My comments here are a little "bitty" as I did them late at night with a glass of red …
It's only in the last few years I have been really getting into Paul Revere and the Raiders. Back in the 80s I got their two greatest hits compilations (yes, two – they had a truck load of hits) after foolishly selling some of their earlier albums off at a record fair. Cest la vie .
What I like most about PRR is the fact that, though they have been influenced and inspired, sometimes clearly and with an eye on sales by other bands, they managed to incorporate other styles and trends into their own sound without affecting that sound greatly. Though not always great, their work sounds individual, and when they get it right they are magnificent.
From allmusic: "One of the most popular and entertaining groups of the 1960s, Paul Revere & the Raiders enjoyed seven years of serious chart action, and during their three biggest years (1966-1969), sold records in numbers second only to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. And their hits "Steppin' Out," "Just Like Me," "Hungry," "Him or Me-What's It Gonna Be," and "Kicks," in particular, are now seen by compilers as bold, unpretentious pieces of '60s rock & roll with a defiant, punk edge. Paul Revere was born on January 7, 1938 in Harvard, NE. He learned to play the piano as a boy, and developed a keen appreciation for the work of Spike Jones & His City Slickers. He joined his first real band while in his teens, and was later joined by 16-year-old Mark Lindsay (b. March 9, 1942), a singer/saxman who ended up replacing the group's vocalist. Called the Downbeats, they were popular at local dances, and cut a demo for Gardena Records in Los Angeles, where the company's owner was interested in issuing a record, but only if they changed their name. Revere's given name was such a natural as a gimmick that they became Paul Revere & the Raiders".
The key to their success was their commitment to upbeat rock 'n' roll whilst acknowledging change, and they weren't precious about it as evidenced by the fact that sometimes they were "influenced" by bands that post dated them. They did, as I have said, keep their original sound, but unlike a slavish imitator or someone just jumping the bandwagon. Also, they did this even through line-up changes though Paul Revere (the keyboardist) and Mark Lindsay (the vocalist) were the nucleus of the group which was lucky as Revere knew where to take the group and Lindsay could sing anything.
This album comes from their big hit making period and is very 1966 – lots of twangy guitars punctuated with a bit of 60s punk, more than a nod or two to the Beatles, and some introspection creeping in. This album is their garage version of "Revolver" though with some thought to future musical innovations. "The Beach Boys" and "The Beatles" may have been the high water mark on innovation but PPR were only just behind and they were more forward thinking than say The Rolling Stones (if not as consistent). Produced by the legendary Terry Melcher (Doris Day's son, band member in the Rip Chords, and friend and /or producer to The Byrds, The Beach Boys etc), who knew (and got) what he wanted – which was rock, hard edged ballads, and frantic garagy punk but with a clean sound. (Melcher also produced a number of other PPR albums).
Tracks (best in italics)
- Good Thing – Lindsay, Melcher 3:03 – This song is a "good thing". Ha ha …yes that's lame, but the song isn't. Very much a typical type of PRR song and what they did best.
- All About Her- Gerhardt, Lindsay, Melcher 3:01 – hmmm
- In My Community – Volk 2:09 – A great track … it reminds me of something I can't put my finger on … maybe a touch of The Beatles "Glass Onion". There is quite a bit of the Beatles in here and it sounds a little like "Glass Onion" (which came out in 1968!)
- Louise – Kincaid- 2:08 – Perfect mid 60s US guitar based rock with poppy overtones – this could have been something coming out of Brisbane in the mid 80s …
- Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard) -Volk 2:57 – Again, a near perfect up-tempo beat ballad
- Oh! To Be a Man – Lindsay, Revere 3:02 – a cynical, questioning ballad not surprising given Revere was a conscientious objector (in 1960), a little obvious but then aren't all protest songs?
- Hungry – Mann, Weil 2:57 – much the same as their earlier hit (and bona fide rock classic) "Kicks" which is not surprising as it was written by the same writers, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
- Undecided Man – Lindsay, Revere 1:48 – "Eleanor Rigby" by another name and another gender.
- Our Candidate – Smith 2:49 – another cynical up-tempo ballad.
- 1001 Arabian Nights – Lindsay, Melcher 4:25 – a good example of early Eastern influences in rock …
- The Great Airplane Strike – Lindsay, Melcher, Revere 3:07 – a nod to the R&B rhythm of The Rolling Stones with the lyrics of Dylan … nice.
And …
This is one of their best albums I have heard thus far and most definitely a keeper.
Sounds
In My Community
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8H80aNxpZ8
Louise
Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard)
attached
Our Candidate
attached
1001 Arabian Nights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43fgQ1U58GE
Bio
Website
(originally posted: 29/11/2009)
