Anthology

There are a few short-but-sweet collections out there for anyone seeking a basic George Thorogood primer, but those who want a more intensive investigation of the blues-rock baron's catalog should home in on this 30-track best-of. Anthology not only catches all the barroom rocker's biggest hits; it also features a buoyant batch of live recordings and some deep cuts to fill out the picture. "I feel like gettin' dirty tonight," Thorogood shouts as he roars into a no-nonsense live version of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." The grittiness ingrained in every note from Thorogood's mouth and guitar is a testament to his decades of blasting out blues and old-school rock 'n' roll all across America. And while the Muddy Waters–style stomp of Thorogood's own blockbuster "Bad to the Bone" and the John Lee Hooker–writ–large sound of the roots-rock hero's hit "I Drink Alone" show his knack for assimilating his influences, Thorogood's take-no-prisoners teardowns of tunes like Fats Domino's "I'm Ready" and Elmore James's "The Sky Is Crying" make his way with the classics clear.