A godsend for devotees of gritty 1980s rock & roll that straddled the great divide between the decade's commercial radio rock (best exemplified by Bruce Springsteen) and its post-punk college-radio antagonists, Get Tou... more »gh salvages the six-year career of one of the era's superior club acts. The Del-Lords were masterminded by ex-Dictator Scott Kempner, who explored his less sardonic side with his second recording outfit. The Lords leaned hard toward concrete-solid rhythms, classic guitar lines, and street-smart songs delivered with no-nonsense fortitude by Kempner, second guitarist Eric Ambel, and, occasionally, bassist Manny Caiati and drummer Frank Funaro. This overdue anthology includes 16 selections culled from the East Coast rockers' four studio albums and tosses in a couple of previously unreleased tracks (including a cover of "Folsom Prison Blues") for good measure. Tough stuff. --Steven Stolder« less
A godsend for devotees of gritty 1980s rock & roll that straddled the great divide between the decade's commercial radio rock (best exemplified by Bruce Springsteen) and its post-punk college-radio antagonists, Get Tough salvages the six-year career of one of the era's superior club acts. The Del-Lords were masterminded by ex-Dictator Scott Kempner, who explored his less sardonic side with his second recording outfit. The Lords leaned hard toward concrete-solid rhythms, classic guitar lines, and street-smart songs delivered with no-nonsense fortitude by Kempner, second guitarist Eric Ambel, and, occasionally, bassist Manny Caiati and drummer Frank Funaro. This overdue anthology includes 16 selections culled from the East Coast rockers' four studio albums and tosses in a couple of previously unreleased tracks (including a cover of "Folsom Prison Blues") for good measure. Tough stuff. --Steven Stolder
CD Reviews
Killer Rock
E. Joy | Texas, USA | 05/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the 1980s the Del Lords, along with a few others like the BoDeans helped me stay sane. The great bands of the '60s and '70s had broken up or quit recording and music was in a dark period but Scott, Manny, Frank, and Eric just kept ROCKIN'. The Lords took their great musicianship and combined it with a punk attitude to create some of the best rock n' roll in years. To name my favorite Del Lords songs would end up with a long, long list. Suffice it to say that if you like rock n' roll played with passion and fire, you'll like this recording. Yes, there are some essentials missing but it still ROCKS. Buy it and find out."
My Favourite Band Of The Eighties
Tough of the Track | Somerset, UK | 09/29/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A great complilation but a few favourites inevitably missing, Double Life and Soldier's Home to name but two. It's about time their original albums were released on CD because this was a band who reminded everyone what rock 'n' roll is all about, with short melodic songs played with power and passion. I never heard the live album but for me, as a fan from the outset, Lovers Who Wander was the band's weakest album, although their generous mention on the cover of the late British DJ Roger Scott, who championed the band, was a nice touch. I was lucky enough to see them twice in 1989, at London's Marquee Club supporting They Might Be Giants and headlining at Reading After Dark Club. The latter was a great gig and also gave me the chance to chat with both Scott Kempner, who was politeness personified, and Eric Ambel. The Del-Lords truly deserved greater commercial success and will always remain one of my favourite bands of all time."
Top-notch '80s Roots Rock
jbesanko | Crofton, MD United States | 11/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was aware of the Del-Lords from the beginning; I heard "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times" back in '84 or '85 and bought Frontier Days (their first album) as a result...Interestingly, though, I sort of lost touch with them for a long while before picking up this collection. What was I thinking? This band wrote great songs, put the guitars up front and sounded like they were having a great time--and this compilation showcases them well. While I, like other reviewers, miss some particular favorites from other albums which didn't make the cut ("Poem Of The River," "Stay With Me"), there are plenty of great tunes here: "St. Jake," "Carry On," "Cheyenne"...there's really not a throwaway in the bunch. Guitarist/vocalist Eric "Roscoe" Ambel has gone on to produce a bunch of roots rock and alt.country bands in the last 10 years, and all of them owe a distinct debt of gratitude to bands like the Del-Lords, the Long Ryders, BoDeans, etc. Get this album while you can; it's got excellent liner notes and it's the only document of this under-appreciated great band still in print."
DEL LORDS BEST -still missing my favorite
Martin O'neill | Philadelphia | 05/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Couldn't stop myself from playin the new ones over and over. Carry on is top notch, funny how all my top D-lords tunes are sung by Eric. Which leads me to...how the hell could they not include "shame on you". I also am missing "gonna be around" and the last song on Lovers...it escapes me now. Thank god for the night in 1988 when they showed up in little old Victoria B.C. Canada and put on a show. If you guys have any more in the vault please give it to us soon!"
Long Live The DelLords!
rlr57 | NJ USA | 02/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have always loved this band! For anyone who has heard the Del Lords, you know what I mean. For anyone who hasn't, buy this record. You will be treating yourself to something wonderful.
The Del Lords were THE best band to come out of NYC in the 80's. It always seemed as if they got no support from their record company, and could not achieve the wide success they so richly deserved.
If you're a radio fan, check out SAINT JAKE. It'll mean so much to you. I love this band."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1