REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: Ted Nugent (Page 2 of 2)

TED NUGENT – Double Live Gonzo!

This is another Live record that doesn’t often get a mention when people talk about best Live albums. Recorded over various nights across the US in ’76 and ’77, it was pieced together as a whole live concert. Ted Nugent was a big drawer back in the mid-to-late seventies, and sold tons of records right across the States.

Playing the most un-metal guitar with his Gibson Byrdland, boy did he make that thing squeal. I used to love old school Nuge – he always put on a great show. I lost interest when he went bat shit crazy, but there is no denying that this album is a barn burner. His mantra was always “if it’s too loud. you’re too old”, and believe me, his gigs were deafening. It’s bitten old Teddy in the ass, as he is totally deaf in one ear and has partial hearing in the other.

What you see here is what you get, good old loud and proud shit kicking rock and roll. All tracks are originals, apart from a very over the top Baby Please Don’t Go, there is no let up right from the get go. It’s all killer and no filler, and my favourite tracks are Great White Buffalo, and Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, where it’s all about the guitar and Ted gives his all.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TED NUGENT – Nugent

For the purposes of this review, we will keep this about the music, no matter what you think about Ted’s political leanings. There is no doubt about it that 70’s NUGENT could sure rock with the best of them, hell Double Live Gonzo is a kick ass record. Hands up, I was a big fan of those 70’s albums.

This album was released in ’82 and there is a definite change in sound, it’s a lot more polished and clean sounding record. Derek St Holmes is still providing killer vocals on the tracks that Ted doesn’t sing on, and we are also joined by the great Carmine Appice on drums.

Unfortunately the songs are just not that good, it’s trying too hard to be an LA type of record – when Ted’s just not that guy! Even the cover sees Ted without trademark loincloth for a more polished image. No more wild man Ted! The only Nugent type rockers here are Good And Ready and the last track Tailgunner. Sure Ted can still play a decent lead guitar, it’s just that it can’t lift the album out of mid-table mediocrity.

5/10 from The Grooveman.

TED NUGENT – Free-For-All

Back we go to 1976 to find Ted Nugent on his rise up the ladder.

Kicking things off with the title track, Ted sets the tone for the rest of the record with a good mid-paced rocker. This kicks into the excellent Dog Eat Dog with Derek St Holmes on vocals. Then followed by a slower groovier track with an early appearance on record by Meat Loaf. This is followed by the sides close out track, Turn it Up, which is probably the best track on the album. A great fast paced rocker which doesn’t fail to please.

Side 2 can’t keep up with Side 1, but the great I Love You So I Told You a Lie more than makes up for this. As with all Nugent albums it’s all about the guitar, and at this point in his career, Ted could make that bird land sing. The humour was a big part of Ted’s act at this time, which I don’t mind, it was the loud mouth douchbaggery that turned me off Uncle Ted as it took over the music as the quality of the albums started to wane.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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