Ted Nugent’s Battle to Record ‘Stranglehold’
Ted Nugent faced resistance from Epic Records when they initially opposed recording his iconic song ‘Stranglehold’ for his debut solo album in 1975. Here’s how it unfolded:
Epic Records’ Initial Opposition
Before starting his solo album with Epic Records, Nugent gathered with his team, including record executives, producers, engineers, band members, and crew. Despite initial excitement about Nugent joining the label, things took an unexpected turn. Nugent recounted in an interview with Dr. Music Podcast:
“All of a sudden, the tone of the meeting shifted. I sensed some discomfort in the room. It was like [producer] Lew Futterman received a nod from the label bosses and said, ‘Well, we’re excited about the songs, Ted. But we’ve decided not to record ‘Stranglehold’. It’s too long, doesn’t have a chorus, and nobody will play an eight-minute song with that much guitar.’”
Nugent’s Firm Stand
Despite the setback, Nugent stood his ground. He vehemently defended ‘Stranglehold,’ arguing:
“I said, ‘That’s insane! Since when does a song have to follow rules? It’s a movement, not just a chorus.’ You signed me because of this song’s popularity at my concerts.”
Undeterred by their objections, Nugent made his stance clear:
“Enough with this! We have a recording session in an hour. Let’s hit the studio because we’re recording ‘Stranglehold’ first!”
Historical Context of ‘Stranglehold’
Nugent revealed in a 2022 episode of The Nightly Nuge that ‘Stranglehold’ dates back to October 1967, first performed with Steve Booker and John Souther after a Grande Ballroom show.
For more insights into Ted Nugent’s persistence and his music journey, watch his full conversation below.
