Released November 1, 1979
Recorded Spring-Summer 1979
Producer Aerosmith
Singles from Night in the Ruts
1. "No Surprize"
Released: 1979
2. "Remember (Walking in the Sand)"
Released: 1979
Joe Perry left the band midway through the recording of the album. The album was not produced by Jack Douglas who had produced Aerosmith's previous four albums. Instead, Columbia Records brought in Gary Lyons as a producer.
About halfway through the recording of the album, due to mounting debt and the need for the band to generate an income, the record label and management set Aerosmith out on another tour without extra time to finish the album, which pushed the album to being released later in the year. Joe Perry left the band mid-way through the tour, after a violent feud involving the band members and their wives. Prior to his departure, Perry had completed guitar parts for "No Surprize", "Chiquita", "Cheesecake", "Bone to Bone (Coney Island Whitefish Boy)", and "Three Mile Smile". The guitar parts for the remaining songs were recorded by Brad Whitford, Richie Supa, Neil Thompson, and Jimmy Crespo (who later became Perry's official replacement from 1979 to 1984).
Side one
1. "No Surprize" Steven Tyler, Joe Perry 4:25
2. "Chiquita" Tyler, Perry 4:24
3. "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" Shadow Morton 4:03
4. "Cheese Cake" Tyler, Perry 4:15
Side two
1. "Three Mile Smile" Tyler, Perry 3:40
2. "Reefer Head Woman" J. Bennett, Jazz Gillum, Lester Melrose 4:03
3. "Bone to Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy)" Tyler, Perry 2:58
4. "Think About It" Keith Relf, Jimmy Page, Jim McCarty 3:31
5. "Mia" Tyler 4:15
Personnel
* Steven Tyler - Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Percusion
* Joe Perry - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
* Tom Hamilton - Bass Guitar
* Brad Whitford - Rhythm Guitar
* Joey Kramer - Drums, Percusion
Additional personnel
* Louis del Gatto - baritone saxophone
* Lou Marini - baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone
* Barry Rogers - trombone, tenor saxophone
* Neil Thompson - electric guitar
* George Young - horn, alto saxophone
* Richie Supa - additional guitars (uncredited) on "Mia"
* Jimmy Crespo - guitar solo on "Three Mile Smile"
Production
* Producers: Aerosmith, Gary Lyons
* Executive producer: David Krebs
* Engineer: Gary Lyons
* Mastering: Vic Anesini, George Marino
* Direction: David Krebs, Steve Leber
* Creative supervision: Keith Garde
* Art supervisor: Joel Zimmerman
* Art direction: Kosh
* Design: Kosh, Lisa Sparagano
* Cover art concept: Styler
By the time Aerosmith's sixth studio release was issued, 1979's Night in the Ruts, guitarist Joe Perry had finally left the band after years of drug-fueled bickering with singer Steven Tyler (forming the Joe Perry Project by year's end). Most of the tracks were completed before Perry's departure, with replacement Jimmy Crespo filling the few empty spaces. And while the band looks back upon this period as hazy and frustrating, Night in the Ruts is a surprisingly coherent and inspired album. Although it's not up to par with such classics as Toys in the Attic or Rocks (although it could have been if the band weren't in such a state of turmoil at the time), it was definitely leaner and more focused than their last studio release, Draw the Line. Highlights include the striking opening rocker, "No Surprize," which recounts the band's early history, as well the driving yet melodic "Chiquita," the jamming "Three Mile Smile," the furious "Bone to Bone," and a pair of covers -- the Yardbirds' "Think About It" and the novelty number "Reefer Head Woman." The only lowlight is a weak cover of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)," which was inexplicably issued as a single and included on 1980's Greatest Hits. While the album performed respectfully on the charts, the ensuing tour did little to boost sales -- it was marred with canceled dates and lackluster performances brought on by Tyler's substance abuse.