| Bad to the Bone | |
| Type: | Studio Album |
| Artist: | George Thorogood and the Destroyers |
| Cover: | George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone.jpg |
| Released: | August 9, 1982 |
| Recorded: | 1981–1982 |
| Studio: | Dimension Sound Studios, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 41:38 75:33 (25th Anniversary Edition) |
| Label: | EMI America |
| Producer: | The Delaware Destroyers |
| Prev Title: | More George Thorogood & The Destroyers |
| Prev Year: | 1980 |
| Next Title: | Maverick |
| Next Year: | 1985 |
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". The album also features Rolling Stones side-man Ian Stewart on piano.[1]
A 25th anniversary edition of the album was released in 2007, featuring new bonus tracks.[2]
EMI America released Bad To The Bone on August 9, 1982. The album eventually sold more than 550,000 copies, mostly in the United States.
Two tracks from the album were released as singles, "Nobody but Me" is a cover of the The Human Beinz song of the same name. The single was released in July, 1982. 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.[3]
"Bad to the Bone" was released September 17, 1982. While the single did not chart, and 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.
In August 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 new re-recordings of some of the songs from the album.[4]
Bad to the Bone received positive reviews from critics. 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".[5] Robert Christgau says "He's added true boogie macho to his persona, so he gets his rocks off complaining about the Mann Act."[6] 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."[7]
^ 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.[8]
Musicians
Technical
| Chart (1982/83) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 50 | |
| Canada (RPM) | 78 | |
| United States (Billboard 200) | 43 |
| Canada (Music Canada)[10] | Gold | 50,000^ | |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |