| 2120 South Michigan Ave. | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | George Thorogood and the Destroyers |
| Cover: | 2120 South Michigan Ave..jpeg |
| Released: | June 12, 2011 |
| Recorded: | 2011 |
| Studio: | House of Blues Studio, Encino, CA Route 44 Studio, Sebastopol, CA Rax Trax Studios, Chicago, IL |
| Genre: | Blues rock, boogie rock |
| Length: | 46:05 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Tom Hambridge |
| Prev Title: | The Dirty Dozen |
| Prev Year: | 2009 |
2120 South Michigan Ave. is the fifteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 12, 2011 by the label Capitol Records.[1] The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.[2]
The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records in Chicago.[3] [4] The album itself is a tribute to Chess Records.[5]
Recording of this album started sometime in 2011, Capitol Records approached Thorogood with the idea for the album and selected most of the songs.[6] Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite perform on the album,[7] although their work was added after primary recording was complete. The album was produced by Tom Hambridge.
Capitol Records released 2120 South Michigan Ave. on June 12, 2011. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Album chart. "Going Back" was the lead single from the album.[8]
The album contains ten covers of songs recorded on Chess Records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters; plus a cover of The Rolling Stones' instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue" and two original songs about Chess Records artists.[9] [10]
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, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley is a logical move for the rough and tumble blues-rockers."[11] 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."[12] William Pinfold of Record Collector wrote "That said, from the slightly cheesy influence-referencing Going Back to the final Stones cover, it’s a wholly enjoyable album with heart and soul to spare. Blues artists have usually gotten better with age and it seems that George Thorogood is following that tradition."[13]
The following personnel are credited on the album:[14]