Gertrude "Ma" Rainey - C.C. Rider

First performance: 10/07/1971


Coverinfo

Although first recorded by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, the inspiration for covering the song came by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band long had "C.C. Rider" as part of their "Detroit Medley" encore, which achieved significant publicity on the 1980 live album No Nukes. Two live versions are released on the No Nukes compilation and on Hammersmith Odeon London '75.
 
Bruce performed the song live 7 times as a stand-alone song and 416 times as part of the "Detroit Medley":
 
Full performances :  
 
 
 

1991-02-16 McEnroe Residence, Malibu, CA
1990-01-17 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City
1989-03-10 Rubber Club, Los Angeles, CA
1971-07-29 D'Scene, South Amboy, NJ (Early)
1971-07-23 Guggenheim Bandshell, New York City
1971-07-10 Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
 
  •  Snippets
during LIGHT OF DAY
2000-06-29 Madison Square Garden, New York City
2000-06-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City
2000-06-26 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1999-09-09 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI 
 
during DETROIT MEDLEY
 
2023-05-25 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2023-02-10 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
2019-11-16 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
2016-06-14 Malieveld, The Hague, The Netherlands
2016-02-25 First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY
2016-02-08 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
2014-02-11 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
2013-03-20 Allphones Arena, Sydney, Australia
2012-10-31 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
2012-09-14 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
2012-07-31 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2011-01-29 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2010-09-11 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2010-01-23 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2009-11-13 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
2009-10-25 Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO
2009-10-17 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2009-10-14 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
2009-10-03 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2009-09-16 BI-LO Center, Greenville, SC
2009-08-22 Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
2009-07-02 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
2009-06-05 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
2009-05-08 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
2009-05-05 John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
2009-04-26 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2008-08-23 Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO
2008-07-28 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2008-07-20 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
2008-06-25 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2008-05-13 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2008-04-05 HP Pavilion At San Jose, San Jose, CA
2008-03-14 Qwest Center, Omaha, NE
2008-03-07 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
2006-09-17 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2006-05-02 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2003-06-22 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2003-05-27 National Sports Stadium, London, England
2003-05-22 Arena Aufschalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
2003-05-17 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
2003-05-15 Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijón, Spain
2003-05-12 Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium
2003-05-08 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003-05-06 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003-04-19 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
2003-04-18 Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON
2003-04-14 Skyreach Centre, Edmonton, AB
2002-12-17 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
2002-12-09 Carolina Center, Columbia, SC
2002-11-21 TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL
2002-04-14 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
2002-04-13 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
1988-04-22 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1988-04-20 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1988-04-17 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
1988-04-15 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
1988-04-13 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1988-04-12 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1988-04-05 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1988-04-04 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1988-04-02 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1988-04-01 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1988-03-29 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1988-03-28 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1988-03-26 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
1988-03-23 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1988-03-22 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1988-03-20 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
1988-03-17 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1988-03-16 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1988-03-14 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1988-03-13 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1988-03-09 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1988-03-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1988-03-04 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
1988-03-03 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
1988-02-29 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1988-02-28 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1988-02-25 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1985-09-04 Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI
1985-04-22 Osaka-jo Horu, Osaka, Japan
1985-03-28 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
1985-03-27 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
1985-03-21 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
1985-01-23 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI
1985-01-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
1985-01-18 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
1985-01-16 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
1985-01-15 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
1985-01-13 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC
1985-01-10 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY
1985-01-08 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1985-01-07 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1985-01-05 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1985-01-04 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1984-12-17 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1984-12-16 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1984-12-14 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN
1984-12-13 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN
1984-12-11 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
1984-12-09 Murphy Center, Murfreesboro, TN
1984-12-07 Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, FL
1984-12-06 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena, Birmingham, AL
1984-12-02 LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA
1984-11-30 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1984-11-29 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1984-11-26 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
1984-11-25 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
1984-11-23 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
1984-11-19 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
1984-11-18 Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE
1984-11-16 Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA
1984-11-15 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
1984-11-12 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1984-11-11 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1984-11-08 ASU Activity Center, Tempe, AZ
1984-11-04 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-31 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-29 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-26 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-25 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-22 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA
1984-10-21 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA
1984-10-19 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
1984-10-17 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
1984-10-15 Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC
1984-09-25 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
1984-09-24 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
1984-09-22 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
1984-09-21 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
1984-09-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-17 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-14 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-12 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-11 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1984-09-08 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
1984-09-07 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
1984-09-05 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1984-09-04 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1984-08-29 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1984-08-28 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1984-08-26 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1984-08-20 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-19 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-17 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-16 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-12 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-11 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-07-31 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1984-07-30 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1984-07-27 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
1984-07-26 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON
1984-07-24 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON
1984-07-23 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON
1984-07-21 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC
1984-07-15 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1984-07-12 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
1984-07-08 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1984-07-06 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
1984-07-05 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
1984-07-01 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN
1984-06-29 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN
1984-06-28 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN
1982-08-15 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
1981-09-14 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
1981-09-13 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
1981-09-11 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-10 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-08 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-02 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA
1981-08-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-24 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-21 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-20 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1981-08-17 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-16 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-12 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1981-08-11 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
1981-08-07 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1981-08-05 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1981-08-04 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1981-07-30 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1981-07-29 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1981-07-19 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1981-07-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1981-07-16 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1981-07-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1981-07-13 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1981-07-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-08 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-03 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-02 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-06-08 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-07 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-05 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-04 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-02 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-01 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-30 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-29 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-27 Brighton Centre (The), Brighton, England
1981-05-26 Brighton Centre (The), Brighton, England
1981-05-20 Bingley Hall, Stafford, England
1981-05-17 Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
1981-05-16 Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
1981-05-14 Apollo Theatre, Manchester, England
1981-05-13 Apollo Theatre, Manchester, England
1981-05-11 City Hall, Newcastle, England
1981-05-08 Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1981-05-07 Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1981-05-05 Drammenshallen, Drammen, Norway
1981-05-03 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
1981-05-02 Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
1981-04-29 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1981-04-28 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1981-04-26 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
1981-04-24 Palais Des Sports De Gerland, Lyon, France
1981-04-21 Palau Municipal D'Esports, Barcelona, Spain
1981-04-19 Palais Des Sports De Saint-Ouen, Paris, France
1981-04-18 Palais Des Sports De Saint-Ouen, Paris, France
1981-04-16 Olympiahalle, Munich, West Germany
1981-04-14 Festhalle, Frankfurt, West Germany
1981-04-11 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
1981-04-09 ICC Berlin, West Berlin, West Germany
1981-04-07 Congress Centrum Hamburg, Hamburg, West Germany
1981-03-05 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1981-03-02 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1981-02-28 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
1981-02-26 Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN
1981-02-25 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN
1981-02-23 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1981-02-22 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC
1981-02-20 Hollywood Sportatorium (The), Pembroke Pines, FL
1981-02-18 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL
1981-02-16 Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, FL
1981-02-15 Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, FL
1981-02-13 Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, MS
1981-02-12 Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, AL
  

