(1) Player began as a chance meeting between Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley, in 1977. They met by coincidence, both being the only two dressed in jeans and t-shirts, attending an all-white garb party in Hollywood. J.C. came from Galveston Bay, Texas. Oddly enough, they both turned out to be singer/songwriters, and made plans to get together later and jam. In J.C.’s garage, they began working on their new material, adding Ronn Moss(bass) and John Friesen(drums) to the band. Ronn Moss had formerly been in the bands Fable Airship, Punk Rock and Count Zeppelin. John Friesen had toured with the Ice Follies as a drummer, percussionist, and musical director. Both had been in a high school band together. The bands style of music developed into mainstream soft pop/rock, with mellow keyboards and layered harmonies. This seemed to fit right in with the breezy sounds of L.A at the time.
They began playing bars and gigs to perfect their playing skills. Their potential managers took them around to different producer’s offices to play live, lugging their guitars and amps. The band’s theory was that “a demo tape can be thrown on a shelf and forgotten, where as a live band wouldn’t fit.” They eventually ended up at the office of Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, successful songwriters and owners of a new production company called Haven Records. Lambert and Potter liked what they heard and took the guys into the studio to record a few songs. Based on these tracks alone, Lambert and Potter were impressed, but Haven Records had since then folded. They then collaborated with the owner of RSO Records, Robert Stigwood, and got the band, still nameless, signed to a record deal.
The matter of a band name was resolved while watching a movie on television. They saw the end credits list the film cast as “players”, and so they dropped the “s” to become Player. The band also added keyboard/sythesizer player Wayne Cook, former band member of Steppenwolf(1976). A few short months later, with massive radio play, Player had an international number one hit single called ‘Baby Come Back’. This song came about when Peter Beckett had just split from someone he had been in a relationship with for a long time. Still feeling the sting, he sat down with J.C. Crowley, to write, and their moods came out in the song ‘Baby Come Back’. This song broke on the radio in October of 1977 and reached number one early January 1978.
Player was voted by Billboard Magazine’s honor roll as Best New Single Artist for 1978. ‘Baby Come Back’ was immediately followed by their top ten hit, ‘This Time I’m In It For Love’. Both songs appeared on their self-titled, debut album, Player.
In 1978, they released a second album also on RSO, called Danger Zone. This album produced the hit singles ‘Prisoner Of Your Love’, which made the top 40 list, and ‘Silverlining’. Where their first album captured the sunny sound of California pop, Danger Zone illustrated the band’s progressive pop/rock side with heavier guitars pushed to the front.
The band then continued to tour bigger arenas with Eric Clapton, Heart, and Kenny Loggins, as well as headlining at smaller venues.
RSO wanted Player to harden up their image, putting them on tours with hard rock bands. Peter was quoted later as saying that “this could have probably been their biggest mistake, and that Player may have still been around today if not for that.”
Not soon after the tour ended, J.C.Crowley left the band to start a new career in country music.
Departing RSO, Player then signed with Casablanca Records, releasing their third album, Room with a View, in 1980, which Peter co-produced with Tony Peluso. From this album came the top forty hit ‘It’s For You’. Room with a View was a combination of soft, romantic melodies, such as ‘Bad News Travels Fast’, and heavier rock tunes, such as ‘Tip Of The Iceberg’.
By the end of this tour, Ronn Moss’ focus had now shifted to acting, and he quit the band to make films in Italy.
By 1982, Peter Beckett and Dennis Lambert collaborated on the release of Player's fourth LP, Spies of Life, on RCA Records. From that album came the single ‘If Looks Could Kill’. Also joining Peter and John Friesen, the only two original band members left, were Miles Joseph(guitar/vocals) and Rusty Buchannan(bass).
After this album, the band members went their separate ways, and Peter decided to become a full time writer, leaving Player on the back burner.
In 2009, the band signed to Coallier Entertainment and was said to release a new CD
(2) A Techno collective with varying members including: Jon Nuccle, Mark Turner, Pete Simpson, Richard Wilkinson, the collective released material under their own label also known as Infamous Player.
(3) Amon Tobin (as Player) released a drill n' bass mash up of Slayer's Raining Blood and Angel of Death, simply called Angel of Theft.
