"Head First" is the tenth and final studio album by the British rock band Badfinger, released on 14 November 2000. Although recorded in 1975 at the Beatles' Apple Studios, the album was shelved at the time due to legal and financial difficulties, particularly a lawsuit involving the band's manager, Stan Polley, and their label, Warner Bros. Records. The album was eventually released using a rough mix from 1975, prepared by engineer Phil McDonald, and was made available nearly 25 years later.
The history behind Head First is marked by turmoil for the band. After the completion of their previous album, Wish You Were Here, founding member Pete Ham decided to leave Badfinger, but later agreed to stay. Badfinger's management insisted on a new album, which led to tensions within the band, including the departure of Joey Molland. Despite producer Chris Thomas’ objections, the band recorded Head First in just two weeks under new producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, who had recently found success with KISS.
During this time, Badfinger was embroiled in a legal battle with Warner Bros. after the discovery of missing funds from their escrow account. The band’s manager, Stan Polley, faced allegations of mismanaging their finances, and Warner Bros. sued both Polley and the band. This lawsuit resulted in the album being shelved, as the label's publishing division refused to accept the album’s master tapes.
The financial chaos and internal band strife are reflected in the album’s content, with tracks like "Rock & Roll Contract" and "Hey, Mr. Manager" aimed at Polley. Tragically, Badfinger's situation worsened when Pete Ham committed suicide in April 1975, just months after the album was completed. Bassist Tom Evans, who also struggled with the band's financial issues, took his own life in 1983.
For years, it seemed as if Head First would never be released. However, four tracks—"Lay Me Down," "Passed Fast," "Keep Believing," and "Moonshine"—were included on the Best of Badfinger Vol. 2 compilation in 1990, but the full album was not officially released until 2000. The version released on Snapper Records was based on the original 1975 rough mix, making it the band's final studio album featuring Pete Ham and Mike Gibbins, and the only one to feature Bob Jackson, who had replaced Joey Molland during this turbulent period in the band's history.
