Night In The Ruts
Aerosmith
Released in December 1979 on Columbia Records
Aerosmith (on this album) Is:
Steven Tyler - Vocals, Harmonica, Piano
Joe Perry - Guitar
Brad Whitford - Guitar
Tom Hamilton - Bass
Joey Kramer - Drums
Jimmy Crespo - Guitar
Richie Supa - Guitar
Aerosmith formed in 1971 and took a few years before they got the attention
they wanted. 1975 brought the success of the multi-platimun Toys In The
Attic with it's hits Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way. 1976 continued this
success with the album Rocks, the point at which Aerosmith believes their best music of the 70's was played. Draw The Line was released in 1977 and at the time was viewed as a success (and was the fastest selling Aerosmith album to date), but since then has been has been called the "Black Out Album" by Joe Perry and hasn't had many positive reviews. Aerosmith was named the
number one touring band of 1978 and in 1979 began work on their sixth
studio album, Night In The Ruts.
Night In The Ruts was released in December 1979, after quite a hectick
recording process. Halfway through the reocrding of the album, Aerosmith
realized they didn't have enough money to finish the recording, so they went
on tour. At a show in Cleveland, an arguement between two wives backstage
grew into a massive arguement between Steven and Joe and ended with the
departure of Joe Perry from Aerosmith (this was after playing supposedly one
of the best shows they've ever played). Aerosmith finished the album with a
young man brought into the studio by prodicer Jack Douglas named Jimmy
Crespo (formerly of Flame) and songwriter Richie Supa (who wrote Chip Away
The Stone, would eventually write Lightning Strikes, and would eventually
co-write the hit single Amazing). The album was surprizingly very strong but
is one of the worst selling Aerosmith albums. It's a very underrated album
and should be checked out by anyone who's interested in good rock.
1. No Surprize
The album opens with your usual moderate to fast-paced song. The story of
Aerosmith starts seven seconds into the song. "1971, We all heard the
starter's gun, New York was such a pity but at Max's Kansas city we won." It
basically tells the story of Aerosmith from 1971 until 1978. It mentions
nothing about Joe Perry's departure although the song's lyrics were written
after Perry left the band. The song was recorded before Joe left and once he
left the they made the decision to keep his leads on. This song is a very typical Aeromsith song. It's very raunchy and it's full of catchy little riffs. The song over is a good song but the great lyrics should have been put over an amazing song. Overall not bad. 3.5/5
2. Chiquita
This song starts off with some awkward chords played in a bizarre fashion.
The time signature in the beginning always gets me confused. They then
change to riff then back to the awkward riff. When the into ends a very catchy
starts by using what sounds like then a very nice sounding verse and
screaming chorus. This song is in dropped D tuning I believe. The bridge
returns to the awkward riff and the song ends with what I believe is a Joe
Perry guitar solo (this book Walk This Way states that Chiquita was recorded
before Joe left) but I'm not completely sure if it's Joe's solo, it may very well
be a Jimmy Crespo solo. 4/5
3. Remember (Walking In The Sand)
This song is a cover song originally played in the 60's by the Shangri Las. The
song has a real shuffle-type sound to it. It's a very different Aerosmith song
but different in a good way. The guitar solos are very creepy sound and they
are perfectly placed after wat may be called a chorus, the second Steven almost screams. The women singing "oooooh, aaaaah" in the backround give an amazing atmosphere. Joe playing in this song and it's all around great.I have
to give it a 5/5.
4. Cheese Cake
Aerosmith's fourth real slide guitar song (after Major Barbara, Draw The Line,
and Get It Up). I'd say it's definitely the best so far. The opening riff is really
something else. I'd compare it to In My Time Of Dying by Led Zeppelin. It
sounds similar but doesn't sound like Jimmy Page is being ripped off. After a
rather slow first minute and a half, and chorus picks things up and gets really
up-beat and catchy. This song, like the previous three, was recorded before
Joe left. The lyrics are a little gross, but they're typical Steven Tyler. This
song is basically Aerosmith live. According to the book Walk This Way, this
was only the second or third take and every part was played flawlessly. Good
song. 4/5
5. Three Mile Smile
Aerosmith's knack for catchy riffs continue here. The song is rather poppy and
the lyrics are about nuclear bombs and things that were going on around that
time. Aerosmith's attempt at a statement song. I don't completely understand the lyrics but I do know that the song is incredibly catchy. This was one song that was recorded after Joe left so Brad and either Jimmy Crespo are playing this one. The song ends with quite a lengthy outro/solo which is rather intense. 3/5
6. Reefer Head Woman
This song begins right where Three Mile Smile ends. It's another cover song.
This song is an old blues song which I think Aerosmith covered very well. I
absolutely love the guitar tones and the solos with the wah pedal. It's very
rare that Aerosmith plays a song this bluesy but when they do they sure nail it.
This song leaves you in suspense, wanting more. But instead they bring you
Bone To Bone. 3.5/5
7. Bone To Bone (Coney Isand White Fish Boy)
This song starts of with a really nasty riff. The song proceeds into a solo and
then the vocals start. This was another song that was recorded before Joe left. Steven's lyrics are as always very clever. The riffs behind the second solo are
incredibly tight (not to mention the solo is nothing short of awesome).
Steven's vocals are exceptional on this song (according to him, a coney island
whirte fish is a used rubber). 4/5
8. Think About It
This is yet another cover. The original song was performed by the Yardbirds.
The opening riff is very haunting and the crashing E minors behind it totally fit.
The whole song has kind of a creepy feel to it. The riff in the verse is one of
the best. This song was recorded after Joe left so I believe the solo is a Jimmy
Crespo solo. The sound of the beginning of the solo is so weird. It's as if
Jimmy was rapidly flicking the knob on his guitar between pickups but one
pickup didn't work so he's getting a really original sound. I've never heard this
technique before but I definitelty want to hear more of it. 4.5/5
9. Mia
Most Aerosmith albums end with song kind of a power ballad, and this is no
exception. The song starts with yet another haunting sound. It starts with
piano and then a very quiet acoustic guitar accompanies it. This song was
written with it's purpose being a lullaby for his new daughter, Mia, but I would
never make my baby listen to this. The piano at the end sounds like a death
call (death call?). Anyways, credits in the album booklet credit Richie Supafor
the guitar solo in this one. The solo is nothing special, just very melodic and
harmonic. I absolutely love the solo in this song. It gives a feeling of hope
(as dumb as it sounds). I was crazy about this song for the longest and still
am rather fond of it. 4/5
This album never really lets up. Every song has it's own original sound and
every song is pretty nice to listen to. This caught all listeners by surprize.
Recommended Tracks:
Remember (Walking In The Sand)
Bone To Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy)
Think About It
Mia
Overall: 4/5.
