The History of Rock

Infobox Album |
Name = The History of Rock
Type = studio
Artist = Kid Rock


Released = May 30, 2000
Recorded =
Genre = Rap metal, Hard rock
Length =
Label = Atlantic
Producer =
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wbfyxq8kld6e~T1 link]
Last album = "Devil Without a Cause"
(1998)
This album = "The History of Rock"
(2000)
Next album = "Cocky"
(2001)

"The History of Rock" is a rock album released by Kid Rock in 2000, as the unofficial follow up to "Devil Without a Cause" (in the album's liner notes, Rock says to "look for the follow up to" Devil Without a Cause "in 2001"). After acquiring the rights to his Indie-label recordings, Rock decided to release a compilation of older material. The album contains the best material from the albums "The Polyfuze Method" (the liner notes say Rock re-recorded the songs from this album cause he couldn't find the master recordings) and "Early Morning Stoned Pimp" (the liner notes say the songs from this album were "remixed and touched up" to show how they would've sounded if Rock had the money to do so back in the day), as well as three previously unreleased songs from those album sessions ("Born 2 Be a Hick" from the "Polyfuze" sessions in 1992, "Dark and Grey" and "Abortion" from the "EMSP" sessions in 1994). The only new tracks were "American Bad Ass", which was the first single from the album, and "Fuck That", which had been used previously for the Any Given Sunday soundtrack. "Fuck You Blind" was re written from the original version, most likely to avoid a lawsuit from Madonna. It is also noted his Billy Ray Cyrus is edited on the song "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp".

Lyrical content

This album contains many deep themes to it outside of its rauchiness. He touches on suicide from being broke on "Dark And Grey" and the effects of aborting a child on "Abortion". "My Oedipus Complex" tells of the struggles with his father growing up. "Prodigal Son" furthers the story since he tells of running way from home to find fame. Then "I Wanna Go Back" tells the story of living in the projects after running away from home. He returns to the sex rhymes on "Paid", "Early Mornin Stoned Pimp" and "Fuck You Blind". Then he gets boastful on "American Bad Ass", "3 Sheets To The Wind" and "Ya Keep On". "Fuck That" tells of defying authority figures and "Born 2 B A Hick" pokes fun at his redneck lifestyle.

Track listing

#"Intro" - 1:08
#"American Bad Ass" - 4:32
#"Prodigal Son" - 6:41
#"Paid" - 4:45
#"Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp" (featuring Joe C and Tino) - 7:15
#"Dark & Grey (1994 Demo)" - 4:56
#"3 Sheets to the Wind (What's My Name)" - 3:59
#"Abortion (1994 Demo)" - 4:29
#"I Wanna Go Back" - 5:29
#"Ya' Keep On" - 3:54
#"Fuck That" - 3:42
#"Fuck You Blind" - 3:57
#"Born 2 B a Hick (1992 Demo)" - 1:42
#"My Oedipus Complex" (featuring Twisted Brown Trucker) - 8:19

ingles

*American Bad Ass
*My Oedipus Complex
*Prodigal Son

Note: Though My Oedipus Complex and Prodigal Son were never officially confirmed a single, there is a Single for them containing a Son and Father Edit as well as the full length songs released in 2000.

Musicians

*Jimmy Bones - Keyboards
*Joe C. - Raps
*Stefanie Eulinberg - Drums
*Shirley Hayden - Background vocals
*Jason Krause - Electric guitar
*Misty Love - Background vocals
*Kenny Olson - Guitar
*Uncle Kracker - Turntables, background vocals
*Mike Bradford - Bass guitar
*Kid Rock - Guitar, bass, keyboard, organ, vocals, drums

Notes

*The album's single, "American Bad Ass," uses the instrumental structure of Metallica's "Sad But True" throughout the entire song.
*"American Bad Ass" was later parodied by the rock band Tuff as "American Hair Band."
*WWE Superstar The Undertaker used "American Bad Ass" as his entrance theme in 2000 for his biker gimmick.
*On the clean version of this album, the song "F*ck That" is left on the CD. However, "F*ck You Blind" is taken off.
*"Fuck U Blind" features completely different lyrics than the original version.
*The Japanese Import contains a live version of 3 Sheets To The Wind from 3/21/99 Rochester,NY
*"Abortion" was listed as the 49th greatest conservative rock song of all time by the National Review in 2006. It is described as "A plaintive song sung by a man who confronts his unborn child’s abortion". [ [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzZkNDU5MmViNzVjNzkzMDE3NzNlN2MyZjRjYTk4YjE= John J. Miller on Music on National Review Online ] ]

Reviews

#Rolling Stone Magazine- 3 Stars
#Allmusic-4 Stars
#Blender-4 Stars
#Detroit News-4 Stars
#Detroit Free Press-4 Stars
#Metal Sludge-4 Stars
#Q-3 Stars
#Dot Music -3 Stars
#Melody Maker-3.5 Stars
#NME-3 Stars