Here it is, Ted Nugent's 1978 aural assault
Double Live Gonzo! First things first, this is about Ted the monster player. I really couldn't give a shit about his political bent, which has only become more exaggerated over the years, but the guy has his convictions and while I don't agree with many of his views, I'd still have an iced tea with the guy and talk guitars and music. Secondly see the first thing. This is coming from a guy who leans a little to the left of centre. That's about as political as I get. I'll just quote Forrest Gump, "And that’s all I’ve got to say about that."
Recorded between 1976 and 1977 Double Live Gonzo! captures Ted and band (what a band!) at their zenith and the results aren't for those who can't handle sensory overload (if you were to go by the pictures in the gate fold you'd think that it was all Ted all the time). My first experiences with Ted's music was in my cousin's pickup truck with an 8 track (trying to visualize whether it was a CRAIG or Lloyd's - can't remember, it's not important) cranked and the windows rolled down. It was the soundtrack to a summer. It was also really annoying to listen to on 8 track when things would fade and click and fade back in.
This guitar right here is guaranteed to blow the balls off a
charging rhino at sixty paces it is. That’s my baby… This guitar
definitely refuses to play sweet shit. It just refuses…
When I got the record I could at least listen to a full side before having to get up and turn it over. Getting the CD was particularly awesome, just start it and go all the way through with no breaks. It didn't hurt that the liner notes had a great essay on the album too, even if the little booklet was in a two point font.
As a teenager trying to learn guitar, listening to Ted make his guitar scream and howl before launching into "Just What the Doctor Ordered" was jaw dropping. "Great White Buffalo" left me wondering "How did he do that?" I'll admit that back then, and most of the time now I'd pick up the needle and skip the first few minutes of "Hibernation" it's a cool bit of feedback taming by Mr. Nugent, but it always seemed like a good time to go to the bathroom. The rest of the song I have to admit is pretty jaw dropping. Gee, If I go on listing songs, I'll just end up copying the track list. But how can I not give a shout out to "Storm Troopin'", "Stranglehold" and "Cat Scratch Fever"? You can't. Oh and "Yank Me, Crank Me", and his wicked cover of "Baby, Please Don't Go" - drats, I am just copying down the track list. One more and I'm done. "Wang Dang, Sweet Poontang" there now I'm done.
That was the thing, this was Ted at his absolute loin cloth Tarzan rope swinging gonzo best. I'm not sure how much tweaking and editing was done post, but I always felt like I was at the concert - even if it was pieced together over a number of shows. These versions of his classics are to me
definitive. I spent the last hour and a half on the floor in the basement with the album cranked, pouring over the gate fold looking at the pictures and feeling like a 15 year old kid.
Yeah baby, this is just what the doctor ordered.
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