The Del-Lords

Eric "Roscoe" Ambel spent most of the 1980s as guitarist for the Del Lords, and, looking back at the experience, he once told an interviewer that "making those records really made me want to get into production, because I just see the flaws in every one of our recording experiences. I don't feel the real Del Lords 'thing' ever really made it to record." While Ambel may be going a bit far to make a point, there's certainly a truth to his statement -- while they were an inarguably great rock & roll band, misguided production and occasionally curious song selection prevented them from ever making an album where the whole was as good as the best parts. Get Tough: The Best of the Del Lords is a excellent compilation that cherry picks most of the top-shelf moments from the band's four studio albums, and makes as good a case for their strengths as anything they ever put on the market. Scott Kempner's songs discuss the ups and downs of working-class life in America with guts, street smarts, and compassion, Kempner and Ambel's guitar add up to solid barroom-ready rock that is all meat and no filler, and Frank Funaro is, quite simply, a superb rock drummer who gives his all on these recordings. The band's best known tunes are all here, most of the high points are covered, and three great unreleased tracks are added for the completists, including covers of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and Mac Rebennack's "Carry On." There are a few prime moments that didn't make the cut, and it's a shame some room couldn't be found for a cut or two from their smokin' (and very hard to find) live album, but Get Tough proves that the Del Lords really were one of the great rock bands of their day, and both beginners and fans are advised to make a place for it in their collections. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide