Joey Molland
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joey" Charles Molland (born 21 June 1947, Edge Hill, Liverpool
, England
) is an English
composer
and rock
guitarist
whose recording career spans four decades. He is best known as a member of Badfinger
, the most successful of the acts he performed with.
on Immediate Records
IM 005, consisting of a Bob Dylan
cover
of "She Belongs to Me
" backed with a band original "Taken My Love". After this the group disbanded and Molland joined the backing group of The Merseys. Although never recording with the group, Molland accompanied them on tour.
Molland's recording career began in earnest in 1967 when he joined Gary Walker
(formerly of the Walker Brothers
) for the group 'Gary Walker & The Rain'. The Rain released several singles, an EP
, and an album
on the Polydor
and Philips
labels in the UK
and Japan
between 1967 and 1969. The album titled #1, which featured four Molland compositions, was especially well received in Japan. But a lack of success in their UK homebase caused The Rain to disband by 1969.
Molland auditioned for the band Badfinger in November 1969 and was subsequently hired. Badfinger were a conspicuous Apple Records
recording group at the time (a label launched by The Beatles
). The band enjoyed an early string of successful singles and albums for the next couple of years (see Badfinger
article for recording information). During Molland's association with Apple, he made guest appearances on two George Harrison
albums, All Things Must Pass
and The Concert For Bangla Desh
, and the John Lennon
album Imagine
.
Molland left Badfinger in late 1974 due to disagreements over management. In 1975, he joined with Jerry Shirley
(formerly of Humble Pie
) and formed a group called Natural Gas. The band released the LP Natural Gas on Private Stock
Records in 1976, and enjoyed a successful tour with Peter Frampton
the following year. According to Molland, a general lack of organization led to the band's demise late in 1977.
Molland and former Badfinger band mate Tom Evans
recorded two albums under the Badfinger
name, Airwaves
in 1978, and Say No More
in 1981. Molland and Evans split acrimoniously after Say No More and the two performed in rival touring Badfinger bands until Evans' suicide in 1983.
Most of Molland's career since 1983 has been with various groups performing tours under the Badfinger name, or as "Joey Molland's Badfinger." Earlier versions of these groups sometimes included original Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins.
Molland was instrumental in releasing a 1974 live recording of Badfinger on Rykodisc
in 1991, called Day After Day: Live
, which received mixed critical reactions due to overdubbing and a rearranged track order. The release also sparked a lawsuit between Molland and former Badfinger members and their families regarding ownership and use of the concert tapes. Molland has also been criticized for his 1995 re-recording of Badfinger's hit songs for CD
release. The recordings have since been distributed with packaging, showing photos displaying the original 1970s version of the group.
Molland's solo recordings have been relatively sporadic. His first, After The Pearl, was released in 1984 on Earthtone Records. His second, The Pilgrim, was released in 1992 on Rykodisc. His third, This Way Up, was independently released in 2001.
Molland now lives in Minnesota
and continues to tour with the Badfinger name. Molland was married to Kathie Molland from 1972, until her death on 23 March 2009. She and Molland have two sons, Joseph and Shaun.
Molland also appeared as a guest artist on
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
whose recording career spans four decades. He is best known as a member of Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
, the most successful of the acts he performed with.
Career
Originally a member of small local rock groups, such as The Assassins and The Profiles, Molland's recording career began in 1965 when he joined 'The Masterminds'. This group released a singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on Immediate Records
Immediate Records
Immediate Records was a British record label, started in 1965 by The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder and concentrating on the London-based blues and R&B scene.-History:...
IM 005, consisting of a Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "She Belongs to Me
She Belongs to Me
"She Belongs to Me" is a song by Bob Dylan, and was first released as the second track on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. It was one of the first anti-love songs and one of Dylan's first of many songs that describe a "witchy woman"...
" backed with a band original "Taken My Love". After this the group disbanded and Molland joined the backing group of The Merseys. Although never recording with the group, Molland accompanied them on tour.
