Bad to the Bone is the fifth studio album by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers.

[1] The album contains the Destroyers' best known song, "Bad to the Bone", and also features Rolling Stones side-man Ian Stewart on piano.

[3] A 25th anniversary edition of the album was announced and released in 2007, featuring a bonus track and new re-recordings.

[7] In 1980, rhythm guitarist Ron Smith left the band, and was replaced by saxophonist Hank "Hurricane" Carter.

[3][8] Recording of the album began at the Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plains, Boston[12] in late 1981, and finished in early 1982.

[2][12] The sound of Bad to the Bone remained the same as their previous albums, with more originals written by Thorogood.

The song is described by Gary Graff as a "nice change of pace, slow and soulful with a rich sax solo by Carter.

[6] It was first released as the B-side to "Nobody but Me",[26][27] before being included as a bonus track for the 25th anniversary edition of Bad To The Bone.

27 on the Mainstream Rock chart,[33][36] but was not popular upon release, its music video received recurrent appearances on MTV.

[41] Bad to the Bone received positive reviews from critics.Lin Brehmer of WQBK wrote "George continues to infuse an old idiom with new life.

"[38] Robert Christgau says "Thorogood has added true boogie power to his blues, so his Diddley and Hooker no longer sound like three-quarter-size juke-joint facsimiles.

And in a predictable trade-off, he's added true boogie macho to his persona, so he gets his rocks off complaining about the Mann Act.

"[48] AllMusic's Tim Sendra says the album is "Thorogood's finest work and established him as one of the unsung heroes of the age of AOR".

[15] The Music Box's John Metzger wrote "While Bad to the Bone still isn't an essential album, it nonetheless is as enjoyable as ever.

"[49] William Pinfold of Record Collector wrote that "Bad To The Bone may not be George Thorogood's best album (his earlier, grittier work is perhaps more vital), but it's certainly his most typical and perhaps most consistent.

"[50] ^ Musician James Pobiega (stage name "Little Howlin' Wolf"), has claimed that he wrote "Bad to the Bone" and that George Thorogood stole the song from him.