If You Don't Start Drinkin'
| "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by George Thorogood & The Destroyers | ||||
| from the album Boogie People | ||||
| B-side | "Born in Chicago" | |||
| Released | January 1991 | |||
| Recorded | November 1990 | |||
| Studio | Studio Six, Memphis | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:11 | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Songwriter(s) | George Thorogood | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| George Thorogood & The Destroyers singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)" on YouTube | ||||
"If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in January 1991 as the lead single from their album Boogie People by EMI America.[1][2][3] It was written by George Thorogood. The song is one of Thorogood's most popular, it is often played live and is included on several live and compilation albums.[4]
Writing
Thorogood first came up with the title for the song, and originally intended to give it to Tom Waits.[5] The song describes a man trying to get his wife to start drinking alcohol with him, threatening to leave her if she does not.[6]
Release
The song was released as the lead single from their eighth studio album Boogie People.[1][2][7] The song debuted at No. 12,[8] and peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[9][10][11]
The music video for the song was made by David Hogan.[12]
Controversy
Following the single's release, Stephanine Lesky, an executive director at the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council in Orange County, New York called for radio stations in New York to not play the song, claiming it promoted abuse and drinking and driving.[13] EMI America and Thorogood have denied this claim, with EMI America issuing a statement saying: "The song in question is meant as a tongue-in-cheek exchange between two adults in the privacy of their own home and should in no way be construed as an endorsement of indiscriminate drinking."[14]
Thorogood has said that he was afraid the song would be controversial, and that he brought it up to EMI America, but they ended up releasing it anyway.[13][14]
Personnel
- George Thorogood – guitar, vocals
- Steve Chrismar - guitar
- Hank Carter – saxophone
- Billy Blough – bass
- Jeff Simon – drums
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[15] | 109 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[9] | 5 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[16] | 35 |
References
- ^ a b Flick, Larry (February 2, 1991). "Album-Rock Fans Have Lots To Sing About" (PDF). Billboard. p. 12 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b Rene, Sheila (February 1, 1991). "Hear And There" (PDF). The Gavin Report. p. 40 – via World Radio History.
- ^ uDiscover Team (March 8, 2020). "George Thorogood - Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist". uDiscover Music.
- ^ "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave) | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Bosso, Joe (March 4, 2014). "George Thorogood runs down his 11 greatest hits". MusicRadar. p. 6.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Boogie People - George Thorogood & the Destroyers | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Rene, Sheila (March 15, 1991). "Hear And There" (PDF). The Gavin Report – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Billboard - March 2, 1991" (PDF). Billboard. March 2, 1991. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Billboard - April 13, 1991" (PDF). Billboard. April 13, 1991. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "George Thorogood Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.
- ^ "The Gavin Report - April 19, 1991" (PDF). The Gavin Report. April 19, 1991. p. 27 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Music Connection - May 27, 1991" (PDF). Music Connection. May 27, 1991. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Some Potent Thoughts On Drinking Songs; London Calling Jimmie Vaughan; Black's Biz" (PDF). Billboard. March 30, 1991. p. 36 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "George Thorogood ARIA chart history (1989 to April 2025)". ARIA. Retrieved May 18, 2025 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ "Item: 1053 - Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.