Top 10 Rick Derringer Songs

Photo: By Jean Fortunet [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC BY 3.0

Our Top 10 Rick Derringer Songs list breaks one of our rules here at ClassicRockHistory.com when composing top 10 song lists. Usually, we only choose songs that have been released on an artist’s studio albums. Music from a band’s live albums is never included on these lists to help pare down our already difficult selections. However, in 1977, Rick Derringer released a live album entitled Derringer Live.

The album quickly became the quintessential Rick Derringer album. In classic rock history, Rick Derringer is known for his guitar playing, and nowhere else did his playing shine as brightly as on the 1977 Derringer Live

album. So, there was no way we could ignore that record when putting together a list of the best Rick Derringer material.

Our Top 10 Rick Derringer Songs list covers Derringer’s entire career, starting with his first album, All-American Boy, in 1973 and ending with his total blues-infused albums later on in his career. Aside from his solo material, Rick Derringer is also known for being a member of Edgar Winter’s various bands. Derringer also recorded with Edgar Winter’s legendary brother, Johnny Winter, and did some studio work with Steely Dan.

This list focuses on his solo work, so that’s why “Hang On Sloopy,” which he wrote with the McCoys, is not on it.

# 10 – Teenage Love Affair

We open our Top 10 Rick Derringer songs list with a track from his debut album, All American Boy. The song “Teenage Love Affair” showcases Derringer’s great rock and roll pop side. On the track, Rick Derringer plays guitar and bass while Bobby Caldwell plays drums.

# 9 – I Play Guitar

Good Dirty Fun LP (Vinyl Album) US Passport 1983

This rocking Rick Derringer song, “I Play Guitar,” was originally released on the 1983 album Good Dirty Fun. The video below is a live version of the song. Hang in there with this one because it just gets better and better as the song moves along

# 8 – One Eyed Jack

The Sweet Evil album has always been our favorite Rick Derringer album. The record had so many amazing smoking tracks. It clearly is that forgotten gem that is due to be reissued one of these days if only people would start buying cds again. “One Eyed Jack’s” groove just has to be heard.

# 7 -Uncomplicated

“The Rick Derringer song ‘Uncomplicated’ was originally released on his debut album All American Boy in 1973. However, the live version of the track on Derringer Live is not to be missed. The All American Boy album features many different musicians throughout. On this tune, Rick Derringer played lead guitar and sang lead vocals, while Joe Walsh played electric guitar, Kenny Passarelli played bass, Joe Vitale played drums, and Joe Lala played cowbell. The combination of Walsh, Passarelli, and Vitale pretty much showcased the band Barnstorm as the backing band on this song.”

# 6 – Somebody Loan Me A Dime

Rick Derringer’s album Jackhammer Blues is a total showcase of just how brilliant a guitar player Rick Derringer is. Over time, Derringer focused more on the blues aspects of his playing. The track “Somebody Loan Me A Dime” is the ultimate cut from the album.

# 5 – Sweet Evil

The title cut from the great Sweet Evil album. The album was originally released in 1977. The album is not considered a solo album but rather a band album under the name Derringer. The band consisted of Rick Derringer on guitar and vocals, Danny Johnson on guitar and vocals, Kenny Aaronson on bass and background vocals and Vinny Appice on drums.

# 4 – Rock

“From the album Spring Fever, this song featured the legendary Chick Corea on synth. It’s one of those rare gems that has long been forgotten by too many people. We also really liked the album cover. Spring Fever was Rick Derringer’s second solo album. It was also Rick Derringer’s last solo album to break into the Billboard Top 200 album charts.”

# 3 – Let Me In

If you don’t have the Derringer Live album in your collection, stop everything you’re doing right now and head over to your local record store(yeah, right) or Amazon and pick this CD up immediately. You will not be disappointed.

# 2 – Still Alive and Well

“‘Still Alive and Well’ was, and still is, our favorite track from the Derringer Live album. This, my friends, is the sound of classic rock. The album featured Kenny Aaronson on bass and vocals, Danny Johnson on guitar and vocals, the legendary Vinny Appice—brother of Carmine—on drums, and of course, Rick Derringer ripping it up on lead guitar. The album was recorded in various cities during 1977.”

# 1 – Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo

“As we come to a close on our top ten Rick Derringer songs list, we face the honest truth. That truth is the fact that there was no way we could not list ‘Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo’ as the number one song on our top ten Rick Derringer songs list. ‘Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo’ would become one of those songs that every bar band and Garage Band played in the 1970s. Everyone loved “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.” The song was released on Rick Derringer’s debut solo album titled All American Boy. ‘Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo’ features Rick Derringer on guitar, bass, tambourine, and lead vocals, Bobby Caldwell on drums, and Carl Hall, Lani Groves, and Tasha Thomas on backing vocals. The album and song were produced by Bill Szymczyk and Rick Derringer. The album was released in October of 1973. I can’t believe it was that long ago.”