I Drink Alone
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2017) |
| "I Drink Alone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by George Thorogood & The Destroyers | ||||
| from the album Maverick | ||||
| Released | February 1, 1985 | |||
| Genre | Blues rock, hard rock | |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Songwriter(s) | George Thorogood | |||
| Producer(s) | Terry Manning | |||
| George Thorogood & The Destroyers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I Drink Alone" on YouTube | ||||
"I Drink Alone" is a rock song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released as a single from the 1985 album Maverick. The song describes a man who, as the name of the song suggests, spends most of his time alone drinking. It name-checks various alcoholic beverages - Wiser's (or alternately Budweiser), Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker (Black and Red Labels), and Old Grand-Dad - in the verses. (In some live versions, the Old Grand-Dad verse is replaced with a verse referencing Wild Turkey.)
Writing and recording
George Thorogood wrote I Drink Alone as a dedication to American film and television actor Lee Marvin.[1] Thorogood originally wrote it as a country song, and wanted George Jones to record it, but the Destroyers ended up recording it instead.[2]
Release
I Drink Alone was first released as the second track on the Destroyer's sixth studio album Maverick.[3] It was then released as a single in February 1985. The song peaked at number 13 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[4][5]
Music Video
The video starts with Thorogood riding on a motorcycle with a guitar case on his back, he stops at a gas station, lights a cigarette and looks around, before picking up his guitar case and entering the bar at the gas station. When he enters the bar, he finds it empty. He sits down, and starts lip syncing the song. Thorogood then opens his guitar case, and takes out an alcoholic beverage, and glass and starts drinking. The video then cuts to Thorogood playing the solo on his guitar, after which he goes back to drinking alcohol and singing. The video ends with Thorogood taking a shot, when he notices a woman next to him. He gets up, walks to the door and mutters the words "I drink alone" before leaving. The whole video is in black and white.[6]
Reception
"I Drink Alone" is often considered to be one of Thorogood`s best songs, and is played often in live performances, and is included in many live and compilation albums.
AllMusic critic James Christopher Monger called "I Drink Alone" one of Thorogood's "high points".[7]
Personnel
- George Thorogood – guitar, vocals
- Hank Carter – saxophone
- Billy Blough – bass
- Jeff Simon – drums
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[4] | 13 |
Notes
- ^ Harry, Rich (November 20, 1993). "George Thorogood Still Sticking To The Game Plan". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Fraley, Jason. "George Thorogood ready to rock Wolf Trap with 'Bad to the Bone' hits". WTOP News.
- ^ Viglione, Joe. "Maverick Review by Joe Viglione". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "George Thorogood Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "George Thorogood & The Destroyers - I Drink Alone". Youtube.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Platinum Review by James Christopher Monger". AllMusic.
