Uncut (p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Ryder whoops it up over one of the tightest backing bands to come out of Detroit -- and that is saying something."
Producers include: Bob Crewe.
Compilation producers: J. Austin, D. Snowden, Bill Inglot.
Between 1966 and 1968, nobody in America was making guitar-driven, R&B based, rock & roll as ferocious as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels were. Ryder himself was a James Brown-inspired dervish with a gruffly soulful voice, and the Wheels played as tough and flashy as they came, particularly the band's secret weapon, the most underrated drummer in rock history, Johnny "B" Badanjek. "Rev Up" has all the hits and more, including Ryder's solo heavy metal version of Lou Reed's "Rock N' Roll" (Lou later appropriated Ryder's arrangement on his ROCK AND ROLL ANIMAL live album). The only fly in the ointment is the sound; usually reliable Rhino worked with the afterthought '60s stereo mixes, which lack punch. A superior mono alternative, albeit without as many songs, is ALL HITS on Sundazed; if you're a Mitch Ryder fan (and you should) both are essential.