The Dirty Dozen
George Thorogood · 2009
55 min · 14 tracks · rock music
A gritty blend of blues rock infused with Thorogood's signature swagger and unmistakable guitar riffs.
Top tracks — play these first
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Tail Dragger — This track opens the album with a raw energy that encapsulates Thorogood's style, featuring driving rhythms and compelling guitar work that sets the tone for the rest of the record.
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Run Myself Out of Town — With its catchy hooks and relatable lyrics about escape and self-reflection, this song stands out as a quintessential example of Thorogood’s songwriting prowess.
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Six Days on the Road — A classic road song reimagined by Thorogood, it showcases his ability to breathe new life into familiar narratives while maintaining an infectious energy throughout.
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Howlin’ for My Baby — This track exemplifies Thorogood's mastery of the blues genre, blending heartfelt emotion with powerful instrumentation that resonates deeply with listeners.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong guitar work and a mix of original songs and covers, maintaining a solid rock sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track and maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace throughout the first half, before introducing slower songs in the second half.
- The last three tracks include covers of classic blues songs, which shift the mood and provide a contrast to the original material earlier in the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- high-energy barroom sing-alongs
- gritty storytelling with swagger
- road trip anthems for cruising
- quick bursts of infectious energy
Maybe skip if you
- seeking slow, introspective moments
- prefer polished, studio- sound
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 2009, George Thorogood had established himself as a prominent figure in blues rock, known for his energetic live performances and hits like 'Bad to the Bone.' 'The Dirty Dozen' marked his first album of original material in five years, showcasing a return to his roots with a collection of tracks that resonate with classic blues influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Johnny Winter· Lynyrd Skynyrd· Stevie Ray Vaughan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Tail Dragger 3:41
- 2 Drop Down Mama 4:20
- 3 Run Myself Out of Town 3:03
- 4 Born Lover 4:12
- 5 Twenty Dollar Gig 3:16
- 6 Let Me Pass 3:40
- 7 Howlin’ for My Baby 5:13
- 8 Highway 49 5:47
- 9 Six Days on the Road 4:23
- 10 Treat Her Right 2:59
- 11 Hello Little Girl 3:47
- 12 Blue Highway 4:43
- 13 The Hookers (If You Miss ’im…I Got ’im) 3:35
- 14 Mama ’Tain’t Long Fo’ Day 3:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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