Tag: Mitch Ryder

Ever since I heard his growling voice singing the Devil with the Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly medley, I’ve been a fan of Mitch Ryder. Even his name is cool. He has released more than 25 albums as a solo artist and with the Detroit Wheels. He was born William Sherille Levise Jr. Outside of the medley, I didn’t know much about him, so I spot listened to his songs on albums through the years. He gives a big variety to pick from and some catchy songs. 

This should have been a classic rock song from the ’80s. It doesn’t get played much, but it sounds great, and it captures both the producer’s and Mitch’s sound. The producer of this song was John Mellencamp. John was influenced by Mitch, along with Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen. It was written by Keith Sykes in 1980 and has been covered by George Thorogood and the Destroyers as well. I do remember hearing this song in the early eighties, as it got some play here in Nashville. 

Lyrically, the song is about making it or wanting to make it. Ryder doesn’t use a metaphor here. He spells it out, literally, because that’s what ambition sounds like when you’re clawing your way up from a bar stage to something bigger. It was on the 1983 album Never Kick a Sleeping Dog at the height of Mellencamp’s career. At times in rocking songs, and I’m going to use a phrase I read some critic use years ago, his voice sounded like sandpaper dipped in gasoline. I mean that in the best way. 

He also does a cover of Prince’s When You Were Mine, and Mitch owns it. I have included the video of that one from MTV. Great song as well. 

B.I.G. T.I.M.E.

Well when you hear the bell it’s nine o’clock
That’s the time when you start to rock
Gonna push the hair up outta my face
We gonna rock the rafters right offa this place

Yeah, it’s alright
You and me
Yeah, we gonna have a B.I.G.T.I.M.E

Goin’ out tonight we gonna rock, rock, rock
And we don’t care if they call the cops, ha ha
Gonna get my girl we gonna dance dance dance
And later go home and make romance

Yeah, it’s alright
You and me
Yeah, we gonna have a B.I.G.T.I.M.E

Yeah, it’s alright
You and me
Yeah, we gonna have a B.I.G.T.I.M.E

Well, my mama told me when I left home
She said “Boy you were born to roam
But you better remember just one thing, son
You gotta always try to have some fun.”
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So, it’s alright
You and me
Yeah, we gonna have a B.I.G.T.I.M.E

Hey, B.I.G.T.I.M.E
Hey, B.I.G.T.I.M.E
Hey, B.I.G.T.I.M.E