Songinfo

"See See Rider", also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues" or "Easy Rider", is a popular American 12-bar blues song, originally recorded by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey in 1924. The song uses mostly traditional blues lyrics to tell the story of an unfaithful lover, commonly called an easy rider: "See see rider, see what you have done," making a play on the word see and the sound of easy. Ma Rainey's recording, "See See Rider Blues", was a popular song in 1925. Numerous musicians later recorded their own versions.
 
 
 
 
 
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels had a top 10 hit in the 60s with a single that combined the traditional blues song 'CC Rider' 'Jenny, Jenny' (aka 'Jenny Take a Ride'). Wanting to repeat the formula, Ryder & the Detroit Wheels paired 'Devil With The Blue Dress' — a hit for Shorty Long on Motown’s Soul label — with 'Good Golly Miss Molly', another Little Richard classic. They reached no. 4 in 1966, creating a sonic boom forever associated with Detroit. Bruce Springsteen most of the time uses all four songs for the 'Detroit Medley.'
 
The medley Bruce brings is based on the  Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels' medley, but the core songs are originally from other artists :
 
  • Devil with a Blue Dress On (also known as "Devil with the Blue Dress On") is a song written by Shorty Long and William "Mickey" Stevenson, first performed by Long and released as a single in 1964. A later version recorded by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels in 1966 peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
  • Good Golly, Miss Molly" is a hit rock 'n' roll song first recorded in 1956 by the American musician Little Richard and released in January 1958 
  • See See Rider", also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues" or "Easy Rider", is a popular American 12-bar blues song, originally recorded by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey in 1924.

    Bruce on the artist

    Lyrics

    Well now see, C.C. Rider
    well now see, see what you have done
    Well now see, C.C. Rider
    well now see, see what you have done
    Well you made me love you woman
    Now your man has come

    So I'm goin' away now baby
    And I won't be back till fall
    I'm goin' away now baby
    And I won't be back till fall
    Just might find me a good girl
    Might not be comin' back at all

    Well now see, C.C. Rider
    See now the moon is shining bright
    Well now see, C.C. Rider
    See now the moon is shining bright
    Just might find me that good girl
    And everything would be alright