Relistened to Whitford/St. Holmes, while it is not a bad album it does not really job and grab you. Derek St. Holmes has a killer voice and Brad Whitford has to be the most underrated guitarist that has ever been in a platinum selling band. other then 'Sharpshooter' and maybe one or two other tracks nothing stands out. Good album from two journeymen but not as good as I felt it should have been.

I've only heard Sharpshooter, which was included on the Aerosmith box set. Ok tune but nothing special.

Quote:

Good album from two journeymen but not as good as I felt it should have been.

It's well documented about Brad's drug and alcohol use, so that's probably a big factor on his part. What about Derek? I don't know anything about him. Did he have any substance abuse problems?

Ted Nugent - If You Can't Lick 'Em-Lick 'Em (WEA) 1988

1. "Can't Live with 'Em" (4:18)
2. "She Drives Me Crazy" (2:42)
3. "If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em" (6:03)
4. "Skintight" (3:08)
5. "Funlover" (4:42)
6. "Spread Your Wings" (5:56)
7. "Harder They Come (The Harder I Get)" (3:38)
8. "Separate the Men from the Boys, Please" (3:52)
9. "Bite the Hand" (2:55)
10. "That's the Story of Love" (2:58)

Now this is Ted Nugent! "Lick 'Em" is 100% pure Ted, just the way we like him. In-your-face, ferocious, all guns blazing rock 'n roll. My favorite track is the cleverly named title track, "If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em." Ted struts his stuff a bit on this track, with some blazing guitar antics. There are several other standout cuts as well.. "Can't Live With 'Em", "She Drives Me Crazy", "Skintight", "Funlover" and "Harder They Come" are all excellent Nugent rockers. "Spread Your Wings" is also a standout track, although this particular song is a rare mellow moment for the Motor City Madman. As usual the sexual innuendoes are spread throughout, in usual Ted Nugent fashion and there is little of Ted's political and social ideas presented. Mr. Big's Pat Torpey performs the drums on this album and Chuck Wright (Giuffria/Magdalen/Quiet Riot/Impellitteri) plays bass. Overall, "If You Can't Lick 'Em" is a solid Ted Nugent album. Welcome back the Motor City Madman. We missed you. Long live Ted!

Unfortunately I could not find a YouTube clip of the title track, but here's a couple other gonzo clips to crack your nuts to...

I love this album and it is a great return to form, no pop metal, just pure 100% gonzo rock! I also think it is cool that Nugent (correct me if I am wrong) sings all the songs.

Only turd in the punchbowl would be the song 'Story of Love' they he co-wrote with Bon Jovi and Richie, not a bad song but a bit weak compared to the rest of the album. I am not always a fan of ballads but I do love 'Spread Your Wings' and the song is not exactly a power ballad.

I don't have any of Ted's 80' stuff, though I have heard some in my travels. After scoping this thread, seems like "If you can't lick em..." is gonna be the one to snag. I like the Whitford/St. Homes record

Ted Nugent - New Year's Eve Whiplash Bash (VHS/Atlantic) 1988

1. "That's the Story of Love" [video clip]
2. "Weekend Warriors"
3. "Motor City Madhouse"
4. "Free For All"
5. "Yank Me, Crank Me"
6. "Painkiller"
7. "Spread Your Wings"
8. "Stranglehold"
9. "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang"
10. "New Year's Eve Countdown Jam"
11. "Great White Buffalo"
12. "Journey to the Center of the Mind/Baby Please Don't Go"
13. "She Drives Me Crazy"

New Year's Eve Whiplash Bash was Ted's first official concert video release. This is a classic show from the Motor City Madman. The standards are here, such as "Great White Buffalo", "Motor City Madhouse" (video posted below), "Stranglehold", etc., but it also includes some classic 80's songs that are rarely played any longer. Sort of a shame really as "Spread You Wings" and "Painkiller" are two excellent songs, in this fans opinion. "That's the Story of Love" is actually a video clip and not part of the live concert. This show also features on-again, off-again Nugent vocalist Derek St. Holmes singing some of the classics.

I have always wanted to attend one of Ted's New Year's Whiplash Bashes in Detroit, but alas it hasn't happened thus far.

"Whiplash Bash" was released on VHS by Atlantic Records in 1988. As far as I know, this concert has yet to see light of day officially on the DVD format. For the time being I own this very nice bootleg copy complete with a professionally printed cover, as well as the original VHS copy.

