Live in Boston, 1982 is one of those live albums that needs no introduction. George Thorogood and the Destroyers are here at their peak, in a concert that captures their raw, dirty, and raw blues-rock with stunning immediacy. The new 2020 Complete Concert edition includes the entire concert, 27 tracks in total, adding 12 previously unreleased live recordings.

The concert took place at Boston’s Bradford Ballroom in 1982, at a time when Thorogood and the Destroyers were really on top. They had just finished a major tour supporting the Rolling Stones, and the band played with the confidence of a band that had found its sound and identity.

The power of the album lies first and foremost in the sound. Thorogood’s guitar is rough, aggressive and full of slide, with no desire to become “beautiful”. It is a guitar that functions more as a machine for producing rhythm and intensity than as a means of demonstrating virtuosity.

Alongside him, Jeff Simon on drums and Billy Blough on bass create an unstoppable rhythm section, while Hank Carter’s saxophone adds a special rock’n’roll and R&B dimension. Ian Stewart, a founding member of the Rolling Stones, also participated on keyboards on this tour, which adds another interesting element to the historical value of the recording.

And all this without unnecessary complexities. Thorogood knows very well what he wants to do and does it loud, fast and without compromise.

The repertoire is essentially a short history of American blues and rock’n’roll through Thorogood’s personal filter.

John Lee Hooker’s “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” turns into a huge, dirty blues-boogie, lasting over 13 minutes. Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” becomes even more aggressive, while Hank Williams’ “Move It on Over” becomes a frantic rockabilly/blues track.

Also excellent is Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying”, where Thorogood briefly leaves the non-stop boogie and shows that beneath the noise and aggression there is a real blues guitarist. “It Wasn’t Me” is another highlight, with the fast fingerpicking really at a high level.

“Bad to the Bone” is probably the song that most people know today, but here it takes on a different meaning. It doesn’t sound like a single hit but like a natural continuation of an entire set full of blues, boogie and rock’n’roll.

The audience is very involved and the atmosphere of the concert comes through the speakers. The live recording has that precious feeling that you are not just listening to a record but are in a crowded American club in 1982.

Boogie, blues, rock’n’roll, slide guitar, hoarseness, saxophone and a non-stop rhythm. The sound remains constant almost throughout.

Live in Boston, 1982: The Complete Concert is George Thorogood without filters. Blues, rock’n’roll, boogie and R&B in an explosive live coexistence. It does not try to be artistically complex; it tries to do the one thing Thorogood knows better than almost anyone: make the guitar sound like it is on fire.

For fans of blues-rock, boogie and the American bar-band sound, this is a must-see live recording.

The full 27-track version, through which I select the song “One Way Ticket“, is clearly preferable to the original 2010 version with 13 tracks, because it allows us to watch the entire concert and not just a selection from it.

Tracklist

A1. House Of Blue Lights 4:41
A2. Kids From Philly 2:22
A3. Who Do You Love 6:45

B1. I’m Wanted 5:19
B2. Cocaine Blues 3:55
B3. One Way Ticket 5:22

C1. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer 13:10
C2. As The Years Go Passing By 4:40

D1. Spoken Introduction: The Dance Floor 1:47
D2. It Wasn’t Me 7:03
D3. Bottom Of The Sea 3:25
D4. Night Time 5:57

E1. New Boogie Chillun’ 7:54
E2. I’ll Change My Style 4:15
E3. Miss Luann 5:44

F1. Madison Blues 5:55
F2. The Sky Is Crying 8:53
F3. Can’t Stop Lovin’ 4:11

G1. Spoken Introduction: Audience Participation 0:51
G2. Same Thing 4:23
G3. Bad To The Bone 5:06
G4. Move It On Over 5:22
G5. Wild Weekend 2:05
G6. Nobody But Me 3:39

H1. No Particular Place To Go 4:37
H2. Ride On Josephine 8:21
H3. Reelin’ And Rockin’ 8:15