprise a few people as my top pick. They have produced some ordinary songs at times, especially in the 80s, but they have also produced some great songs. “Seagull,” however, transcended just about everything else they did. A mournful sound with desperately tragic lyrics written by Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralphs.
This song has a very special meaning. The ‘seagull’ is a person, and the song talks about the past and where the person is now, and the sorrow that the singer feels. Another song about Paul Kossoff, I wonder?
11Good Lovin’ Gone Bad
12Silver, Blue & Gold
13Honey Child
14Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
15Live For The Music
16No Smoke Without A Fire
17Wild Fire Woman
18Heartbeat
19Rock Steady
20Simple Man
21Gone, Gone, Gone
22Company Of Strangers
23Smokin’ 45
24Dangerous Age
25Hold On To My Heart
26This Love
27If You Needed Somebody
28Holy Water
29Little Angel
30How About That
31Hey, Hey
32With You In A Heartbeat
33Burn Down The Mission
34Clearwater Highway
35Brokenhearted
36Downhill Ryder
37Boys Cry Tough
38Fame And Fortune
39Tell It Like It Is
40Rhythm Machine
41Take This Town
42When We Made Love
43Sweet Lil’ Sister
44Shake It Up
45Love Me Somebody
46Evil Wind
47The Way I Choose
48Bad Man
49Can’t Get Enough (live)
50Honey Child (live)
In the Mood for More Music by Timeless Rock Bands?
Well then, check out our thoughts on the Top 10 Foghat Songs, the Top 10 Three Dog Night Songs, the Top 10 Songs by The Who, the Top 10 Kiss Songs, and the Top 10 Marshall Tucker Band Songs for more incredible song selections.
Top 50 Bad Company Songs – Final Thoughts
Bad Company had such a wide range of styles it was sometimes hard to pin them down to a genre. But, in the end, we don’t have to. They were just good, very good, as you can hear on the album Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy: The Very Best Of Bad Company.
Having so many influences in the band helped them to play in these different styles. But, it must be remembered that as people and musicians, they just gelled together for a few years. None of those super-group ego trips, just four musicians doing what they loved to do. This was the result.
Until next time, happy listening.
