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Ted Nugent – Double Live Gonzo (1977)
Why would a vegan bassist, animal rights advocate, pacifist want to review a record played and sung by a devoted hunter, absolute carnivore, ultraconservative, and war lover guitarist? Simple, because music and politics are two very different things, and because the musician I'm talking about is undeniably unique. Speaking of uniqueness, we must mention Mr. Theodocious Atrocious, aka Ted Nugent, a rocker native of the famous and crazy city of Detroit. Active in the '60s with the Amboy Dukes, our man embarked on a successful and inspired solo career starting with the self-titled album in 1975. It was followed by at least 3 more unique records, including the well-known "Cat Scratch Fever," and many more works leaning more or less towards blues or metal. But the album I want to talk about here is another one, an album that brought Ted's fame beyond just public success. It's one of those masterpieces that, once heard, stays in the heart forever, like a film by Michael Cimino or a painting by Bosch. The title is "Double Live Gonzo" (1977), and it's one of the craziest and most adrenaline-pumping concerts you'll hear in your life. The most peculiar thing throughout the concert (which is a mélange of various nights from the "Cat Scratch Fever" tour) is the color that distinguishes it, black. Yes, black, because compared to the studio versions, the tracks are more intricate but also more sulfurous in their extended concert versions. "Cat Scratch Fever," "Great White Buffalo," "Baby Please Don’t Go," are all hits that intersperse with more heartfelt tracks like the milestone "Hibernation," a piece that allows Nugent to show his more intimate side, or the epic "Stranglehold." For this song, a premise must be made: it was half-written by bassist Rob Grange, and you can tell. The track, built around an innovative bass line, is a blast. The solid bassist also offers a brief solo that has entered hard rock legend, and every man dedicated to the four strings should know it by heart. The songs are sung by the skilled Derek St Holmes, who is also the second guitarist, alternated by Nugent himself. In my opinion, the latter is even better as a singer, but Holmes kept up with Ted, so hats off just for that. The drummer is Englishman Cliff Davies, a musician who stayed with Nugent for a while and unleashed himself behind the drums with vigor. All the other songs present are immortal and legendary, including the misogynistic "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang," the overflowing "Motor City Madhouse," dedicated to the smoky Detroit, and the belligerent and mysterious "Stormtroopin." Moreover, "Just What The Doctor Ordered" and "Gonzo" are beautiful anthems to living music as a drug, the first, and as a diversion to boredom, the second. Our guitarist (Ted) plays like he's possessed and sings like a Charles Bukowski of the microphone, about women, war, Indian legends, and murders. The band accompanies him making their presence known, especially the unstoppable Rob Grange, and the 85 minutes of the concert fly by wonderfully.
Heavy Blues, that’s how you can define good Ted's style, although at times even calling it Heavy Metal isn't excessive. After a series of studio albums that built a large and faithful following, and this double live album that consecrated his image worldwide, unfortunately, Nugent had the ill-calibrated idea of firing Grange and St Holmes from the band, a decision that changed the course of his career forever. Without the indispensable contribution of the two, in fact, Ted was never able to reach those heights that the original band was capable of achieving at every concert. St Holmes would return several times, but the unrivaled Grange would never collaborate with Nugent again, and considering that thanks to the bassist a track like "Stranglehold" exists, it's a crime.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Just What the Doctor Ordered (05:26)
I got my guitar when I was 10 years old
Found a love in rock an' roll
Now I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown
I'm gonna give my body and soul
It's so crazy
But you know that I like it
I've found a cure for my body and soul
I've got me an overdose of rock and roll
I jammed everyday
I jammed everynight
I practiced till I knew all the licks
Now I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown
I don't know the meaning of quit
It's so crazy
Yes you know, but I like it
It crushes my head, my brain is on the border
But this is what the doctor ordered
Yes, it is
I jammed everyday
I jammed every night
I practiced till I knew all the licks
Now I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown
I don't know the meaning of quit
It's so crazy
But I like it
It crushes my head, my brain is on the border
But this is what the doctor ordered
02 Yank Me, Crank Me (04:29)
I need you, baby, like a dog needs a bone.
I need you, baby, like a man needs a home.
I need you, baby, like cloud needs a rain.
But I've got to have you 'cause you drove me insane.
I like your legs; they 're soft to the touch.
Wrapped around me, I like it so much.
I need you, baby, and a couple of friends.
I'll bring 'em 'round and we can do it again.
Well, you can yank me and you can crank me,
but don't you wake up and don't you try to thank me.
I need you, baby, like a dog needs a bone.
I think I got one of my own.
You can yank me and you can crank me,
but don't wake up and don't you try to thank me
03 Gonzo (03:59)
Gonzo!
I've been there before, I'm comin' back for more
I know what you like
Back in town again, lookin' up my friends
You know what I like
Yeah
Madness in the air, crazies ev'rywhere
I know what you know.
It happens ev'ry night, gotta take a bite
Ev'rybody's Gonzo
Come on, comme on,
Come on, comme on, come on
Come on, comme on,
Come on, comme on, come on
I know you know ev'rybody's Gonzo
05 Great White Buffalo (06:23)
Double Live Gonzo version
== '''Great White Buffalo'''
==
Well, listen everybody,
to what I got to say.
There's hope for tomorrow,
Ooh,we're workin'on today.
Well,it happened long time ago,
in the new magic land.
The Indian and the buffalo,
they existed hand in hand....
The Indian needed food,
he needed skins for a roof.
But he only took what they needed,baby.
Millions of buffalo were the proof.
Yeah,its all right.
But then came the white man,
with his thick and empty head.
He couldnt see past the billfold,
he wanted all the buffalo dead.
It was sad...It was sad.
Oh yeah...yes indeed.
Oh yes,
it happened a long time ago,baby.
In the new magic land.
See,the Indian and the buffalo,
they existed hand in hand.
The Indians,they needed some food,
and some skins for a roof.
They only took what they needed,baby.
millions of buffalo were the proof,yeah.
But then came the white dogs,
with their thick and empty heads.
They couldnt see past the billfold.
they wanted all the buffalo dead.
Everything was SO sad.
When I looked above the canyon wall,
some strong eyes did I see.
I think its somebody comin' around
to save my ass,baby.
I think...I think he's comin' around
to save you and me.
Boys......
I said, above the canyon wall...
strong eyes did glow.
It was the leader of the land,baby.
OH MY GOD,
The GREAT WHITE BUFFALO.....
LOOK OUT!!!! LOOK OUT!!!!!!!
Well,he got the battered herd.
He led em cross the land.
With the Great White Buffalo,
they gonna make a final stand.
The Great White Buffalo,
comin'around to make a final stand.
Well,look out here he comes.
The great white buffalo,baby.
The Great White Buffalo....
Look out,here he comes.
He's doin'all right.
Makin'everything all right.
Yeah,yeah,yeah....
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