How I Spent My Vacation

Personnel: Mitch Ryder (vocals, percussion); John Vass (acoustic & electric guitar) Richard Shein, Wayne Gabriel, Dave Opatik (guitar); Leonard Salano (harmonica); Wayne Wayne (saxophone); Bugs Beddow (trombone); Billy Csernits (Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, keyboards); Mark Gougeon, Tony Suehy (bass); Wilson Owens, John Badanjek (drums).
Engineers: Ken Sands, Greg Reilly, Mark Calice.
Recorded at Cloudborn Studios, Pro-Sound Studios, Superdisc Studios & Sound Suite Studios, Detroit, Michigan.
Ryder recorded this hidden gem in 1978. Like his other post-Detroit Wheels albums, it's an angry album, full of the original songs that he had inside of him but wasn't allowed to pursue back in the day. As such, the lyrics seem to come at times in a garbled rush, as if Ryder had these songs bursting inside of him. It starts to wear after a few tunes (too much angst), but those in for the long haul will be rewarded with the performances on "Tough Kid," "Passions Wheel," "The Jon," "Falling Forming," and the closer, "Poster." Another closet classic here for those who want to investigate the other side of this Detroit rocker's career. ~ Cub Koda