Album
Mitch Ryder
With Love
Ruf (label)
21 February 2025 (released)
17 February 2025
Yes, THE Mitch Ryder, he of Detroit Wheels fame, the major influence on artists since the mid-sixties and one of the icons of soul-tinged rock music and an R&B Hall Of Famer (the first white artist).
This is his 21st album and in his own words
“Out of the 21 studio albums that I have recorded, this one is in the top two,” considers Ryder, reflecting on a catalogue that began with 1966’s Take A Ride with The Detroit Wheels. “It is one of the most honest albums I’ve ever made. Not that the other ones were lies, but I was able to access previously hidden feelings.”
Produced by Don Was, the music is varied and he touches on many themes having to do with mortality and the human condition – all the songs are autobiographical in nature and written by Ryder.
“Everything on the album is autobiographical,” he explains of a tracklisting that plays out with The Artist’s ghostly self-analysis and the joyous-sounding but morbid R&B of Just The Way It Is, exploring the inevitability of life and death. “One Monkey is about my drug addiction and how I overcame it. Fly is about my career and being happy about it, the trajectory and body of work I was able to produce.”
Musically, the album is superb – the musicianship throughout is top quality and Was’s production delivers funky rhythms and many different styles from straight rockers to soul-tinged Southern Blues. Ryders voice is hard in places, showing his experience and age, but he has a wonderful control that really lights up the music.
Opener is ‘Lilli May’, and a sterling way to open the collection indeed.
One personal favourite is ‘Wrong Hands’, a sublime piece of Southern rock with a political edge to the lyrics.
It is a delight to hear Ryder still making great music and the nature of the songs adds to the pleasure.
This is his 21st album and in his own words
“Out of the 21 studio albums that I have recorded, this one is in the top two,” considers Ryder, reflecting on a catalogue that began with 1966’s Take A Ride with The Detroit Wheels. “It is one of the most honest albums I’ve ever made. Not that the other ones were lies, but I was able to access previously hidden feelings.”
Produced by Don Was, the music is varied and he touches on many themes having to do with mortality and the human condition – all the songs are autobiographical in nature and written by Ryder.
“Everything on the album is autobiographical,” he explains of a tracklisting that plays out with The Artist’s ghostly self-analysis and the joyous-sounding but morbid R&B of Just The Way It Is, exploring the inevitability of life and death. “One Monkey is about my drug addiction and how I overcame it. Fly is about my career and being happy about it, the trajectory and body of work I was able to produce.”
Musically, the album is superb – the musicianship throughout is top quality and Was’s production delivers funky rhythms and many different styles from straight rockers to soul-tinged Southern Blues. Ryders voice is hard in places, showing his experience and age, but he has a wonderful control that really lights up the music.
Opener is ‘Lilli May’, and a sterling way to open the collection indeed.
One personal favourite is ‘Wrong Hands’, a sublime piece of Southern rock with a political edge to the lyrics.
It is a delight to hear Ryder still making great music and the nature of the songs adds to the pleasure.