Night in the Ruts

Performer: Aerosmith
Engineer: Gary Lyons
Producer: Gary Lyons; Aerosmith
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: NIGHT IN THE RUTS has been digitally remastered using Sony's 20-Bit Digital Super Bit Mapping process. This reissue includes new deluxe packaging with original release liner notes, photos and artwork. At the time NIGHT IN THE RUTS was recorded, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry quit the band in 1979, citing personality conflicts with his long-time songwriting partner Steven Tyler. Aerosmith: Steven Tyler (vocals, keyboards); Jim Crespo, Brad Whitford (guitar); Tom Hamilton (bass); Joey Kramer (drums). Additional personnel: Neil Thompson, Richard Supa (guitar); George Young (alto saxophone); Lou Marini (tenor saxophone); Lou Delgotto (baritone saxophone); Barry Rogers (trombone). Although 1979's NIGHT IN THE RUTS has a black and white album cover with all five members dressed as miners, in reality, Joe Perry left the band in the middle of recording due to personal differences. Brooklyn-born Jimmy Crespo was recruited to play on the remainder of RUTS and fill in Perry's shoes on tour. Throughout all the chaos, Perry managed to have his explosive guitar playing rise to the task. His interplay with Brad Whitford and an aggressive horn section make "Chiquita" one of the hardest rocking songs on this album. Elsewhere, Perry's skill on six-string found him playing the kind of slide guitar on "Cheesecake" that would make Duanne Allman jealous. The slide also came in handy during the slow blues of the novelty cover "Reefer Head Woman." Steven Tyler's lyrics also seemed unaffected by all the turmoil as he wrote songs touching on a variety of topics. "No Surprize" immortalizes Aerosmith's early days, "Mia" is a tribute to Tyler's newborn daughter, and "Three Mile Smile" is a song that captures the "no nukes" fervor of the time.

A hard-rocking, no-holds-barred American group fronted by the wiry Steven Tyler, Aerosmith plays heavy riffs with a blues underpinning. After huge hits and sold-out tours in the 1970s, the band sank into oblivion for the first half of the '80s. They returned on the crest of Run-DMC's version of "Walk This Way" in 1986, and rode back up the charts with their rehabilitated rock, cranking out slick videos to gain a new generation of fans. Having hitched their star to MTV, they took on the role of rock's elder statesmen.

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