Ham wrote the song about his mixed feelings upon the band's leaving Apple Records (which was the "apple of my eye" to Ham) to pursue a larger contract by moving to Warner Bros. Records.[1][2] The same concern is reflected on the Ass album cover, which shows a donkey following a carrot into the distance. Coincidentally, disregarding those performed by an ex-Beatle, it was the last single (Apple 49) released by Apple before its collapse.
Problems and release
Due to Apple's financial chaos and its problems with the group, no new picture sleeve was created for the single, although some countries (such as the Netherlands, shown here) used a variant of the "Day After Day" sleeve.[3] It would become the original group's last single to chart in the US, although it missed making the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 102 on the "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles" chart.[1] It reached number 11 in South Africa.[4]
In most countries, Tom Evans' "Blind Owl" was released as the B-side. However, in Japan, "Apple of My Eye" was backed with Mike Gibbins' song "Cowboy", and in the Philippines, Evans' "When I Say" was the B-side.[1]
Reception
Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts also rated it as Badfinger's 5th best song, calling it "a beautiful song that signified the end of an era for Badfinger and their relationship with the Beatles Apple Records."[5]Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it as Badfinger's 6th best song.[2]Classic Rock critic Rob Hughes rated it as Badfinger's 10th best song, calling it "a poignant farewell."[6]