Molland's recording career began in earnest in 1967 when he joined Gary Walker
Gary Walker (musician)
Gary Walker is an American musician, who was the drummer and vocalist with both The Standells and The Walker Brothers....
(formerly of the Walker Brothers
The Walker Brothers
The Walker Brothers were an American 1960s and 1970s pop group, comprising Scott Engel , John Walker , and Gary Leeds...
) for the group 'Gary Walker & The Rain'. The Rain released several singles, an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, and an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
on the Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
and Philips
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
labels in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
between 1967 and 1969. The album titled #1, which featured four Molland compositions, was especially well received in Japan. But a lack of success in their UK homebase caused The Rain to disband by 1969.
Molland auditioned for the band Badfinger in November 1969 and was subsequently hired. Badfinger were a conspicuous Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
recording group at the time (a label launched by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
). The band enjoyed an early string of successful singles and albums for the next couple of years (see Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
article for recording information). During Molland's association with Apple, he made guest appearances on two George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
albums, All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
and The Concert For Bangla Desh
The Concert for Bangla Desh
The Concert for Bangladesh is a live triple album and double DVD by George Harrison and celebrity friends performed in aid of the homeless Bengali refugees of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War...
, and the John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
album Imagine
Imagine (album)
Imagine is the second album by John Lennon. Recorded and released in 1971, the album tended toward songs that were gentler, more commercial and less avant-garde than those on his critically acclaimed previous album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The album is considered the most popular of his works...
.
Molland left Badfinger in late 1974 due to disagreements over management. In 1975, he joined with Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
(formerly of Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
) and formed a group called Natural Gas. The band released the LP Natural Gas on Private Stock
Private Stock Records
Private Stock Records was a record label which was started in 1974 by Larry Uttal after he was ousted from Bell Records. The label had hit records with singles by David Soul of Starsky and Hutch fame , Starbuck , Austin Roberts , Samantha Sang , Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band , and Frankie...
Records in 1976, and enjoyed a successful tour with Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
the following year. According to Molland, a general lack of organization led to the band's demise late in 1977.
Molland and former Badfinger band mate Tom Evans
Tom Evans (musician)
Thomas Evans Jr was a musician who was most notable for his work with the band Badfinger.- Badfinger :In 1969, The Iveys changed their name to Badfinger and Paul McCartney of The Beatles gave the group a boost by offering them his song "Come and Get It" which he produced for the band...
recorded two albums under the Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
name, Airwaves
Airwaves (album)
Airwaves is an album released by Badfinger in 1979 on the Elektra label , the seventh album released that was credited to Badfinger...
in 1978, and Say No More
Say No More (Badfinger album)
Say No More is the last studio album recorded by Badfinger that contained new material. Issued in January 1981 on Radio Records, the LP was the second and last attempt by Tom Evans and Joey Molland to recapture Badfinger's earlier market success, which was lost after the death of band founder Pete...
in 1981. Molland and Evans split acrimoniously after Say No More and the two performed in rival touring Badfinger bands until Evans' suicide in 1983.
Most of Molland's career since 1983 has been with various groups performing tours under the Badfinger name, or as "Joey Molland's Badfinger." Earlier versions of these groups sometimes included original Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins.
Molland was instrumental in releasing a 1974 live recording of Badfinger on Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
in 1991, called Day After Day: Live
Day After Day: Live
Day After Day: Live is a CD release by Rykodisc in 1990 of live recordings made by the group Badfinger in 1974.During a concert tour in the Midwestern United States in 1974, Badfinger learned that the Agora venue in Cleveland, Ohio, contained a 16-track studio capable of live recordings...
, which received mixed critical reactions due to overdubbing and a rearranged track order. The release also sparked a lawsuit between Molland and former Badfinger members and their families regarding ownership and use of the concert tapes. Molland has also been criticized for his 1995 re-recording of Badfinger's hit songs for CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
release. The recordings have since been distributed with packaging, showing photos displaying the original 1970s version of the group.
