Classic Rock Album Reviews

This is a review and history of a great classic rock group named the Damn Yankees. Their self titled album is to me like Catcher in the Rye is to mass murderers, I always have to have it with me!

This classic rock album is a must for any one that calls themselfs a rocker! Now on with the story.

The Damn Yankees Were Born

I still remember hearing the rumor that members of three of my favorites of then defunct bands were getting together to form a new band called the Damn Yankees!

In 1989, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Tommy Shaw of Styx and the "Motor City Madman" himself, Ted Nugent, brought in drummer Michael Cortellone to form the band. I had seen Night Ranger, Styx and Nugent in concert and knew that each of these guys were the core of their bands and to have them together in one band was going to be spectacular!

The Damn Yankee's self titled album was released and went double platinum in 1990. The Nuge brought his blusey rockin guitar in to blend with Blades and Shaw's harmonic voices and a masterpiece was born.

I don't believe there is a bad track on the whole album as High Enough proved as it went to #3 on the Top 40 chart, the first charting song for Nugent, and pushed the album to #1 on the AOR charts. The influences of the individual band members can be heard in each song, like Tommy on Come Again or Jack on Coming of Age and of course Ted on Piledriver.

Overall this Damn Yankee debut album gets high play time on my Ipod and I give it 4.8 out of 5 rocking stars.

Coming of Age

Written by Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent

Dressed to kill and lookin' dynomite,

with her high-laced stockings and her sweater so tight.

I asked her her name, she said her name was "Maybe."

Well she walked up to me, and she asked me to chance

I said, "I am lookin' for some wild romance,"

She gave me a wink--she said I should think about it, maybe

She said, "What you got babe, is what I need.

Your kind of love got me on my knees."

I'm so tied up

What you got got a hold on me, your kind of love make a man outta me

I'm so tied up, you got me so fired up

Little sister, hits the stage

She can't help it, she's comin' of age

Little junior, he's all in a rage

Did you notice she was comin' of age

If looks could kill, I'd be dead on the floor

You got me all tied up, honey, beggin' for more

Somebody call a doctor, I think I'm goin' crazy

(Because) What you got, babe, is what I need

Your kind of love got me on my knees

I'm so tied up

What you got got a hold on me

Your kind of love make a man outta me

I'm so tied up

You got me so fired up

Little sister, hits the stage

She can't help it, she's comin' of age

Little junior, he's all in a rage

Did you notice she was come, come, comin' of....

[various ooohs and yells]

Little sister, hits the stage

She can't help it, she's comin' of age

Little junior, he's all in a rage

Did you notice she was come, come, comin' of...

Did you notice she was come, come, comin' of age

She's come, come, comin' of age

Yeah she come, she come, she come

Bad Reputation

Written by Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent

When you wake up in the morning, and you're lyin' in my bed

Do you think of me, how I made you scream

It was an all night love affair (are you ready, I'm ready)

Say "Mary go 'round again"

Would a lollipop get ya back on top from the candy man, yeah friend?

Got a hunger for affection, I just can't get enough

Well I read you, baby, like an open book

Now the doctor's in, let me take a look

Say yeah, yeah, s'alright

I got a bad, bad reputation

(I got) a bad, bad reputation

When you step into the spotlight, you're a cherry red machine

(wanna touch you, wanna taste you)

Wanna kiss you in between

You legs say action, your body built for speed

I know what I do for you, won't you do the same for me

Did I mention my intentions?

I just can't get enough

You can huff and puff, try to blow me down

But the big bad wolf is back in town

Say yeah, yeah, I'll bite

I got a bad, bad reputation

A bad, bad reputation

Ever heard the story (said it's true)

'Bout a travellin' man (he'd been around)

He could have any woman (welcome to)

Palm of his hand (blow ya down)

She could never fight it (no she won't)

'Cause you know she needs it so bad, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Bad, bad reputation (repeats, fades)

Runaway

(Everyone needs a place to run away, run away)

Summer night, moonlit sky

Tearing pages from a magazine, she cries

I don't wanna be the lonely one tonight

She said, I came to this place, full of dreams

Young and innocent and only 16

Now I wonder if it's too late to turn back

So she runs, and she hides

And she dries the tears from her eyes

And the night goes on and on and on

(She's in the twilight zone)

Twilight zone, yeah, you gotta run, run, run away

(It's such a long way home)

When it hurts so bad you gotta run, run, run away

Perfect day, feels like spring

Can see forever but you can't see anything

Now I wonder why they call it paradise

It's a crime, it's a shame

And they won't remember your name

And your life goes on and on and on

(It's like the twilight zone)

Twilight zone, yeah, you gotta run, run, run away

(But she won't go home)

So she's gotta run, run, run away

She came from a small town

So tired of getting pushed around

In the dark of the night, no one around

She'll run from this shabby town, yeah, yeah, yeah

(Solo)

It's a laugh, it's a game

Don't you let it drive you insane

'Cause your life goes on and on and on

(It's like the twilight zone)

Twilight zone, yeah, you gotta run, run, run away

(But she won't go home)

When it hurts so bad you gotta run, run, run away, yeah, yeah, yeah

(She's in the twilight zone)

Twilight zone, yeah, you gotta run, run, run away

All you got is to run away

(It's why she runs home)

You gotta run, run, run away

Run, run, run away

(Twilight zone)

Twilight zone, don't you know you gotta run, run, run away

Don't you know you gotta run

(But she won't go home, when it hurts so bad)

You gotta run, run, run away

(She's in the twilight zone)

Twilight zone, don't you know you gotta run, run, run away

High Enough

I don't want to hear about it anymore,

It's a shame I've got to live without you anymore.

There's a fire in my heart,

A pounding in my brain, it's driving me crazy.

We don't need to talk about it anymore.

Yesterday's just a memory; can we close the door?

I just made one mistake,

I didn't know what to say when you called me baby.

Don't say goodnight,

Say you're gonna stay forever,

Oh, whoa, all the way.

Can you take me high enough

to fly me over yesterday?

Can you take me high enough?

It's never over and yesterday's just a memory,

Yesterday's just a memory.

And I don't want to live without you anymore.

Can't you see I'm in misery?

And you know for sure

I would live and die for you

And I'd know just what to do when you call me baby.

Don't say goodbye

Say you're gonna stay forever,

Oh, whoa, all the way.

Can you take me high enough

Can you fly me over yesterday?

Can you take me high enough?

It's never over and yesterday's just a memory.

I was running

I was running for the door

Realizing now or never

I was running back for more

Oo, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Don't say goodbye

Say you're gonna stay forever,

Oh, whoa, all the way, all the way,

Come all the way, yeah.

Can you take me high enough

Can you fly me over yesterday?

Can you take me high enough?

It's never over, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Can you take me high enough

Won't you fly me over yesterday?

Can you take me high enough?

It's never over, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Damn Yankees

Written by Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent

Hey brother

Ready for Another

Dose of my Yankee Pride

In the jungle

Ya just might stumble

Onto something that you never tried

Got that right

There was trouble in the east

Worry in the west

Till the wall came tumblin' down

Shift in the sand

Rockets to the madman

Haven't heard a sound

You don't have to worry

Help is on the way

We don't need no "thank you, ma'am"

We know what they're gonna say

(They say) Hey, hey, Damn Yankee

Woh, Oh, Oh, Damn Yankee

(How we doin')

Now I say what I want

And I do what I want

And I go where I want to go

Ain't no strong man

Safe from the hang man

Baby, now, don't ya know

If you need assitance

I'll be on the way

Run into a little resistance

Ya know what they're gonna say

(They say) Hey, hey, Damn Yankee

Woh, oh, oh, Damn Yankee

Hey, hey, Damn Yankee

[guitar solo]

They landed at Plymouth Rock

The kids was ready to roll

Greasy dictator down south of us *

Lost all control *

He didn't have time to see me

He didn't have time to thank me

Suck on the barrel of my hot shotgun

Smile when you say "Damn Yankee"

Hey, hey, Damn Yankee

Woh, oh, oh, Damn Yankee

Hey, hey, Damn Yankee

Woh, oh, oh, Damn Yankee

Damn Yankee

Damn Yankee

Come Again

Written by Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent

I was a loner crusin' with the wind

I wasn't lookin' when you pulled me in

I had to leave you like I always did

You knew damn well I'd come again

Now I'm falling where I've never been

My resistance is wearing thin

Somewhere in the distance

like a long lost friend

Whoa oh oh oh, yeah--

Lord, here I come again

Come again

Yeah

Been so long since I've seen you girl

Swear I've been around the world

Every room is an empty space

In the darkness I see your face

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

When I finally get my hands on you

Tell you what I'm gonna do

Lay you down, strip you bare

Make love to you till the morning comes around

I wasn't lookin' when you pulled me in

Whoa oh oh oh

Yeah--

Lord, here I come again

Come again

Come again

I said Lord [yell]

[guitar solo]

I wasn't lookin' when you pulled me in

Whoa oh oh oh

Yeah--

Lord, here I come again

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

[guitar solo]

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Whoa Whoa Whoa

I wasn't lookin' when you pulled me in

Whoa oh oh oh

Yeah--

Lord, here I come again

Mystified

Written by Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent

You don't have to love me baby

I don't give a damn

You've got the time I've got the touch

And you know who I am

It's simplified, I'm mystified

A case of hit and run

Ain't no use no more abuse

You are my number one

And I'm in love

I'm mystified, baby

Yeah, I'm in love

I'm mystified, baby

yeah, yeah, yeah

You're my kind of lover

You always keep me mystified

[guitar solo]

I'm in love

And I'm mystified, baby

Yeah, yeah, yeah, now

You're my kind of lover

You always keep me mystified

Well I get out of the kitchen

When I can't take the heat

What you've got cooking, hun

It's good enough to eat

Well, in walked the boss man

With a boom, boom, boom

He said, "Break time's over, boy,

Get back to pushin' that broom."

