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Based on a True Story
Studio album by The Del-Lords
Released	1988
Genre	Rock
Length	44:26
Label	Enigma Records
Producer	Neil Giraldo
The Del-Lords chronology
Johnny Comes Marching Home (1986) Based on a True Story (1988) Howlin' at the Halloween Moon (1989)

Based on a True Story is an album by the American band the Del-Lords, released in 1988 on Enigma Records. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

Production

Recorded in Los Angeles, the album cost $120,000. It was produced by Neil Giraldo. Pat Benatar duetted with Scott Kempner on "Poem of the River".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Robert Christgau	B+

The Washington Post wrote that "Kempner spreads on the working-class persona a little thick at times, but this is still the equal of any previous Del-Lords set." The Toronto Star deemed the album "a rip-snorting, noisy, trashy little garage opus."

The Chicago Tribune determined that "the album, energy and polish notwithstanding, emerges as a good but not great package with a faintly 'generic' feel." The New York Times concluded that "the straightforward, stomping rock songs on the band's third album ... insist on independent thinking and truthfulness."

Track listing

All songs written by Scott Kempner.

Personnel

The Del-Lords

• Scott Kempner – lead vocals, guitar
• Eric Ambel – guitar, vocals, keyboards on "The Cool and the Crazy" and "River of Justice", lead vocals on "Judas Kiss" and "A Lover's Prayer"
• Manny Caiati – bass guitar, vocals
• Frank Funaro – drums, vocals

Additional musicians and production

• Scotty Bem – gong
• Pat Benatar – backing vocals on "Judas Kiss" & "Poem of the River"
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Spyder Curtis James – keyboards on "Judas Kiss", "Poem of the River" and "Ashes to Ashes"
• Frank Linx – vocals on "Cheyenne", "Whole Lotta Nothin' Goin' On", "A Lover's Prayer", "Judas Kiss" and "River of Justice"
• Rev. Mojo Nixon – sermon on "River of Justice"
• Johnny Powers – harp on "River of Justice" and "A Lover's Prayer"
• Kevin Savigar – keyboards on "Whole Lotta Nothin' Goin' On" and "Poem of the River"
• Kim Shattuck & Karen Blankfeld of The Pandoras – vocals on "The Cool and the Crazy"
• Syd Straw – backing vocals on "Judas Kiss", "River of Justice" and "Ashes to Ashes"
• Gordon Fordyce – engineer
• Michael Frondelli – mixing
• Neil Geraldo – production
• Assistant engineers: Bill Cooper, Angus Davidson, Scott E. Gordon

References

1. Griffin, John (28 Apr 1988). "The Del-Lords Based on a True Story". The Gazette. Montreal. p. E3.
2. Young, Charles M. (May 1988). "Music". Playboy. 35 (5): 25.
3. Robins, Wayne (29 Apr 1988). "The Del-Lords Take an Independent Stand". Weekend. Newsday. p. 3.
4. Maney, Kevin (28 Aug 1987). "Rockers on the rocks". USA Today. p. 1B.
5. Pick, Steve (24 June 1988). "Del Lords' Latest Shows Big Improvement". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F4.
6. Haring, Bruce (Apr 9, 1988). "Del-Lords Seek 1st Commercial Hit with Album". Billboard. 100 (15): 45.
7. Deming, Mark. "Based on a True Story". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
8. ^ Popson, Tom (22 Apr 1988). "'Based on a True Story', the Del-Lords". Chicago Tribune. Friday. p. J.
9. Christgau, Robert. "The Del-Lords: Based on a True Story". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
10. Jenkins, Mark (9 Mar 1988). "The New Old-Time Rock 'n' Roll". The Washington Post. p. B7.
11. Quill, Greg (15 Apr 1988). "Short Cuts". Toronto Star. p. E8.
12. Pareles, Jon (29 Apr 1988). "New York Rockers Singing the Blues Loudly and Clearly". The New York Times. p. C1.

External links

• Based on a True Story at Discogs (list of releases)

• The Del-Lords albums
• 1988 albums
• Enigma Records albums