George Thorogood and the Destroyers (album)

Last updated
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
George Thorogood.jpg
Studio album by
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
ReleasedJuly 1, 1977
Recorded1977
StudioDimension Sound Studios, Boston, Massachusetts
Genre
Length45:10
Label Rounder
Producer Ken Irwin
George Thorogood and the Destroyers chronology
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
(1977)		 Move It On Over
(1978)
Singles from George Thorogood and the Destroyers
  1. "Can't Stop Lovin'"
    Released: 1977
  2. "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"
    Released: 1978
  3. "Ride On Josephine"
    Released: 1978

George Thorogood and the Destroyers is the self-titled debut studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in 1977. 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", [1] the latter a song written by Rudy Toombs for Amos Milburn, and later covered by Hooker.

Contents

In 2015 Rounder Records released a new remix of the original album was released under the name George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers. [2]

Release

Rounder Records released George Thorogood and the Destroyers on July 1, 1977. The album eventually sold more than 600,000 copies. [3] Three tracks from the album were released as singles.

2015 remix

In 2015 Rounder released George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers, [2] a new remix of the album featuring the three-piece band as originally recorded and mixed. It omits the bass overdubs by Billy Blough, which were added after the original recording sessions. It also adds the previously unreleased Elmore James track "Goodbye Baby". [2]

Critical reception

George Thorogood and the Destroyers received positive reviews from critics.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Christgau's Record Guide B [5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Daily VaultB [7]
PopMatters 6/10 [8]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

A Cashbox reviewer wrote "Thorogood deals strongly in early '50s style rock and timeless blues and this album captures him at his slidin', pickin', wailin' best." [10] Billboard magazine wrote "Rocking rhythm and blues, accented by the slide guitar, gives the album a nostalgic '60s sound. Rhythm section backup is tight while the vocals, though somewhat strained, are distinctive enough to stand out." [11]

AllMusic`s Stephen Thomas Erlewine says "this album isn't about groove and it's certainly not about virtuosity -- it's about bashing out the blues at a punishing volume, and their lack of subtlety is why this 1977 debut still sounds powerful years after its release." [12] David Bowling of Daily Vault wrote "George Thorogood And The Destroyers did not change the course of American blues or rock ‘n’ roll but it made them a bit more enjoyable. It is an album for the beer hall or smoky night club." [13]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Got to Lose" Earl Hooker 3:15
2."Madison Blues" Elmore James 4:24
3."One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer^" John Lee Hooker 8:20
4."Kind Hearted Woman" Robert Johnson 4:21
5."Can't Stop Lovin'"Elmore James3:04

^The song is titled "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", but is a medley of that song preceded by "House Rent Boogie", also called "John L's House Rent Boogie". The songwriter is credited as John Lee Hooker, who was indeed the author of "House Rent Boogie". John Lee Hooker's version of the "One Bourbon" half of the medley was used by Thorogood and Rudy Toombs, the writer of the original "One Bourbon" was not credited on the album.

Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ride On Josephine" Ellas McDaniel 4:17
2."Homesick Boy" George Thorogood 3:02
3."John Hardy"Traditional3:18
4."I'll Change My Style"William Parker, Manuel Villa3:57
5."Delaware Slide"George Thorogood7:45
Total length:45:10

2015 remix

George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Got to Lose"Earl Hooker3:25
2."Madison Blues"Elmore James4:28
3."One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"John Lee Hooker8:30
4."Kind Hearted Woman" (*)Robert Johnson4:23
5."Ride On Josephine"Ellas McDaniel4:24
6."Can't Stop Lovin'"Elmore James3:36
7."Homesick Boy"George Thorogood3:16
8."John Hardy" (*)Traditional3:33
9."I'll Change My Style"William Parker, Manuel Villa4:09
10."Delaware Slide"George Thorogood8:05
11."Goodbye Baby"Elmore James3:27
Total length:51:16

(*) Tracks omitted from the vinyl release [14]

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (1978)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [15] 52

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [16] Gold20,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [16] Platinum100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [16] Gold7,500^
United States (RIAA) [16] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Thorogood</span> American blues rock vocalist/guitarist (born 1950)

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".

<i>Move It On Over</i> (album) 1978 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Move It On Over is the second studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released by Rounder Records in November 1978. Move It On Over peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>The Hard Stuff</i> (George Thorogood and the Destroyers album) 2006 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Maverick</i> (George Thorogood and the Destroyers album) 1985 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Bad to the Bone</i> (George Thorogood and the Destroyers album) 1982 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Ride Til I Die</i> 2003 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Ride 'Til I Die is the twelfth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on March 25, 2003 by the label Eagle Records. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart. Ride 'Til I Die is the final Destroyer's album to feature Hank "Hurricane" Carter, a 23-year member of the band.

<i>More George Thorogood and the Destroyers</i> 1980 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

More George Thorogood and the Destroyers is the fourth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in 1980 by the label Rounder Records. An alternate name for the album is I'm Wanted.

<i>Better Than the Rest</i> 1979 studio album by George Thorogood

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer</span> Song by Rudy Toombs

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" is a blues song written by Rudy Toombs and recorded by Amos Milburn in 1953. It is one of several drinking songs recorded by Milburn in the early 1950s that placed in the top ten of the Billboard R&B chart. Other artists released popular recordings of the song, including John Lee Hooker in 1966 and George Thorogood in 1977.

<i>The Dirty Dozen</i> (album) 2009 album by George Thorogood

The Dirty Dozen is the fourteenth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released on July 28, 2009, by the label EMI America Records. The album contains all cover material. The Dirty Dozen reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums and was on the chart for 11 weeks.

<i>Born to Be Bad</i> (album) 1988 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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. The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, and was on the charts for 24 weeks.

<i>Boogie People</i> 1991 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Haircut</i> (album) 1993 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Rockin My Life Away</i> 1997 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>2120 South Michigan Ave.</i> 2011 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

2120 South Michigan Ave. is the fifteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 12, 2011, on the Capitol Records label. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records in Chicago.

<i>Half a Boy/Half a Man</i> 1999 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

<i>Party of One</i> (George Thorogood album) 2017 album by George Thorogood

Party of One is the debut solo album by American blues rock artist George Thorogood. It was released August 4, 2017 by the label Rounder Records. Party of One is the first album Thorogood recorded and released without his long-time band "the Destroyers".

"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.

<i>Live</i> (George Thorogood and the Destroyers album) 1986 live album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

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.

References

  1. ↑ Poling, Dean (March 19, 2010). "Bad to the Funny Bone: A Strange Conversation with George Thorogood". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "George Thorogood And The Delaware Destroyers". Georgethorogood.com.
  3. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA".
  4. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "George Thorogood & the Destroyers – George Thorogood & the Destroyers,George Thorogood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  5. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 16, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  6. ↑ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . Penguin. p. 652. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.
  7. ↑ Daily Vault Review
  8. ↑ PopMatters Review
  9. ↑ The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin. 1998. p. 346.
  10. ↑ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . September 17, 1977. p. 22 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard . September 10, 1977. p. 100 – via World Radio History.
  12. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Review". AllMusic.
  13. ↑ Bowling, David (August 21, 2013). "George Thorogood And The Destroyers: | Daily Vault". Daily Vault.
  14. ↑ "Rounder Records to Release Limited Edition of Original Mix of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Debut Album". George Thorogood official website.
  15. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 309. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "EMI Pact Gives Thorogood "Best Of Both Worlds"" (PDF). Cash Box . June 19, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved December 5, 2021– via World Radio History.
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