George Thorogood and the Destroyers (album)

1977 studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Studio album by

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Released| August 16, 1977
Recorded| 1976–1977
Studio| Dimension Sound Studios, Boston, Massachusetts
Genre|

* Blues rock
* boogie rock

Length| 45:10
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'" / "Homesick Boy"
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. 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.

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

## Background

[edit]

George Thorogood formed the Delaware Destroyers in 1973, together with high school friend and drummer Jeff Simon. The band went through several lineup changes, before eventually settling on Thorogood and Ron "Roadblock" Smith on guitars, Simon on drums, and Billy Blough on bass. In July 1975, the band was discovered by John Forward, and he helped them secure a recording contract with Rounder Records. Recording of the album began shortly after.[1][2]

## Content

[edit]

The album mostly consists of covers of old blues hits, but also contains two originals, written by Thorogood.

"You Got To Lose" was written by Earl Hooker, while "Madison Blues" and "Can't Stop Lovin'", were written by Elmore James. 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. "Kind Hearted Woman", written by Robert Johnson, is a country-blues ballad with acoustic guitar and mournful vocals.[3]

Side two opens with "Ride On Josephine", written by Ellas McDaniel, better known as Bo Diddley. "Homesick Blues" is one of the two originals, written by Thorogood. "John Hardy" is a traditional song, based on the real-life killing of a man named Thomas Drews, after he got into an argument with a man named John Hardy. "I'll Change My Style" is a ballad written by William Parker and Manuel Villa. The album's closer is "Delaware Slide," the second original by Thorogood.[4][5]

## Release

[edit]

Rounder Records released George Thorogood and the Destroyers on August 16, 1977.[2][6] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 6, 1992.[7] "Can't Stop Lovin'" was released as a single,[8] with "Homesick Boy" as its B-Side.[9]

### 2015 remix

[edit]

In 2015 Rounder released George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers,[10] 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".[11]

## Critical reception

[edit]

George Thorogood and the Destroyers received positive reviews from critics.

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [12]
Christgau's Record Guide| B[13]
Daily Vault| B[14]
DownBeat| [15]
PopMatters| 6/10[16]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings| [17]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide| [18]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues| [19]

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."[20] 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."[21]

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."[22] 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."[23]

## Track listing

[edit]

### Original release

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(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 James| 3:04

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Ride On Josephine"| Ellas McDaniel| 4:17
2.| "Homesick Boy"| George Thorogood| 3:02
3.| "John Hardy"| Traditional| 3:18
4.| "I'll Change My Style"| William Parker, Manuel Villa| 3:57
5.| "Delaware Slide"| George Thorogood| 7:45
Total length:| 45:10

### George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers (2015)

[edit]

George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers track listingNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "You Got to Lose"| Earl Hooker| 3:25
2.| "Madison Blues"| Elmore James| 4:28
3.| "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"| John Lee Hooker| 8:30
4.| "Kind Hearted Woman" (*)| Robert Johnson| 4:23
5.| "Ride On Josephine"| Ellas McDaniel| 4:24
6.| "Can't Stop Lovin'"| Elmore James| 3:36
7.| "Homesick Boy"| George Thorogood| 3:16
8.| "John Hardy" (*)| Traditional| 3:33
9.| "I'll Change My Style"| William Parker, Manuel Villa| 4:09
10.| "Delaware Slide"| George Thorogood| 8:05
11.| "Goodbye Baby"| Elmore James| 3:27
Total length:| 51:16

(*) Tracks omitted from the vinyl release[24]

## Personnel

[edit]

### Musicians

[edit]

* George Thorogood – lead guitar, slide guitar, vocals; harmonica on "John Hardy"
* Ron "Roadblock" Smith – rhythm guitar
* Billy Blough – bass guitar
* Jeff Simon – drums

### Technical

[edit]

* Ken Irwin – producer
* John Nagy – engineer
* Susan Marsh – design
* Henry Horenstein – photography (front cover)
* Sam Clover – photography (back cover)

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1978)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[25] | 52
UK Albums (OCC)[26] | 67

## Certifications and sales

[edit]

Region  | Certification  | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[27] | Platinum  | 80,000^
United States (RIAA)[28] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic.
2. ^ a b uDiscover Team (March 8, 2020). "George Thorogood - Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist". uDiscover Music.
3. ^ Poling, Dean (March 19, 2010). "Bad to the Funny Bone: A Strange Conversation with George Thorogood". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
4. ^ "Archive Review: George Thorogood's George Thorogood & the Destroyers / Move It On Over (1977 & 1978)". That Devil Music. October 20, 2023.
5. ^ Draper, Jason. "GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS". Craft Recordings.
6. ^ BurnSilver, Glenn (February 25, 2014). "George Thorogood: "Sometimes the Fear of Failure Is Greater Than the Thrill of Success"". Phoenix New Times.
7. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA.
8. ^ "New Spins" (PDF). Record Mirror. May 6, 1978. p. 43 - via World Radio History.
9. ^ "Releases Index" (PDF). Music Week. May 27, 1978. p. 62 - via World Radio History.
10. ^ "George Thorogood Releasing Stripped-Down Version of Debut Album". George Thorogood Official website.
11. ^ "George Thorogood And The Delaware Destroyers". Georgethorogood.com.
12. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "George Thorogood & the Destroyers – George Thorogood & the Destroyers,George Thorogood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ Daily Vault Review
15. ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). DownBeat. July 13, 1977. p. 34 - via World Radio History.
16. ^ PopMatters Review
17. ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 652\. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
18. ^ The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. 1999. p. 654.
19. ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin. 1998. p. 346.
20. ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 17, 1977. p. 22 - via World Radio History.
21. ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. September 10, 1977. p. 100 - via World Radio History.
22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Review". AllMusic.
23. ^ Bowling, David (August 21, 2013). "George Thorogood And The Destroyers: | Daily Vault". Daily Vault.
24. ^ "Rounder Records to Release Limited Edition of Original Mix of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Debut Album". George Thorogood official website.
25. ^ 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.
26. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 26/11/1978 | Official Charts". Official Charts.
27. ^ "Canadian album certifications – George Thorogood – George Thorogood and the Destroyers". Music Canada.
28. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA.

* v
* t
* e

George Thorogood

Studio albums|

* George Thorogood and the Destroyers
* Move It On Over
* Better Than the Rest
* More George Thorogood and the Destroyers
* Bad to the Bone
* Maverick
* Nadine
* Born to Be Bad
* Boogie People
* Haircut
* Rockin' My Life Away
* Half a Boy/Half a Man
* Ride 'Til I Die
* The Hard Stuff
* The Dirty Dozen
* 2120 South Michigan Ave.

Solo album|

* Party of One

Live albums|

* Live
* Live: Let's Work Together
* 30th Anniversary Tour: Live
* Live in Boston 1982

Compilation albums|

* The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers
* Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock

Singles|

* "Bad to the Bone"
* "Rock and Roll Christmas"
* "Gear Jammer"
* "I Drink Alone"
* "Willie and the Hand Jive"
* "Treat Her Right"
* "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)"
* "Get a Haircut"

Songs|

* "Madison Blues"
* "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"
* "Move It On Over"
* "Who Do You Love?"

Other articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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