Call of the Wild (Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes album)


Call of the Wild is the sixth album by Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes. Recorded in the summer of 1973, it is the first of two albums released on Frank Zappa's DiscReet label. It was later re-issued in 1977 by Warner Bros as part of "Two Originals of... Ted Nugent".

Music

The album's music featured elements of boogie, heavy metal and progressive rock.
Nugent's new, solid rhythm section included Rob Grange on bass and Vic Mastrianni on drums, adding a hard-driving rock beat to Nugent's music. The compositions, developed and gradually improved on stage since 1972, were now sharpened and extended during months of intense touring, in the US and also in Canada. Nugent found new inspiration and energy in a more outdoor-oriented life, hence an album title inspired by novelist Jack London. Most of the second side consisted of instrumental and self-speaking music. In addition to the rhythm section, Andy Jezowski performed most vocal parts on the record, and Gabriel Magno added keyboards and flute.
Jezowski performed with the group as a part-time guest vocalist along the year. Gabe Magno occasionally gigged on stage with the Amboy Dukes, until he joined the band If by late 1973, and again later on with Nugent in April 1979.
A final Dukes single was released by the new record company, "Sweet Revenge" b/w "Ain't It the Truth".

Track listing

All songs written by Ted Nugent, except where indicated:
  1. "Call of the Wild" – 4:51
  2. "Sweet Revenge" – 4:06
  3. "Pony Express" – 5:21
  4. "Ain't It the Truth" – 4:57
  5. "Renegade" – 3:33
  6. "Rot Gut" – 2:45
  7. "Below the Belt" – 7:03
  8. "Cannon Balls" – 5:43

    Personnel