Badfinger

I've been listening to this album a lot lately, and it grows on me more and more everyday. While not regarded in the same class as Bafinger's Holy Trinity--"No Dice," "Straight Up," and "Wish You Were Here"--"Ass" is a remarkably good album, especially considering that it was initially rejected by Apple, which was in its death throes at the time. The songs are all of a high caliber, and even the weakest song on the set, the whimsical "Cowboy," is melodically compelling. I've always considered Badfinger one of the most underrated and undervalued bands in the history of rock. According to many, "Ass" was made when the band was in decline--when management problems, drugs, and stress within the band were exacting a heavy toll--but the more I listen to the album, the less I hear it that way. True, it's not going to make anyone forget the Big 3, but, with the right distribution and promotion, it easily could've been a hit album (as was the case with 1973's "Badfinger" and 1974's "Wish You Were Here"). But, as with most things in Badfinger's history, it all went wrong when it should've gone right. Which is a shame, because, as all of the Pete Ham--era recordings prove, these guys were superior musicians who deserved a far better fate. Guitar-based pop would not be the same without them. Maybe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will recognize their achievements one of these years. It's about time someone did. Any other Badfinger fans out there?