Free-for-All

by Ted Nugent

Overview

While Ted Nugent's second solo album, 1976's Free-for-All, was another raging slab of rock & roll, it wasn't quite as consistent as his self-titled debut. The main reason was due to singer/rhythm guitarist Derek St. Holmes' departure from the band just as recording of the album began (due to constant grappling with the Nuge about certain musical issues). To solve the problem, producer Tom Werman convinced a then-unknown singer by the name of Meat Loaf to handle the vocal chores on the songs Derek was going to sing. While it seems like a mismatch in theory, the results were not catastrophic -- such rockers as "Writing on the Wall" (a virtual rewrite of "Stranglehold"), "Street Rats," and "Hammerdown" are classic Nuge stompers. But they would have been stronger with St. Holmes' contributions, as evidenced by a bonus outtake of "Street Rats" with St. Holmes on vocals and the turbo-charged "Turn It Up." But still, the title track is one of Ted's all-time best (featuring a downright vicious groove), as is the rocking tale about the 1967 Detroit riots, "Dog Eat Dog." Despite St. Holmes' absence (he would return in time for the album's subsequent tour), Free-for-All solidified Ted's commercial success, reaching the Top 25. ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	02/01/2008
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0886972378626
Rank:	28507

Tracks

1. Free-for-All
2. Dog Eat Dog
3. Writing on the Wall
4. Turn It Up
5. Street Rats
6. Together
7. Light My Way
8. Hammerdown
9. I Love You So I Told You a Lie
10. Free for All
11. Dog Eat Dog
12. Street Rats

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ted Nugent   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Lead Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Meat Loaf   Guest Artist,Vocals
Cliff Davies   Percussion,Vocals (Background),Drums,Vocals
Rob Grange   Bass,Guitar
Derek St. Holmes   Guitar,Vocals,Featured Artist,Guitar (Rhythm)
Tom Werman   Percussion
Steve McRay   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Cliff Davies   Composer,Producer
Rob Grange   Composer
Derek St. Holmes   Composer
Lew Futterman   Producer
Tom Werman   Producer
Ted Nugent   Composer
Stephan Moore   Project Director
Jim Houghton   Photography
Gary Graff   Liner Notes
Bruce Dickinson   Reissue Producer
Ian Bairnson   Composer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Anthony Reale   Engineer
Howard Fritzson   Reissue Art Director