title: Based on a True Story (The Del-Lords album)
text: # Based on a True Story (The Del-Lords album)
  
  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
  