Ted Nugent- Intensity in 10 Cities
Someone once called me “clueless” because I stated that I would still go to a Ted Nugent concert in spite of his political ramblings. What do they know? What I know is that when you see the Motor City Madman on stage, you don’t care about politics, you are simply amazed by the energy Ted emits while on stage and the magic he creates with that guitar. Having seen him live twice and both accounts are recorded for posterity in “Rock and Roll Children,” I can personally testify to this.
“You’re Double Live Gonzo, Live at Budokan, Intensity in 10 Cities.” Wayne Campbell to Casandra in Wayne’s World 1
I have heard many a live album in my years and I can say that no one else brings the energy from a live show onto a record better than Ted Nugent. This is just as much true with the 1982 live album “Intensity in 10 Cities” as it was with the 1978 “Double Live Gonzo.” The songs recorded on the album were a series of songs that were never recorded previously. Ted believed that since those songs had been well honed over the months of playing them on tour, they would sound better recorded live as opposed to in the studio. I have to say, I think he was right on that one.
If “Intensity in 10 Cities” had been recorded as a live concert instead of over a series of concerts, it still would have been worth the price of admission. These are 10 songs that simply sound fantastic live and the order they appear is near perfect. If it wasn’t for his introduction of the song before he played, “Put Up or Shut Up” would have been a great show opening song. It’s one that would have definitely gotten the crowd on their feet.
While his trademark work with the guitar is well cemented on the album, it is the third track “My Love is Like a Tire Iron” where he really goes to the ionosphere with it. The long lead solo is simply hypnotic and the same can be said for the solos on “Heads Will Roll,” “Land of a Thousand Dances and of course, the instrumental “The TNT Overature.” Furthermore, his between the songs banter is best on “Jailbait” which is shows his more humourous side. However, the stand out track for me is “I Am a Predator” because that song has many of the elements I have already mentioned.
This mighty combination propels things very nicely to the closer “I Take No Prisoners.” It’s not a bad closer, especially when he works his typical guitar magic, but if I were in the audience and heard that song before he left the stage, I would certainly expect him back to play more. Me personally, like the Mitch character in the book, I would be screaming for him to play “The Great White Buffalo.” His failure to play that song either time I saw him is the only thing I can hold against his performances.
Track Listing:
- Put Up or Shut Up
- Spontaneous Combustion
- My Love is Like a Tire Iron
- Jailbait
- I Am a Predator
- Heads Will Roll
- The Flying Lip Lock
- Land of a Thousand Dances
- The TNT Overature
- I Take No Prisoners
Ted Nugent- lead vocals, lead guitar
Charlie Huhn- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Dave Kiswiney- bass, backing vocals
Cliff Davies- drums, backing vocals
So there you have it, a live album that would have sounded great as a concert on its own. Ted Nugent shows why he is so awesome live and puts that down on vinyl, cassette and CD. “Intensity in 10 Cities” is a tribute to a fine musician. BTW, can any of you spot the mistake in this post?
Next post: Hanoi Rocks- Self Destruction Blues
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This entry was posted on October 11, 2015 at 8:14 am and is filed under 1980s, Concerts, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal and the 1980s, Music, Rock, Uncategorized with tags Americans, Classic Rock, Double Live Gonzo, Guitarists, hard rock, Heavy Metal, Heavy Rock, Intensity in 10 Cities, live albums, Ted Nugent, The 1980s, Wayne's World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
21 Responses to “Ted Nugent- Intensity in 10 Cities”
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October 11, 2015 at 9:00 am
I remember this one, always wanted it but never got it for inexplicable reasons. I have Jailbait and Flying Lip Lock on a compilation but clearly need to hear the whole thing, including of course TNT “Overture” (right?).
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October 11, 2015 at 1:07 pm
That happens sometimes. Those are good tracks and TNT Overture is a damn good instrumental.
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October 11, 2015 at 10:57 am
Best Nuge album in my opinion ! I Caught this tour and have reviewed both album and tour at my site….good write up!
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October 11, 2015 at 1:06 pm
You could be right their about it being best Nugent album.The exception might be Double Live Gonzo. He does make great live albums. I didn’t see him til the Little Miss Dangerous tour.
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October 11, 2015 at 1:12 pm
I also reviewed that album and saw that tour as well….were on the same wavelength!
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October 11, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Oh definitely. I’ll be visiting that one too but I got a long way until 1986.
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October 11, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Yeah, man. The Nuge may say things I very strongly disagree with, but he does not bring that into the music. On his last album, the most political he gets is “I still believe in America”. I have no problem with that. That is really an a-political statement unless you’re Anti-American so there you go.
I don’t have a lot of older Nuge. When I saw this title pop up in my email I thought it was the one where he had the guitar-shotgun on the cover. Which album is that??
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October 11, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Weekend Warriors!!
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October 11, 2015 at 6:19 pm
YEAH! One of my faves fer sure.
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October 12, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Yep and that’s a good album too.
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October 12, 2015 at 5:12 pm
My ex wife had a go at me on facebook over this. As long as an artist doesn’t get in my face with views I don’t agree with, I will happily watch their film, read their book or listen to their record. I love all the early Nugent.
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October 11, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Great White Buffalo is my fave Nuge tune by a million zillion light years.
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October 12, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Mine too! 🙂
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October 12, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Mistake?
Live at Bodokan is Cheap Trick and not Ted Nugent?
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October 12, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Cheap Trick and Bob Dylan has an album of the same name.
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October 12, 2015 at 5:15 pm
I did find it amusing that two of the three live albums mentioned in that line are Ted Nugent albums.
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October 12, 2015 at 6:23 pm
But that wasn’t the mistake I was referring too.
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October 12, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Hasn’t anyone spotted the mistake yet?
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October 12, 2015 at 5:21 pm
1982?
Cd?
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October 12, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Wasn’t this album from 1981?
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October 12, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Wikapedia says 81 and Heavy Harmonies said 82. I couldn’t remember which as I was in the service back then and a lot of albums got caught in the confusion.
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