Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Badfinger Legend Pete Ham’s Legacy Shines On With the Release of “Gwent Gardens”, February 23rd on Y&T Music

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Badfinger Legend Pete Ham’s Legacy Shines On With the Release of “Gwent Gardens”, February 23rd on Y&T Music
Pete Ham
Sat Feb 10, 2024
Sandy Graham

Nearly 50 years after his untimely passing at the age of 27, Pete Ham is still giving the world beautiful music.

The iconic singer and guitarist for the beloved Welsh/English band Badfinger was a prolific songwriter. Released as a limited-edition CD from Y&T Music, “Gwent Gardens” includes 18 newly discovered home demos, many of them songs that were never recorded or released by either Badfinger or the group’s earlier incarnation, The Iveys. The album will also be available on all streaming services. 

Recorded between 1966 and 1972 with guitar or piano accompaniment, the songs on “Gwent Gardens” are remarkably tuneful blueprints for what might have been. Often double tracking his vocals, Pete also overdubbed additional instruments onto the tracks, fleshing out his vision for what the final Iveys or Badfinger tracks would sound like.

The first act signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records label in 1968, Badfinger – through Pete Ham’s songwriting brilliance – scored massive global hits with “Day After Day,” “No Matter What” and “Baby Blue.” Co-written by Pete and his bandmate Tom Evans, “Without You” became an enduring classic, topping the charts in versions by Nilsson, Mariah Carey and others.

Among the many gems on “Gwent Gardens” is Pete’s soulful solo demo for “Take it All,” which would become the opening track on Badfinger’s masterpiece, the 1971 “Straight Up,” produced by George Harrison and Todd Rundgren.

Produced with the blessing of the Pete Ham Estate, the “Gwent Gardens” project began with the late Dan Matovina, the musicologist and historian whose book “Without You” is regarded as the definitive Badfinger biography.

Matovina produced several albums of Pete Ham demos. Before his death in 2023, Matovina marveled to a close friend about the treasure trove of material still unreleased. “I can’t believe,” he said, “there are still so many great Pete Ham songs that no one has heard yet.” With the release of “Gwent Gardens,” those great songs referenced by Dan will now be a permanent part of Pete Ham's legacy.

2023 also saw the release of a special Pete Ham tribute album, “Shine On – A Tribute to Pete Ham.” The album featured 35 artists covering all of Pete’s compositions recorded by Badfinger. Among the artists paying tribute to Pete are Shelby Lynne, Dan Baird, Melanie, Mary Lou Lord, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, Dennis Diken, Stan Lynch & The Speaker Wars, Amy Allison and many more. The album benefited the Southeast Florida branch of Mental Health America and is still available for a limited time. 

Features
Music
Pete Ham
Badfinger
Month: Aug 2021
BTW - Elton John & Dua Lipa, James Baley, Charles Spearin, The Killers,… Aug 20
Jesse Colin Young – These Dreams of You Aug 20
BTW - Kawala, Neela, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Brittany Howard/Childish… Aug 13
Americana Singer Jordan Page Encourages Unity with Inspiring New Single, “… Aug 13
How To Get Good Distribution Aug 13
Jackson Browne My Cleveland Heart Aug 13
Multi-Platinum Artists Barney Bentall & Geoffrey Kelly are RanchWriters Aug 06
What Level Are You On As An Artist? Aug 06
Emma Rush Both Sides Now Aug 06
Month: Jul 2021
BTW- Niz Wiz, Andrea Ramolo, Alice Coltrane, Kampala Social Club, Snotty Nose… Jul 30
Jade Eagleson and Dean Brody Team Up for New Release “More Drinkin’ than Fishing” Jul 30
Being an Artist is Being an Entrepreneur Jul 30
Don Graham Sings of Love Found and Lost Under a Magical Mexican Moon with… Jul 30
Rodney Crowell Triage Jul 23
BTW - Los Lobos, Jordan’s Song, The Weather Station, Rebel Priest, Sam… Jul 23
Don’t Plan, Be Prepared! Jul 23
Why Music is a Crucial Part of Film and Game Development Jul 19
BTW - White Cowbell Oklahoma, Arkells, Graham Brown Band, Shred Kelly, Cristina… Jul 16
Digital Is Over in So Many Ways Jul 16
Folk Rocker Glen Foster is Feelin’ Alive With the Release of Epic New Live Album Jul 16

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 29
  • Page 30
  • Page 31
  • Page 32
  • Current page 33
  • Page 34
  • Page 35
  • Page 36
  • Page 37
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers