Ted Nugent

After seven albums with his band the Amboy Dukes, during which time they evolved from psychedelic garage rock to heartland prog to crunching hard rock, guitarist Ted Nugent went solo, bringing final Dukes bassist Rob Grange along with him. Drummer Cliff Davies was a solid anchor, but singer/guitarist Derek St. Holmes was key to the whole project, a charismatic frontman and perfect foil for Nugent, whose guitar style blended blues, acid rock, and nods to classic Chuck Berry-esque rock ’n’ roll. The album opens with the eight-minute “Stranglehold,” a creepy-crawling epic that let Nugent solo at length but showcased everyone’s talents. Songs like “Motor City Madhouse,” “Stormtroopin’” and “Just What The Doctor Ordered,” shorter but no less anthemic, became fixtures of Nugent’s live set for decades.