Rough Diamonds (album)
Rough Diamonds is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Bad Company. The album was released in August 1982. Rough Diamonds, like its predecessor, Desolation Angels, was recorded at Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, England, in March and April 1981 and engineered by Max Norman (famed for his work with Ozzy Osbourne).
| Rough Diamonds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1982 | |||
| Recorded | March – April 1981 | |||
| Studio | Ridge Farm Studios, Surrey, England | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:00 | |||
| Label | Swan Song | |||
| Producer | Bad Company | |||
| Bad Company chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rough Diamonds | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
It was the last album by Bad Company's original line-up and the most recent studio album to feature Paul Rodgers. The sessions were rough going from the beginning. First, their manager, Peter Grant, withdrew from view after the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham in 1980. Then, on another occasion, a fistfight broke out between Paul Rodgers and Boz Burrell, the two bandmates restrained by Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke. Following the album, the band disbanded, with Rodgers going on to release his first solo album, Cut Loose, the following year.
The album's opening track, "Electricland", written by Rodgers, was the album's biggest hit. Rodgers' "Painted Face" also received substantial airplay on rock stations. The album became the original line-up's worst-selling album, reaching a disappointing No. 26 on the Billboard album charts in 1982. The album was remastered and re-released in 1994.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Electricland" | Paul Rodgers | 5:29 |
| 2. | "Untie the Knot" | Rodgers; Simon Kirke | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Nuthin' on the TV" | Boz Burrell | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Painted Face" | Rodgers | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Kickdown" | Mick Ralphs | 3:35 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Ballad of the Band" | Burrell | 2:10 |
| 7. | "Cross Country Boy" | Rodgers | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Old Mexico" | Ralphs | 3:49 |
| 9. | "Downhill Ryder" | Rodgers | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Racetrack" | Rodgers | 4:44 |
Personnel
- Bad Company
- Paul Rodgers – vocals; lead guitar on "Painted Face", "Cross Country Boy" and "Downhill Ryder"
- Mick Ralphs – guitars
- Boz Burrell – bass
- Simon Kirke – drums
with:
- John Cook – piano, synthesizer
- Mel Collins – saxophone
Charts
Album – Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Pop Albums | 26 |
Singles – Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Electricland" | Mainstream Rock Chart | 2 |
References
- William Ruhlmann. "Rough Diamonds - Bad Company | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- Fricke, David (30 September 1982). "Bad Company Rough Diamonds Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 September 2015.