"This album touches on how I think a lot of us feel about finding our place in a more complicated world – from how we appreciate things as simple and pure as love, to navigating through the corruption and violence that permeates the news.

[21] The official announcement of the album was preceded by the release of the lead single "Detroit Made" to radio stations on August 14, 2014.

On August 28, 2014, a photograph "showing a hand-written list of 13 truncated song titles on top of a studio mixing board"[23] was posted on Seger's official Facebook page.

Unlike Seger's past few albums since 1994's Greatest Hits, Ride Out is also available on vinyl in a 180-gram pressing aimed at audiophiles.

On Ride Out, Seger chose to include a total of four cover songs by well-known singer-songwriters of the country and Americana genres.

For Ride Out, Seger recreated Jennings' country take on the song that he first heard decades ago in the soundtrack of the 1988 motion picture Betrayed.

The same year, he also recorded Seger's "Against the Wind" together with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson as The Highwaymen for their debut album.

In late November 2010, it was reported that Seger had agreed to participate in an upcoming tribute album to Jennings, who died in 2002.

[30] The album materialized in February 2012 in the form of The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume 1.

[29] Seger stated that his intention for his take on "The Devil's Right Hand" for Ride Out was to stay very true to Jennings' version of the song.

The song was first released by Wilco and English folk singer–songwriter Billy Bragg on their 1998 collaboration album Mermaid Avenue.

Seger wrote the Texas swing-styled song in homage to the late blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.

A music video for the song showing classic cars owned by Michigan natives driving through the streets of Detroit was largely shot at this event.

It was also made available for purchase as a digital download on Amazon and iTunes on September 9, 2014, coinciding with the beginning of the pre-order period for the album.

Seger and his Silver Bullet Band premiered three of the songs off Ride Out—namely "Detroit Made," "California Stars" and "All of the Roads"—on their 2013 Rock and Roll Never Forgets Tour of North America,[37] which started on February 27, 2013 in Toledo, Ohio[38] and concluded on May 11, 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta.

"[40] Bob Seger performed the song for the first time at the opening concert of his 2013 tour, which was held in Toledo on February 27, 2013.

[33] In late August 2014, it was suggested that Seger and band would tour again in the fall of 2014 in support of Ride Out,[23] but dates were not announced.

It was reported in early September 2014 that Seger and his Silver Bullet Band had been holding rehearsals in suburban Detroit.

[43] The first leg of the tour started in Saginaw, Michigan on November 19, 2014 and wrapped at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 19, 2014.

Among other things, he talked about a "father-daughter" song called "Hannah" that was said to feature guest appearances by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.

[53] He also dallied with the idea of including live versions of Little Feat's "Fat Man in the Bathtub,"[53] Tom Waits' "Blind Love"[56] and his own "Sometimes.

The previously mentioned tracks "I'll Remember You" and "The Sea Inside" later appeared on Seger's 2017 follow-up album I Knew You When.

[25] Also present is Seger's usual group of backing vocalists including Laura Creamer, Shaun Murphy and Barb Payton,[25] and The Motor City Horns.