Detroit With Mitch Ryder - Detroit With Mitch Ryder (1971)
2008 - Akarma Records
It opens with the roar of "Long Neck Goose" and Mitch Ryder returns to Detroit with a band named after his city, one that should have been as big as Boston, Chicago, or even that ensemble named after a state, Kansas. Detroit the group rocks grittier than any of the above, and though household recognition eluded them, the album is revered and far more important than the wandering Dave Marsh's original liner notes dared speculate. About 15 years later, Marsh would write even more about this music with all new liner notes for the cassette, still not comprehending the essence of this music. After recording in Memphis, the blues vocalist headed up to Manta Sound in Toronto to track this essential album and begin his status as an underground legend with '60s hits under his belt. Being on Paramount Records didn't help; the Gulf & Western company was a division of Famous Music publishing, and though they were cool enough to sign the Cars when that band was known as Milkwood, the label just couldn't compete, despite this project's enormous strengths. The disc is chock-full of excitement. Steve Hunter's guitar work makes everything come to life, framed perfectly by Harry Phillips' elemental keyboards and Bob Ezrin's powerful production. Why bassist W.R. Cooke is allowed to do the lead vocal on the shuffling, almost doo wop "Box of Roses" is the mystery. We all came to this party to hear Ryder belt 'em out. And Ryder screams throughout; "Is It You (Or Is It Me)" gets that howl, as does this immortal cover of Lou Reed's "Rock 'n' Roll." Redesigned with snarling Steve Hunter guitar licks and tons of pounding anticipation, the song was the underground hit from this now-classic album and just perfect for the voice of William Levise, Jr.. The organ supplements Hunter's exploding guitar work and Mitch Ryder's orgasmic vocal howls over a gargantuan rearrangement of a Velvet Underground tune released a year earlier. But there's more to the album than the excitement generated by the 45 rpm of the Lou Reed cover -- Ron Davies' "It Ain't Easy" boasted renditions by many, from Long John Baldry to Bowie on his Ziggy Stardust album, but Ryder gives the song some real definition. The original vinyl had four songs on each side; the reconstructed compact disc and cassette changed the order a bit to make room for about five minutes of a stunning version of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." Reissue coordinator Andy McKaie sent this writer a thank-you note in 1986 after letters to Irving Azoff and A&R gal Kate Hyman proposing the re-release -- and suggesting the inclusion of "Gimme Shelter." As Marsh comments, the extended version was utilized on the re-release, not the shorter B-side originally issued.
The entire album is a keeper, with the slow blues of "Drink" and the concluding passions in "I Found a Love." Both guitarist Hunter and producer Bob Ezrin would be involved with Lou Reed's monumental Berlin two years after this, with Steve Hunter joining Reed's live band for what is now known as the Rock 'n' Roll Animal Tour. This album made all that possible and is as much fun to listen to as it is important. The prices the re-release of the CD fetch on e-bay prove it. [Akarma's 2008 reissue included one bonus track.]
Track Listings:
01 - Long Neck Goose
02 - Is It You (Or Is It Me)
03 - It Ain't Easy
04 - Rock & Roll
05 - Let It Rock
06 - Drink
07 - Box of Old Roses
08 - I Found a Love
Bonus
09 - Gimme Shelter
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