Brando's Badfinger Writing Campaigns

In the summer of this year Rick Kellogg, of the Badfinger Webring, will be sending a petition to Apple Records. The petition will have hundreds (hopefully over a thousand) of names on it from Badfinger fans across the globe who want Apple to know they would like to purchase a Badfinger Box Set or Rarities collection from the record label. Rick and I communicated and thought maybe it would be a nice idea if a few letters from us fans also circulated into the Apple offices around this time from individuals fans expressing their desire for a box set / rarities collection.

With the Very Best of Badfinger collection having been addressed by Apple, the clear focus of this writing campaign is to encourage and request a Badfinger Rarities / Box Set collection from the Apple vaults (if they choose to include Warner material that would be great). Most of us die-hard fans have heard a few of the gems languishing in the vaults at Apple in bootleg form. There are more than enough tracks to make at least one complete Badfinger disc (possible more). Just a few items we know exist: Baby Please, No Good at All, Sing For the Song, He's a Regular, Do You Mind, Dreaming, Rock'n'Roll & Piano Red (Pete's Mambo). Also known to exist: alternate versions of No Matter What, Day After Day (demo), Name of the Game (the Al Kooper mix & possibly a mix by George Harrision), Come and Get It (with orchestration), I Can't Take It, Sweet Tuesday Morning, Carry On Til Tomorrow (the single edit), We're For the Dark (without the orchestration), Timeless, Love is Easy. Then there is that song from the first segment of the Behind the Music Special, the lyric was something like: "I'm too shy to fall in love..." I'd like to have a copy of that.

To this end: We would like to have write-in campaign to Apple Records to start in April and continue through June. We are hoping as many fans as possible will take pen to paper and join us in condensing our letters over the short time span for maximum effect in the offices of Apple Records in an attempt to urge Apple to issue some type of box-set / rarities collection. I do believe this will happen, it is just a matter of time.

If you would like to have box set / rarities compilation then please join us in combining our efforts by writing Apple during April-June of this year at the following address

Mr. Neil Aspinall ( or Jeremy Neech or both)
Apple Corps Limited
27 Ovington Square
London SW3 - 1LJ, England

Note: If you've joined in these writing campaigns in the past and you are strapped for time (like most of us), just call up your old letter on the computer (if you've saved it on the computer), change the date and any other items you'd like to alter and send it off to Apple! Anything that can get Apple's attention (in a positive way) would be appreciated by all of us Badfinger fans.

Thoughts on things to mention: At this moment it appears Apple doesn't think Maybe Tomorrow and Ass will sell enough to merit their re-release on CD. We need to mention to Apple how a good Badfinger Box Set / Rarities collection would have stronger sales potential than both CD's and probably even more than Magic Christian Music. Some folks shy away from the Iveys CD because of the youthfulness of the material, others stay away from Ass because it has no hit singles on it and Pete Ham only has two tracks on the disc. A Box Set / Rarities collection would have much more mature music than the Iveys CD with the possibility that most of the material could be taken from the No Dice - Straight Up period. It would be possible to have alternate versions of at least three Badfinger hits. Pete Ham could be the featured vocalist on at least eight of the tracks (using the listing from the earlier paragraph) for those that require a good dose of Ham on their Badfinger disc. Plus the quality of the material (from what we have heard) is superb and deserves to be available for all to enjoy. Don't forget to suggest the inclusion of that No Dice radio ad, better yet, how about all the Badfinger radio ads for all their discs - that would be a treat!

Whatever you would like to suggest is fine. But please take the time between April and June to let Apple representatives know how you feel. We hope to have a good consolidation of letters to Apple over this time period to maximize our efforts in the hearts and minds of the employees in the offices of Apple Records. This along with a petition with hundreds of names of fans requesting the material is sure to have an impact at the Apple offices!

Hopefully Apple / Capitol would see the connection between the quality of the material, the VH-1 exposure and sales and move forward with this project. It could all start with a letter. It could all start with YOUR letter. Thanks

Past Writing Campaign: Capitol / Apple Records
October 21 through December 21, 2000

A 45 WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE
(October 3) Badfinger's music is said to have a timeless quality to it. Many say their music sounds as fresh today as it did yesteryear. The new Very Best of Badfinger CD states that the bands music is "universal." The liner notes state that "Name of the Game" is the greatest single they never released. Wouldn't it be nice if Capitol / Apple attempted to right that wrong by issuing the long overdue 45 release as a CD single featuring several unreleased tracks to attract attention as well. Today's top 40 is such a mixed bag, who knows what could happen. Imagine the CD single being marketed to the proper top 40 and Adult Contemporary radio stations. You may think this is crazy, but imagine the push the single would get from its worldwide exposure in November on VH-1's Behind the Music. Imagine...all the people...living life with their new Badfinger CD's with "Name of the Game" in the top 10!

(October 15) Since I posted the bit about Capitol / Apple releasing the never before released 45, "Name of the Game" from the Very Best of Collection, I've received some nice responses from fans saying it is a good idea and something we should actually request. Thus please feel free to include in your letter to Apple (I will be doing so) your suggestions regarding a 45 / Maxi - CD with bonus tracks. The Badfinger website at Capitol Records has a message board that would also be a good place to post your thoughts on the subject.

Writing Campaign: VH-1
October 21 through December 21, 2000

(October 15) Once VH-1 finally airs the Badfinger special, please take the time to write them a short note and express your thanks for featuring a great band with a great story. If the show is as captivating as I think it is going to be I also plan to suggest offering this particular episode up for emmy consideration. It couldn't hurt to suggest this idea early. To even be considered for an emmy for this particular episode would be an honor. Lastly, I want to suggest to VH-1 to consider releasing this episode on DVD with extended interview footage (ie directors cut). VH-1's address is as follows:

Ms. Gay Rosenthal
VH-1 / Rosenthal Productions
2600 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404

If you would like to send an email to VH-1 or if the letter you sent to VH-1 via the postal system was created on your computer it is possible to copy it into an email document and send it to VH-1 via the computer by clicking on this link to Badfinger requests at VH-1. In the topic (regards / subject) section write in "Badfinger Behind the Music".

VH-1 has a message board on their website if you would like to send them a "public notice" of your intentions for their programming. Click here on this VH-1 Behind the Music Message Board and let the employees at VH-1 and everyone else know your desire for a Badfinger Behind the Music Special.

If we all send letters (in one form or another) during this time frame we can be sure to concentrate our efforts for maximum effectiveness.

Writing Campaign: Past Efforts
Fall 1997 through Spring 2000

In the past several years and thanks to the internet we have been able to consolidate our letter writing efforts while directing them at the appropriate record company or production company. I believe we have had four or five campaigns since August 1997. We've taken the initiative and written Apple several times, Rhino, Rykodisc and VH-1. We've requested for more Pete Ham material, an Apple Rarities CD, an improved best of Badfinger CD, the release of Head First and for VH-1 to air a Badfinger Behind the Music special. With the airing of Badfinger's Behind the Music special we would have been successful on three of our campaigns (Golders, Very Best & VH-1) and even though it would be a different label, we may see Head First very soon as well. If you have any doubt whether our letters make a difference, remember that Dan Matovina was informed by VH-1 officials that they were receiving numerous letters regarding Badfinger during our letter writing campaign to VH-1 in 1998! Obviously our letters expressed enough of an interest that they were in the minds of VH-1 officials when discussing the project with Matovina. That had to be a good thing for encouraging the project.

Let's work together to put our thoughts and suggestion in the minds of the people that make those final decisions regarding Badfinger product. Take a pro-active stance on your Badfinger requests and mail your letters today!