2120 South Michigan Ave.

Background

Recording of this album started sometime in 2011, Capitol Records approached Thorogood with the idea for the album and selected most of the songs. Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite perform on the album, although their work was added after primary recording was complete. The album was produced by Tom Hambridge.

Release and content

Capitol Records released 2120 South Michigan Ave. on June 12, 2011. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart. "Going Back" was the lead single from the album.

The album contains ten covers of songs recorded on Chess Records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters; plus a cover of The Rolling Stones' instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue" and two original songs about Chess Records artists.

Critical reception

2120 South Michigan Ave. received positive reviews from critics.{{Album ratings AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote "George Thorogood & the Destroyers have never made their debt to Chess Records a secret, so an album-length tribute to the home of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley is a logical move for the rough and tumble blues-rockers." Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen says "2120 South Michigan Avenue will be a treat to not only that fanbase, but to students of classic blues music – and, if the listener learns something while enjoying this disc, all the better." William Pinfold of Record Collector wrote "That said, from the slightly cheesy influence-referencing Going Back to the final Stones cover, it’s a wholly enjoyable album with heart and soul to spare. Blues artists have usually gotten better with age and it seems that George Thorogood is following that tradition."

Track listing

Personnel

The following personnel are credited on the album:

Delaware Destroyers

• George Thorogood – lead guitar, rhythm guitar and slide guitar, vocals
• Bill Blough – bass
• Buddy Leach – saxophones
• Jeff Simon – drums
• Jim Suhler – rhythm and lead guitar

Additional musicians

• Buddy Guy – lead guitar (track 2)
• Tom Hambridge – drums, percussion, background vocals
• Tommy MacDonald – bass
• Kevin McKendree – piano, Hammond B3 organ
• Charlie Musselwhite – harmonica (tracks 10, 13)
• Marla Thorogood – background vocals
• Rio Thorogood – background vocals

Technical

• Tom Hambridge – producer
• Mike Donahue – executive producer
• Harry Gale – engineer
• Mike Tholen – engineer
• Shawn Berman – engineer
• Susan Lavoie – art direction
• Mark Holley – design
• Brian To – photography

References

References

1. "Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation". Explore Chicago.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine".
3. (June 20, 2011). "Interview: George Thorogood Discusses His New Album, '2120 South Michigan Ave.'". Guitar World.
4. M. Junior, Chris. "George Thorogood drops by ‘2120 South Michigan Avenue’".
5. "Release Details {{!}} PopMatters".
6. uDiscover Team. (March 8, 2020). "George Thorogood - Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist".
7. "George Thorogood Awards". [[AllMusic]].
8. Wardlaw, Matt. (June 2, 2011). "George Thorogood, ‘Going Back’ – Song Review".
9. Braidis, Pete. (June 28, 2016). "Unstrung Heroes: Fifty Guitar Greats You Should Know". [[Schiffer Publishing]].
10. Triplett, Gene. (July 22, 2011). "CD review: George Thorogood and the Destroyers ‘2120 South Michigan Ave.'".
11. {{AllMusic. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas
12. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers: | Daily Vault".
13. (August 29, 2011). "George Thorogood and the Destroyers: 2120 South Michigan Avenue » PopMatters".
14. "2120 South Michigan Avenue".
15. Kevin O'Hare, The Republican. (July 11, 2011). "New album reviews: George Thorogood, Yes and Joe Jackson".
16. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "2120 South Michigan Ave. Review".
17. Thelen, Christopher. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers: {{!}} Daily Vault".
18. Pinfold, William. (September 7, 2011). "2120 South Michigan Avenue {{!}} George Thorogood & The Destroyers".
19. "2120 South Michigan Ave. - George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Credits {{!}} AllMusic".