Based on a True Story (The Del-Lords album) explained
Based on a True Story is an album by the American band the Del-Lords, released in 1988 on Enigma Records.[1] [2] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[3]
Production
Recorded in Los Angeles, the album cost $120,000.[4] It was produced by Neil Giraldo.[5] Pat Benatar duetted with Scott Kempner on "Poem of the River".[6]
Critical reception
The Washington Post wrote that "Kempner spreads on the working-class persona a little thick at times, but this is still the equal of any previous Del-Lords set."[7] The Toronto Star deemed the album "a rip-snorting, noisy, trashy little garage opus."[8]
The Chicago Tribune determined that "the album, energy and polish notwithstanding, emerges as a good but not great package with a faintly 'generic' feel." The New York Times concluded that "the straightforward, stomping rock songs on the band's third album ... insist on independent thinking and truthfulness."[9]
Track listing
All songs written by Scott Kempner.
Personnel
- The Del-Lords
- Additional musicians and production
- Scotty Bem – gong
- Pat Benatar – backing vocals on "Judas Kiss" & "Poem of the River"
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Spyder Curtis James – keyboards on "Judas Kiss", "Poem of the River" and "Ashes to Ashes"
- Frank Linx – vocals on "Cheyenne", "Whole Lotta Nothin' Goin' On", "A Lover's Prayer", "Judas Kiss" and "River of Justice"
- Rev. Mojo Nixon – sermon on "River of Justice"
- Johnny Powers – harp on "River of Justice" and "A Lover's Prayer"
- Kevin Savigar – keyboards on "Whole Lotta Nothin' Goin' On" and "Poem of the River"
- Kim Shattuck & Karen Blankfeld of The Pandoras – vocals on "The Cool and the Crazy"
- Syd Straw – backing vocals on "Judas Kiss", "River of Justice" and "Ashes to Ashes"
- Gordon Fordyce – engineer
- Michael Frondelli – mixing
- Neil Geraldo – production
- Assistant engineers: Bill Cooper, Angus Davidson, Scott E. Gordon
Notes and References
- News: Griffin . John . The Del-Lords Based on a True Story . The Gazette . 28 Apr 1988 . Montreal . E3.
- Young . Charles M. . Music . Playboy . May 1988 . 35 . 5 . 25.
- News: Robins . Wayne . The Del-Lords Take an Independent Stand . Newsday . 29 Apr 1988 . Weekend . 3.
- News: Maney . Kevin . Rockers on the rocks . USA Today . 28 Aug 1987 . 1B.
- News: Pick . Steve . Del Lords' Latest Shows Big Improvement . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 24 June 1988 . F4.
- Haring . Bruce . Del-Lords Seek 1st Commercial Hit with Album . Billboard . Apr 9, 1988 . 100 . 15 . 45.
- News: Jenkins . Mark . The New Old-Time Rock 'n' Roll . The Washington Post . 9 Mar 1988 . B7.
- News: Quill . Greg . Short Cuts . Toronto Star . 15 Apr 1988 . E8.
- News: Pareles . Jon . New York Rockers Singing the Blues Loudly and Clearly . The New York Times . 29 Apr 1988 . C1.
