• AllMyVinyl #24
• Band: George Thorogood & The Destroyers
• Album Title: Bad to the Bone
• Release Date: 9 Aug 1982
• Date purchased: Unknown
• Location purchased: Unknown
• Color of vinyl: black
• Number of discs: 1
• Links: [ Wikipedia | Discogs | Band Website | Complete album on Youtube ]

This is an album I have no memory of getting.  We’re not talking just not remembering where I got it from, I don’t remember owning it in the past.  However, it’s here, so I obviously got it somewhere along the line.  Thing is, this is likely one I bought simply for the title track.  This is one of those albums where one song dominates the rest of what’s on here. The title track is so far more known than anything else, it’s nuts.   That doesn’t mean the other songs can’t be good, but I have no memory of ANYTHING from this album beyond the title track.  I looked at the track listing before I played it, and just reading the names – the only two songs I recognize are obviously Bad to the Bone, and the Chuck Berry cover that’s on here.  Other than that, none of the songs ring a bell. I did listen to the whole thing, and while I liked a few, I’ve 100% forgotten about the entire album save for the two previously mentioned tracks.   To that, there won’t be a ton written here, but here’s a few notes I jotted about the tracks.

Back to Wentzville – Great fast jam to start the album. I have zero memory of this track, but that’s odd, as I really liked it.

Blue Highway – Nothing special, liked the guitar sound in the middle, though.

Nobody But Me – A bit faster, some good saxophone work in the middle. Has a fast bass line which seems a bit more noticeable here than in other tracks.

It’s a Sin – Nothing special here. Another slowish song that doesn’t go much of anywhere for me.

New Boogie Chillun – This reminds me of the “story” style he has on “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. He even mentions those drinks in the lyrics here, but I’m talking the delivery of the song. It kind of reminds me of that a lot. This one is much faster than “One Bourbon”, however. That one has a slower vibe, this isn’t like that. This is probably the song I liked b best on the album that wasn’t the title track.

Bad to the Bone – What else can I say? I think everyone knows this. My wife can’t stand it, but I still like it. In fact, it’s probably the primary reason I have this album. Back in the 80’s I would buy entire albums for one song. This album is a HUGE example of that. This song now however reminds me of Al Bundy from Married With Children who used the song a few times when Al did something cool.  One amusing thing – because I know this song so well, I didn’t check the Side A/B issue, and played this song first, then realized after a couple of songs I played Side B first, as this isn’t the first song on the album, it’s the first song of side 2.

Miss LuAnn – Thematically reminds me of Bad to the Bone, but obviously not the same song.

As the Years Go Passing By – Starts slow, and doesn’t get much faster. Wasn’t really into this until the nice guitar solo in the middle of the track. That part was quite good.

No Particular Place to Go – Back to a faster song. It’s a Chuck Berry cover. It’s the only other song I know off the album by looking at the tracks on the album. This kind of thing is a Thorogood strong point (hello One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer). Not a ton to say here, an enjoyable cover.

Wanted Man – A slower song again, but not super slow. It’s a pretty simple guitar blues song. Kind of reminds of a country song in its construction somewhat.

To wrap this up – it was an enjoyable album, but this is probably the first time I’ve listened to it in full. I like Thorogood.  I have several of his albums on CD, including a live album and a greatest hits album, which is usually where I go when I’m in the mood for some Thorogood.  Which is always a good time, great straightforward rock – nothing wrong with that.