Ted Nugent Penetrator CD - Import

Personnel: Ted Nugent (vocals, guitar, 6-string bass); Brian Howe (vocals); Alan St. Jon (keyboards, background vocals); Doug Lubahn (bass); Peter Wolf (percussion, sequencing); Kevin Russell, Todd Howarth, Cynthia Shiloh, Zoe Fox, Rahni Raines (background vocals).
Recorded at The Power Station, New York, New York, July 1983. Includes liner notes by Gary Graff.
Ted Nugent's sophomore release for Atlantic makes a classic case in point for an artist trying to catch up to the times. On Penetrator, the Nuge enlisted two-thirds of Billy Squier's backup band, which at one time included longtime Squier keyboard player Alan St. John and veteran drummer Bobby Chouinard. Nugent also hired future Bad Company frontman Brian Howe to handle vocal duties along with Doors bassist Doug Lubahn. Together, this odd mix of arena rockers would enter New York's Power Station to cut basic tracks for what would emerge to be Nugent's Penetrator. The album clearly emulates the production of Billy Squier's '80s albums. The rhythm tracks are virtual blueprints for Squier's Emotions in Motion and Signs of Life, which, ironically, was released the same year as Penetrator. Includes "Tied Up in Love," "Knockin' at Your Door," "Thunder Thighs," "Lean Mean R&R Machine," and the melancholic ballad "Take Me Home." Curiously, the ensuing tour would see Nugent playing mid-sized theaters with vocalist Brian Howe once again at the helm. In a live setting, these songs (minus the studio mucky muck) would fit neatly into a set that highlighted Nugent's past hits. ~ John Franck
Ted Nugent's sophomore release for Atlantic makes a classic case in point for an artist trying to catch up to the times and being a half-step behind. On Penetrator, the Nuge enlisted two-thirds of Billy Squier's backup band, which at one time included longtime Squier keyboard player Alan St. John and veteran drummer Bobby Chouinard. Nugent also hired future Bad Company frontman Brian Howe to handle vocal duties along with Doors bassist Doug Lubahn. Together, this odd mix of arena rockers would enter New York's Power Station to cut basic tracks for what would emerge to be one of Nugent's most underwhelming releases. The first gaping problem lies with Penetrator's production itself. Arena rocker aficionados take note: the album clearly emulates the production of Billy Squier's '80s albums. The rhythm tracks are virtual blueprints for Squier's Emotions in Motion and Signs of Life, which, ironically, was released the same year as Penetrator. Producer Ashley Howe's dated production not only makes relistening to this record difficult, it also takes away from what could have been a decent set of songs. The Nugent aesthetic of Nugent is dead and buried, albeit replaced by the cotton-candy arena schlock of "Tied Up in Love," "Knockin' at Your Door," and "Thunder Thighs" (all of which had potential, but are instead reduced to an ill-advised keyboard-laden smorgasbord that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a bad Survivor record). Another potential rocker, "Lean Mean R&R Machine," and the melancholic ballad "Take Me Home" also fall short. Curiously, the ensuing tour would see Nugent playing mid-sized theaters with vocalist Brian Howe once again at the helm. In a live setting, these songs (minus the studio mucky muck) would fit neatly into a set that highlighted Nugent's past hits. ~ John Franck
Although Ted Nugent's 1982 pop metal overhaul, NUGENT, didn't replicate the success of other rock bands who used the formula for chart success (Van Halen, etc.), Nugent refused to give in, continuing in the aforementioned direction on his follow-up one year later, PENETRATOR.
Singer/rhythm guitarist Derek St. Holmes was out of the band once again, and in came British singer Brian Howe (who would eventually replace Paul Rodgers in Bad Company). Though the material isn't exactly on par with such past Nuge classics as FREE FOR ALL, Ted's guitar licks are still up to snuff, as evidenced on such standoutsQ (10/01, p.149) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Like Foreigner after a shot of powdered rhino horn..."