Editing Badfinger (section)

==1969–1972: Badfinger==
===Departure of Griffiths and hiring of Molland===
At the end of October 1969, Griffiths, who was the sole married occupant of the communal group's home and also was raising a child (b. December 1968), left the group. His responsibilities created friction, mainly between Griffiths's wife, Evans, and manager Collins. Griffiths later said: "Tommy [Evans] created the bad blood. He'd convinced the others that [I was] not one of the boys anymore."{{sfn|Katz|1997}} Drummer Gibbins remembered that he wasn't even consulted about the decision: "I was considered a nothing head at that point. I wasn't even worth conversing with."{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=66}}

As the release date of "Come and Get It" was approaching, the Iveys looked for a replacement for Griffiths. After unsuccessfully auditioning a number of bassists, they hired guitarist [[Joey Molland]], who was previously with Gary Walker & the Rain, the Masterminds,<ref name="BruceEderBillboardBiog">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=badfinger|bio=true}}|title=Biography|first=Bruce|last=Eder|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=21 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110416044749/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 16 April 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> and the Fruit-Eating Bears.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=69}} His addition required Evans to shift from rhythm guitar to bass.<ref name="BruceEderBillboardBiog"/>

===Initial success===
"Come and Get It" was released as a single in December 1969 in the UK, and January 1970 in the US. Selling more than a million copies worldwide,{{sfn|Murrells|1984|p=300}} it reached Top Ten throughout the world: #7 on the US ''Billboard'' chart on 18 April 1970,{{sfn|Crouse|2000|p=183}}<ref name="BadfingerChartHistoryBillboard"/> and #4 in the UK.{{sfn|Ingham|2003|p=387}}  Because the Iveys' ''Maybe Tomorrow'' album had been released in only a few markets, the band's three songs from ''The Magic Christian'' soundtrack album were combined with other, older Iveys tracks (including both of the Iveys' singles and five other songs from ''Maybe Tomorrow'') and then released as Badfinger's first album ''[[Magic Christian Music]]'' (1970).<ref name="BadfingerAlbumsBillboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/badfinger/discography/albums/4027?sort=date|title=Badfinger Albums|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=21 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110416044749/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 16 April 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The album peaked at #55 on the ''Billboard'' album chart in the US.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=81}}  In addition, Derek Taylor commissioned Les Smithers to photograph the band in March 1970. His photograph has been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery.<ref>[http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp143828/pete-ham Link to Smithers's photograph.]</ref>

