Why didn’t Mighty High get more play?! This is such a great song. It’s got everything you need: A catchy melody, a chorus ripe for sing-along, a bouncy, danceable beat, and a breakdown that everyone can simultaneously wail along to and boogie down with. It’s got a classic R&B/soul vibe to it with an injection of rock and roll.
Even so there are two versions available for through official release. This version, which is a bonus track or filler, however you want to describe it, track on the Don’t Let Go album. And another which is a studio extra on the expanded Cats Under The Stars album.
Both versions are enjoyable, but I opted for the live one because, well, live stuff is cool. Plus stuff from 1976 and Jerry’s Travis Bean guitar are always a nice piece of ear candy.
This starts off with a run through the chorus that features a duet between Jerry and Donna. They blend well and are in sync. Jerry handles the verses by himself. John Kahn really pushes this song forward, especially with the little runs after the “Ride mighty high!” part. Jerry strings together a slightly greasy solo that subtly gives ways to straight chords and then a bit of chord based soloing before moving back to a straight solo again. The Big Man shows quite a bit a versatility in the a few short measures there. Of course Keith and John are right there in lock step with him the whole time. The intro figure contrasts quite interestingly in relation to the rest of the song, and it’s use as a transition between sections creates some tension and release. Everyone joins in for one last energetic surge during the ending “Ride mighty high”s, and with one last expedient descending run down the fretboard the song comes to a close.
