Released 40 years ago this October
Fame and Fortune
Bad Company · 1986
39 min · 10 tracks · hard rock
A polished blend of blues rock and hard rock, balancing heartfelt ballads with anthemic choruses and refined musicianship.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hold on My Heart — This track exemplifies the album's polished production and features a catchy chorus that reflects the band's attempt to capture mainstream pop appeal while staying true to their rock roots.
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Fame and Fortune — The title track encapsulates the themes of ambition and desire for recognition, showcasing both lyrical depth and strong melodic hooks characteristic of Bad Company's style.
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This Love — With its emotive lyrics and powerful vocal delivery, this ballad highlights the band's ability to blend rock with poignant storytelling, making it a memorable moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features solid songwriting and musicianship but lacks standout moments that elevate it beyond its peers.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Burning Up', and maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
- Several songs feature prominent guitar solos that are integrated into the structure rather than being standalone sections.
- The choruses of most tracks are anthemic, often repeating key phrases that invite listener participation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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4/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo grooves
- catchy sing-along choruses
- for road trips
- uplifting tracks for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek experimental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on October 22, 1986, Fame and Fortune was Bad Company's fifth studio album, coming after their commercial success with 1984's Dangerous Age. This album marked a period of experimentation for the band as they sought to adapt to changing musical trends while maintaining their classic sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Free· Lynyrd Skynyrd· Led Zeppelin
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Burning Up 4:02
- 2 This Love 4:21
- 3 Fame and Fortune 3:35
- 4 That Girl 4:01
- 5 Tell It Like It Is 3:52
- 6 Long Walk 3:34
- 7 Hold on My Heart 4:25
- 8 Valerie 3:28
- 9 When We Made Love 4:18
- 10 If I'm Sleeping 3:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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