This American musician has had several popular tracks throughout his career, but do you know any of them beyond the ones most played on the radio? We’re going to tell you the 21 best George Thorogood songs, so keep reading to find out what other hits he had.
1. I Drink Alone
First on our list is one of Thorogood’s signature songs, which is I Drink Alone, and this went to number 13 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It’s a song full of humor, but it has a blues element to it that makes you think it’s a little serious too. Whether you’re sitting at a bar or home, it is a tune you will sing to yourself if you’re into doing it solo. Today, this track is still played routinely and also is a hit commercially, with it appearing in multiple television shows and movies.
2. Bad To The Bone
We all know the riff to Bad To The Bone, which is one of the other well-known signature songs from Thorogood that was released in 1982. This track has been featured in movies such as The Parent Trap, Christine, and Joe Dirt, among several others.
While it wasn’t a hit initially, it quickly became a success once it appeared on MTV. This is now thought of as one of the most iconic songs of not only the decade but best tracks of the 20th century. What we love about this song is that it’s hard-hitting and memorable, with a riff that you’ll hear once and remember for the rest of your life.
3. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Next is One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, which is one of his signature songs that you’ve probably heard on the radio a million times. Coming from his debut album, it instantly stood out and was the breakthrough for George Thorogood And The Destroyers. It’s one of the tracks you’ll find on his compilation and greatest hits albums, and it’s almost an anthem to living hard and living free. Whether you like to drink or not, you can still rock out to this song, and for a moment, not have a care in the world.
4. Bottom Of The Sea
Bottom Of The Sea is on our list, and this song comes from his 1980 album More George Thorogood And The Destroyers. If you’ve ever felt that desire for being free and just going out and doing anything you want, this is the perfect track to convey those feelings and thoughts. The lyrics are great and catchy while the melody is infectious and imaginative. You’ll have a smile on your face and feel like daydreaming when you hear this lovely tune.
5. Who Do You Love?
You may have heard the next song from Wild Hogs, which is Who Do You Love? This is one of the signature tunes you’ve probably run into a time or two, and it’s the guitar that sets this track apart. This tune blends blues and rock together for one of the best covers of the Bo Diddley hit of the same name, and it made an old song sound new again.
6. If You Don’t Start Drinkin’ (I’m Gonna Leave)
If You Don’t Start Drinkin’ (I’m Gonna Leave) is a great song for this list. It’s thought of as one of the many signature tracks in his career, and it comes from the 1991 album Boogie People. If you’ve ever been in a relationship, then you know sometimes an ultimatum is given. However, most of the time it’s that someone stops doing something, such as drinking, or else the other person will leave.
In this song, the ultimatum is that someone drinks or else they are leaving, so it’s fun and an entertaining spin on the usual. Instead of him stopping drinking, he tells her to start drinking, and it’s just great.
7. Madison Blues
Next up is Madison Blues, which is one of his earlier tunes, and it was released in 1977. It’s a classic and iconic song that he performs almost at every concert, and it’s one of those tracks featuring heavy guitar riffs and thumbs like a lot of his other older songs. This track is all about a guy who is into gambling, and he is trying to keep his luck going through the night but he isn’t sure about his luck.
8. You Talk Too Much
You Talk Too Much from the 1988 album Born To Be Bad is on the list because this song is just funny and one of the best tracks for dancing and making you feel like you don’t have a care in the world. There is funk in this song, which is mixed with punk and rock to create the perfect type of track to get you out of that chair and bobbing your head to the groove. There is a lot of high energy found in this song thanks to his amazing guitar playing, and you’ll find it’s one of the harder-sounding yet entertaining tracks on this album.
9. Reelin’ and Rockin’
We have to mention the track Reelin’ And Rockin’ because it’s a famous Chuck Berry song released in 1957 that Thorogood covered on his 1986 Live album. Berry was one of the musicians whom he loved to cover, and when you hear this track, you’ll understand why. In fact, this song was one of the most popular tracks of his career and also made this Live album one of the hottest albums he’d ever released. He would earn a Platinum certification for this Live record and that would be the only album to get that honor from the RIAA.
