Bad Company

The last Bad Company record to feature Paul Rodgers on vocals until 2002's Merchants of Cool, this 1982 release is highlighted by the piano-laden opener "Electricland," the smoldering "Kick Down" and the synth-friendly "Painted Face." In its strongest moments, Rough Diamonds mirrors the free jam aspects and perfect production of a classic Traffic record (think Low Spark...) with a little more hard rock in the mix.

Three years is a long time between albums, but Bad Company's Rough Diamonds – their first
LP since 1979's Desolation Angels – only makes one wish the band had stayed away even
longer. Next to such mid-Seventies scorchers as "Can't Get Enough" and "Good Lovin' Gone
Bad," the witless, Free-style blues-rock shuffles and bloodless boogie tunes that make up
this LP are embarrassing. There are a few uncut gems here. "Electricland" actuall... More >