The Destroyers entered the studio in September or October 2008 after wrapping up their summer tour with Buddy Guy.[1] Thorogood said he wanted to cover "very obscure songs you've never heard of" for this album, as well as mixing in older songs with the new material. Recording of the album finished sometime in May 2009.[2]
Release and content
EMI America released The Dirty Dozen on July 28, 2009.[3][4] The album debuted, and peaked at No. 169 on the Billboard 200 chart,[5] and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums.[6][3] "Tail Dragger" was released as a single.[7]
The album contains all cover material. The album is split into 2 'sides'.[8] The album includes six new songs (1–6; 'side' one) and six classic favorites (7–12; 'side' two).[9][10]
Critical reception
The Dirty Dozen received mixed reviews from critics.
AllMusic's Tim Sendra wrote "Just as they sound virtually unchanged from the first time they stepped into a recording studio. George still has the same ferocious slide technique, his growling vocals have barely aged, and the band still has the feel of skilled musicians who know how to play it simple. In other words, GT & the Destroyers still rock, and if you were ever a fan, you still should be. The only real problem with this record is that as cool as it is to hear the band's 1991 take on "Six Days on the Road" or their tumble through Howlin' Wolf's "Howlin' for My Baby," it'd be better to hear more of the new tracks."[8] A reviewer for Ultimate Guitar wrote "Although still a master musician on his new record The Dirty Dozen, George Thorogood fails to deliver the same magic as he did back in the 70s and 80s."[4] Shawn Perry of Vintage Rock wrote "George Thorogood & The Destroyers can’t fail in their earnest ability to lock in and lay it down. Old school rock and roll, without the pretense and posturing, even three decades later, is still alive and well as long as this band is around."[10]
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