New recording sessions for Badfinger also commenced in March 1970, with Mal Evans producing.<ref name="BadfingerApple">{{cite web|url=http://www.badfingersite.com/history-of-badfinger/apple-records|title=Apple Records|publisher=Badfinger|access-date=27 April 2011|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216235156/http://www.badfingersite.com/history-of-badfinger/apple-records/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Two songs were completed, including "No Matter What", which was rejected by Apple as a potential single.<ref name="BadfingerApple"/> Beatles engineer [[Geoff Emerick]] then took over as producer and the band completed its second album in July 1970.<ref name="AppleRecordsTopFive">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/apple-records-top-five-albums-20100720|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004035947/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/apple-records-top-five-albums-20100720|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2013|title=Apple Records' Top Five Albums |first=David |last=Fricke|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref> During the recordings, the band were sent to Hawaii on 4 June, to appear at a Capitol/Apple Records convention, and then flew to Italy to play concerts in Rome.{{sfn|Badman|2001|p=10}} ''[[No Dice]]'' was released in the US in late 1970, peaking at #28 on the ''Billboard'' album chart.<ref name="BadfingerAlbumsBillboard"/> The Mal Evans-produced track "No Matter What", as re-mixed by Emerick, was finally released as a single,{{sfn|Crouse|2000|p=183}} and reached numerous Top Ten charts around the world—peaking at #8 in the US and #5 in the UK.<ref name="BadfingerApple"/> An Emerick-produced album track from ''No Dice'' titled "[[Without You (Badfinger song)|Without You]]" became even more successful after [[Harry Nilsson]] covered the song in 1972; his version became an international hit, reaching #1 on ''Billboard'' in the US, and also spending five weeks at the top of the UK chart.{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=vii}} The song began as a merger of two separate songs, with the verses penned by Ham and the chorus penned by Evans. The song won Ham and Evans the 1972 [[Ivor Novello]] award for "Song of the Year".<ref name="PeteHamBiogOriginalBadfinger">{{cite web|url=http://www.badfingersite.com/badfinger-bios/pete-ham|title=Pete Ham Biography|publisher=Badfinger 2011|access-date=21 April 2011|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216234237/http://www.badfingersite.com/badfinger-bios/pete-ham/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Signing with Stan Polley===
In April 1970, while in the US scouting prospects for a tour, Collins was introduced to New York businessman [[Stan Polley]],<ref name="BruceEderBillboardBiog"/> who signed Badfinger to a business management contract in November 1970.<ref name="Contracts">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8vKoEsPMqsC&q=Pete+Ham&pg=PA108|title=Heritage Music & Entertainment Auction #7006|page=108|publisher=Heritage Auctions, Inc.|access-date=6 May 2011|isbn=9781599673691}}</ref> Polley established Badfinger Enterprises, Inc., with Stan Poses as vice-president.{{sfn|Katz|1997}} It bound the band members to various contracts dictating that income from touring, recording, publishing, and even songwriter performance royalties would be directed into holding companies controlled by Polley.{{sfn|Katz|1997}} It led to a salary arrangement for the band, which various members later complained was inadequate compared to their gross earnings.{{sfn|Katz|1997}} Gibbins said: "My first impression was, Stan [Polley] is a powerful guy," while Molland thought that Polley seemed more of a father-figure. At the same time, Polley was also managing [[Al Kooper]], of [[Blood, Sweat & Tears]], and [[Lou Christie]].{{sfn|Katz|1997}}

Although Polley's professional reputation was admired, his dubious financial practices eventually contributed to the band's downfall.<ref name="VH1FullBiog">{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/badfinger/artist.jhtml|title=Full Biography|publisher=2011 MTV Networks |access-date=21 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110329080947/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/badfinger/artist.jhtml| archive-date= 29 March 2011 | url-status= dead}}</ref> A financial statement prepared by Polley's accountants, Sigmund Balaban & Co., for the period from 8 December 1970 to 31 October 1971, showed Polley's income from the band: "Salaries and advances to client, $8,339 (Joey Molland), $6,861 (Mike Gibbins), $6,211 (Tom Evans), $5,959 (Pete Ham). Net corporation profit, $24,569. Management commission, $75,744 (Stan Polley)". Although it is not known if the band members saw the statement, Collins certainly had, as his handwriting was on the document.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=170}}

Badfinger toured the US for three months in late 1970 and were generally well-received, although the band was already weary of persistent comparisons to the Beatles. "The thing that impressed me so much was how similar their voices were to The Beatles," [[Tony Visconti]] (producer, "Maybe Tomorrow") said; "I sometimes had to look over the control board down into the studio to make sure John and Paul weren't singing lead vocals ..."<ref>Liner notes, ''The Best of Badfinger'', Apple CDP 530129, 1994.</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Mike Saunders (musician)|Mike Saunders]] opined in a rave review of ''No Dice'' in 1970: "It's as if John, Paul, George, and Ringo had been reincarnated as Joey, Pete, Tom, and Mike of Badfinger."<ref name="Superseventies">{{cite web|url=http://www.superseventies.com/badfinger.html |title=''No Dice'' Badfinger|first=Mike|last=Saunders|publisher=Superseventies (from [[Rolling Stone]]) |date=7 December 1970|access-date=27 April 2011}}</ref> Media comparisons between them and the Beatles would continue throughout Badfinger's career.

