George Thorogood - Haircut (1993) (Remaster 2002)

George Thorogood - Haircut (1993) (Remaster 2002)

Digitally Remastered Edtion Originally Released in 1993, Thorogood Covers the Usual Suspects, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley. Includes a Solo Acoustic Version of "my Friend Robert". The CD booklet for HAIRCUT features an original eight page cartoon by Peter Bagge.

This is one of the most consistently bluesy of Thorogood's '90s albums, with fewer of the overt goofs and '60s garage-band and punk influences that drove the purists crazy. Instead, it's a big-sounding, mostly serious set, in which Thorogood covers the usual suspects--John Lee Hooker ("Want Ad Blues"), Willie Dixon ("Down in the Bottom," which he probably learned from a Stones bootleg), and Bo Diddley ("Cops and Robbers," ditto). As usual, there are also a couple of changes of pace, in this case a solo acoustic version of "My Friend Robert" (an obscure song by '60s folkie Patrick Sky) and Thorogood's own "Baby Don't Go," an infectious piece of New Wave Tex-Mex, complete with the sort of cheesy organ riffs that hadn't been heard since the late '70s heyday of Joe "King" Carrasco. The hit from the album, of course, was the deliberately snot-nosed "Get a Haircut," but the album's actual centerpiece is the astounding "Killer's Bluze," which is in fact a six-minute death threat set to the riff from "I'm a Man." Eminem, eat your heart out...D. Jellinc

Thorogood is one of those artists, erm, let me rephrase that... He's one of those people who never let you down. With every album they make, you know exactly what to expect. With him it's rock with tongue in cheek lyrics about drinking and being bad. If you're looking for deep lyrics, don't even bother with The Destroyers. If you're looking for pop hooks and fancy production, don't look here. However, if you're looking for something that you can blast out from your car stereo while cruising around, George's the man for that. (disclaimer: I'm not to be blamed for any possible speeding tickets you get as a result of that). That said, the album is pure rock 'n' roll boogie from head to toe. To single out one track from the others would be pretty near impossible so I wont even try. Only "Me And My Friend Robert" stand out even a little bit, and that's mainly because of it's more laid back blues style, which is somewhat obvious considering it's written as a homage to the late great Robert Johnson. As for what makes this album better than any of his other ones? There isn't really any single reason for that, he's always done his own thing and he doesn't change it for this album either. However songs like "Haircut" and "Gone Dead Train" just simply make me instantly feel good. The album just simply feels more consistent than most of his other albums, including the classics Move It On Over and Bad To The Bone. You wouldn't expect any changes from George Thorogood, whose pile-driving rocking-blues and boogie have maintained their appeal despite the emergence of numerous similar-sounding ensembles. Thorogood's rough-hewn singing and always tantalizing playing are on target through the usual mix of originals and covers (this time including Bo Diddley and Willie Dixon). Besides the bonus of major label engineering and production, Thorogood's work has never lost its edge because he avoids becoming indulgent or a parody, and continues to sound genuinely interested in and a fan of the tunes he's doing...R. Wynn

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Line-up

George Thorogood (vocals, guitar)
Hank Carter (saxophone, keyboards, background vocals)
Bill Blough (bass)
Jeff Simon (drums)

Tracklist:

01 Get a Haircut 4:12
02 Howlin' for My Baby 5:14
03 Killer's Bluze 6:10
04 Down In The Bottom 4:03
05 I'm Ready 3:36
06 Cops and Robbers 4:50
07 Gone Dead Train 4:07
08 Want Ad Blues 5:06
09 My Friend Robert 2:30
10 Baby Don't Go 3:24