Party of One (George Thorogood album)
| Party of One | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | August 4, 2017 |
| Recorded | 2016–2017 |
| Studio | Aum Studio Productions, Bakersfield, CA House Of Blues Studios, Encino, CA |
| Genre | |
| Length | 43:00 46:43 (CD release) |
| Label | Rounder |
| Producer | Jim Gaines |
Party of One is the debut solo album by American blues rock artist George Thorogood. It was released August 4, 2017 by the label Rounder Records.[1][2][3] Party of One is the first album Thorogood recorded and released without his long-time band "the Destroyers".[4]
Background and recording
In 2017, Thorogood returned to his label Rounder Records to release a solo album. Thorogood said: "I guess it was long overdue. The record label (Rounder) had been on me for some time to put out a solo album." It took Thorogood over a year to record the album.[5]
The album was recorded at the House Of Blues Studios, in California,[6] and produced by Jim Gaines.[4][7]
Release and content
Rounder Records released Party of One on August 4, 2017.[1][2][3]
The album is composed entirely of blues covers, from artists Thorogood said "really mean something to me."[8] The album also features a live version of "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" recorded live, at Rockline in 1999.[7]
CD versions of the album also feature a bonus track, "Dynaflow Blues" written by John Ned Shines.[7][9]
Critical reception
Party of One received positive reviews from critics on release.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [10] |
| Classic Rock | [9] |
| Record Collector | [11] |
| Music Connection | 9/10[12] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [13] |
| Exclaim! | 7/10[14] |
| Paris Move | [15] |
AllMusic`s Mark Deming says "Party of One suggests Thorogood has had his greatest success playing rowdy electric blues-rock for a reason -- it's clearly his strong suit -- but 40 years after the release of his debut album, the guy is more than entitled to a change of pace."[10] Matt Bauer of Exclaim! wrote "So, while the all-covers Party of One's primarily acoustic instrumentation — performed entirely by Thorogood — may not what be long-term fans were expecting, there's a true reverence for the blues"[16]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man" | Robert Johnson | 2:52 |
| 2. | "Soft Spot" | Gary Nicholson, Allen Shamblin | 1:44 |
| 3. | "Tallahassee Women" | Tallahassee Tight | 3:10 |
| 4. | "Wang Dang Doodle" | Willie Dixon | 2:42 |
| 5. | "Boogie Chillen" | Bernard Besman, John Lee Hooker | 3:20 |
| 6. | "No Expectations" | Mick Jagger, Keith Richards | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Bad News" | John D. Loudermilk | 3:03 |
| 8. | "Down the Highway" | Bob Dylan | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Got to Move" | Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn | 3:12 |
| 10. | "Born with the Blues" | Brownie McGhee | 2:15 |
| 11. | "The Sky Is Crying" | Elmore James, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson | 4:11 |
| 12. | "The Hookers (If You Miss 'Im...I Got 'Im)" | John Lee Hooker | 3:02 |
| 13. | "Pictures from Life's Other Side" | Traditional | 2:48 |
| 14. | "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" (live from Rockline) | John Lee Hooker | 3:31 |
| Total length: | 43:00 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Dynaflow Blues" | John Ned Shines | 3:43 |
| Total length: | 46:43 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- George Thorogood – vocals, guitar
Technical
- Jim Gaines – producer
- Scott Billington – executive producer
References
- ^ a b Courter, Barry. "Bad to the Bone: Working solo is tough for George Thorogood". Times Free Press.
- ^ a b Kocher, Chris (May 30, 2017). "George Thorogood reaches back to blues heroes on new album". Star-Gazette.
- ^ a b Gugala, Jon (July 20, 2017). "Hear George Thorogood's Solo Acoustic Cover of Hank Williams". Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b Sexton, Paul. "'Party Of One' For Blues-Rock Guitar Hero George Thorogood". uDiscoverMusic.
- ^ Walker, Jeff. "50 Years Later George Thorogood Still 'Bad to the Bone'". Charleston SC.
- ^ Boulay, Dominique. "George THOROGOOD - Party Of One - Paris Move". Paris Move.
- ^ a b c Colothan, Scott (June 28, 2017). "George Thorogood reveals full details of his debut solo album". Rayo.
- ^ Graff, Gary. "Hear George Thorogood Cover Rolling Stones' 'No Expectations' on First Solo Album". Billboard.
- ^ a b Jeffries, Neil (August 11, 2017). "George Thorogood - Party Of One album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Party of One Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Record Collector Review
- ^ Music Connection Review
- ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer Review
- ^ Exclaim! Review
- ^ Paris Move Review
- ^ Bauer, Matt (August 2, 2017). "George Thorogood | Exclaim!". Exclaim!.