===Apple session work===
Various members of Badfinger also participated in sessions for fellow Apple Records labelmates, most notably playing acoustic guitar and percussion on much of Harrison's ''[[All Things Must Pass]]'' triple album (1970), including the hit singles "[[Isn't It a Pity]]", "[[My Sweet Lord]]". and "[[What Is Life]]".{{sfn|Leng|2006|pp=79, 83–87}} Ham and Evans also provided backing vocals on [[Ringo Starr]]'s Harrison-produced single, "[[It Don't Come Easy]]".{{sfn|Leng|2006|p=79}} Evans and Molland then performed on Lennon's album ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]'' (1971), although Molland has said that their tracks were not used.{{sfn|Leng|2006|p=109-110}} Most famously, on 26 July 1971, all four members of Badfinger arrived at New York's [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]], to rehearse for Harrison's [[Concert for Bangladesh]], which took place on 1 August 1971.{{sfn|Badman|2001|p=43}} Ham duetted on acoustic guitar with Harrison on "[[Here Comes the Sun]]" during the concert.<ref name="VH1FullBiog"/>

===''Straight Up''===
[[File:Badfinger Straight Up. cover.jpg|thumb|The band on the ''[[Straight Up (Badfinger album)|Straight Up]]'' album cover (l-r: Molland, Evans, Ham, Gibbins)]]
In 1971, the group rented [[Clearwell Castle]], in Gloucestershire, living and recording there.<ref name="BadfingerClearwater">{{cite web|url=http://www.applerecords.com/#!/images/Badfinger6|title=Badfinger|publisher=[[Apple Records]]|year=1971|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> They finished recording their third album, again with Emerick as a producer, but the tapes were once again rejected by Apple, because Apple felt that Badfinger needed a producer who could bring a more polished sound to the recordings.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=135}}  Thus, George Harrison himself took over as producer in spring of 1971,<ref name="BBCWalesBadfinger">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/badfinger|title=Badfinger|publisher=[[BBC Wales]]|date=3 July 2009|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref> including [[Leon Russell]] and [[Klaus Voormann]] in the sessions as well.{{sfn|Leng|2006|p=110}}{{sfn|Matovina|2000|pp=135–139}}  Commenting on the recording of the dual slide guitars on "Day After Day", Molland remembered: "Pete and I had done the backing track, and George came in the studio and asked if we'd mind if he played ... It took hours, and hours, and hours, to get those two guitars in sync".{{sfn|Leng|2006|p=80}}  However, Harrison stopped the sessions after recording just four songs because of his commitments to [[The Concert for Bangladesh]], which Harrison included Badfinger in as well.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=142}}  After the concert, Harrison was tied up with producing the tapes from that concert, and so was unable to resume with Badfinger.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=145}}  Instead, the Badfinger album was completed by [[Todd Rundgren]], who mixed the tapes from the Harrison sessions, re-recorded the songs from the Emerick sessions, and also produced some newer, previously unrecorded songs.<ref name="SandiegoWeeklyReader">{{cite web|first=Jay Allen|last=Sanford|url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/jul/02/stepping-on-dave-matthews-feet-the-day-bob-dylan|title=The Good, Bad and Ugly Interviews|publisher=San Diego Weekly Reader |date=2 July 2008|access-date=7 August 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|Matovina|2000|pp=149–151}}

The album, ultimately titled ''[[Straight Up (Badfinger album)|Straight Up]]'', was released in the US in December 1971,<ref name="BBCWalesBadfinger"/> and spawned two successful singles: "Day After Day" (''Billboard'' number four),{{sfn|Crouse|2000|p=183}} which sold over a million worldwide,{{sfn|Murrells|1984|p=317}} and "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" (US number 14).<ref name="BadfingerChartHistoryBillboard">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=badfinger|chart=all}}|title=Badfinger Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=21 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110416044749/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 16 April 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The album reached number 31 on the US charts.  However, the disintegration of Apple Records in Britain led to "Baby Blue" never being released as a UK single, although a release number and date had already been assigned to it.{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=166}}

The band embarked on a US tour in 1972, but after problems with Evans, Gibbins left and was replaced for the tour by drummer Rob Stawinsky, who was described as Badfinger's "solid, new drummer".{{sfn|Matovina|2000|p=173}} Stawinsky was not used after the tour, though, and Gibbins rejoined the band in September.<ref name="MikeGibbinsBiographyBadfinger">{{cite web|url=http://www.badfingersite.com/badfinger-bios/mike-gibbins|title=Mike Gibbins Biography|publisher=Badfinger|access-date=3 May 2011|archive-date=17 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117085918/http://www.badfingersite.com/badfinger-bios/mike-gibbins/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Matovina|2000|pp=187–188}}