Yes.
Posted on 08/20/2022 6:07:15 PM PDT by nickcarraway
For most people, the first thing that comes to mind about George Thorogood & the Destroyers is "Bad to the Bone." The song. But not the album of the same name.
Thorogood's iconic hit, part of enough movie and TV soundtracks to buy him much more than one bourbon, scotch or beer, serves as the title track for the band's fifth album and the first for a major label, EMI, after a tenure with the independent Rounder Records. The 10-song set caught Thorogood and his group in high flight, too, hot off dates opening for the Rolling Stones and the Freeze-Frame-hot J. Geils Band. The band had been in front of a lot of eyeballs and eardrums, and the moment to capitalize had arrived.
"It was a big deal — a bigger deal, at least," Thorogood, who rerecorded seven of Bad to the Bone's tracks for a 2007 reissue, told this writer a few years later. "It was a bigger record company and they were ready to put some money behind us and get the records in the stores and push it. ... I don't know if we felt pressure. We just went in and did what we do. It'd be stupid to try to be anything else."
That philosophy served Bad to the Bone well. The album reached No. 43 on the Billboard 200, went gold and spawned Thorogood's first two Top 40 Mainstream Rock chart hits: his version of the Isley Brothers' "Nobody but Me" (later a Top 10 garage-rock hit for the Human Beinz), which climbed to No. 32, and the title track, which reached No. 27.
"Bad to the Bone" has gotten and continues to get its due. But what about the rest of the Bad to the Bone album? It's certainly a record that can be held up as one of the Destroyers' best, and a case can be made that it's the best. To prove it, we steer you to these half-dozen additional tracks that put some extra meat on the Bone beyond its celebrated title song.
"Back to Wentzville"
"Back to Wentzville" is a Chuck Berry-styled rocker with onetime Rolling Stone Ian Stewart pounding piano in the background and Hank Carter unleashing a ferocious saxophone solo. The first of Thorogood's three originals is a bar-band template that gives your speakers, or earbuds, an aerobic workout.
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"Blue Highway"
On "Blue Highway" the Destroyers get high and lonesome on a rootsy track co-written by Electric Flag frontman Nick Gravenites. Thorogood starts with just his voice and guitar before the band kicks in after the first chorus, honky tonkin' its way to a hot slide solo that takes the track out.
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"Nobody But Me"
A frat party is as good a fit for the Destroyers as a bar, and one can see the group tearing through the rowdy "Nobody but Me" in Animal House's toga-party scene right after Otis Day and the Knights finish "Shout." The Bad to the Bone take is faithful but stripped down, drummer Jeff Simon pounding it into a furious but joyous explosion.
George Thorogood And The Destroyers - Nobody But Me Subscribe to Ultimate Classic Rock on
"Miss Luann"
There's much to like about Thorogood's third original on the album, "Miss Luann" - from the opening slide guitar riff to more of Ian Stewart's rollicking piano and a chugging boogie rhythm accented by more of Hank Carter's sax honks. It's prototypical Destroyers, and whoever said that was a bad thing?
"As the Years Go Passing By"
"As the Years Go Passing By" is another nice change of pace, slow and soulful with a rich sax solo by Carter. The tune has a bit of a confusing history: Originally recorded by Fenton Robinson in 1959, it was written by Harrison "Peppermint" Harris but credited to Deadric Malone, a pseudonym for Duke Records owner Don Robey. It's another example of the way writers and artists were exploited by their labels back in the day.
As The Years Go Passing By Subscribe to Ultimate Classic Rock on
"Wanted Man"
If anyone thought Bob Dylan wasn't in George Thorogood's wheelhouse, his album-closing treatment of "Wanted Man" proves otherwise. Turns out Thorogood is pretty adept on acoustic guitar (those paying attention already knew this), and his grizzled vocal is a perfect fit for the song's chippy cadence. On the album itself, it provided a counterpoint to the fusillade of "Bad to the Bone," which comes right before it.
My wife and I went to see George Thorogood in a biker bar in Delaware around ‘92. Awesome show.
Yes.
I've got a soft spot for this song, as I grew up in Wentzville.
“Bad to the Bone” - Al Bundy’s theme song when he was gearing up for battle.
Missed his show in college decades ago. Have 7th row tickets to see him and Sammy Hagar next week. Taking my son who goes off to college next year.
That’s your opinion. And that’s all it is.
I actually play guitar. There is very good reason why Hendrix is revered amongst guitarists.
Opinion vs. opinion.
*FIGHT*
p.s. You asked.
Informed opinion vs. opinion.
Thanks for participating. And you still haven’t refuted my point, Baggy.
‘Pod
Music is to be listened to. Everybody who does is an 'informed listener'.
And you still haven’t refuted my point, Baggy.
What, is your point that you play the guitar? I have no reason to refute that, I believe you. That doesn't make you an expert on what sounds good or what is 'good music'.
Did Hendrix have fast fingers? Sure. Did his music sound good? No.
Doing things wrong is my way of doing things right!
Again, Baggy, you haven’t refuted my point.
He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
Hendrix’s music is fantastic. It ain’t just me that has this opinion. Lots and lots of informed opinionaters share it.
And I don’t share your definition of ‘informed listener.’
One listen to ‘Stayin’ Alive’ should convince you of that. That horrid song was a huge hit back in the disco craze, and it disproves your definition.
If you don’t buy that, try ‘Summer Breeze’ or ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’
Those songs make my ears bleed.
Thanks for playing.
‘Pod
Did you just say that 'lots' of people share that opinion then go on to say that lots of people liked Staying Alive even though it sucked?
I hope you can see the irony.
Anyway, the ability to play the guitar does not make an 'informed opinion'. It makes a technical expert. Like as if the sausage maker can tell if the sausage tastes better than can the sausage eater.
p.s. Don't feel bad. Lots of people like sucky music just cause everybody else does. Or cause the mob pays to get air play on the radio stations (olden days).
There's lots of reasons sucky music becomes popular.
There are many types of music. What sounds "good" to you?
Baggy interpreted: Did you just say that 'lots' of people share that opinion then go on to say that lots of people liked Staying Alive even though it sucked?
I said that lots of informed opinionaters [guitarists] share it. English must be your second language. :D
I hope you can see the irony.
Nice try. You're straining at that gnat and swallowing a camel, Baggy. :D :D :D
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