''2120 South Michigan Ave.'' is the fifteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 12, 2011, on the

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

label. The album peaked at No. 2 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' Top Blues Albums chart. The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll ...

in Chicago.

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 Thomas Jay Hambridge (born December 20, 1960) is an American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received two Grammy Awards, an ASCAP award, seven Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, a ...

Release and content

Capitol released ''2120 South Michigan Ave.'' on June 12, 2011. The album contains ten covers of songs recorded on Chess Records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley,

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

, and Muddy Waters; plus a cover of The Rolling Stones' instrumental "

2120 South Michigan Avenue "2120 South Michigan Avenue" is an original instrumental by the Rolling Stones, recorded for their second EP ''Five by Five''. It was also released on their second US album '' 12 X 5'' in 1964. Composer credit goes to Nanker Phelge, a title giv ...

" and two original songs about Chess Records artists.

Critical reception

''2120 South Michigan Ave.'' received positive reviews from critics. 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,

, 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."

Track listing

Personnel

Delaware Destroyers

*George Thorogood – lead guitar, rhythm guitar and

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos tha ...

, vocals *Bill Blough – bass *Buddy Leach – saxophones *Jeff Simon – drums *

Jim Suhler Jim Suhler (born December 30, 1960, in Dallas, Texas, United States) is an American Texas blues guitarist. Suhler has been playing professionally since the 1980s and has performed with a variety of Blues legends that include George Thorogood, J ...

– rhythm and lead guitar

Additional musicians

* Buddy Guy – lead guitar (track 2) *

– drums, percussion, background vocals *Tommy MacDonald – bass *

Kevin McKendree Kevin McKendree (born April 27, 1969) is an American electric blues pianist, keyboardist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to having a lengthy and varied career as a session musician, McKendree has released two solo albums. Life and ...

– piano,

Hammond B3 organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs ...

* 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

{{Authority control George Thorogood and the Destroyers albums 2011 albums Capitol Records albums Albums produced by Tom Hambridge 2010s covers albums Boogie rock albums