Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock

by George Thorogood

Overview

Released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of George Thorogood & the Destroyers -- their first album may not have come out until 1977, but they cut their first sessions in 1974 -- Capitol's Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock was designed to replace 1992's The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers as the band's definitive single-disc overview. Considering that the 1992 disc is out of print (as is the exhaustive and exhausting 1997 double-disc set Anthology), this does indeed stand as the best compilation currently in print, and even edges out Baddest by running a little bit longer and containing more of his late-'80s/early-'90s radio hits. Thing is, it doesn't contain all of his hits -- "Treat Her Right," which was on the previous comp, is missing, as are several other charting songs: "Born to Be Bad," "Hello Little Girl," "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man," "Howlin' for My Baby," "Gone Dead Train," and "I Don't Trust Nobody." Chances are, most listeners won't notice that they are missing since not only are all of his big hits here -- "Madison Blues," "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," "Move It on Over," "Who Do You Love," "Bad to the Bone," "I Drink Alone," "Gear Jammer," "Willie and the Hand Jive," "You Talk Too Much," "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)," "Get a Haircut" -- but because all of his songs pretty much sound exactly the same, all in the same key with the same riffs, same guitar licks, same lunkheaded vocals. For anybody who is not a fan, this makes listening to George Thorogood a maddening experience, but fans will find this to be a satisfying overview, even if it falls just short of being complete. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/18/2004
Label:	Capitol/Emi Records / Capitol
UPC:	0724359843025
Rank:	24457

Tracks

1. Madison Blues
2. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
3. Move It on Over
4. Who Do You Love?
5. Bad to the Bone
6. I Drink Alone
7. Gear Jammer
8. Willie and the Hand Jive
9. The Sky Is Crying
10. Reelin' & Rockin'
11. You Talk Too Much
12. If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)
13. Get a Haircut
14. Rockin' My Life Away
15. American Made
16. Who Do You Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

George Thorogood   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Destroyers   Primary Artist
George Thorogood & the Destroyers   Primary Artist
Jimmy Woods   Harmonica

Technical Credits

Joel Selvin   Liner Notes
John Lee Hooker   Composer
Johnny Otis   Composer
Michael Donahue   Executive Producer
M. Levy   Composer
Diana Barnes   Art Direction
Jim Gaines   Producer
Terry Manning   Producer,Mastering
Steve Hunter   Composer
Kevin Flaherty   Compilation Producer
Bill Birch   Composer
Kevin Irwin   Producer
John Nagy   Producer
Ken Irwin   Assistant,Producer
Henry Diltz   Photography
Delaware Destroyers   Producer
George Thorogood   Producer,Composer
Tom Rothrock   Remixing
Hank Williams   Composer
David Avery   Composer
Mack Vickery   Composer
Ellas McDaniel   Composer
Donald Bailey   Design
Elmore James   Composer
Charlie Midnight   Composer
Clarence Lewis   Composer
Chuck Berry   Composer