1967: Sock It To Me, Baby!

Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels: Sock It To Me, Baby!

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I'm not actually around; I'm in Detroit and posting this through time slip.

In honor of this, I'm sharing a 1967 hit by Detroit homeboys, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. In my fuzzy memories of the 60s, I remember that it was much easier for local groups to get airplay on the radio. Mitch was pretty popular there. Here. You know what I mean.

I never quite caught some of the lyrics to this song, and the ones my sister confided to me that he was singing were 1) not included in any version Mitch actually recorded, and 2) pretty obscene.

Hell Week: Devil With The Blue Dress On

Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: Devil With The Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly

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Shorty Long: Devil With The Blue Dress On

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Before Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and John Mellencamp, there was Mitch Ryder. Known for his blistering stage shows, seventeen year-old Ryder's first band got their break playing Detroit's soul music club, The Village. His next band was Billy Lee & The Rivieras, which led him to record producer, Bob Crewe, who renamed the group (chosen at random from a telephone directory) Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and signed them to his fledging DynoVoice/NewVoice labels. Crewe was a one man wrecking crew, handling songwriting, producing and A&R. The band had a good run of hits, most notably Devil With A Blue Dress On, which in 1966 rose to #4 on the US record charts. The song was originally recorded by Shorty Long in 1964 as Devil With The Blue Dress, Ryder's version was at a faster tempo and turned into a medley with Good Golly Miss Molly.

In 1967, Ryder went solo without much success. During the 70s, he continued recording and touring. His last major label release was 1983's Never Kick a Sleeping Dog, produced by John Mellencamp. Nowadays, Ryder writes songs, paints and continues to tour.