I have this on VHS and thanks to this thread I dusted this off. Great songlist and great performance. Needs to be updated for DVD/blu-ray.

Damn Yankees (Warner Bros.) 1990

1. "Coming of Age" (4:21)
2. "Bad Reputation" (4:29)
3. "Runaway" (4:02)
4. "High Enough" (4:43)
5. "Damn Yankees" (4:37)
6. "Come Again" (5:38)
7. "Mystified" (4:14)
8. "Rock City" (4:28)
9. "Tell Me How You Want It" (4:32)
10. "Piledriver" (4:18)

After Ted's contract with Altantic Records is up, he leaves his successful solo career behind and comes together with Tommy Shaw (Styx), Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and drummer Micheal Cartellone to form the DAMN YANKEES. An unlikely group. Tommy Shaw is soft spoken vegetarian, Ted Nugent is a loud mouth, big game hunter. Jack Blades was from a smooth, radio ready AOR band, Ted Nugent a raunchy, 70's heavy metal maniac. Somehow it worked and the band actually scored a couple hits. Damn Yankees arrived during the final moments of pop-metal's heyday and the band's self-titled debut spawned several hits in 1990, including the Top Ten power ballad "High Enough" and the radio hit "Coming of Age."

My initial interest in this band was, of course, that Ted Nugent was their guitarist. Unfortunately, Ted's influence on the bands sound wasn't what I had hoped and this album sounds more like the polished, radio-ready, hard rock of Night Ranger than anything the whackmaster would crank out. In spots, however, Nugent's influence is apparent. "Piledriver" especially sounds like a Ted Nugent song. This is the only song that Ted handles lead vocals, although his voice can be heard in the background of various other songs as well. There are excellent vocal melodies throughout (ala Styx) as Shaw seems to handle the majority of the lead vox. Opener "Coming of Age" rocks with a hard, crunchy chorus. "Bad Reputation" and "Damn Yankees" also sport heavy riffs and some infectious, sing-along choruses. ("Bad Reputation" was used in Gremlins 2 in the scene where the little green gremlins were tearing the room to bits.) "High Enough" is one of the mellower moments on the album. This ballad gave the Yankees a good amount of radio airplay and pushed this album to sell double platinum. "Rock City" is typical of 80's hard rock both in sound and in the lyrics. However, having grown up in that musical time period, I didn't mind the lyrics at all. So, while this CD was initially a letdown due to my preconceived ideas, I quickly grew to like and appreciate this disc. Shaw and Blades are an excellent songwriting team.

Interesting story regarding this CD. I was flipping through the used CDs at a local shop and listening to the kid next to me in the K0rn shirt have a discussion with his friend who was wearing a Metallica t-shirt. They picked up a used copy of this CD and laughed. The kid in the K0rn shirt said of Ted Nugent, who is simply wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, "ah, he's just trying to copy Metallica when they were an 80's band." Shows how ignorant the trend following kids are today that they don't even know the roots of their own music. This is a band of rock legends, especially Ted Nugent.

Was not a fan of Damn Yankees when it was first released but I did grow to like it over the years. Not what I was expecting, actually I am not sure what I was expecting due to the backrounds of various members, it ended up sounding more like Night Ranger or Styx's commerical period then any of Nugent's previous output but like it was stated it somehow worked.

I only have this on cassette and will have to upgrade this at some point.

I was interested in this band when they first released the album, being a fan of Uncle Ted, Styx and Night Ranger. Of course, it was a "Super Group" and often the egos clash and the music suffers. With Damn Yankees, this is not the case. The band still remains friends to this day with Jack Blades producing Ted's recent album (I think it was his recent one). Also, it shows that friendships can transcend politics (Ted's and Jack's are polar opposites).

The album is a good one! Excellent hard rockin' album!!!! I even like the "hit" ballad. If memory serves correctly, almost every major label passed on it, with Warner Bros picking it up after turning it down once. Just shows how out of tune with the record buying public record execs are, as this album sold very, very well.

One last interesting fact - Ron Nevison didn't ruin this one by drenching with keys (see Ozzy's Ultimate Sin, Kiss' Crazy Nights) and only added to a few songs, allowing the record to be guitar driven and not keys driven. Maybe Uncle Ted had his cross bow pointed at his head during the recording sessions.

Friendships can definitley transcends politics, Jokerman's friendship with me is proof of that!

