THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

393-Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels-C.C. Rider/Jenny Take a Ride.

1965-Number 33 single.

Best Bit-At 1.44. Down the years many songs would be banned by the broadcasting media for what today we would deem as causing little or no offence. Then there were other songs with lyrics and meanings which went straight over the establishments heads.

‘See See Rider’ is a ‘traditional song’ (see also best songs 781) that probably originates from the early 1880’s, the ‘Ragtime,’ and ‘Jazz pianist’ Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941) stated that he first heard the song as a young boy in New Orleans around 1901. The legendary Blues singers Lead Belly,'(1888-1949) (see also best songs 431) and Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929) are known to have performed the song in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas from around 1912.

The first recording of the song titled ‘See See Rider Blues’ was made by the ‘Blues’ singer Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainey (1886-1939.) Rainey’s recording contains some new lyrics written by Rainey and Lena Arant (1873-1957.) There are probably hundreds of recordings of the song done in many different genres. Other significant versions include the 1943 recording by Wee Bea Booze, (1912-1986) she reached Number 1 on the American Billboard’s magazine ‘Harlem Hit Parade,’ which was a precursor of the Billboard R&B chart. The song has been a top 40 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart on four occasions, this version by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels incorporating ‘Jenny Take a Ride’ reached Number 10 in 1965. The other hit versions are from Chuck Willis (1926-1958) which made Number 12 in 1957, LaVern Baker (1929-1997) reached Number 34 in 1963, and The Animals (see also best songs 851) made Number 10 in 1966. Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) would for a period of time perform an upbeat live version of the song to open his shows, with his band playing the song again at the very end of his performance.

Mitch Ryder was born William Sherille Levise Jr. on February 26th, 1945, in Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. There have been approximately 40 Albums of his music made available, issued between 1966-2024, he has also released 35 singles between 1965-1987. Mitch Ryder is known for his dynamic stage performances, and major artists who have stated that they were influenced by him include Bruce Springsteen, (see also best songs 1040 and 549) Bob Seger, and John Mellencamp (see also best songs 405.)

It was the legendary singer/songwriter, and music producer Bob Crewe (1930-2014) (see also best songs 914-863-739-499-393-284-164-112 and 83) who chose the name ‘Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels,’ and they recorded successfully for Crewe’s ‘DynoVoice’ record label. It is said that Bob Crewe selected the stage name when he saw ‘Mitch Ryder’ in the Manhattan telephone directory. Bob Crewe wanted to promote Mitch Ryder as a ‘blue-eyed soul singer’ backed by a ‘horn band,’ like a white Wilson Pickett (1941-2006) (see also best songs 488.) They assembled a ten piece band of white R&B musicians from Baltimore, Maryland, and then toured as ‘The Mitch Ryder Show’ in February 1967. Mitch Ryder was the last person to perform with Otis Redding, (1941-1967) (see also best songs 712 and 377) they performed the song ‘Knock On Wood’ (see also best songs 828) on December 9, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, on a local television show called ‘Upbeat.’ Redding died in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin the following day,

Mitch Ryder’s participation with the Detroit Wheels came to an end in 1968, and his next venture was forming a ‘Rock’ band called ‘Detroit’ in 1970, releasing one studio Album called ‘Detroit,’ in 1971. Ryder withdrew from music in 1973 after experiencing throat trouble, he moved to Colorado with his wife and took up writing and painting. In 1983, Mitch Ryder returned to a major record label with the John Mellencamp produced Album ‘Never Kick a Sleeping Dog.’ Since then he has continued to record and tour in the United States and Europe. In 2005, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels were inducted into the ‘Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame,’ and in 2009, Mitch Ryder was inducted as a solo artist.

The Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels recording of ‘C.C. Rider’ is a medley of two songs, the other being ‘Jenny Jenny,’ which was originally co-written by Little Richard (1932-2020) (see also best songs 521) and Enotris Johnson, (1935-2015) and recorded by Little Richard in 1957, and making Number 10 on Billboard, and Number 11 in the UK. The term ‘See See Rider’ could refer to a woman who had liberal sexual views, had been married more than once, or was skilled at sex, but there are also several other different meanings (far too many to go into here) of what a ‘C.C. Rider’ was.

‘Yeah, see, C.C. Rider, I said see what you have done now. Oh see, C.C. Rider, ah, come on see baby what you have done. Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, won’t you come along with me.’