Mitch Ryder – Detroit Breakout!

Mitch Ryder

Detroit Breakout!

(Cleopatra Records)

The great Detroit rocker returns in the company of music’s finest practitioners of driving rock’n’roll. I treasure this man’s past releases, especially the imports from Germany I had to track down over the years. He brings power, soul and sensitivity to the songs he chooses to sing, his recordings are completely outside fashion and devoid of gimmicks. He has influenced many – I well recall in 1976 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s first London show where he threw in a Ryder hits medley.

Devil With a Blue Dress (Feat. James Williamson) gets everything off to a storming start. Ryder’s voice retains its grit and pure authority whilst Williamson The Stooge lets loose on guitar. The track segues into Good Golly Miss Molly as the drums pound away. Magical rock’n’roll.

Next up is Cool Jerk (Feat. Wayne Kramer & Brian Auger) bass led and an utter groove from the off with MC5 man Brother Wayne Kramer chipping away on the guitar and a lively piano weave from keys man of choice Auger, What a combination and Mitch sounds as happy as a pig in the proverbial. It’s the energy and his grip on the song that gets to you. Then Dirty Water (Feat. Sylvain Sylvain) which is the Standells / Inmates hit rock tune with a swagger of its own. How great to hear the Ryder pipes on this number ! The guitars are insistent and bounce the tune along. Producer Jurgen Engler is bottling sparks on this stuff…

Turn Back the Hands of Time (Feat. Shirley King) is a sure-footed mid tempo soul mover, sung by Ryder with soul and depth, joined by King whose chocolate voice sounds perfect. Nice strings embellish the steady roll of the song. Have Love, Will Travel (Feat. Paul Rudolph) is a chance for Mitch to really cut loose, so few rock singers have this class and power. Pink Fairies axeman Rudolph holds nothing back at any point. I think writer Richard Berry wrote Louie Louie?

(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone (Feat. Walter Lure) – Ryder and another New York Doll! What a treat this is….once again Ryder has a sure hold on what makes this edge-of-sinister tune work. The splintery guitar handles the tempo change with howling aplomb. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) [feat. Cherie Currie] is a clapalong delight with harsh fuzz guitar and strong joint vocals from Ryder and The Runaway. Her joy at participating is evident. On to (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay (Feat. Arthur Adams) taken steady and savouring the sweet melody as the singers combine on the delivery.

Then a Temptations number Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) [feat. Lee Oskar] at a traditional relaxed pace. I swear by Lee Oskar harmonicas and play them at live shows all the time. Over the tremelo’d guitar, strings and sprinkles of piano, Oskar sings with Ryder. Presumably, because I can’t hear any harp !! A bit of barroom fun next up with Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Feat. Joe Louis Walker) with slide guitar accompaniment. You Send Me (Feat. Linda Gail Lewis) finds the Sam Cooke song put into Ryder mode. He can sing in this range with great sensitivity. This paired with Cooke’s Twistin’ the Night Away (Feat. Joe Louis Walker) and again showing off bassist Engler and drummer Chris Lietz. If I Had a Hammer (Feat. Linda Gail Lewis) is the old Trini Lopez hit. This take is more of a soul edition with rolling piano, very listenable indeed. Finally the crew give us The Isley’s Shout (Feat. Linda Gail Lewis) in a frantic presentation that gets up a head of steam…

A master at work, with fabulous participants and no gimmicks at any point -respect!

Pete Sargeant