What does it sound like?:
Rick Derringer is a name that doesn’t mean too much in the UK. If he’s known at all, it’s for the band albums he made under the ‘Derringer’ brand name. However, the albums here are all solo efforts, made both before and after his group phase. So what’s the difference – well, in reality, not that much really, These four albums do though have a more commercial, less hard rock sound, of the sort you can imagine rock stations in the USA picking up on.
The first, 1973’s All American Boy, is the best of the bunch, featuring his most well known song Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo, as well as, bizarrely, a co-write with the then unknown Patti Smith. It also has guest turns by Joe Walsh and Edgar Winter, and overall is a very listenable album, including his signature instrumental Joy Ride.
The follow up, Spring Fever, is less good. Even guests such as Chick Corea and David Johansen don’t add much spice to the proceedings in what is a pretty run of the mill pop/rock effort. Quite a bland effort, but one that you could understand going down well Stateside, as indeed it did.
After a four year gap, while Derringer concentrated on his band, he returned with a further two solo efforts. 1979’s Todd Rundgren produced Guitars and Women is an odd mixture – some songs are almost pop music, while others verge on heavy metal – a strange and not altogether successful combination. The weakest of these four albums is the final one, Face to Face, again following the commercial AOR route, but with songs that aren’t really up to it. Forgettable.
What does it all *mean*?
Overall, one and half good albums out of four, the rest is pretty generic and disposable
Goes well with…
Fizzy American beer and hot dogs.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Derringer, rock-lite.
Mike_H says
Have never knowingly heard anything by him except his slide guitar playing on Steely Dan’s “Showbiz Kids”. Which was very good.
After that review I don’t see myself making the effort to explore further.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I 100% support your right to write/review any subject you wish. I even reluctantly admit you have made the case for reviewing records supplied by “friends”.
But Bargepole, you really don’t help your cause by these lacklustre reviews of lacklustre records….
Bargepole says
Ah, the return of the remoaner…
How did I guess one of the comments on this would be from you – you have a complusion, it seems, to add a negative comment to almost every review, not just mine, that appears, while at the same time contributing precious little to the site youself.
I listened to it, I didn’t think they were anything special apart from the first one. Would you rather I said it’s a fantastic set of classic US rock instead.
Mike_H says
I see no problem with writing a lacklustre review of a lacklustre box set. Gives anyone who might be just a bit interested a warning that it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Whoa there Bargepole! Everything I say on here should always have IMHO taken as read. My opinion is no better and no worse than anyone else’s.
One of the joys of this site is agreeing or disagreeing with other posters and unlike sitting next to someone in a pub where social niceties rule I 100% admit that because it’s the internet I ,like many others, can sometimes resort to over the top replies like “that’s rubbish” instead of a more polite “not sure about that”.
I’m not sure how to respond to your “contributing little else but moaning” apart from referring you to, for example, my recent enthusiasms for Lorde and Neil Young, my descriptions of a lazy boozy afternoon in The Languedoc, being scared shitless by Witchfinder General etc
IMHO your above review was lacklustre but I tried to frame that in the context of 100% support for you posting whatever you like. I also have the right to reply whatever I like.
minibreakfast says
Virtual pub or not, the constant putting-down of Bargpole’s threads are beginning to seem quite mean. And calling the review “lacklustre” is not only a bit rude, but likely to put off prospective reviewers, and goodness knows we could do with a few more of those. It’s certainly put me off, anyway.
I’ll, er, barge out now.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I objected back in the day to what I saw as Barge being given freebies by his record industry friends then reviewing on here. I tried to explain I love AW reviews but reviews borne out of love or hate ie passion.
The Massive in its mighty wisdom chose , with few exceptions, to support Barge.
Since then I have posted two comments on his reviews (there may be a few more as I am never sure which of Tigger’s posts are Barge inspired or not). One said “Lodestone rides in, looks around, tips his hat and rides off”. The other said “lacklustre review of a lacklustre record” – if that puts off other reviewers who don’t have friends in the record industry then I 100% apologise
Bargepole says
For the sake of clarity – yet again – let me say I don’t have any ‘friends’ in the record industry, indeed I have no connection at all with it – I have a few contacts with a few record companies and pr agencies built up over the last few years simply by hard work, sending round emails etc. I make no secret of the fact that the music they provide is the source of maybe 90% of the reviews on this site, some done by me, some by others.
I’m afraid I don’t subscribe to the view that social etiquette doesn’t matter simply because ‘it’s the internet’.
Bargepole says
And whatever happened to that review of ‘Hitchhiker’ that you mentioned in your original post on that album a little while back – I was (genuinely) looking forward to reading that.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Can I ask a practical question at this point?
chiz says
How do you wire a plug?
