| Born to Be Bad | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 13, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | August 1987 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:35 | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Producer | ||||
| George Thorogood and the Destroyers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Born to Be Bad | ||||
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Born to Be Bad is the seventh studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on January 13, 1988, by the label EMI America Records. [1] [2] [3] The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, [4] [5] and was on the charts for 24 weeks. [6]
In 1982, the Destroyers signed a recording contract with EMI America, [7] and released 3 gold albums, Bad to the Bone , Maverick , and Live . [8] In 1987, the Destroyers embarked on a three-week club tour, after which they began recording of Born to Be Bad. [9]
Steve Chrismar joined the band on rhythm guitar sometime before recording of the album began. [10]
Recording of the album began in August 1987, at the Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. [11] Terry Manning, who produced the band's previous album, [12] returned to produce and engineer Born to Be Bad. [11] [13] The Destroyers also helped with producing the album. [14]
EMI America released Born to Be Bad on January 13, 1988. [1] [2] [3] The album debuted at No. 84, [15] and peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, [4] [5] and spent 24 weeks on the chart. [6] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 8, 1988. [2]
Three tracks from the album were released as singles. "You Talk Too Much", written by Thorogood, was the lead single from the album. [3] The song peaked at number 4 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. [5] "Born to Be Bad", also written by Thorogood, peaked at number 3 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. [5] "Treat Her Right", a cover of the Roy Head song, was the third single, and peaked at number 39 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. [5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [16] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [17] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues | [18] |
Born to Be Bad received generally mixed reviews from critics.
A Cash Box reviewer called the album a "polished package of their inimitable rock and roll", and that the album is "chock-full of AOR gems". [14] Steve Newton of The Georgia Straight wrote "When it comes to party-time, rockin' blues, few people deliver with the same kind of no-frills, honest urgency as George Thorogood. Well, the bad-ass guitar ace from Wilmington, Delaware, has come through with another sturdy collection of originals and classic blues covers that should keep his constantly growing legion of fans more than satisfied." [19] Billboard magazine wrote that "there isn't much that's new or original in the music", but that "Thorogood's hearty performance style and cadre of loyal fans, should win him a slot high on the charts." [20] The Gavin Report 's Ron Fell says "The album at hand is mostly a collection of high-spirited covers of rockin' blues from Memphis and beyond. And they're not just covers. They lend integrity to the oldies by toughening them up, not by making them contemporary." [21]
George Thorogood considers Born to Be Bad and Ride 'Til I Die the best albums he ever made. [22]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shake Your Money Maker" | Elmore James | 3:29 |
| 2. | "You Talk Too Much" | George Thorogood | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Highway 49" | Big Joe Williams | 5:46 |
| 4. | "Born to Be Bad" | Thorogood | 3:34 |
| 5. | "You Can't Catch Me" | Chuck Berry | 3:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Ready" | Sylvester Bradford, Fats Domino, Al Lewis | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Treat Her Right" | Roy Head, Gene Kurtz | 3:32 |
| 3. | "I Really Like Girls" | Thorogood | 3:49 |
| 4. | "Smokestack Lightning" | Howlin' Wolf | 3:15 |
| 5. | "I'm Movin' On" | Hank Snow | 3:58 |
| Total length: | 38:35 | ||
The following personnel are credited on the album: [23]
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [24] | 30 |
| Canada (RPM) [25] | 14 |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) [26] | 2 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [27] | 42 |
| US Billboard 200 [4] | 32 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) [28] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[ citation needed ] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| United States (RIAA) [2] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
George Lawrence Thorogood is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Wilmington, Delaware. His "high-energy boogie-blues" sound became a staple of 1980s US rock radio, with hits like his original songs "Bad to the Bone" and "I Drink Alone". He has also helped to popularize older songs by American icons, such as "Move It on Over", "Who Do You Love?", and "House Rent Blues/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer".
"Bad to the Bone" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in 1982 on the album of the same name by EMI America Records. It was written by George Thorogood.
Bad Animals is the ninth studio album by American rock band Heart, released on May 15, 1987, by Capitol Records. The album continues the mainstream hard rock style from the band's 1985 self-titled release, all while enjoying similar success. It peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 in August 1987 and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 4, 1992. Internationally, Bad Animals charted within the top five in Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, and the top 10 in the United Kingdom.
Move It On Over is the second studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1978 by the label Rounder Records. The album peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was on the chart for 47 weeks.
The Hard Stuff is the thirteenth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on May 30, 2006, on the Eagle Records label. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart. It was their first album recorded after the departure of long time saxophone player Hank "Hurricane" Carter, a 23-year member of the band.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers is the self-titled debut studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1977 by the label Rounder Records. Consisting mostly of covers of blues hits, it includes a medley of John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie" and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", the latter a song written by Rudy Toombs for Amos Milburn, and later covered by Hooker.
Maverick is the sixth studio album by the American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on January 25, 1985 by the label EMI America Records. Some of its songs are among Thorogood's best-known, including "I Drink Alone" and "Willie and the Hand Jive". The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Bad to the Bone is the fifth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1982 by the label EMI America Records. The album contains the Destroyers' best known song, "Bad to the Bone". The album also features Rolling Stones side-man Ian Stewart on piano. The band promoted the album with a worldwide tour; there was also a large marketing campaign by their label.
More George Thorogood and the Destroyers is the fourth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1980 by the label Rounder Records. An alternate name for the album is I'm Wanted.
Better Than the Rest is the third album of songs by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, recorded in 1974 and released in September 1979. The album peaked at No. 78 on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
The Dirty Dozen is the fourteenth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. released in 2009 by the label EMI America Records. The Dirty Dozen reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums and was on the chart for 11 weeks.
Boogie People is the eighth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1991 by the label EMI America Records. The album was not as successful as Thorogood's previous albums, but it did contain the song "If You Don't Start Drinkin' ", which eventually became a concert staple.
Haircut is the ninth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on July 27, 1993 by the label EMI America Records. The first single from the album was "Get a Haircut", which charted in multiple countries. The album peaked at No. 120 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with a North American, and Canadian tour.
Rockin' My Life Away is the tenth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released March 25, 1997 by the label EMI America Records. The album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart, and spent 9 weeks on the chart.
The discography of the American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers consists of 15 studio albums, 7 live albums, 10 compilation albums and 34 singles. George Thorogood has released 1 solo album.
Half a Boy/Half a Man is the eleventh studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on April 13, 1999, on the CMC International label. The album failed to chart in any capacity.
"Gear Jammer" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released on their 1985 album Maverick by EMI America Records. It was written by George Thorogood. The song is often considered one of their best, and is often played live.
"If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in January 1991 as the lead single from their album Boogie People by EMI America. It was written by George Thorogood. The song is one of Thorogood's most popular, it is often played live and is included on several live and compilation albums.
The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers is the second compilation album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1992 by the label EMI America Records.
Live is the first live album by American blues rock band George Thorogood & the Destroyers. It was released in 1986 by the label EMI America Records. The album was recorded on May 23, 1986 at the Cincinnati Gardens, Ohio.
