George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Nadine
MCA Records – MCAD 20350
(previously released as Better Than The Rest)
Nadine – My Way – You’re Gonna Miss Me – Worried About My Baby – Night-Time – I’m Ready – My Weakness – Goodbye Baby – Huckle up Baby – Howlin’ for My Darlin’
The worst thing that can happen to a musician is slowly falling into a routine and losing the excitement of the beginning. It’s been quite a while since I’ve flipped over a George Thorogood album. I don’t mean they’re bad, they’re just a little exciting as they used to be.
“Nadine,” first published on vinyl as “Better Than The Rest,” reminds us how exciting George once was. This compilation is a collection of demos recorded in 1974 for MCA when the band was still looking for a contract. The band never got the contract, but these recordings were published by MCA by the time the Delaware Destroyers began to draw attention with their second Rounder release, “Move It On Mover.” Though it’s close to the first album, the sound is even rawer. Thorogood’s music has always been synonymous with sweat and beer, and it’s never been so true. The vocal is raspy (a good example is his version of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Howlin’ For My Darlin’,” the band is tight and nervous, and you can feel they definitely have something to prove. Of course, it’s not flawless, but it’s lively, and this is what this music should always be, right? As usual with George Thorogood (and the Delaware Destroyers), the program comprises Chuck Berry / Elmore James / Hound Dog Taylor Dog-influenced brands of boogie blues and some good rockers to make you bop and stomp your feet. Two acoustic songs bring some rest to the listeners after this flood of electricity: “Gonna Miss Me,” a variation around Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied,” and John Lee Hooker’s “Huckle Up Baby.” Some of the songs will resurface on later recordings in newer versions, but for the most part, you can find George’s versions of these covers only in this selection.There’s no musical revolution here, but who cares? This is just music to please your heart and drink a cold beer with. Fans of heavy-produced blues will disdain it, but true fans of authentic electric blues and early Thorogood’s album will like this one.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers – s/t
Rounder Records – 3013 [1977]
You Got To Lose – Madison Blues – One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer – Kind Hearted Woman – Can’t Stop Lovin’ – Ride On Josephine – Homesick Boy – John Hardy – I’ll Change My Style – Delaware Slide
Thorogood’s debut album, simply called “George Thorogood & The Destroyers” and released on the more bluegrass-oriented label Rounder, sets the (winning) recipe that’ll stay unchanged for many years. Thorogood is backed by the solid rhythm section of Jeff Simon, Billy Blough, and Ron Smith on “some tracks.” I remember reading somewhere that this album was first recorded with only Thorogood and Simon, but the label didn’t want to release it without a proper bass, so Bill Blough overdubbed his parts. It’s a deluge of slide guitar with Elmore James tunes (Madison Blues, Can’t Stop Loving), nods to Hound Dog Taylor, John Lee Hooker’s boogie (One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer) and Diddley beat (Ride On Josephine) and two Thorogood’s originals: Homesick Boy and Delaware Slide (that almost hits the 8’ mark). The whole thing is played with a youthful exuberance and a rock’n’roll attitude that are very refreshing and contribute to the success of this release. Add some acoustic numbers to calm the pace (a convincing Robert Johnson’s Kindhearted Woman and the traditional John Hardy), and you’ll get the perfect album to party and drink with your buddies.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers – More
Rounder Records – RR 3045 [1980]
I’m Wanted – Kids From Philly – One Way Ticket – Bottom Of The Sea – Night Time – Tip On In – Goodbye Baby – House Of Blue Lights – Just Can’t Make It – Restless
Released in 1980, “More George Thorogood and The Destroyers,” the band’s 3rd album, finds George Thorogood at the dawn of breaking into the charts with the multi-platinum “Bad To The Bone.” And the sound reflects this slight evolution. It’s not yet the production you’ll find on Bad to The Bone, but since his first album and Move It On Over, the sound has polished a bit, and a sax player, Hank Carter, has joined the Destroyers. This exception made, the program is not very different from the previous albums, a good and solid mix of boogie blues inspired by John Lee Hooker (One Way Ticket), Elmore James (Goodbye Baby), Muddy Waters (an excellent rendition of Bottom Of The Sea where the rhythm section shines) and Hound Dog Taylor (Just Can Make It) with some detour by rockabilly (Carl Perkins’ Restless), a cover of Freddie Slack’s House of Blue Light and a powerful rendition of The Strangeloves’ Night Time. And, as usual, plenty of slide guitar. Before playing in front of thousands in giant arenas, the Destroyers proved with their first three albums that they were one of the best bar bands on the planet, able to make the audience laugh, cry, dance, and sweat.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers – Boogie People
EMI USA – CDP 7 92514 2 [1991]
If you don’t Start Drinking (I’m going to leave) – Long Distance Lover – Mad Man Blues – Boogie People – Can’t Be Satisfied – No Place To Go – Six Days On The Road – Born In Chicago – Oklahoma Sweetheart – Hello Little Girl
Released three years after “Born To Be Bad” and with the same line-up, “Boogie People” is in a similar vein but with a fuller production that serves Thorogood’s brand of blues better. As usual, he pays tribute to his heroes with covers of Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker (a mean version of Mad Man Blues), and Muddy Waters (an acoustic rendition of Can’t Be Satisfied).Lonesome George also has a couple of excellent self-penned numbers. The opener, the humorous and not politically correct “If You Don’t Start Drinkin’ (I’m Gonna Leave)” on which he complains about his sober girlfriend (Don’t give me no lectures / ‘Bout stress and strife / So-ber-i-ety / Just ain’t my way of life / You better change / Yes, I’m begging you please / Cuz if you don’t start drinkin’ / I’m gonna leave.) is a solid rocker; “Long Distance Lover” carries on the Elmore James/Hound Dog Taylor torch, “Boogie People” is a strong boogie-blues and “Oklahoma Sweetheart” a compelling country ballad. Talking about country music, they also cover Dave Dudley’s Six Days On The Road and turn it into a slide guitar festival. Boogie People is an excellent album, as good as any of his Rounder albums.
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