JustB says
As we’ll know when the Pink Flag reissue comes out, Bargey can definitely plug a Wire.
chiz says
Last time I intervened in this I got called a cunt, so I’ll tread carefully; leave it, Lodes. The point has been made and rejected. I wish people didn’t post what and when they’re told to by record companies – I think it goes against the spirit of Nights In, which works better with heartfelt recommendations (or warnings) by people whose opinion you respect. But the majority don’t agree, so let’s leave it at that.
Bargepole says
As I said before, I have no problem with a new section of the site being created called ‘reviews’ or whatever, but that’s not within my power.
At the same time, it might be worth considering the usefulness of sections like Afterwiki (only three posts in its life, nothing since January), and Games (only six posts in its considerably longer existence, nothing since March) – but maybe that’s a topic for another thread.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I honestly now have no problem with “90% of the reviews” emanating from Barge’s contacts.
I do,however, have a big problem with being rudely deemed a moaning Milly when on examination of the facts I praise far more often than I criticise.
As I explained at the time it’s been a really busy time for me these past few months so my full review of Hitchhiker will have to wait (as will apparently the apology for last night’s tirade against my mildly sarcastic comments)
Bargepole says
Perhaps it’s the fact that I can almost guarantee that one of your ‘mildly sarcastic’ comments will be among the first comments on every piece I post – it gets a little wearing after a time.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Of your last 15 reviews I have commented 4 times and then only once did I criticise you rather than what you were reviewing – and that criticism used the word “lacklustre”.
There’s my horse over there, Happy Trails!
Bingo Little says
Isn’t the simplest solution to all of this for you to simply stop posting on Bargepole’s review threads, which you clearly don’t care for anyway?
Obviously, you’re free to post where you like, but wouldn’t it save everyone a good deal of grief to just leave those particular threads alone?
You’re basically ending up in the same argument over and over again, which has gotta be tiresome for all those involved, I’d have thought.
Twang says
But the record company isn’t telling anyone what to write. Why do you keep saying that? I mean, it’s annoying which may be the point, but it’s not true.
As Mini hints, I for one have gone off reviewing – most of what I reviewed I’d bought or really liked even if blagged – but this repeated hectoring is tedious in the extreme. I don’t think you’re a cunt though. 🙂
chiz says
Forgive me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure Bargepole has said the request is: Please write a review of [this] before [release date]. That’s What and When. It’s not like Barge suddenly felt a sudden enthusiasm to share his thoughts on a new Rick Derringer collection out of the blue. You’ll say you’re free to write a stinking review but… I don’t recall seeing any.
Twang says
Well yes it’s true they do ask for an alignment with the release date but that has always been the case since the good old days of the inkys. And there have been less than enthusiastic ones…here’s one of mine…
There was one about a instrumental rock guitar album I did but it has completely disappeared from my memory and I have no idea what it was called now!
Just like the inkys, some reviews do a deep analysis of what the record means, some just tell you a bit about what it’s like. That’s OK isn’t it?
chiz says
“Massive crashing chords topped with stirring choruses with stacked vocal harmonies”
– The Afterword
“A terrific new talent to the UK blues scene”
– The Afterword
“It’s big, it’s loud, it’s heavy”
– The Afterword
“Approach with confidence”
– The Afterword
Kid Dynamite says
The key difference there is that if you worked on the inkies you’d have been paid for your efforts.
I appreciate the “if you don’t like it, write your own review” idea, but I’m not sure it holds water. I know that I have thought about putting up reviews of records I’ve enjoyed and decided not to bother on the grounds that it’ll be lost in the flood. When I did do one the other day it was off the front page in eighteen hours, pushed down by will this do? comments on pointless prog reissues, and clearly missed by people who would have been interested. I might be the only one who is thus put off, but I wouldn’t bet my mortgage on it.
salwarpe says
Replying to @kid-dynamite. Keep posting. What’s good about this site is what was good about Word Magazine (I preferred it before the ‘The’), is that, unlike other music monthlies, I actually wanted to read it because it is open, at least, to more than heritage rock. There is a range of tastes on the site, and I’m more likely to hunt out a kid dynamite review than some ghastly old prog rerelease – at least for finding out about music I’d like to listen to, as I
Kid Dynamite says
don’t worry, @salwarpe, I’m not flouncing. This thread just caught me at an intemperate moment.
Twang says
Arf @chiz. It’s accurate though. If you knew his blues stuff it’d tell you exactly how different it is!
Right, I’m bored with this…
Twang says
I was a big Rick fan back in the day, and even now his albums stand up. I think the review is fair – the first two are the stronger – kinda, as you say, pop rock. Of course, he was a mainstay of the Edgar Winter White Trash and EW Group bands who made some terrific albums, as well as being on the (official) best live album ever, Johnny winter And Live. The And studio album is a cracker too. And as mentioned above, his session work with the Dan (he is the Rickie who shouldn’t lose that number) is impeccable.
