# Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood and the Destroyers album)

Bad to the Bone is the fifth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 1982 by the label EMI America Records. The album contains the Destroyers' best known song, "Bad to the Bone", and also features Rolling Stones side-man Ian Stewart on piano. The band promoted the album with a worldwide tour; there was also a large marketing campaign by their label.
A 25th anniversary edition of the album was announced and released in 2007, featuring a bonus track and new re-recordings.

## Background

In 1975, the Destroyers signed a recording contract with Rounder Records. With them, the Destroyers recorded three albums. In 1980, rhythm guitarist Ron Smith left the band, and was replaced by saxophonist Hank "Hurricane" Carter. The next year they toured as a support act for the Rolling Stones on their 1981 U.S. Tour. Also that year the Destroyers embarked embarked on their "50/50" tour, during which Thorogood wrote "Bad to the Bone".
In 1982, with their contract with Rounder Records expiring, the Destroyers signed with EMI America, who would help record and promote the album.

## Recording

Recording of the album began at the Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plains, Boston in late 1981, and finished in early 1982. The album was produced by the Destroyers themselves, although Thorogood said that "whoever engineered the session took credit for being the ‘producer’." The Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart played on the album, and helped record it.

## Songs

The sound of Bad to the Bone remained the same as their previous albums, with more originals written by Thorogood.

### Side one
#### "Back To Wentzville"

"Back To Wentzville" is the opening track of the album. It was written by George Thorogood, who wrote it as a tribute to rock pioneer Chuck Berry. The Destroyers performed the song on Saturday Night Live. The song is described by Gary Graff as a "Chuck Berry-styled rocker".

#### "Blue Highway"

"Blue Highway" was written by Nick Gravenites and David Getz. It is featured on several compilation albums, including "The George Thorogood Collection". "Blue Highway" is one of six songs re-recorded for the 25th Anniversary Edition of the album.

#### "Nobody but Me"

"Nobody but Me" is a cover of the The Human Beinz song of the same name, written by The Isley Brothers. It was the lead single from the album. While the song did not enter the US Billboard Hot 100, it did peak at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart. The song is often played live.

#### "It's a Sin"

"It's a Sin" is a song written by Jimmy Reed. The song is described as an "introspective blues ballad" by Goldmine Magazine.

#### "New Boogie Chillun"

"New Boogie Chillun" is a song written by John Lee Hooker. The song is one of six songs re-recorded for the 25th Anniversary Edition of the album, to a new length of 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

### Side two
#### "Bad to the Bone"

"Bad to the Bone" was released as a single on September 17, 1982. It is often considered Thorogood's best song, and a staple of classic rock radio. The song was not popular upon release, however, its music video received recurrent appearances on MTV. The song's use in films, television, and commercials has since made it more popular.

#### "Miss Luann"

"Miss Luann" is an original written by Thorogood. The guitar hook was inspired by Keith Richards. Vintage Rock describes it as a "good time rocker".

#### "As the Years Go Passing By"

"As the Years Go Passing By" was written by Harrison "Peppermint" Harris but credited to Deadric Malone. The song is described by Gary Graff as a "nice change of pace, slow and soulful with a rich sax solo by Carter."

#### "No Particular Place to Go"

"No Particular Place to Go" is a song written by Chuck Berry. The song is often played in live performances, and is included on several live albums.

#### "Wanted Man"

"Wanted Man" is a song by Johnny Cash, written by Bob Dylan. It is the album's closing track. The song was also re-recorded for the 25th Anniversary Edition of the album. Vintage Rock describes the re-recorded version as a "slightly slower, more ‘acoustic’ version"

### "That Philly Thing"

"That Philly Thing" is an instrumental song, written by Thorogood. It was first released as the B-side to "Nobody but Me", before being included as a bonus track for the 25th anniversary edition of Bad To The Bone. According to Thorogood, EMI America wanted an original for the B-side to "Nobody but Me", so they recorded "That Philly Thing".

