I began listening to Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels in April 2023.
Take a Ride (1966): B
Breakout...!!! (1966): B+
Sock It to Me! (1967): B
Take a Ride (1966):
Ryder and his band have released quite a few energetic garage rock/R&B classics on their debut but the lows--"Turn on Your Lovelight" and "Stick and Stones" don't stand well next to their other covers, "I Got You (I Feel Good)" is done with such few changes to the original it's bound to be trumped by James Brown's version, and "Baby Jane (Mo Mo Jane)" is quite simply one of the most annoying pieces of music ever recorded--are just as memorable. B
Breakout...!!! (1966):
It's a real treat that Ryder and his band are able to give that same wild energy to their nationwide hit "Devil with a Blues Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly" that Jerry Lee Lewis gave it two years earlier on the seminal Live at the Star Club, Hamburg. This time the core of this album is much stronger. The Rolling Stones weren't able to do much with "Walking the Dog" and neither do the Detroit Wheelers but the rest of the album consists of great cover choices with excellent musicianship and Ryder's gruff voice sounds fabulous throughout. B+
Sock It to Me! (1967):
The band's third and final album does see their Detroit energy somewhat tamed but I enjoy most of the LP is fine. Even the out-there covers like "Walk on By" are worth something--that is, they're funny. B