Odd, then, that his own work is maybe less strong than where he was part of a band. The Derringer albums are top notch guitar rock, and it was really 90% Rick and 10% the rest though he always swore it was a band. He was a top songwriter of course and he songs have been covered, notably by Johnny Winter…also he was the front man of The McCoys of “Hang on Snoopy” fame.
For further exploration @Mike_H I’d recommend the EW Group album “Shock treatment”, the first Derringer album and of course the And live album.
I’ve been pondering dusting off an essay I wrote about the Blue Sky stable of artists decades ago, but I fear it would be consigned to tumbleweed so it’s not worth the effort., As you say, Bargie, no one has ever heard of them and cares less. To me, though, it’s a classic secret little cache of great American 70s rock.
Here’s a great track off “Derringer”
Bargepole says
Go on, dust it off !
Bargepole says
You’re right though – the ‘band’ albums are far better.
Peanuts Molloy says
Yes, go on – I cares.
I liked The McCoys when I was a teenager in the sixties. An interesting snippet is that the b-side of their second single (“Fever”) was a song called “Sorrow” which gave The Merseys a big hit in the UK and of course was later recorded by David Bowie on Pinups.
Most of The McCoys morphed into the Johnny Winter Band . . . initially the 1970 album was going to be called Johnny Winter And The McCoys but it was shortened to “Johnny Winter And”. Rick Derringer was co-producer, co-vocalist, guitarist and songwriter and it’s a great album.
In 1974 he produced Edgar Winter’s “Shock Treatment” album after replacing Ronnie Montrose as guitarist, but that very much featured the songwriting of Dan Hartman.
Incidentally, @Twang, for a long time I also thought he was the Rikki with the phone number, but I recently read Anthony Robustelli’s excellent book “Steely Dan FAQ” and it seems it was about a very different Rikki – here’s the Wiki version, slightly edited:
“Rikki Ducornet is the subject of the Steely Dan song “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”. Donald Fagen had met her at Bard College and even though she was both pregnant and married at the time, he gave her his number. Ducornet was intrigued by Fagen and tempted to call him, but she decided against it.”
mikethep says
Well, blow me down and file under I Never Knew That. I edited her first novel, The Stain, when I was at Shatton and Windup.
Podicle says
Not sure why they put a photo of Suzi Quattro on the cover.
Bargepole says
Separated at birth?
Martin Hairnet says
I quite like the silver jacket, red jeans combo., although I wouldn’t wear it down the local.
But I draw the line at the medallion.
Twang says
What about the big silver fly buttons? Never mind playing the guitar with fucking gloves on.
Martin Hairnet says
Rick rockin’ the mid-70s Olivia Newton John look there – with some conviction.
Perhaps the gloves were necessary to protect himself from the intense heat he was generating on those frets. Better than Joy Division oven gloves, I suppose.
The silver button? Well, that’s just pure attention seeking.
Tahir W says
A better guitarist and stage performer than songwriter. I used to have a vinyl copy of All American Boy, which was OK, but if it’s the best of the bunch then the others are definitely mediocre.
I have very fond memories of seeing Edgar Winter’s WT with RD at White City stadium in 1973. I remember him running on stage for the encore shouting to the audience, “I knew you could rock and roll. You didn’t fool me none.” I dunno if he’d thought that English audiences were tepid or whatever.
BTW didn’t Holger Czukay use to play bass with gloves on?
Twang says
Man I’d have loved to see the White Trash. There’s nothing on YT though I know they did TV specials and things.
Tahir W says
Edgar had one of those keyboards that hang around the neck so that he could stand and move to the music and so he could be up front with Ricky doing his guitar hero bit alongside. I was amazed that anyone could play a keyboard like that. Had never seen that before.
fortuneight says
Edgar was still using that sort of keyboard when I saw him in 2004, 2nd on the bill to Alvin Lee. Hard to imagine EW playing “Frankenstein” without it, and I think it came out again when they played together on the encore.
I’ve always thought Rick was a talented guitarist, but the pickings get slim in the albums he released across the last 20 years – his song writing just isn’t as good as playing. A particular stinker is “Free Ride” from 2002 which contains smooth jazz versions of his better known songs with title like “Jazzy Koo” and “Smooth Frank” and his wife on vocals.
For a mere $24.95 you can get an autographed CD of Rick and Mrs Derringer covering Beatles songs from his website, or their very own “Hot n Cool Sauce” for just $9.95.
Twang says
That’s sounds fucking awful. Also he’s got the Lord and made a Christian lyrics version of “Rock n’ Roll hoochie coo” FFS. But I don’t agree he’s not a good songwriter* – he’s written some crackers in his time.
* Hardly anyone’s writing is as good as Rick’s playing to be fair
chiz says
If Rick Derringer and Rick Springfield had a duel, who would win?
Moose the Mooche says
Nyo-ho-ho-ho!
Twang says
Depends on the distance!
fortuneight says
Rick D is a total badass. He has a gun permit and a conviction for taking it onto a airplane and everything. No contest.