Ted Nugent - Out of Control (Epic) 1993

DISC ONE
1. "Baby Please Don't Go" (5:38)
2. "Journey to the Center of Your Mind" (3:34)
3. "You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire" (2:43)
4. "Gloria" [unreleased] (6:07)
5. "Call of the Wild" (4:46)
6. "Great White Buffalo" (4:57)
7. "Stanglehold" (8:22)
8. "Stormtroopin'" (3:04)
9. "Hey Baby" (3:59)
10. "Motor City Madhouse" (4:33)
11. "Free-For-All" (3:20)
12. "Dog Eat Dog" (4:03)
13. "Turn It Up" (3:36)
14. "Street Rats" [alternate w/ Derek St. Holmes] (4:14)
15. "Magic Party" [unreleased] (2:42)
16. "Hammerdown" (4:07)

DISC TWO
17. "Cat Scratch Fever" (3:38)
18. "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" (3:15)
19. "Live It Up" (3:59)
20. "Homebound" (4:43)
21. "Out of Control" (3:27)
22. "Carol" [live] (4:02)
23. "Just What the Doctor Ordered" [live] (5:27)
24." Yank Me, Crank Me" [live] (4:42)
25. "Walking Tall" [live] (3:53)
26. "Need You Bad" (4:17)
27. "Weekend Warriors" (3:05)
28. "Paralyzed" (4:01)
29. "State of Shock" (3:21)
30. "Wango Tango" (4:48)
31. "Scream Dream" (3:18)
32. "Terminus Eldorado" (4:14)
33. "Jailbait" [live] (5:16)
34. "Little Miss Dangerous" (4:48)

"Out of Control" is an excellent career retrospective, albeit far from extensive. The 34 songs range from all stages of the madman's guitar slinging career, tracing chronologically from his day with the Amboy Dukes through the '70s right up to the 80's. (Tracks 1-6 are Amboy Dukes songs.) Unfortunately, there is only one song from his four Atlantic recordings; "Little Miss Dangerous."

There are a few rare tracks, unreleased live songs and alternate takes, but there is not to much to speak of. With all the unreleased live material that Ted has, I wish Epic would have included another disc of just live recordings. I know that they have the entire Ted Nugent show from California Live Jam 2 in their vaults, as well as all the Hammersmith material that they put as bonus tracks on the remastered re-releases. Shoot, they could have at least released the two songs that were originally on the Cal Jam 2 record, that have yet to see light of day on CD. It would also have been nice if they could have dedicated one whole disc to the Amboy Dukes material since there is so much of it, and most of it is hard to find on disc.

There is a nice full color book included with liner notes by Ted himself.

I bought this boxset when it was first released, at the time my entire Ted Nugent collection was on vinyl so this was a nice holdover. It is not a bad boxset and Nugent is an artist deserving a boxset, it flows very smoothly and the song list is excellent. Not an essential release but if you are new to Ted Nugent this is not a bad place to begin.

Damn Yankees - Don't Tread (Warner Bros.) 1992

1. "Don't Tread on Me" (5:08)
2. "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" (4:50)
3. "Where You Goin' Now" (4:40)
4. "Dirty Dog" (4:54)
5. "Mister Please" (4:19)
6. "Silence Is Broken" (5:03)
7. "Firefly" (4:57)
8. "Someone to Believe" (4:57)
9. "This Side of Hell" (4:00)
10. "Double Coyote" (4:44)
11. "Uprising" (5:31)

A bit heavier than their debut. "Don't Tread On Me" starts off with what sounds like a Ted Nugent inspired riff before breaking into a semi-heavy melodic metal song continuing right into another rocker "Fifteen Minutes of Fame." The rest of the album follows in a similar pattern to the debut with radio ready ballads and hard rock anthems. "Where You Going Now" became a minor hit off of this CD. The band also released a concept video for the song. "Don't Tread" is not really up to par with anything Ted Nugent did as a solo artist in my opinion, but still not a bad listen every once in a while.

This would be the last Damn Yankees record as Ted would return to being a solo artist, although a live DVD would be released in '92 as well.

