GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS

2120 South Michigan Avenue

2011-08-01

Nick's Picks: 01 Going Back 02 High Heel Sneakers 03 Seventh Son 04 ..... shucks, you can't go wrong with any of them!

George Thorogood may not be the most popular musician around; however, his song and video of "Bad To The Bone" is one of the most-recognized and most borrowed song of any musician - bar none. Of course it helps to be well-versed in the blues, and this man (and his band The Destroyers) knows the blues. The basis for this cd, in fact, is the address of the old Chess Records label- a label which many of the great Chicago blues players owe their recording careers. George and his band pay tribute to this legendary recording studio, and are joined by a few "graduates" of same. A few of the songs on this record were written by the most prolific writer and (some say) the founder of the Chicago Blues - the great Willie Dixon ("Seventh Son", "Spoonful", "Help Me", "My Babe"). George and his band do Willie quite proud on these cuts - abetted on "My Babe" by the great Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica. Right out of the box we hear a most-definite Thorogood-penned tune that pays a rollicking tribute to the Chicago Blues - "Going Back" to 2120 South Michigan Avenue. And then we jump jive right into "High Heel Sneakers", with a righteous assist by none other than the current King of Chicago Blues - Mr. Buddy (so tight he squeaks when he walks) Guy. If you don't think it gets better than this - keep listening. Although George Thorogood has a very distinctive singing voice, his axe slinging is nothing short of awesome! ("That Spoon", "Let It Rock"). From there we hear one of the few slow songs on the record ("Two Trains Running"), but even on the slow ones (a Muddy Waters tune, no less) George and his axe still dominate. And the axeman cometh ("Talk To Your Daughter", "Help Me"). Lest we forget - it takes a whole band to make the lead guitar and singer shine, and The Destroyers have four of the best and tightest: Jeff Simon on drums, Billy Blough on bass, Jim Suhler on guitar, and Buddy Leach on piano & sax. And they get their opportunity to strut their stuff on the only instrumental cut of the album - accompanied, again, by the great Charlie Mussellwhite on harmonica ("2120 South Michigan Avenue"). Whew, I need a cigarette. And that's my two nickels' worth...........................Nick

FCC ALERT: "None here"

ARTIST BIO: George Thorogood (born February 24, 1950) is a blues rock  vocalist /guitarist  from Wilmington, Delaware  known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone " as well as for covers of blues standards  such as Hank Williams ' "Move It On Over " and John Lee Hooker 's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer ". Another favorite is a cover of Bo Diddley 's "Who Do You Love? ". George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers have released 16 studio albums, including two that were certified Platinum  and six that have been certified Gold . The band has sold 15 million albums worldwide. The band is credited with the early success of Rounder Records .[1]

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