Yesterday I was stuck in a seemingly never-ending traffic jam, all because of series of fender benders and accidents that happened on my way home from downtown Vancouver. This made my normally 60 minute drive take more than double the time.
During this mind numbing drive, I flipped between the 24 hour a day traffic station, and a few of my favourite music stations. On one of the stations I seldom listen to, I heard an introductory riff that sounded somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t at first place it.
As the piece went on I thought to myself: is this George Thorogood? It must be. I hadn’t heard this song before, but who else would rip off this riff and get away with it?
Then came the sax solo, and it sure sounded like Hank “Hurricane” Carter. I made a point of repeating the song’s title over and over to myself on the drive (and parking) home. I Drink Alone became my mantra.
When I got home—and fought hard to resist the not-so-subliminal messages I had been sending myself to drink—I looked up I Drink Alone. Sure enough, it was of course a George Thorogood song, and had come from the 1985 album titled Maverick.
From a sax solo perspective only, I prefer Carter’s work in I Drink Alone, to what he did in Bad To The Bone. Both are excellent examples of blues saxophone solos, but I’m especially partial to the climb he does just after 3:20 in I Drink Alone.
I’ve always been a sucker for a climb. I personally like using them as a transition in some solos. The trick with them, like with all solo elements, is not to overuse them—which can be difficult if you solo in every song.
BTW, in case you’re interested in a bit of trivia, Bad To The Bone, the song that this one ripped-off, came off the same-titled album that was released in 1982. Maverick was Thorogood’s next album which, as I noted previously, was released in 1985.
If you’re a George Thorogood fan, you’ll be happy to know that he just released a new album. 2120 South Michigan Ave was released on July 12, 2011, and is available through Amazon.com in CD, vinyl, and MP3 download versions.
Although Carter left the Thorogood band in 2003, Thorogood does have another saxophonist. Buddy Leach has been playing with George Thorogood since shortly after Hank “Hurricane” Carter’s departure.
