Ted Nugent (album)
Encyclopedia
Ted Nugent, the first solo effort of the "Motor City Madman," is a rock album released in 1975 after Nugent disbanded from his former group, The Amboy Dukes
.
Ted Nugent
, tired of the Dukes' lack of effort and discipline, decided he had enough and left the group, taking a three month vacation (his first ever) clearing his head in the Colorado
wilderness, spending his time deer hunting
and enjoying the outdoors.
Renewed, Ted returned to civilization in search of a new direction and a new band. Joining him in the Ted Nugent band would be former Amboy Duke Rob Grange
on bass, along with Cliff Davies (ex-IF
) on drums and finally, from a local Michigan
band called Scott which had opened for the Dukes previously, a singer/guitarist named Derek St. Holmes
.
The new group hit the road and then the studio, forming the songs which would send the album into the Billboard Top 30 and into the multi-platinum range. The first track, "Stranglehold", would set the stage for Ted's career, an eight minute plus guitar attack with vocals by St. Holmes and Nugent, a healthy dose of a Gibson
Byrdland guitar, and a famous guitar solo recorded in one take. Songs such as "Stormtroopin'," "Hey Baby," "Just What the Doctor Ordered," and "Snakeskin Cowboys" (with St. Holmes providing the lead vocal on all of them) would prove to be staples of the band's wild concert tours for years to come. Ted's ode to his hometown, "Motor City Madhouse," as well as tracks like "Where Have You Been All My Life," "You Make Me Feel Right at Home," and "Queen of the Forest" not only showcased the musical ability of the band and Ted's mastery of the guitar, but also a fine songwriting capability as well.
The album, produced by former IF
-manager Lew Futterman and Tom Werman, greatly influenced the genres of rock and heavy metal
. As Ted once said, "If anyone wanted to know what rock 'n roll was all about, that's the only album they'd need."
The last track on the album, "Queen of the Forest", was the first rock song played by Dr. Johnny Fever
on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati
.
1999 Reissue Bonus Tracks
The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
.
Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
, tired of the Dukes' lack of effort and discipline, decided he had enough and left the group, taking a three month vacation (his first ever) clearing his head in the Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
wilderness, spending his time deer hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and enjoying the outdoors.
Renewed, Ted returned to civilization in search of a new direction and a new band. Joining him in the Ted Nugent band would be former Amboy Duke Rob Grange
Rob Grange
Robert de la Grange , known by his stage name Rob Grange, is an American rock bass guitarist, best known for his work with Ted Nugent.- Career :...
on bass, along with Cliff Davies (ex-IF
If (band)
If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969.Referred to by Billboard as "unquestionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands", in the period spanning 1970-1975, they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe, the US and Canada.-History:They toured...
) on drums and finally, from a local Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
band called Scott which had opened for the Dukes previously, a singer/guitarist named Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes is an American musician best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's successful early solo career.-Early years:...
.
The new group hit the road and then the studio, forming the songs which would send the album into the Billboard Top 30 and into the multi-platinum range. The first track, "Stranglehold", would set the stage for Ted's career, an eight minute plus guitar attack with vocals by St. Holmes and Nugent, a healthy dose of a Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
Byrdland guitar, and a famous guitar solo recorded in one take. Songs such as "Stormtroopin'," "Hey Baby," "Just What the Doctor Ordered," and "Snakeskin Cowboys" (with St. Holmes providing the lead vocal on all of them) would prove to be staples of the band's wild concert tours for years to come. Ted's ode to his hometown, "Motor City Madhouse," as well as tracks like "Where Have You Been All My Life," "You Make Me Feel Right at Home," and "Queen of the Forest" not only showcased the musical ability of the band and Ted's mastery of the guitar, but also a fine songwriting capability as well.
The album, produced by former IF
If (band)
If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969.Referred to by Billboard as "unquestionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands", in the period spanning 1970-1975, they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe, the US and Canada.-History:They toured...
-manager Lew Futterman and Tom Werman, greatly influenced the genres of rock and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. As Ted once said, "If anyone wanted to know what rock 'n roll was all about, that's the only album they'd need."
The last track on the album, "Queen of the Forest", was the first rock song played by Dr. Johnny Fever
Dr. Johnny Fever
Dr. Johnny Fever is an off-the-wall character and disc jockey on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. He was inspired by Atlanta DJ Skinny Bobby Harper...
on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
.
Track listing
- "Stranglehold" – 8:22
- "Stormtroopin'" – 3:07
- "Hey BabyHey Baby (Ted Nugent song)"Hey Baby" is a rock single by the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Ted Nugent from his first album, Ted Nugent. It was the only song in the whole album that Derek St. Holmes wrote and arranged himself.-Chart positions:...
" – 4:00 - "Just What the Doctor Ordered" – 3:43
- "Snakeskin Cowboys" – 4:38
- "Motor City Madhouse" – 4:30
- "Where Have You Been All My Life" – 4:04
- "You Make Me Feel Right at Home" – 2:54
- "Queen of the Forest" – 3:34
1999 Reissue Bonus Tracks
- "Stormtroopin'" [Live] – 6:36
- "Just What the Doctor Ordered" [Live] – 4:52
- "Motor City Madhouse" [Live] – 8:38
- "Magic Party" [Studio Outtake] – 2:55
- All songs written and arranged by Ted Nugent, except "Hey Baby", written and arranged by Derek St. Holmes.
Credits
- Al Clayton - Photography
- Anthony Reale - Engineer, Remixing
- Brian Staffeld - Percussion
- Bruce Dickinson - Reissue Producer
- Cliff Davies - Drums, Vibraphone, Vocals
- Derek St. HolmesDerek St. HolmesDerek St. Holmes is an American musician best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's successful early solo career.-Early years:...
- Arranger, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals - Gary GraffGary GraffGary Graff is an American music journalist and author.-Biography:Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Graff attended Taylor Allderdice High School where he wrote for school newspaper The Taylor Allderdice Foreword. He received his Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri...
- Liner Notes - Gerard Huerta - Lettering
- Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
- Lew Futterman - Producer
- Rob GrangeRob GrangeRobert de la Grange , known by his stage name Rob Grange, is an American rock bass guitarist, best known for his work with Ted Nugent.- Career :...
- Bass - Stephan Moore - Project Director
- Steve McRay - Keyboards
- Ted Nugent - Arranger, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
- Tom WermanTom WermanTom Werman was an A&R man and record producer for Epic Records from 1970 into 1982. He has produced albums by acts including Mother's Finest, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Blue Öyster Cult, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Stryper, Kix, LA Guns, and Poison. While in A&R at Epic Records, he...
- Percussion, Producer - Vic Anesini - Mastering