The band had a number of top twenty hits in the mid-1960s before lead singer Ryder was enticed away by Bob Crewe with offers of a solo career, after which the group quickly dissolved. Two of its former members, McCarty and Badanjek, later reunited to establish the nucleus of a new band called The Rockets.
The band had its origins in Detroit in the early 1960s. At this time, a young white singer by the name of William Levine, Jr., who was singing at a black soul club called The Village, met a rock & roll group which included McCarty, bassist Earl Elliot, and Badanjek. Levine decided to join the group and took the stage name of Billy Lee, and the band became Billy Lee and the Rivieras. After attracting attention from producer Bob Crewe while working as a support act to The Dave Clark Five, the group moved to New York to start recording. However, since another band had already recorded as The Rivieras, the band decided to change its name again. With the help of a phone book, Levine took the new stage name of Mitch Ryder, and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels were born. The group's live performances are said to have had an "explosive quality" and their style has been described as "revved up...R&B".
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels had their first big hit in 1965 with "Jenny Take a Ride", which reached #10 on national charts, and #1 on the R&B chart—the first time a self-contained rock group had achieved the latter distinction. Crewe had originally planned to release the track as a B side, but changed his mind after seeing the reactions of Brian Jones and Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones, who were in the Stei-Philips studio in New York City as it was being recorded.
Ryder and the Detroit Wheels followed up with another top twenty hit, "Little Latin Lupe Lu," which peaked at #17. After a couple of misses, the group had its biggest hit with the "Devil With a Blue Dress On"/"Good Golly Miss Molly" medley which reached #4. Around this period they also recorded a number of albums, largely composed of reworked R&B classics, along with a smattering of original compositions.
In 1967 Ryder had another top ten hit with "Sock It To Me, Baby!", which was banned by some stations as too sexually suggestive. The band had its last hit with the brassy "Too Many Fish in the Sea"/"Three Little Fishes" single, which reached #24. Crewe then persuaded Ryder to quit the group and embark on a solo career.
After Ryder's departure, Badanjek fronted a short-lived band of the same name which recorded several tracks, most notably "Linda Sue Dixon", a song glorifying the illicit hallucinogenic drug LSD, which charted worldwide in 1968. They also recorded "Think (About the Good Things)/For the Love of a Stranger". The band's line-up during this time is uncertain.
Ryder's solo career, meantime, had been mishandled and failed to take off. In 1969 he, Badanjek and some other musicians established a new band called Detroit, which recorded an eponymously named album. One single was released from the album, a cover of Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll" that Reed reportedly liked better than his original version, and Reed subsequently hired Detroit guitarist Steve Hunter for his own band. Detroit's follow-up tour to the album, however, met with little success, after which Ryder departed once again and the band broke up.
In 1972, Badanjek and former Wheels guitarist McCarty reunited to form the nucleus of a new group called The Rockets, which recorded a number of albums through the 1970s and 1980s. McCarty continues to perform today with his group, Mystery Train. John Badanjek remains active as well.
breakOUT
The Detroit Wheels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, treatin' us like we're nothin and always puttin' us down
Say, I ain't no fool and I ain't gonna let them treat us this way
I ain't gonna stop until I reach the top someday
They're gonna respect us baby
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Breakout now, gotta breakout now
Breakout now, gotta breakout now
Packin' all my bags, I'm movin' on
I won't hear that small talk when I'm gone
Hey, you know what?
Our lives are gonna waste away in this rut we're in
Sneakin' from place to place, baby, and feelin' like it's all a sin
Oh, I ain't gonna run no more and I ain't gonna hide
I ain't gonna stop until I reach the top of time
It ain't no good this way baby
No, No, No, No
Breakout now, gotta breakout now
Oooohhh yeah, Breakout now, we gotta breakout now
Breakout, Breakout
Come on baby
Let's start to, let's start to feel it now
Wanna, want you to come with me
Oooohhh yeah, breakout now, we gotta breakout now
I cain't, I cain't, I cain't a stop it now
We gotta, we gotta breakout now
The Detroit Wheels presents “Breakout,” a song that’s all about taking control of your own life and breaking free from the constraints that hold you back. The lyrics speak to the frustration of feeling oppressed and disregarded by others, but the singer refuses to accept that treatment. He declares that he won’t stop fighting until he reaches the top and earns the respect he deserves. He urges his listeners to break out of their own ruts and join him on the journey to self-assertion.