## Release

EMI America released Bad To The Bone on August 9, 1982. Copies of the album were shipped on July 26. Bad To The Bone debuted at No. 127, and peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album sold around 275,000 copies in its first two months, and eventually sold more than 500,000 copies. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 7, 1985.
Two tracks from the album were released as singles. "Nobody but Me" was the lead single from the album. It was released in July 1982. The single peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart, and at No. 32 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
"Bad to the Bone" was released September 17, 1982. The song peaked at No. 27 on the Mainstream Rock chart, but was not popular upon release, its music video received recurrent appearances on MTV. The song's use in films, television, and commercials has since made it more popular.

### 2007 re-issue

On August 14, 2007, a special edition of the album was released to mark the 25th anniversary of its original release.
The re-issue featured the "Nobody but Me" Instrumental B-side, "That Philly Thing", as well as six new re-recordings of some of the songs from the album. The re-recordings were recorded at the Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

## Touring and promotion

To support the album, The Destroyers embarked on a worldwide concert tour. First playing shows in Canada in August, and the United States from mid-September to December 1982. In 1983 they played tour dates around the world, first playing 15 sold-out shows in Australia, before going to New Zealand. They also played shows in nightclubs in Japan from February 26 to March 3. After the tour dates in Japan, the band went to Europe to play a series of shows.
A show at the Bradford Hotel in Boston (now the Royale Nightclub) on November 23, 1982, was recorded and released as Live in Boston 1982: The Complete Concert on December 4, 2020, by Craft Recordings.

## Critical reception

Bad to the Bone received positive reviews from critics.
Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B− |
| The Music Box | |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | |
| Record Collector | |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues | |
Lin Brehmer of WQBK wrote "George continues to infuse an old idiom with new life. The album's production sounds crisp and 'Bad To The Bone' and 'Boogie Chillun' are killers." Robert Christgau says "Thorogood has added true boogie power to his blues, so his Diddley and Hooker no longer sound like three-quarter-size juke-joint facsimiles. And in a predictable trade-off, he's added true boogie macho to his persona, so he gets his rocks off complaining about the Mann Act."
AllMusic's Tim Sendra says the album is "Thorogood's finest work and established him as one of the unsung heroes of the age of AOR". The Music Box's John Metzger wrote "While Bad to the Bone still isn't an essential album, it nonetheless is as enjoyable as ever." William Pinfold of Record Collector wrote that "Bad To The Bone may not be George Thorogood's best album (his earlier, grittier work is perhaps more vital), but it's certainly his most typical and perhaps most consistent."

## Track listing
### Original Release

^ Musician James Pobiega (stage name "Little Howlin' Wolf"), has claimed that he wrote "Bad to the Bone" and that George Thorogood stole the song from him.

### 25th anniversary edition
## Personnel

Musicians
* George Thorogood – vocals, guitar
* Billy Blough – bass guitar
* Jeff Simon – drums and percussion
* Hank Carter – saxophone, vocal

### Additional musicians

* Ian Stewart – piano, keyboards
Technical
* The Delaware Destroyers – producers
* John Nagy – assistant producer and engineer
* Ken Irwin – assistant producer
* Paul Mufson – engineer
* Bill Burks - design

## Charts
### Weekly charts

| Chart (1982–1983) | Peak position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 50 |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 31 |
| Canada (RPM) | 11 |
| US Billboard 200 | 43 |

### Year-end charts

| Chart (1982) | Position |
| Canada (RPM) | 78 |
| US Billboard 200 | 182 |

## Certifications

Certifications for Bad To The Bone :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
$^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

| Date | Version |
| August 9, 1982 | Original vinyl |
| February 27, 1989 | Original CD |
| February 27, 1989 | Original cassette |
| August 14, 2007 | 25th Anniversary edition CD |
| March 30, 2018 | Vinyl re-issue |