10. I Am A Steady Rollin’ Man
Up next is I Am A Steady Rollin’ Man, which was a cover of the Robert Johnson tune that was incredibly popular. Thorogood put his version on a 1992 compilation record called The Baddest Of George Thorogood And The Destroyers. What’s different about his version is that it has more energy and the slide guitar sounds amazing.
11. The Sky Is Crying
The Sky Is Crying makes the list from the 1978 album Movie It On Over, and this is a cover of an Elmore James song. You can hear the slide guitar all throughout the tune, which is a little slower than some others on the album, and his playing the lead guitar doesn’t sound too bad either. We had to put this track on the list simply because of the guitar and how well it sounded when paired with his vocals.
12. Night Time
The song Night Time was a pretty decent track from his album More George Thorogood And The Destroyers, which was released in 1980. This song is a cover of the Strangeloves track of the same name that was released 15 years prior. It’s all about just going out at night and having fun, and how when the sun is setting, it means it’s almost time to party. Whether you like going out on the town or not, you’ll be singing the chorus repeatedly because it’s catchy and infectious.
13. Get a Haircut
Get A Haircut is one of those songs that has a great guitar riff and is one of the beloved tracks out of his catalog because it’s a hard-rocking song. Released on the 1993 album Haircut, this track is all about rebelling as a young person against parents who are more conservative, and this is something a lot of people have been through in their lives.
14. American Made
On the list is American Made, which comes from his 2003 album Ride ‘Till I Die, and it’s one of his upbeat songs that’ll make you want to get up and just dance. Not only will you feel energetic and happy listening to this track, but it will make you feel like you’re free and can do anywhere or do anything you want.
15. Move It On Over
Move It On Over is a cover of a Hank Williams song from 1947, and it was released in 1979 on the album of the same name. You can find this track in the movie The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This song was all over the radio when it was released in 1979, and it’s a track that people who love rock, country, and blues still listen to today.
16. I’m Wanted
Next is the song I’m Wanted, which comes from the 1980 album More From George Thorogood And The Destroyers. Not only is this one of his most classic and iconic tracks, but it’s also a song that features a lot of energy and power.
The percussion will hit you in the face and not stop throughout the track while the guitar riffs just beat you in the head. It has powerful lyrics that mention wanting to have independence and feel liberated from anything holding you down. This is one of his most beloved songs and remains a fan favorite.
17. House Of Blue Lights
House Of Blue Lights also makes this list, and there is one of the most memorable guitar riffs of the decade featured in this song. This track is a mixture of both blues and rock, and you’ll want to get up and dance as soon as you hear it. Not only is the guitar riff iconic, but his vocals in this song along with the lyrics just make this one of the most classic and fun tracks he’s released.
18. No Expectations
The song No Expectations is on this list, and it comes from his solo album released in 2012 called Party Of One. This is a cover of the track by the Rolling Stones, and it’s thought of as one of the best songs on the album. You can hear his raspy yet incredible voice, and he even plays slide guitar on this track.
19. Willie And The Hand Jive
Next is the hit song Willie And The Hand Jive, which was released on the 1985 album Maverick. This was a cover of the track by Johnny Otis, and it went to 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which is pretty good for a song that was initially released by Otis almost 30 years prior.
Thorogood adds his own flare to the song, and it makes it even more of a popping tune than it originally was. It also introduced a new audience to not only this track but to the previous work of Otis as well.
20. Gear Jammer
Second to last on this list is Gear Jammer, which comes from the 1985 album Maverick. There is a notable guitar riff in the song that’s played on a slide guitar, so you get that blues feeling with his lovely slide guitar solo. You can also hear a saxophone in the track, and it’s one of his best songs in terms of his vocals and tone. We love this track a lot because the slide guitar adds an element of smoothness that just fits it and its emotional vibe.
21. Wanted Man
The last song we wanted to put on our list is Wanted Man, which is one of those tunes that feels like a ballad, but it isn’t because it’s very heavy in both blues and rock. This track is one of his covers that he did, and it was originally performed by Bob Dylan, so it’s a classic song he added his own style and flavor to, and it worked!
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From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.