Born to Be Bad (album)

Born to Be Bad is the seventh studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on January 13, 1988, by the label EMI America Records.^[1][2][3] The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200,^[4][5] and was on the charts for 24 weeks.^[6]

Born to Be Bad
Studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Released	January 13, 1988
Recorded	August 1987
Studio	Ardent Studios Alpha Sound, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre	Blues rock boogie rock
Length	38:35
Label	EMI America
Producer	Terry Manning The Destroyers
George Thorogood and the Destroyers chronology
Nadine (1986) Born to Be Bad (1988) Boogie People (1991)
Singles from Born to Be Bad
"You Talk Too Much" Released: 1988 "Born to Be Bad" Released: 1988 "Treat Her Right" Released: 1988

Background

In 1982, the Destroyers signed a recording contract with EMI America,^[7] and released 3 gold albums, Bad to the Bone, Maverick, and Live.^[8] In 1987, the Destroyers embarked on a three-week club tour, after which they began recording of Born to Be Bad.^[9]

Steve Chrismar joined the band on rhythm guitar sometime before recording of the album began.^[10]

Recording

Recording of the album began in August 1987, at the Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.^[11] Terry Manning, who produced the band's previous album,^[12] returned to produce and engineer Born to Be Bad.^[11][13] The Destroyers also helped with producing the album.^[14]

Release

EMI America released Born to Be Bad on January 13, 1988.^[1][2][3] The album debuted at No. 84,^[15] and peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200,^[4][5] and spent 24 weeks on the chart.^[6] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 8, 1988.^[2]

Three tracks from the album were released as singles. "You Talk Too Much", written by Thorogood, was the lead single from the album.^[3] The song peaked at number 4 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.^[5] "Born to Be Bad", also written by Thorogood, peaked at number 3 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.^[5] "Treat Her Right", a cover of the Roy Head song, was the third single, and peaked at number 39 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[16]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[17]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues	[18]

Born to Be Bad received generally mixed reviews from critics.

A Cash Box reviewer called the album a "polished package of their inimitable rock and roll", and that the album is "chock-full of AOR gems".^[14] Steve Newton of The Georgia Straight wrote "When it comes to party-time, rockin' blues, few people deliver with the same kind of no-frills, honest urgency as George Thorogood. Well, the bad-ass guitar ace from Wilmington, Delaware, has come through with another sturdy collection of originals and classic blues covers that should keep his constantly growing legion of fans more than satisfied."^[19] Billboard magazine wrote that "there isn't much that's new or original in the music", but that "Thorogood's hearty performance style and cadre of loyal fans, should win him a slot high on the charts."^[20] The Gavin Report's Ron Fell says "The album at hand is mostly a collection of high-spirited covers of rockin' blues from Memphis and beyond. And they're not just covers. They lend integrity to the oldies by toughening them up, not by making them contemporary."^[21]

George Thorogood considers Born to Be Bad and Ride 'Til I Die the best albums he ever made.^[22]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Shake Your Money Maker"	Elmore James	3:29
2.	"You Talk Too Much"	George Thorogood	4:35
3.	"Highway 49"	Big Joe Williams	5:46
4.	"Born to Be Bad"	Thorogood	3:34
5.	"You Can't Catch Me"	Chuck Berry	3:45

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I'm Ready"	Sylvester Bradford, Fats Domino, Al Lewis	3:20
2.	"Treat Her Right"	Roy Head, Gene Kurtz	3:32
3.	"I Really Like Girls"	Thorogood	3:49
4.	"Smokestack Lightning"	Howlin' Wolf	3:15
5.	"I'm Movin' On"	Hank Snow	3:58
Total length:			38:35

Personnel

The following personnel are credited on the album:^[23]

Musicians

• George Thorogood – vocals, guitar
• Billy Blough – bass guitar
• Jeff Simon – drums
• Hank Carter – saxophone, backing vocals
• Steve Chrismar – guitar

Technical

• Delaware Destroyers – producer
• Terry Manning – producer, engineer, mixing
• Ken Irwin – production assistant
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Henry Marquez – art direction
• Moshe Brakha – photography
• John Tobler – liner notes

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[24]	30
Canada (RPM)[25]	14
New Zealand (RMNZ)[26]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27]	42
US Billboard 200[4]	32

Certifications

Certifications for Born to Be Bad

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28]	Platinum	80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[citation needed]	Gold	7,500^
United States (RIAA)[2]	Gold	500,000^

^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.