Bad to the Bone
| "Bad to the Bone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by George Thorogood and the Destroyers | ||||
| from the album Bad to the Bone | ||||
| B-side | "No Particular Place to Go (Live)" | |||
| Released | September 17, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | April, 1982 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:52 3:36 (single edit)[1] 7:05 (25th Anniversary Edition) | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Songwriter(s) | George Thorogood | |||
| Producer(s) | The Delaware Destroyers | |||
| George Thorogood and the Destroyers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Bad to the Bone" on YouTube | ||||
"Bad to the Bone" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in 1982 on the album of the same name by EMI America Records.[2] It was written by George Thorogood.
"Bad to the Bone" became a staple of classic rock radio.[3] It is on many compilation and live albums, and is often played live by the Destroyers. The song is often considered to be their best song.[4]
Writing and composition
[edit]George Thorogood wrote "Bad to the Bone" sometime during their 50/50 tour. It took "a few months" for Thorogood to write the song,[3] while the lyrics took longer to write.[5] Thorogood said "If we don’t write a song called ‘Bad to the Bone,’ somebody else will, so it might as well be us."[6]
Thorogood first wanted Muddy Waters to record the song, but his manager declined the offer.[5][7] He then asked Bo Diddley to record the song,[8] but he didn't have a recording deal at the time, so the Destroyers ended up recording it instead.[3][5]
"Bad to the Bone" was written in open G tuning and makes use of a slide.[9] The song adapts the hook and lyrics of Muddy Waters' 1955 song "Mannish Boy".[10][11]
Recording
[edit]Recording of the song took place in the Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plains, Boston in April 1982.[5][12] Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart helped record, and played piano on the song.[2]
Release
[edit]"Bad to the Bone" was first released in 1982 as the title track to their fifth studio album, before being released as a single on September 17.[2] The song peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[13] Although the single was not widely popular upon its initial release, its music video made recurrent appearances on MTV, created a year before.[14]
Music video
[edit]The video intercuts a live performance by Thorogood and his band with footage of him entering a pool hall and challenging Bo Diddley[6][7] to a game. Word of the challenge quickly spreads throughout the neighborhood, and a spectator brings pool player Willie Mosconi from an adjoining boxing gym where he is watching a fight. Mosconi wagers a large sum of money on Diddley, and the game lasts several hours, with Thorogood gaining the advantage.
As the video ends, Thorogood attempts to sink the 8-ball but leaves it sitting at the edge of a pocket. He grins and flicks ashes onto the floor from a cigar he has been smoking throughout the game, causing just enough of a disturbance to sink the ball, and the children gathered outside the pool hall celebrate his victory.[15]
Critical reception
[edit]"Bad to the Bone" was received positively by critics. Author Jim Beviglia opined that despite the song not landing on the Hot 100 chart, it "outstrips all other 80s songs in terms of the way it has essentially become cultural shorthand".[16] The song eventually became their signature song, being performed at every concert.[17]
Personnel
[edit]- George Thorogood – vocals and electric guitar
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Hank Carter – saxophone
- Billy Blough – bass
- Jeff Simon – drums
Authorship claim
[edit]Chicago area musician James Pobiega, who goes by the stage name "Little Howlin' Wolf", has claimed that he wrote "Bad to the Bone" and that Thorogood stole it from him.[7][18]
References
[edit]- ^ "News & Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 2, 1982. p. 8 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b c Friedlander, Matt. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers' 'Bad to the Bone' album celebrates 40th b-b-b-b-b-birthday". ABC Audio Digital Syndication.
- ^ a b c Wardlaw, Matt. "The Story Behind George Thorogood's Slow-Developing 'Bad to the Bone'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ Graff, Gary. "'Bad to the Bone': Beyond George Thorogood's Hit Song". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ a b c d Yates, Henry. "The story behind George Thorogood & The Destroyers' Bad To The Bone". Classic Rock.
- ^ a b Fraley, Jason. "George Thorogood ready to rock Wolf Trap with 'Bad to the Bone' hits". WTOP News.
- ^ a b c Uitti, Jacob. "The Meaning Behind the Rousing Classic Rock Song "Bad to the Bone"". American Songwriter.
- ^ "George Thorogood Interview 2014". earlofnewt.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ "Bad To The Bone by George Thorogood". Guitar Alliance.
- ^ Fender.com, Muddy Waters. "Learn How to Play 'Mannish Boy' by Muddy Waters". Fender.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Bad to the Bone. "Rolling Stone Magazine". Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ Adam. "George Thorogood & The Destroyers 'Bad to the Bone' Turns (almost) 40". ROCK 92.9.
- ^ "George Thorogood Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Rotter, Joshua. "George Thorogood revisits his career-making album 25 years later". Recordnet.
- ^ "George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone (Music Video)". YouTube.
- ^ Jim Beviglia. "'Bad to the Bone' by George Thorogood and the Destroyers." Playing Back the 80s: A Decade of Unstoppable Hits. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. ISBN 9781538116401 p. 79.
- ^ McStea, Mark (December 16, 2022). "George Thorogood's Top Five Career-Defining Destroyers Tracks". Guitar Player.
- ^ Mehr, Bob (10 November 2005). "Out of the Wilderness". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