Bad News Travels Fast
Player Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I have ever had to do
To stand in front of you
And tell you that I′m leaving
After all the time we shared
This is the longest night of all
It wasn't meant to be this way
Now it′s all in pieces
After all the love we had
That's just the way it has to be
I'm sorry for you, I′m sorry for me
I turned it over in my mind
So many times, so many times
Had I thought that I should be the one to tell you
Before you got it back from someone else
Good news gets there last
Bad news travels fast
This just may be my darkest hour
And I′m no good at long goodbyes
I tried to be so brave
But I keep getting weaker
After all the love we shared
That's just the way it has to be
I′m sorry for you, I'm sorry for me
I′ve looked at us from every side
Enough is enough, it's time to divide
Better say goodbye with some love left between us
Face to face before the rumour starts to lie
Good news gets there last
Bad news travels fast
The lyrics of Player's song "Bad News Travels Fast" depict the emotional struggle and difficulty of breaking up with someone despite the love and time shared. The singer acknowledges that this is the hardest thing they have ever had to do, standing in front of their partner and admitting that they are leaving. The night feels long and overwhelming, as it was not supposed to end this way. The singer had a clear idea of how things should have been, but now everything feels shattered. The pain and sadness are evident as they apologize not only for themselves but also for their partner.
The lyrics suggest that the decision to leave has been thoroughly considered, reflecting the singer's repeated thoughts and reflections on it. They may have wanted to be the one to break the news to their partner before someone else did, emphasizing the importance of honesty in their communication. The idea that good news gets there last while bad news travels fast conveys the notion that negative information spreads more quickly and easily than positive news.
In the second half of the song, the singer reveals their vulnerability and admits that this may be their darkest hour. The difficulty in saying goodbye for an extended period is acknowledged, and despite their efforts to be brave, they find themselves growing weaker. The love they once shared is still felt despite the decision to end the relationship. The repetition of the line "That's just the way it has to be" echoes a sense of resignation, suggesting that the separation is inevitable.
Overall, "Bad News Travels Fast" explores the complex emotions involved in ending a relationship and the struggle to find the right words to convey the difficult news. It conveys empathy for both parties involved and highlights the importance of honesty and facing the truth directly.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the hardest thing by far
This is the most difficult task I have ever faced
That I have ever had to do
That I have ever been required to accomplish
To stand in front of you
To be in your presence
And tell you that I'm leaving
And inform you of my departure
After all the time we shared
Despite the duration of our relationship
This is the longest night of all
This is the most prolonged period of darkness
It wasn't meant to be this way
It was not intended to unfold like this
I had it down so clear
I had a clear understanding of the situation
Now it's all in pieces
Now everything has fallen apart
After all the love we had
Despite the affection we shared
That's just the way it has to be
That is simply the necessary outcome
I'm sorry for you, I'm sorry for me
I apologize for both of our circumstances
I turned it over in my mind
I contemplated it extensively
So many times, so many times
Repeatedly, countless times
Had I thought that I should be the one to tell you
Considered that I should be the person informing you
Before you got it back from someone else
Prior to receiving the information from a third party
Good news gets there last
Positive information arrives later
Bad news travels fast
Negative information spreads quickly
This just may be my darkest hour
This could possibly be the bleakest moment of my life
And I'm no good at long goodbyes
And I am not skilled at prolonged farewells
I tried to be so brave
I made an effort to display courage
But I keep getting weaker
Yet I continue to grow feeble
After all the love we shared
Despite the affection we shared
That's just the way it has to be
That is simply the necessary outcome
I'm sorry for you, I'm sorry for me
I apologize for both of our circumstances
I've looked at us from every side
I have considered our situation from all perspectives
Enough is enough, it's time to divide
The current state is no longer sustainable, separation is now needed
Better say goodbye with some love left between us
It is preferable to bid farewell while still harboring affection for each other
Face to face before the rumor starts to lie
In person, prior to the spread of false information
Good news gets there last
Positive information arrives later
And bad news travels fast
And negative information spreads quickly
Writer(s): Peter Beckett, Dennis Lambert
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.