Classic Rock Bottom

ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 228 TED NUGENT - STATE OF SHOCK (35TH ANNIVERSARY - 1979)

Artist: Ted Nugent

Genre: Rock

Country Of Origin: United States

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: No

Album: State Of Shock

Producer: Lew Futterman/Cliff Davies

Release Date: May 1979

Running Time: 40:43

RJ's Top 5 Songs: 1. Alone...2. State Of Shock...3. Paralyzed...4. Take It Or Leave It...5. It Don't Matter

 

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it). 

I thought about Alice Cooper for Halloween week, but nah.  Decided to go with Uncle Ted.  He's pretty scary, right.  All political opinions aside, your Album Of The Week is State Of Shock from Ted Nugent.  This year is the album's 35th anniversary.  A few nuggets:

  • State Of Shock is Nugent's fifth solo album.
  • It climbed as high as number 18 on the U.S. charts.
  • It has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
  • State Of Shock would mark the first time Uncle Ted did not achieve Platinum status.
  • He also has had no Platinum albums since (the follow-up did reach Gold status).
  • Best I can tell, no singles were released from the album.
  • Paralyzed was performed on a 1980's episode of Fridays.
  • Charlie Huhn split lead vocal duties with Ted on this album.

For most of my life, this is the only Nugent I owned.  My sister did have Free-For-All and I think she had Cat Scratch Fever.  I've always liked this album, at least part of it.  I pretty well wore out side one on the vinyl copy I owned (I think I still have it somewhere).  But for me, you don't even need to bother flipping to side two.  It is pretty much all filler with the usually spectacular guitar fireworks Nuggent is known for.  My favorite Nugent song is Alone. Just a great power ballad.  

Do you own this album?  If so or even if not, what do you think of it?

1. Paralyzed

2. Take It Or Leave It

3. Alone

4. It Don't Matter

5. State Of Shock

6. I Want To Tell You

7. Satisfied

8. Bite Down Hard

9. Snake Charmer

10. Saddle Sore

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A couple years ago I was picking up some Ted music and this was the highest priced CD then, and it still is now. Don't know why. Most of the albums from this Teddy era were around $5 tops, but this one was and still is around $15. "Penetrator" is more expensive now, probably because it's OOP, but why hasn't this album reached the $5 price range? I wanna know! Plus, it's not even remastered! I just don't get it!

This is pretty good. I have heard a few of these songs before, and the ones I haven't don't bore me. Nice Beatles cover as well, kind of laid back not as ballistic as expected. I'm guessing side two starts with track #6, and it's really not that bad.

Much as it pains me, I'll have to say that this was a good post. Now I have to wait until it hits $5 (or less)!  

To me, this is a "decent" listen, but still disappointing compared to earlier Nuge albums. And I have one reason why....that would be the lack of Derek St. Holmes, with no disrespect meant to Charlie Huhn at all. But Ted's very best stuff was always with Derek doing some singing, and without a doubt, despite Ted's reluctance to give writing credit where credit is due, Derek's songwriting is sorely missed.

I dont have a problem with side 2 vrs. 1, both are decent. "Alone" is a great tune, with awesome guitar, and the vocal harmony work is excellent. But Ted will never be as good as he used to be, unless he wises up, and gets Derek back helping write songs. "Spirit Of The Wild" from 1995, when Derek rejoined the band, is the best Nugent since the late 70's. But it was really good to hear this again. I bet it's been at least 20 years since I heard this all the way through. I do dig the entire middle lead section of the track "Satisfied", and I had forgotten about that song.

Always thought Weekend Warriors was his last great solo album...  Loved Penetrator when it first came out but I think its safe to say that one was a period piece, so my original assessment stands....  or does it?  more to come...

I'd forgotten about Paralyzed, very cool opener.  I also forgotten about his appearance on that old show Fridays, but thankfully Youtube reminded me of how cool it was at the time.  Love the lead work and that phaser effect, that's always a win in my book!  Off to a great start!  Take It Or Leave It has that signature Ted stamp on the riff, lyric and geetar©™℠ solo...

The Bluesy Alone is awesome!  Why don't I remember this one?  You may be right, this is a great tune!  And Ted nails the geetar©™℠...

It Doesn't Matter - typical Ted, not a bad thing.  Onto the title track... Don't remember this one, it seems like it wants to go somewhere but the chorus just holds it back.  Not a typical title track IMO - they are usually one of the best cuts on an album this one just flounders.  I Want To Tell You gets the album back on track, I like the slow bluesy feel and the melodic riff helps set the tone, the geetar©™℠ work is nice as well, not a typical TedShred© .  I really liked this one!

Satisfied, another lyrically deep tune!  hahaha, nothing here (or on any TedTune© would be considered lyrically deep).  I do love the Stranglehold-like geetar©™℠ solo, though he's probably played that out to a logical end by this album.  Bit Down Hard, nice riff, simple song structure, nice geetar©™℠ interplay with the vocal.

SnakeCharmer:  Why do I remember this one?  And where from?  It's a mystery!  The album closes with Saddle Sore, gee I wonder what that's about!  Its another TypicalTed© song.

This was better than I expected and better than I remember.  But I do have to agree with Gordon, once St. Holmes departed it never quite worked as well.  But...  while this doesn't change by opinion that Weekend Warriors was his last "Great" solo album, it does make me want to go back and revisited Scream Dream, Intensities In Ten Citys etc....  Great post!!

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