I saw Damn Yankees on the tour for this album at Radio City Music Hall in New York. I was a casual D.Y. fan at best but a buddy of mine won free tix to the show from the local rock radio station and invited me along. Jackyl opened the gig and were a hell of a funny live act, but Damn Yankees totally kicked their a$$es!! They played the bulk of this CD, the hits from the prior album, plus a song or two from each of the member's former acts/bands. Ted sang "Free for All" and "Cat Scratch Fever," Tommy Shaw performed Styx's "Renegade," and Jack Blades sang Night Ranger's "You Can Still Rock in America" (I had hoped he might dust off NR's "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," but no such luck.) The Gulf War was still going on at that time so at one point a huge picture of Saddam Hussein's face went up above the drum riser and Uncle Ted shot it between the eyes with a flaming arrow! Ted was funny as hell to watch for the entire show. At one point in between songs he strode up to the mike at center stage, surveyed the audience while calmly chewing his gum, and said "Neeeeew York City...biiiiiiig f*cking deal." He then went on a long rant about how "all the ladies in the audience" should keep a sawed off shotgun under their car seats to protect themselves "from all those New York carjacking motherf*ckers" out there. At the end of the last song (I think it may have been "Uprising"), he kept wailing away on his guitar as the rest of the band left the stage, and he was eventually carried off by two roadies, still playing. As we walked out of the venue, there were a bunch of people in the lobby handing out catalogs of Ted Nugent hunting gear and information on joining his "Ted Nugent World Bowhunters" organization. It was kind of odd to see these camouflage-clad rednecks passing out literature in New York City's most famous theatre.

Anyway, I went out and bought the DON'T TREAD disc a few days after the show. I dig the title track and Ted's "Uprising" in particular. I hate the album cover though!! I can't stand looking at that ugly-ass fat guy so I keep the booklet flipped around inside the case so that the back cover (a picture of the band members) faces front.

I believe the ballad "Where You Goin' Now" from this album was used as the end credit theme to some godawful Jean-Claude Van Damme action movie whose name escapes me at the moment.

I actually prefer this album over the debut album, like you said it is slightly heavier but overall follows the same formula as their previous album which is not a bad thing. This band is really Blades/Shaws baby with Nugent providing firepower every once in awhile.

Great album!!!! I really like this one! It's even better than the debut. The album is heavier and a fantastic listen. FF is correct about the cover with the Uncle Jesse looking fat dude!

The last bar band I played in we did "high enough", this was in like 93'

I have almost purchased "Don't Tread" a time or three at my favorite mom n pop shop. Have too much stuff, I hardly listen to much already. Though I know that phase of listening will roar it's ugly head once again. who knows ?

Good job, so far Ult.

Ted Nugent - Spirit of the Wild (Atlantic) 1995

1. "Thighraceous" (3:48)
2. "Wrong Side Of Town" (5:15)
3. "I Shoot Back" (3:50)
4. "Tooth, Fang & Claw" (6:49)
5. "Lovejacker" (4:32)
6. "Fred Bear" (7:41)
7. "Primitive Man" (5:56)
8. "Hot Or Cold" (4:31)
9. "Kiss My Ass" (3:20)
10. "Heart & Soul" (4:44)
11. "Spirit Of The Wild" (4:22)
12. "Just Do It Like This" (6:08)

I'm not exactly sure what prompted the break-up of the Damn Yankees. From what I have read and seen over they years, the Damn Yankees members remain good friends, with Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades even helping out Ted in the songwriting department from time to time. Shaw/Blades did release one album together following the Damn Yankees, but it didn't have any real staying power and wasn't quite the same. Drummer Micheal Cartellone eventually joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. Jack Blades rejoined Night Ranger and toured with Ted Nugent on the Rock Never Stops tour, 1999. I had high hopes that Blades might join Nugent on stage for at least on Damn Yankees song on that tour, but it never happened, at least not at the show I attended.

"Spirit of the Wild" was Ted's first solo album in seven years. It is one of Ted Nugent's finest moments in a long time because it sounds like the Wackmaster. The lyrics have changed over the years from sex to the wilderness and conservative issues, which fits right in with his '90s reinvention as a conservative family-values spokesman. (Who would have thunk it, huh?) Now don't go thinking that "Call of the Wild" is a tame record, it just means that Nugent sounds committed again, since that passion for hunting, politics and family flows throughout his music. Highlights are "Thighraceous" (OK, there are some sex lyrics), the hilarious "Kiss My Ass" (dedicated to Janet Reno and President Clinton), and "Fred Bear" (a song that he uses as a platform to speak for having pride in America during his shows). Oh, I almost forgot, Derek St. Holmes is back at the mic. Can you feel the spirit?