SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE IVEYS – MINISKIRTS AND RAINBOWS: THE IVEYS ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 5

THE IVEYS
MINISKIRTS AND RAINBOWS: THE IVEYS ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 5
Y&T MUSIC

Before Badfinger was Badfinger, they were The Iveys, hailing from Swansea, Wales. They formed in 1961 and had a few different names before settling on the Iveys . They eventually got a deal with the newly launched Apple Records (owned by The Beatles). After their first singles and one album, they changed their name to Badfinger. This CD, Miniskirts and Rainbows: The Iveys Anthology Volume 5, is the fifth in a CD/album series of previously unreleased tracks by the band during and before their time with Apple.

The CD version of the new album features 19 previously unheard songs (the album is much shorter). Once again, Badfinger experts and historians Tom Brennan and Kevin McEligott sourced out several amazing songs, dusted off the tapes, and did a fine job to make the historic tapes very listenable and enjoyable. There are some wonderful surprises here, including The Iveys’ version of “Blodwyn,” which Badfinger would record for their second studio album, No Dice. There are a few demos of songs that would be recorded later, and, as with “Blodwyn,” it is interesting to hear how the song morphed and changed into the released version. For example, “I Miss You,” a brilliant Pete Ham song, would have to wait until 1974 for Badfinger to tackle and put their own distinct style. Here, one can hear Ham putting all of the pieces in place for Badfinger to eventually record. The same with the very underrated song “Angelique”, by The Iveys, originally not released in North America, seems slower and a bit more melancholic in demo form.

Many songs never made it past the demo stage, including two co-written with the band’s manager, Bill Collins. One song, “Good Boy,” was written with Tom Evans after he joined the band in 1967. It is a song very much of its time, mixing rock and a bit of psychedelia for good measure. The other song co-written with Collins has an even more interesting history, in that it was offered to fellow Apple artist Mary Hopkin. “All The Fun Of The Fair” is whimsical and has its charms. I am not sure it would have worked with Hopkin, but Badfinger could have produced an incredible version of it.

There is plenty to love about this new release. Not only do fans get to hear early Badfinger and some of their incredible songs in early, raw form, but it also gives a glimpse into the U.K. music scene from 1966 through to 1969. One can hear how the music moves from more innocent pop music into more serious rock music.

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