Badfinger – No Matter What

As a demo, “No Matter What” was originally recorded at a slower tempo by Ham on acoustic guitar (as heard on the posthumous Ham solo CD 7 Park Avenue). A group demo version, played at the same tempo as Ham’s acoustic demo, was recorded by Badfinger on 18 April 1970 with Mal Evans producing. The song was recorded again in a rockier fashion, at a faster tempo, by the band in May 1970 at Abbey Road Studios, and it was this version that appeared on the album and single.

Although the song and recording was a favourite of Badfinger’s shortly after it was completed, the hierarchy at Apple Records reportedly was not inclined to release it in any format. It was not until Al Steckler, the American director of Apple in New York, heard the tape in August 1970 and considered it a strong entry by the band, that it was remixed by engineer/producer Geoff Emerick and slotted for the upcoming LP and as a single release.

On August 1, 1971, Badfinger joined in at The Concert for Bangladesh, a star-studded benefit at Madison Square Garden organized by George Harrison. “No Matter What” had been a hit eight months earlier, but the group didn’t get to play any of their own songs, as they were relegated to backing band for Harrison. Pete Ham did get to sing with Harrison on “Here Comes The Sun.”

One of the benefits of recording for Apple was that Badfinger was able to make a promotional film for this song, showing them performing it in a cottage of some kind. The Beatles were one of the first groups to make these kind of films, which were shown on TV shows throughout Europe. They came to be known as “music videos” when they started being shot on video.

“No Matter What” – Single by Badfinger from the album No Dice
Released on 12 October 1970
Recorded May 1970
Label Apple
Songwriters Pete Ham
Producers Mal Evans
Charted No.8 in US; No.2 in UK; No.8 in Australia; No.7 in Ireland; No.32 in West Germany.

Badfinger
Pete Ham (April 27, 1947 – April 24, 1975), aged 27
Tom Evans (June 5, 1947 – November 19, 1983), aged 36
Joey Molland (June 21, 1947 – March 1, 2025), aged 77
Mike Gibbins (March 12, 1949 – October 4, 2005), aged 56