Night in the Ruts

by Aerosmith

Overview

By the time Aerosmith's sixth studio release was issued, 1979's Night in the Ruts, guitarist Joe Perry had finally left the band after years of drug-fueled bickering with singer Steven Tyler (forming the Joe Perry Project by year's end). Most of the tracks were completed before Perry's departure, with replacement Jimmy Crespo filling the few empty spaces. And while the band looks back upon this period as hazy and frustrating, Night in the Ruts is a surprisingly coherent and inspired album. Although it's not up to par with such classics as Toys in the Attic or Rocks (although it could have been if the band weren't in such a state of turmoil at the time), it was definitely leaner and more focused than their last studio release, Draw the Line. Highlights include the striking opening rocker, "No Surprize," which recounts the band's early history, as well the driving yet melodic "Chiquita," the jamming "Three Mile Smile," the furious "Bone to Bone," and a pair of covers -- the Yardbirds' "Think About It" and the novelty number "Reefer Head Woman." The only lowlight is a weak cover of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)," which was inexplicably issued as a single and included on 1980's Greatest Hits. While the album performed respectfully on the charts, the ensuing tour did little to boost sales -- it was marred with canceled dates and lackluster performances brought on by Tyler's substance abuse. ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	05/26/2023
Label:	Capitol / Umr
UPC:	0602455248657

Tracks

1. No Surprize
2. Chiquita
3. Remember (Walking In The Sand)
4. Cheese Cake
5. Three Mile Smile
6. Reefer Head Woman
7. Bone to Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy)
8. Think About It
9. Mia

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Aerosmith   Primary Artist
Steven Tyler   Bass,Harmonica,Keyboards,Percussion
Barry Rogers   Trombone,Sax (Tenor)
Lew Del Gatto   Sax (Baritone)
George Young   Horn,Sax (Alto)
Lou Marini   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Neil Thompson   Guitar (Electric)
Richard Supa   Guitar

Technical Credits

Steven Tyler   Composer
Jimmy Page   Composer
Chris Dreja   Composer
Keith Relf   Composer
J. Bennett   Composer
Joe Bennett   Composer
Lester Melrose   Composer
Rod O'Brien   Assistant Engineer
Jim McCarty   Composer
Joseph Perry   Composer
George Marino   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Aerosmith   Producer
Gary Lyons   Engineer,Producer
Joel Zimmerman   Art Supervisor
Jazz Gillum   Composer
George "Shadow" Morton   Composer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Joe Perry   Composer
Lisa Sparagano   Design
Jimmy Ienner, Jr.   Photography
David Krebs   Producer,Direction,Executive Producer
Steve Leber   Producer,Direction,Executive Producer
Styler   Cover Art Concept
Keith Garde   Creative Supervision
Jim Shea   Photography
Kosh   Design,Art Direction
Peter Thea   Assistant Engineer