The 1980 Listening Post - Mitch Ryder - Naked But Not Dead

 Reviewed by Allen Lulu

Released: 1980 Mitch Ryder Naked But Not Dead Genre: Rock Rating: 2.75 out of 5 “Ain’t nobody white can sing the blues”. “It’s all been fish eggs and champagne. It’s Killing me. Ray Charles said no white man can sing the blues. Ray Charles said no white except the Jews.” Serious point added for the lacerating truth in that song, coupled with some blistering blues solos. After that there’s some 7+ minute blues noodling “War” and some jangly piano glam “Future Looks Bright” and I got the sense, after Side One, that Mitch’s heart is steeped in a latter day Beatles-meets-Blues world. Some tracks like “Spitting Lizard” are just plain awful. And the less we say about his Reggae, the better.

The 1981 Listening Post - Mitch Ryder - Live Talkies

 Mitch Ryder - Live Talkies

1981 Housekeeping

Mitch Ryder

Live Talkies

Genre: How many albums did this guy release in 81????

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

ER Ist Nicht Mein Präsident

Requisite 80s covers:

A rollickingly unnecessary version of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” that strips it of it’s import and, therefore, it’s poetry.

“Wicked Messenger”, another Dylan tune which I am not that familiar with (Not a big Bob fan, I) that suffers from the “We’ll do it live!” approach.

A decidedly uninteresting version of “Take Me to the River”.

This is the second of three albums Ryder put out in 81. I haven’t done the research, did he have a life sentence that put him in the position of having to get out as much as possible?

This one is missing a bunch of tracks so we don’t get an opening track. Instead, we start off with Track 2, “Corporate Song (It’s Not For Me)” and that thing is a slog. And there’s a bunch of Dylan covers. So…why? Why not just save your best stuff for one epic release, Mitch?

OK, did a little research, like Big World, this album was cut live in the studio. Unlike that Joe Jackson masterpiece, there’s no audience to play for. Just themselves. So it feels like that. Players who play and play well but don’t really have anyone to impress or move. He gets some action going on “Tough Kid” but you gotta get all the way to Side Three to get there. 

This is a triple album so…if Mitch is your spirit animal this is a lot of spirit. For me, he’s just serviceable. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCSbdh0jLV0&list=PLlvn8uktX5Lv2itYu837SQOQ2mxzK3ITF 

The 1981 Listening Post - Mitch Ryder - Got Change for a Million

 

Mitch Ryder - Got Change for a Million

#153

1981 Housekeeping

Mitch Ryder

Got Change for a Million

Genre: Rock

2.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Red Scar Eyes

I get the sense that Mitch Ryder would have opened for Warren Zevon if Zevon was big enough to have opening acts. Maybe they would have just been on the same bill. 

Mitch doesn’t right songs as witty as Warren, (He tries on “Bang Bang”) he isn’t as moodily sexy as Chris Isaak (who he channels on “Red Scar Eyes”) and he doesn’t have Stevie Ray Vaughn’s chops. 

And that’s this whole shebang. 

A bunch of perfectly acceptable songs by a mid-liner that keeps you entertained while you wait for the main act. Or you showed up very early to the beer & bbq fest and they had a band scheduled for 1PM. That’s Mitch. 

“Ich Bin Aus America” is one of the most lyrically stupid presidential protest song I’ve ever heard. The intention is there. The execution, with it’s white boy reggae and unctuous wordplay is really something to have heard. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/got-change-for-a-million/315458963