May 1, 2021

BADFINGER - 5/3 : "Apple of my eye"




"APPLE OF MY EYE" - 眼的瞳孔
寓意「遠超於任何人對事物的珍惜」, 源自聖經的詞句; Shakespeare 莎士比亞1590年的劇作 "A Midsummer Night's Dream 仲夏夜之夢" 的台詞中, 亦有用上這詞彙 "Sink in apple of his eye"。
 
Apple Records 蘋果唱片公司交由 Allen Klein 管理行政和財務之後仍没得到改善, 至1973年他亦要離開; Badfinger 樂隊原可以繼續第二張合約, 因條件不合, 被 Stanley Polley 推掉, 但 Pete Ham 仍珍惜在蘋果唱片公司的日子, 亦知道 Warner Bros. Records 華納唱片公司的合約, 由1973年秋季開始的三年, 訂下每六個月錄製一張專輯, Tom Evans 亦懷疑 Stanley Polley 對條件走漏了眼, 或能否做到, 他們在無奈之下亦簽了這份合約, 因此, 對加入新唱片公司有更大憂慮。
 
最重要是樂隊四人經常抱怨入不敷支, 而 Stanley Polley 衹安撫他們和誇稱 Warner Bros. Records 華納公司的三百萬美元錄音合同, 他們可以拿到唱片在美國發行金額的 12%, 世界發行的金額 8.5% 之外, 每張專輯均可預先收到二十五萬元, 對樂隊高唱: "你們是百萬富翁了!" 

"ASS 驢"
Badfinger 離開 Apple Records 蘋果唱片公司前最後一張, 亦是第五張專輯唱片, 而 Tom Evans 的憂慮和感受, 盡在這專輯封套的 "驢與紅蘿蔔" 顯露出來; 封套設計是隐喻樂隊與 Warner Bros. Records 華納唱片公司簽訂的新合同有被誤導之疑, 猶似一隻驢面對藍天白雲, 和遠處一根只可看到的大紅蘿蔔。圖畫是 Grammy Award 格蘭美大獎畫家 Peter Corriston 的作品, 歌曲是 Pete Ham, Tom Evans 和 Joe Molland 1972-1973年的作品, 1973年十一月先在美國發行, 至1974年三月才在英國面世。
 
Side one    
"Apple of My Eye" (Pete Ham)
"Get Away" (Joe Molland)
"Icicles" (Joe Molland)
"The Winner" (Joe Molland)
"Blind Owl" (Tom Evans)

Side two

"Constitution" (Joe Molland)
"When I Say" (Tom Evans)
"Cowboy" (Mike Gibbins)
"I Can Love You" (Joe Molland)
"Timeless" (Pete Ham) 
 
"Apple of My Eye"
Pete Ham 離開 Apple Records 蘋果唱片公司前的作品, 從歌詞可見他複雜的心情; 隊友 Joe Molland 的作品 "Blind Owl" 两曲分别隱喻着 "珍惜" 與 "盲目"。
  
APPLE OF MY EYE - Badfinger 1973
Written by Pete Ham
Oh, I'm sorry, but it's time to move away
Though inside my heart, I really want to stay
Believe the love we have is so sincere
You know, the gift you have will always be

You're the apple of my eye
You're the apple of my heart
But now, the time has come to part

Oh, I'm sorry, but it's time to make a stand
Though we never meant to bite the lovin' hand
And now, the time has come to walk alone
We were the children, now we've overgrown

You're the apple of my eye
You're the apple of my heart
But now, the time has come to part

Oh, I'm sorry, but it's time to move away
Though inside my heart, I really want to stay
Believe the love we have is so sincere
You know, the gift you have will always be

Now, the time has come to part
Now, the time has come to part
 
BLIND OWL - Badfinger 1973 
Writtten by Joe Molland
Lies, ties, Mr. Cool disguise
Hang it up, get up on your own
Pill-driven skills, weepin' whippoorwills
Too much goin' 'round that you can't hide

Look out for the blind owl
You can only find that you were wrong
No one else around me ever loved me like you do
So I'll be strong

Look out for the blind owl
You can only find that you were wrong
No one else around me ever loved me like you do
So I'll be strong

Days, plays, interviewer's maze
Play the role, sell your soul
Becomin' to yourself
A hero who must never lie

Who must never lie
Who must never lie
Who must never lie
Who must never lie
Who must never lie