1. (6) It Doesn't Really Matter
-. (6) Hand In Hand
3. (5) Leaving On a Midnight Train
-. (5) Catherine Cares
-. (5) Sille Veb
-. (5) Ringside

Guest: Jen  
Email:JEN4015152   
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Rate: *****
Date: 12-Dec-98 06:06 AM

Pete's voice and songs are so moving, I nearly wept when I first heard this, especially the last 2 songs. This is almost like a long-lost Badfinger album for me. I hadn't read the book yet when I first heard this, but I could tell he was such a sensitive artist. I like this CD better than a couple of my Badfinger albums.
My favorite songs are "Doesn't Really Matter," "Catherine Cares," "I Know That You Should" and "Sillie Veb." I feel many of these songs are better than what Pete had released with Badfinger.
Thanks Jen

This collection has become one of my favourite albums. An impressive collection of songs - it’s hard to understand that just two of them were recorded by the band.
Catherine Cares is a fine opener - the sound comes close to Badfinger’s.
Coppertone Blues is a strong acoustic ballad - a higlight on the album
It Doesn’t Really Matter has been my personal favourite from the very first time I heard it - should have been recorded by the band - could have been a hit !
Live Love all of Your Days is also a good song - very much like Badfinger - would have fitted nicely into one of the first albums.
Would You Deny is a lovely acoustic track - very clean sound.
Dear Father is not a favorite of mine - the melody is ok, though!
Matted Spam - I’ve never liked the version on the Badfinger-album very much - this version have made me like it better.
No Matter What - Pete’s own version of Badfinger’s big hit - surprisingly I don’t think it’s a stand out song on the album - could some of the other songs have been just a big hits?
Leaving On a Midnight Train is a strong rocker with great vocals by Pete
Weep Baby is quiet waltz-like song - not one of my favourites
Hand in Hand is another strong track - in a similar style to Perfection from Straight Up
Sille Veb is a fantastic song. Another highlight . Beautiful strings-arrangement. Unfortunately the sound of the original tape is not so good. One of the songs on the album that I really would love to hear in a sort of “Free as a Bird/Over You” production.
I Know that You Should - a great intro - the song seems a bit unfinished though .
Island A very nice tune, sounds a bit early - Iveys period
Just look inside the Cover - another favourite - as always a great melody
Just How Lucky We Are - Yet another highlight - One more song that deserves a full production - could be a classic like Sille Veb and It Doesn’t Really Matter.
No More and Ringside - two tracks from Pete’s very last days - very strong tunes - difficult to listen to regarding the sad circumstances.
The Japanese bonustracks are all very strong - the sound-quality is unfortunately not very good. The best Badfinger-related release so far - Now we wait for Golders Green. Great job by Dan Matovina !

Guest: Barb Alan Atkinson  
Email:ccs@webzone.net    
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Rate: ****
Date: 01-Dec-98 05:59 PM
I had to go back and listen to this cd again as I hadn't listened to it in quite a while. I must say, it's pretty obvious why most of these songs were never recorded. Most of them are pretty bad by Pete Ham standards The highlights are "It Doesn't Really Matter" and the exquisite "Sille Veb". Surprisingly, another song I really enjoyed was the Badfinger filler song "Matted Spam". It rollicks along like early Elvis. "No More" and "Ringside" are powerful songs but are difficult to listen to due to the depressing subject matter. All in all, it's great to have a Pete Ham cd, even if it is sub-par material it's still better than alot of other's best, and I look forward to "Golders Green".

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Rate: Did Not Respond
Date: 01-Dec-98 05:23 PM

Priceless absolutely priceless! I was in doubt when I first heard about this collection of songs being released. With all the Badfinger paperwork I really couldn't get my hopes up too high. When I heard "Catherine Cares" I was blown away like everyone but my own mothers name is Catherine. It seems as though once you're hooked on Pete's singing and writing it becomes an addiction! Without '7 Park Avenue'..."Coppertone Blues" would have remained the mysterious instrumental available on the album 'Unreleased and Some Released'! I think Pete does have a warm style that cuts through any of the sound quality problems. Many music listeners of today expect something to sound as if it were a digital recording from yesterday. With all due respect to those (Badfingers) that were not involved I must admit that Dan Matovina did us Ham freaks a great favor.

The Japanese version with the extra bonus tracks did prove to be hard to obtain but when I heard the extra songs I'm certainly glad I persisted in my search!
I can't wait for 'Golders Green'. Thanks Pete if you can hear me!

  Email:mbarnett@sheltonlink.com   
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Rate: ******
Date: 29-Nov-98 07:25 PM

when I got it and listed to coppertone blues i said "wow, pete ham sitting by me strumming the accoustic".it was wonderful to hear and sad to hear.

For years I had suspected that all the tapes Pete had recorded over the years had to be somewhere, and I can only thank Dan's perseverance that the album has become reality. Even though some recordings can arguably descibred as of not so good sound quality, the warm feelings and the emotion shine through from the first minute. It is a record I have played almost continuously since it came out in March 1997. In their simple beauty, most songs are simply brilliant.