The lyrics contain plenty of rebellious energy and determination, making it a classic anthem of motivation. The singer understands that life can be confining and draining, but he refuses to resign himself to stagnation. He urges his listeners to take action, pack their bags, and move on to something new. He’s not interested in small talk or sneaking around; he wants to break out and forge his own path. Altogether, the song is a forceful statement of independence and the call to action.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw hey, I'm sick and tired of everybody just pushin' us around
I am frustrated and exhausted with how everyone is mistreating us and not giving us any respect.
Yeah, treatin' us like we're nothin and always puttin' us down
People are belittling us and constantly making us feel inferior.
Say, I ain't no fool and I ain't gonna let them treat us this way
I am not naive and I refuse to allow others to continue treating us poorly.
I ain't gonna stop until I reach the top someday
I will not give up until I achieve success and recognition.
They're gonna respect us baby
Our determination will earn us the respect we deserve.
Breakout now, gotta breakout now
It's time to make a change and break free from our current situation.
Packin' all my bags, I'm movin' on
I am leaving this place and starting anew.
I won't hear that small talk when I'm gone
I am not interested in hearing any negative comments or gossip after I leave.
Hey, you know what?
I have something important to say.
Our lives are gonna waste away in this rut we're in
If we stay in the same situation, our lives will be unfulfilling and stagnant.
Sneakin' from place to place, baby, and feelin' like it's all a sin
We are constantly hiding and moving around, and it feels like we are doing something wrong.
Oh, I ain't gonna run no more and I ain't gonna hide
I am done with running and hiding, and will face my challenges head on.
I ain't gonna stop until I reach the top of time
I will not quit until I have achieved success that lasts for a long time.
It ain't no good this way baby
Our current situation is not good or beneficial for us in any way.
Breakout now, gotta breakout now
We must break free from our current situation now.
Oooohhh yeah, Breakout now, we gotta breakout now
We need to break free as soon as possible.
Come on baby
Let's work together to achieve our common goal.
Let's start to, let's start to feel it now
It's time to start feeling optimistic and excited about our future.
Wanna, want you to come with me
I want you to join me on this journey to success.
I cain't, I cain't, I cain't a stop it now
I cannot be stopped, no matter what obstacles come my way.
We gotta, we gotta breakout now
It is essential that we break free now for our well-being and success.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELMER BERNSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sammorreale6105
I can't believe it! 50 years later and I still turn it up to 10 when hear it!
@johnknott7333
You are never to old to listen to great music especially this
@chriscoburn69
A great song. One of the best blue eyed soul bands.
@gannonroberts9392
The Detroit Wheels were long gone, thanks to Bob Crewe. This is a not bad studio band.
@daveparsons7756
@Gannon Roberts please explain...was he their “wrecking Crew”?
@ricmazur8620
@Gannon Roberts totally wrong! This was indeed the Detroit Wheels. It was nearly 6 months after this record came out that Mitch Ryder left the Detroit Wheels
@garyknight7651
Bob had asked me what instruments I play. I mentioned, "anything with a keyboard, guitar and once I played trumpet in the high school marching band". He said, "Why not play trumpet on the song you just wrote with Bernstein?" The song was entitled, "Breakout"!. I replied, "I haven't played trumpet in YEARS, Bob". He said, "Don't worry, we can make it work!" I thought to myself, "This is going to be a real disaster ... I can't play trumpet anymore .. it has been more than ten years ago that I played trumpet". Well, I got to the studio and did my very best and it was really weak and unexciting. Bob called a professional trumpet player, Mike Shayne. He asked him to come into the studio and Mike overdubbed his trumpet over mine and NOBODY WAS ANY THE WISER!! To this day, I thank Mike for making my trumpet sound quite good! "Thanks Mike and Thanks Bob!" I can now say "it was I ... (with Mike) who played trumpet on a top forty record!"
@drdavecolly
Now you are talking, one on my first purchases back in 1969 or so .I first heard it on my mates brothers cassette tape of Northern tracks along the Ad-libs , Chubby Checker and Billy Butler , Rufus Lumley, Platters ,lFifth Dimension etc etc . He was that bit older than us and went clubbing to I guess the Wheel and the Torch, Soon followed him to Stoke , happy days, still loving it 50 plus years later KTF
@johnflanagan7653
Happy Birthday Mitch Ryder - 74 today, 26th February 2019. Great memories!
@NorthernsoulBoy63
LOVE THIS