Mitch Ryder

With Love

Ruf Records

When an artist of Mitch Ryder’s caliber looks back over their storied six-decade career and tells you their latest album is essential listening, you should take that statement seriously. Ryder is the spiritual forefather to every blue-collar firebrand who ever turned up their amp and hollered their truth. He’s the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer who was there at the flashpoint in the late 1950’s, with hits like “Jenny Take A Ride” and his reworking of “Devil With A Blue Dress On.”. Ryder was the last man to play with Otis Redding in 1967 and the first living white artist inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame in 2017.

The Michigan-born singer-songwriter remains in constant motion; it’s an attitude epitomized on the new Don Was produced studio album “With Love,” just released this February 21st, 2025. These ten new original songs are packed with tough and tender autobiographical happenings that stand alongside anything in his catalog. All songs were recorded at the Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan. The ensemble includes guitarists Brian “Roscoe” White and Laura Chavez; keyboardist Luis Resto; Dave McMurray, sax and flute; bassist Chuck Bartels; drummer Jeff Canady; and percussionist Mahindi Masai. The backing vocalists include Ryder, Herschel Boone, and Terena Boone.

The opening track, “Lilli May,” features Ryder as he sings, “You hear it every day; I just have to say…give me a call; I’ll be around.”. “Pass It To The Right” is an ode to the hedonistic etiquette of sharing a joint; you have to pass it to the right. “Sanguine” includes Don Was playing bass, as Ryder soulfully chimes, “You sure know how to play.”.

“One Monkey” is about Ryder’s drug addiction: “I had a monkey laying on my back; she was a junkie; I would lay in bed all day; monkey see, monkey do; don’t let that monkey get the best of you; a monkey don’t stop, no show.”. “Oh What A Night” boasts some woozy Latin-rock grooves: “another free America…I hope tonight I can score…oh, what a life, we party every night, America, America.”.

“Wrong Hands” is influenced by the Rolling Stones, but there is still no second-guessing Ryder’s songcraft: “All we have is each other; we can help each other; let’s let love be very well heard.”. On “Too Damned Slow,” Ryder chants, “went to a jam last night; the band was paying tight…faster, faster everywhere disaster.”. “Fly” is another autobiographical song: “If you see me walkin’ down the street with a smile… high, high, high, I’d like to share my happy memories; you were there with me on the scene.”.

“The Artist” features the backing vocalists, McMurray on flute, and Resto on piano: “Only when you are alone, each day comes and goes.”. On the closer, Ryder croons, “So we pay for our sins; that’s just the way it is… I was walkin’ with a friend. We were talkin. We take a step, and we do the best we can. Once we’re old, no one needs us anymore. It’s the same the world all around. Sometimes your up, sometimes your down.”.

“With Love” proves that Ryder, a lifelong visionary, still has creative gas in the tank. Ryder states, “Practice makes perfect.”. This is plainly the work of a man still reaching for the next step up the ladder. Referring to the top, he modestly says, “I haven’t gotten there yet, but I’m working on it.”

Richard Ludmerer

BUY NOW

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter