George Thorogood And The Destroyers – The Baddest Show On Earth
UMG Recordings, Inc.
11 Tracks – 70 minutes
Score one for the promise of truth in advertising. This collection is a raucous batch of guitarist George Thorogood’s enduring tracks, served up live to appreciative audiences across North America over a 45 year span. What makes this release special is that only three tracks have been previously issued while the rest, according to the liner notes, “brings together the most scorching Destroyer performances we could find.”
Thorogood’s cover of Bo Diddley’s classic “Who Do You Love” gets things into high gear right out of the gate, with the guitarist firing off wicked slide licks over the driving rhythm laid down by Jeff Simon on drums and Bill Blough on bass. Simon has been a Destroyer from the beginning while Blough’s tenure has now stretched across six decades A second number from the same show, recorded in 1980 at the Agora Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, is another standout performance as Thorogood leads off with a spirited take on John Lee Hooker’s “House Rent Blues” before sliding into “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” a song that helped him establish his career. Over the frequent screams from the audience, Thorogood rips through a menacing rendition, the energy never flagging, leading to him trading licks with Hank Carter on tenor saxophone.
The earliest tracks date from shows in 1978. “Ride On Josephine,” released on the Live In Boston 1982 on Rounder Records in 2010, is another tune from Bo Diddley, sporting the famous Diddley beat and Thorogood’s raw vocal about an infatuation with women and automobiles. Borrowing another from the Hooker catalog, the band’s 12 minute version of “Boogie Chillun” recorded at the El Mocambo in Toronto, Canada, aptly incorporates the gritty elements of their approach in addition to their relentless, rough & tumble enthusiasm.
The three previously issued cuts are from a 1982 show in Boston. Thorogood’s version of Hank William’s “Move It Over,” originally released on the Live In Boston 1982 on Rounder Records in 2010, has always been a crowd-pleaser, as the audience makes clear during a spirited exchange. Hank Carter certainly earned his keep with his hard blowing throughout. The other two cuts were included on a 2020 release, Live In Boston, 1982: The Complete Concert. Thorogood pays homage to one of his primary influences on “Madison Blues,” doing his best to pay respects to to the legacy of the slide guitar master Elmore James, complete with taut guitar licks and more fiery sax blowing from Carter. Thorogood wrote “Bad To The Bone,” and while this performance doesn’t offer anything new, it epitomizes the band’s strengths that have allowed them to still be a top draw on the concert circuit.
Another Thorogood original, “Born To Be Bad,” was recorded in Sarasota, Florida, two years ago. Thorogood’s vocal tone seems to have mellowed a bit but the band rocks as hard as ever, with Jim Suhler on guitar and Buddy Leach taking over on tenor sax. They both get an opportunity to shine on an instrumental run-through of Memphis Slim’s “Steppin’ Out.” The band goes full-tilt boogie on Howlin’ Wolf’s “Howlin’ For My Baby,” a blistering rendition that leaves subtlety far behind.
Willie Dixon wrote “Tail Dragger” but Howlin’ Wolf brought the song to life. Thorogood introduces the song with a guitar soliloquy. When the Destroyers join in, they unleash an interpretation that sizzles and crackles with a primal energy that leaves a lasting impression.
Long-time Thorogood fans probably have several recordings of many of these songs. The lure here is the unreleased versions, and the promise that these are the best of the best live performances. There is no way to prove that claim, but rest assured that what this release does offer is Thorogood and the Destroyers doing what they do best across the decades without a hint of losing their stride. Their approach is simple, but they do it quite well.
