Customer Reviews

All American Boy

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having broken into the music business in 1965 with the McCoys, and honed his guitar playing skills in both Johnny and Edgar Winter's bands, Derringer was ripe for this solo debut. Released in 1974 (essentially on a short hiatus from the Winter brothers bands), it combined the guitar skills he'd developed with impressive songwriting and production skills. The glam-rock cover photo provides a hint as to some of the lyrics free-wheeling attitude, but not to the quality of the playing.

The hit single "Rock 'n' Roll Hoochie Koo" is only the start of this LPs story. Derringer's multi-instrumental talents carry the rockers and ballads, with a little help from the likes of Joe Walsh (who was recording solo between his gigs with the James Gang and the Eagles) to great heights. Nothing he recorded with the Winters, or on his subsequent solo LPs could match the focus and drive on this debut. 12 excellent original tracks make this album anything but a one-hit wonder.

Rick Derringer's quite sporadic career reached a high point with the 1973 release of his first solo album. "All American Boy," remains his best album and most vital work, and also contains his biggest solo single, "Rock and Roll, Hootchie Coo." Derringer's sound is quite similar to contemporary Edgar Winter, whose band he also played in. Other highlights include "Teenage Queen," "Teenage Love Affair" and the delightfuly titled "The Airport Giveth (The Airport Taketh Away). This is hard rock with a sense of melody and a sense of humor, both of which help the album stand out from others of its era.

This album never turned Rick Derringer into a superstar but it should have!
The songs on this album MAKE you want to catch a Rick Derringer concert.All the firepower of a Derringer concert is captured on this studio CD.
It starts off with Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo which has become such a classic it has been played on the radio more than 1 million times!
Two insturmentals are on this album;Joy Ride and Time Warp.Neither of them diappoints.Rick has always had a special knack for writing these kinds of songs.
Another charted song Teenage Love Affair is here as well and years later it still sounds invigorating and fresh.
The thoughtfulness of Hold,the class of Jump Jump Jump,the atmosphere of It's Raining...it's all here folks.
A person could go on describing this album forever and a day.It is one of those albums which captures exactly the musical vibe that was going on in the 70's.
Gemstone after gemstone with a special mention going to Slide On Over Slinky which can only be described as a mature version of Hang On Sloopy.
If you want to know what Rock and Roll is all about buy this album!!!!!!!!

This is good-time Derringer. Classic beyond Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo. Great ballads like Hold and flashy instrumentals stretching out. Vocals way up there. Play it loud and dance if you want. This is a fun album. Fight dark clouds with it. Cheap Tequila, Slide Over Slinky. Yes. Also love Jump, Jump, Jump. He did a great instrumental version on the Free Ride record. Year after year my appreciation for his music increases. Records like his feature boundless energy, good taste and great bandmates. More people should know. I hope he never stops reaching.

'All American Boy' is one of the great lost albums of the 70s... so lost that a German company, Repetoire, had to do the remastering instead of Sony.
They did a, well, read the review title. I heard instruments I never knew existed (for about 20 years I've been listening to a tape I made of the record). The sound is evenly balanced; no one decided to bring just the drums or guitars to the front. Overall there's a nice warmth to the sound.
There's an informative boolet with a nice essay, lyrics and musician credits. There's also two bonus tracks, single versions of "Teenage Love Affair" and "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo."

As for the album, well anyone over 30 must at least know "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", which kicks off this album. Roaring guitar, charging drums, a great way to open any album!
All the other songs are just as catchy, even the two instrumentals "Joy Ride" and "Time Warp".
Rick plays the bulk of the instruments. He also gets assists from Edgar Winter, Joe Walsh, and Jean "Toots" Thielemans, who chips in some lovely harmonica on the gorgeous "It's Raining.".
His secret weapon though is drummer Bobby Caldwell (the "What You Won't Do for Love" guy? Don't know.). He doesn't so much keep the beat as use his kit as the lead instrument, battling Rick's guitars for supremacy.

Kinda pricey, though. I was lucky in that someone gave me an amazon. gift certificate, so I blew most of it on this. I'd still have bought it even without the g.c. It's worth it!

When I was 13, I picked up this album, along with Led Zeppelin II. Climbing out of the ashes of the Partridge Family, this was a revelation of sorts. The Beatles I always knew. Since 5 years old. But All American Boy stirred your senses. The mega-hit of Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, was as much a part of me as Whole Lotta Love. What a classic album. Very diverse in it's song writing. He hits teenage drama with Teenage love affair. Slide on over Slinky funked out all over the place, a modern version of Hang on Sloopy. A Rick Derringer Classic.
While taking Jump, Jump, Jump to despair. Uncomplicated, with Joe Walsh was a was well written view on humans as sheep and to be different. But said things aside, the musicianship was skilled. Bobby Caldwell, I believe was the greatest rock drummer of all time,(check out Armaggedon). And Rick was fortunate to do battle with him on the frontlines. This was his swansong. Spring Fever waned some by comparison. Still for me, a great record as well. They should be purchased back to back. Unfortunately Rick got a full-time band in the end. All American Boy is it. For 70's rock, this is a top ten purchase. Rick has certainly shown me why I needed to buy a guitar at an early age. This was great stuff. Highschool memories abound.

"All American Boy" is critical to your CD collection of early 1970's rock, if you want it to be complete. Derringer is noted for the high octane he brought to the Brothers Winter,indeed, he was vital to their success. Ignoring the obvious standards for the moment (Hootchie Koo and Slinky), "Teenage Queen", the instrumental which precedes it, "Uncomplicated", "Teenage Love Affair" are all exhilarating and never got the airplay they deserved. I even got a buzz from "Cheap Tequila". The cover illustration/photo is great, as well. It conveys a sense of energy and excitement that is not quite fully realized in the music. This album comes real close to being one of those unsung rock masterpieces.

This is a decent album perhaps most remembered for the leadoff track, Derringer's classic version of "Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo" I just want to know why Epic/Blue Sky hasn't put out the DERRINGER LIVE album from 1977 on CD. I have 2 vinyl copies and they are both beat to hell. Every song on ALL AMERICAN BOY pales when held aganst that album, especially "Teenage Love Affair." It just rocks so much harder and with more feeling then any of Derringer's studio albums. If you like this album, try to find a used vinyl copy of LIVE. you might never listen to this one again!

Rick Derringer / All American Boy: This has a little good stuff in it, mainly when Derringer plays guitar, which isn't often enough. Most of the songs are just ok.
Three Stars

I got the LP in high school (no I'm not going to explain LP), I had to buy the CD.