So, random story. I'm on youtube looking for god knows what and I come across a "Hot Dog The Movie" skiing montage done to the lost 80's gem "When You Were Mine" by Mitch and the Wheels (actually written by Prince). Further research revealed that is was produced by John Mellancamp and released in '83. Apparently, despite that movie's success and it being a solid tune, it didn't result in a comeback.

This got me thinking that I don't own anything by these guys. I know the hits and of course the songs in the Detroit Medley that Springsteen's played for decades.

Just curious about their studio output. Are both of those first two albums worth checking out or am I best sticking with something like this:



..which is pretty much a 20 track retrospective of his early years.

Looks like most of their 70's and early 80's output is in the 3-4 star range on Allmusic.

Looks like this one gets the "lost classic" tag a lot:




I think I already know who will have the knowledge I seek but I still put it to you all.......

I'm going to see Mitch Ryder the end of the month.

I own and highly recommend:



which is Mitch backed by Booker T & the MG's.

You can dl here

I was realizing that I didn't own anything else by him recently and wanted to hear more prior to seeing him so I ordered:



Detroit Breakout

which is a double disc anthology combining the first three Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels with a solo album. It hasn't come in the mail yet. I'll post more when i hear it.

I know nobody is a fan. Maybe he'll have more thoughts.

I've got that double disc anthology and it pretty much kicks ass. I think the guy probably gets less respect because so much of the materials is covers. but, they do a damn fine job with everything they touch. Just great high-energy garage soul. I tend to think the guy always gets shortchanged when people talk about Detroit rock 'n' roll.

I've also got a stack of vinyl and the guy always brings it. But yeah, for a starting point, I'd highly recommend that anthology.

Only thing I ever bought was this from about 1983, I think:



Still have it, and I'm sure it's only been played a few times. I should pull it out and give it another listen. I recall being pretty underwhelmed by it at the time.

Nice biilgy. I'll definitely check out that Detroit-Memphis shee.

That anthology looks pretty definitive as well although I can't help but be intrigued by that '78 album I posted up there, "How I Spent My Vacation". Sounds pretty jail:

Yeah i noticed that one too when i was looking. Especially since it seems easier to find for a reasonable price than the early studio albums. I'll probably grab it assuming I like the anthology as much as I expect to. It didn't seem like the right place to start as "the other side of this Detroit rocker's career" would seem to indicate.

I'm really starting to think we hit the same blogs, though I can't remember which one I saw this one recently.

oh and:

Mitch Ryder is one of those guys that got all kindsa fucked up by being gay in a genre that was supposed to be macho (or something). It's hard to fathom such an inner conflict these days, but it seemed to fuel an anger that added complexity to even the most straightforward rockers. And the dude just flat out rocked.

Don't have anything to add to this thread - all the suggestions are great ones. Apparently the How I Spent My Vacation album is a little generic musically compared to his early stuff. The album to search for during the post-Detroit Wheels period is one from '81 called Live Talkies (which isn't live, and is his most blatantly political). If anyone finds it out in blogland, give me a shout.

I dunno. I bought that Mitch Ryder album sometime last year. I just found the link when I was searching for a picture of the album cover and thought i might as well post it.

I do like that frisians favorite blog though.

Dern, I never knew that. The record store (remember those?) I used to go to nearly every day in NH had like a whole section of Ryder bootlegs. I always meant to pick one up, just to check it out, but they were all like $25 a pop, and I just never pulled the trigger.

Anyone who ever saw that album cover and didn't say "gay" needs their cojones checked for viability.

Your Mellencamp discovery brings to light JMC's Ryder reference in R.O.C.K song. I'll have to "check it [Ryder] out." I am no hater of JMC. I don't listen too him often, but I've got some good memories of his early stuff mostly scarecrow when a teen. Shoot me now.

Rads nailed it.

Just snagged this, awesome indeed. Trying to find some of the early 80s albums now.