Well, that's the way it goes sometimes

It's the story of my life

Whoa oh yeah yeah

Yeah yeah yeah now

You're my kind of lover (you're my kind of lover)

You always keep me mystified

You just keep it comin', babe

You always wanna keep me satisfied

You're my kind of lover (you're my kind of lover)

You always keep me mystified

Whoa oh oh oh

I don't mind pushing that broom baby

Long as I'm pushin' back towards you

mm mm, mm mm, ooh, say [yell]

[guitar solo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, now

You're my kind of lover (you're my kind of lover)

You always keep me mystified

Yeah, you're my kind of lover, baby (you're my kind of lover)

You always wanna keep me satisfied

You're my kind of lover (you're my kind of)

Woah, oh--

You know you keep me mystified

Rock City

Here comes the night time

And it's knockin' at my door

Lady luck, she's come around

And she wants a little more

Down on the boulevard

They're screamin' like a child

"If I can't play that mean guitar

It's gonna drive me wild, wild"

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, U.S.A.

The sidewalk's moving

The palm trees sway

The switchblade girls line 'em up in L.A.

Everybody came here from somewhere to play

They wear their guitars low just like Jimmy Page

Well, I've been to London

I've been to France

I've been to Mississippi

Where they taught me to dance

Lord, have mercy, I ain't never seen

Nobody going down like this beauty queen

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, U.S.A.

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, U.S.A.

(I'm on fire)

(I'm on fire)

I'm on fire

(I'm on fire)

Just can't get enough (I'm on fire)

You can't stop me now (I'm on fire)

You can't hold me down (I'm on fire)

I said come on, come on

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[guitar solo]

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Can't stop rockin'

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, U.S.A.

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, here I come

Rock City, U.S.A.

[repeat to fade]

Tell Me How You Want It

Hey yeah!

Look out, I'm a man with a mission

Tell you what I wanna do

We've gotta move, we don't need no permission

Just need me and you

And you ought to know

If there's a way, I will come crashing through your door, mmm-hmm

I'll take you higher than you've ever been before

So come on won't you

Tell me how you want it

Tell me what you want me to do

Someday I'm gonna be a rich man

Baby you got nothing to lose

Now I know you've got a heart like a lion

How much can you take?

You and me gotta run like the river

This dam's about to break

Rolling like thunder from above I'll take you there

Hey yeah

It's now or never

Gotta get up while we can

You gotta

Tell me how you want it

Tell me what you want me to do

Someday I'm gonna be a rich man

Baby you got nothing to lose

Whoa-oh-oh

Tell me how you want it (how you want it)

Tell me what you want me to do (whoo-ooh)

Someday I'm gonna win you over

You got nothing to lose

Going nowhere ain't no pleasure

It's pain when you're living a lie

Don't make it over, don't talk it over

Just jump in my car, jump in my car and we'll

Run, run, run, like there's no tomorrow (whoa-oh-oh)

Run, run, run, run (ooh! oh! yeah!)

Yeah!

Whoo!

Rolling like thunder from above I'll take you there

I'll take you higher than you've ever been before

Now come on, yeah

You've got to

Tell me how you want it (won't you tell me)

Tell me what you want me to do

Someday I'm gonna be a rich man

Baby you got nothing to lose

Oh-oh-oh

Tell me how you want it (tell me how you want it)

Tell me what you want me to do

Someday I'm gonna win you over

You got nothing to lose

Tell me how you want it

Tell me how you want it

Tell me how you want it

Tell me how you want it

Piledriver

Nice licks

I can feel this's gonna be a rhythm and blues song

Nice, real nice, tasty

Wait a minute

Well if you want it baby

Slide on up and take me home

And go ahead and drive me crazy

You can't leave well enough alone

Ow

'Cause I'm a piledriver

Piledrivin' man

I'm a piledriver

Piledrivin' man

So you say you love me

Well shake me up and cut me loose

Let's shake me down like you've got rabies

And slip your neck inside of my noose

I'm a piledriver

Piledrivin' man

I'm a piledriver

Piledrivin' man

Another nasty situation (c'mon baby)

I heard that story line before (oh, hey)

We're gonna rock this fuckin' nation (oh! ow! yeah!)

I was cruizin' backstage in Des Moines, Iowa

And a little girl comes up next to me and says

"Mr. Nugent do you think my skirt is short enough?"

I said, "Baby, you want to be alive you've got to piledrive!"

Did anybody get the license plate number of that truck?

[background chatter]

Piledriver

Piledrivin' man

I'm a piledriver

Piledrivin' man

Yes I am

Piledriver

Piledrivin' man

Piledriver

Yes I am a

Piledrivin' man

Whoa nice

Oh rapture me, right now