Good old Mitch Ryder presents a dozen holiday gems on Christmas (Take A Ride). Pretty much boppin’ along with an old rock style featuring upfront horns, backing vocals and a jumpy beat on most of the 12 here, the singer of “Devil With A Blue Dress” and “Jenny Take A Ride!” takes a stab at songs made famous by folks like Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, and Jackie DeShannon.
From “What Christmas Means To Me,” to “Blue Christmas,” and then onto “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” it’s evident the original keys of these tunes have been lowered to accommodate Ryder (not a bad thing in and of itself). Unfortunately, his voice isn’t up for much, even with the adjustments. The musicians are on top of their game though, especially the guitar and horn players.
“Jingle Bell Rock,” is one of the better tunes, not requiring much from Ryder, while a big funky, loud number “Santa Claus” allows Ryder to rap his way through most of the vocal. It’s always fun to hear Randy Brooks’ “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” and the addition of horns to this one makes this wacky tune even more fun. “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” ends the set. Not exactly a Christmas song, but a nice sentiment to remind us all of this time of year. Christmas (Take A Ride) may not capture the true essence of the man who led the Detroit Wheels, but the songs are still classics and played well.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
