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2120 South Michigan Ave.

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For The Rolling Stones instrumental, see 2120 South Michigan Avenue.
2120 South Michigan Ave.
Studio album by
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
ReleasedJune 12, 2011
Recorded2011
StudioHouse of Blues Studio, Encino, CA
Route 44 Studio, Sebastopol, CA
Rax Trax Studios, Chicago, IL
GenreBlues rock, boogie rock
Length46:05
LabelCapitol
ProducerTom Hambridge
George Thorogood and the Destroyers chronology
The Dirty Dozen
(2009) 		2120 South Michigan Ave.
(2011)
Singles from 2120 South Michigan Ave.
  1. "Going Back"
    Released: July 2011

2120 South Michigan Ave. is the fifteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 12, 2011 by the label Capitol Records.[1][2] The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.[3]

The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records in Chicago.[4][5] The album itself is a tribute to Chess Records.[1][6]

Background

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Recording of this album started sometime in 2011, Capitol Records approached Thorogood with the idea for the album and selected most of the songs.[1] Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite perform on the album,[7] although their work was added after primary recording was complete.[1] The album was produced by Tom Hambridge.[8]

Release and content

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Capitol Records released 2120 South Michigan Ave. on June 12, 2011.[1][2] The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart.[5][3] "Going Back" was the lead single from the album.[9]

The album contains ten covers of songs recorded on Chess Records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters; plus a cover of The Rolling Stones' instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue" and two original songs about Chess Records artists.[5][10][11]

Critical reception

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2120 South Michigan Ave. received positive reviews from critics.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Daily VaultB[13]
Record Collector[14]
PopMatters8/10[15]
The Republican[16]

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote "George Thorogood & the Destroyers have never made their debt to Chess Records a secret, so an album-length tribute to the home of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley is a logical move for the rough and tumble blues-rockers."[8] Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen says "2120 South Michigan Avenue will be a treat to not only that fanbase, but to students of classic blues music – and, if the listener learns something while enjoying this disc, all the better."[17] William Pinfold of Record Collector wrote "That said, from the slightly cheesy influence-referencing Going Back to the final Stones cover, it’s a wholly enjoyable album with heart and soul to spare. Blues artists have usually gotten better with age and it seems that George Thorogood is following that tradition."[18]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Going Back"Tom Hambridge, George Thorogood3:24
2."Hi-Heel Sneakers" (featuring Buddy Guy)Robert Higginbotham3:29
3."Seventh Son"Willie Dixon3:07
4."Spoonful"Dixon4:13
5."Let It Rock"Chuck Berry2:55
6."Two Trains Running (Still a Fool)"McKinley Morganfield5:13
7."Bo Diddley"Ellas McDaniel3:08
8."Mama Talk to Your Daughter"J. B. Lenoir, Alex Atkins2:30
9."Help Me"Dixon, Aleck "Rice" Miller, Ralph Bass4:02
10."My Babe" (featuring Charlie Musselwhite)Dixon3:20
11."Willie Dixon's Gone"Hambridge, Thorogood3:12
12."Chicago Bound"James A. Lane2:59
13."2120 South Michigan Ave." (featuring Charlie Musselwhite)Nanker Phelge4:38

Personnel

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The following personnel are credited on the album:[19]

Delaware Destroyers

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  • George Thorogood – lead guitar, rhythm guitar and slide guitar, vocals
  • Bill Blough – bass
  • Buddy Leach – saxophones
  • Jeff Simon – drums
  • Jim Suhler – rhythm and lead guitar

Additional musicians

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Technical

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  • Tom Hambridge – producer
  • Mike Donahue – executive producer
  • Harry Gale – engineer
  • Mike Tholen – engineer
  • Shawn Berman – engineer
  • Susan Lavoie – art direction
  • Mark Holley – design
  • Brian To – photography

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Interview: George Thorogood Discusses His New Album, '2120 South Michigan Ave.'". Guitar World. June 20, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Release Details | PopMatters". PopMatters.
  3. ^ a b "George Thorogood Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation". Explore Chicago. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c uDiscover Team (March 8, 2020). "George Thorogood - Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist". uDiscover Music.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic.
  7. ^ M. Junior, Chris. "George Thorogood drops by '2120 South Michigan Avenue'". Goldmine Magazine.
  8. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "2120 South Michigan Ave. Review". AllMusic.
  9. ^ Wardlaw, Matt (June 2, 2011). "George Thorogood, 'Going Back' – Song Review". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  10. ^ Braidis, Pete (June 28, 2016). "45". Unstrung Heroes: Fifty Guitar Greats You Should Know. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 9781507300145.
  11. ^ Triplett, Gene (July 22, 2011). "CD review: George Thorogood and the Destroyers '2120 South Michigan Ave.'". The Oklahoman.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. 2120 South Michigan Ave. at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  13. ^ Daily Vault Review
  14. ^ Record Collector Review
  15. ^ PopMatters Review
  16. ^ The Republican Review
  17. ^ Thelen, Christopher. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers: | Daily Vault". Daily Vault.
  18. ^ Pinfold, William (September 7, 2011). "2120 South Michigan Avenue | George Thorogood & The Destroyers". Record Collector.
  19. ^ "2120 South Michigan Ave. - George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
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