Album review: GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS – Ride ‘Til I Die/The Hard Stuff

Eagle Records [Release date 07.10.13]

A nice little two discs in one set from Eagle Records of ‘The Hard Stuff’ originally released in 2006 and ‘Ride ‘Til I Die’ which came out in 2003. George Thorogood & the Destroyers are definitely an act you appreciate more live, as although good on albums, you don’t capture the energy they all put into the live show especially George Thorogood who plays his slide and guitar solos as though his life depended on it!

‘Ride ‘Til I Die’ features lots of good covers like ‘Don’t Let The Bossman Down’ (which features the original songwriter Elvin Bishop guesting on lead guitar) and the Nick Lowe tune, ‘That’s It I Quit’, which sounds like a Thorogood original as the song fits the band’s playing and his vocals perfectly. The album only has one original in ‘Sweet Little Lady’, a typical slide led stomper.

‘The Hard Stuff’ has more musical variety from the lovely bluesy instrumental ‘Cool It!’, penned by his long time guitarist Jim Suhler through the acoustic blues of ‘Dynaflow Blues’ featuring some lovely guitar picking.

Again he picks covers that were made for his style of no frills blues rock like ‘Rock Party’ and ‘Love Doctor’. Nice musical diversion with the Bob Dylan cover ‘Drifter’s Escape’, a tune with a country hint to it. ’Give Me Back My Wig’ is simply superb, a feast of slide soloing and fast paced blues rock.

Both albums finish with a John Lee Hooker tune, ‘Huckle Up Baby’ on this album and the title track on the other album. Both are great ways to round off two enjoyable albums and at a budget price well worth adding to your collection.

**** for both albums

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)