Molland's solo recordings have been relatively sporadic. His first, After The Pearl, was released in 1984 on Earthtone Records. His second, The Pilgrim, was released in 1992 on Rykodisc. His third, This Way Up, was independently released in 2001.
Molland now lives in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and continues to tour with the Badfinger name. Molland was married to Kathie Molland from 1972, until her death on 23 March 2009. She and Molland have two sons, Joseph and Shaun.
Discography (with Badfinger, except where noted)
- "She Belongs to Me" (1965 single with The Masterminds)
- 1 (1969 album with Gary Walker & The Rain)
- No DiceNo DiceNo Dice is a pop album by Badfinger, issued by Apple Records and released on 9 November 1970. Their second album under the Badfinger name and third album overall, No Dice significantly expanded the British group's popularity, especially abroad...
(1970) - Straight UpStraight Up (album)Straight Up is the third album by power pop band Badfinger, released on December 13, 1971. It is widely regarded as Badfinger's best album, spawning two Top 20 singles in the U.S. and being commercially successful in its own right. The album was released on the The Beatles' Apple Records label and...
(1971) - AssAss (album)Ass is the fourth and last album released on Apple Records by power pop band Badfinger. The opening track, "Apple of My Eye", refers to the band leaving the label to begin its new contract with Warner Brothers Records. The cover artwork alludes to Badfinger's feelings that they had been misled by...
(1973) - Badfinger (1974)
- Wish You Were HereWish You Were Here (Badfinger album)Wish You Were Here is the sixth album by rock band Badfinger and their third consecutive album produced by Chris Thomas. It was recorded in the spring of 1974 at Colorado's Caribou Ranch and released in November of that year on Warner Bros. Records...
(1974) - Natural Gas (1976 album by the band Natural GasNatural Gas (band)Natural Gas was a rock band featuring Peter Wood, Joey Molland, Mark Clarke and Jerry Shirley. They released one album, Natural Gas, produced by Felix Pappalardi, in 1976.-Singles:*"Right Time" b/w "Dark Cloud"...
) - AirwavesAirwaves (album)Airwaves is an album released by Badfinger in 1979 on the Elektra label , the seventh album released that was credited to Badfinger...
(1979) - Say No MoreSay No More (Badfinger album)Say No More is the last studio album recorded by Badfinger that contained new material. Issued in January 1981 on Radio Records, the LP was the second and last attempt by Tom Evans and Joey Molland to recapture Badfinger's earlier market success, which was lost after the death of band founder Pete...
(1981) - After The Pearl (1983 (as Joey Molland)
- The Pilgrim (1992 as Joey Molland)
- Basil" (1997 as Joe Molland)
- This Way Up (2001 as Joe Molland)
Molland also appeared as a guest artist on
- The Concert For Bangla DeshThe Concert for Bangla DeshThe Concert for Bangladesh is a live triple album and double DVD by George Harrison and celebrity friends performed in aid of the homeless Bengali refugees of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War...
(album) - All Things Must PassAll Things Must PassAll Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
by George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
(album) - ImagineImagine (album)Imagine is the second album by John Lennon. Recorded and released in 1971, the album tended toward songs that were gentler, more commercial and less avant-garde than those on his critically acclaimed previous album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The album is considered the most popular of his works...
by John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
(album) - Victory GardensVictory GardensVictory Gardens is the debut album from John & Mary, recorded in 1990 just six months after the two met in December 1989 and immediately following their signing with Rykodisc. John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the...
(1991) with folk-duo John & MaryJohn & MaryJohn & Mary is a U.S. based folk music duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey who have had a long-time close association with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.-1989-1993:... - Wear A New Face by Tim Schools (2008 album; produced by Molland)
Compositions of note
- "Love Is Gonna Come At Last" (BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chartRecord chartA record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
#69 by Badfinger)