I had forgotten how good George Thorogood and the Destroyers are. The commercial success of the song “Bad to the Bone” and several of the songs on the album of the same name numbed my perspective of their talent. We’ve heard songs like “Bad to the Bone”, “Nobody But Me” and “No Particular Place to Go” over and over and over again. Its like those songs are everywhere you go making it a shame that something so good can get so watered down. Alas, in the end, more George Thorogood can only be a good thing. You’ll be pleased to find out that this week Capitol/EMI is bringing back the seminal album Bad to the Bone as a 25th Anniversary Edition digitally remastered from the original master tapes. Ordinarily, I would greet this news with apathy but to my delight the album contains a rare B-side and an additional six new recordings of album tracks that make the originals seem boring by most accounts. My favorite of these tracks is a new recording of “Blue Highway” which is enhanced by the melodious runs of a steel pedal guitar. Brilliant!
Download: Blue Highway (MP3)*
[audio:http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/2/343660/12%20Blue%20Highway%20%28New%20Recording%29.mp3]
The album really is fantastic and is sure to take you back to a bygone time but it also punctuates the fact that the band is still alive and rocking. Be sure and catch them on tour this summer in your town.
Upcoming Tour Dates
08/15/07 Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
08/16/07 Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Casino
08/17/07 Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino
08/18/07 Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino
08/19/07 Block Island, RI – Spring House Hotel
08/22/07 Westbury, NY – Music Fair
08/23/07 Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues
08/24/07 Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
08/25/07 DuBois, PA – Treasure Lake Resort
08/26/07 Richmond, VA – Toads Place
09/21/07 Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
09/22/07 Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
10/05/07 Murphys, CA – Ironstone Vineyards
I apparently missed my opportunity at the Birchmere in Arlington, VA earlier this summer. But thankfully Sean Moore of HickoryWind.org was there to capture the event. Check out Sean’s review of the show.
*MP3 posted with permission from Sideways Media.
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.