Top tracks — play these first
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Baby Blue — This track exemplifies Badfinger’s ability to craft catchy melodies intertwined with emotional depth, becoming a staple in their live performances and a classic rock favorite.
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Day After Day — The song features a hauntingly beautiful melody supported by lush harmonies, earning widespread acclaim and solidifying Badfinger's place in early '70s pop-rock.
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Take It All — Opening the album, this track showcases raw emotion paired with powerful instrumentation, setting the tone for the themes of love and loss prevalent throughout the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Strong melodies and harmonies define this power pop album, though its cohesion is affected by bonus tracks.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with layered harmonies, while the second half shifts to more introspective ballads.
- Several songs utilize a prominent guitar riff that drives the melody, particularly in 'Baby Blue' and 'Day After Day'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- 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
Significant within its genre. 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
- bittersweet melodies for reflection
- wave-like pacing with dynamic flow
- for late-night introspection
- catchy tunes for sing-alongs
- emotional highs and lows
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening experiences
- want standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on December 13, 1971, Straight Up marked Badfinger's third studio album during a period of rising fame following their hit singles like 'No Matter What'. At this point, they were navigating the complexities of their contract with Apple Records and the pressures to deliver commercially successful music after previous successes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Big Star· The Hollies· The Move
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Take It All 4:30
- 2 Baby Blue 3:41
- 3 Money 3:30
- 4 Flying 2:39
- 5 I’d Die Babe 2:38
- 6 Name of the Game 5:20
- 7 Suitcase 2:57
- 8 Sweet Tuesday Morning 2:34
- 9 Day After Day 3:14
- 10 Sometimes 2:56
- 11 Perfection 5:12
- 12 It’s Over 3:34
- 13 Money (original version) 4:21
- 14 Flying (original version) 2:24
- 15 Name of the Game (original version) 4:28
- 16 Suitcase (original version) 3:19
- 17 Perfection (original version) 4:41
- 18 Baby Blue (U.S.A. 45 RPM remix) 3:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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