| Paul Revere & the Raiders |
Paul Revere in Branson, Missouri (2007)
|
| Background information |
| Also known as |
The Downbeats |
| Origin |
Boise, Idaho, United States |
| Genres |
Rock & roll, garage rock, protopunk |
| Years active |
Since 1958 |
| Website |
http://www.paulrevereraiders.com |
| Former members |
Red Hughes (vocals) 1958
Mark Lindsay (vocals/saxophone/songwriter/producer) 1958-1975
Dick McGarvin (drums) 1958
David Bell (drums) 1958-1959
Jerry Labrum (drums) 1959-1961
Robert White (guitar) 1958-1961
Richard White (guitar) 1958-1961
William Hibbard (bass guitar) 1958-1961
Andrea Loper (vocals) 1960
Mike "Smitty" Smith (drums) 1962-1967; 1970-1972
Ross Allemang (bass guitar) 1962-1963
Steve West (lead guitar) 1962
Dick Walker (lead guitar) 1962-1963
Drake "Kid" Levin (lead guitar) 1963-1966; 1967
Jim "Harpo" Valley (lead guitar) 1966-1967
Phil "Fang" Volk (bass guitar) 1965-1967
Mike "Doc" Holliday (bass guitar) 1963-1965
Charlie Coe (lead guitar) 1963; (bass guitar) 1967-1968
Joe Correro, Jr. (drums) 1967-1970
Keith Allison (bass guitar/songwriter) 1968-1975
Freddy Weller (lead guitar) 1967-1973
Omar Martinez (drums/vocals) 1971-2007
Robert Wooley (keyboards) 1971-1978
Blair Hill (vocals) 1978-1980
Michael Bradley (vocals) late 1970s-1983
Carlo Driggs (vocals) 1983-2006
Jamie Revere (guitars) 1980s-mid 1990s
|
Paul Revere and the Raiders is an American rock band that saw enormous U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s, best-known for U.S. hits like "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" (1971), "Steppin' Out" and "Just Like Me" (1965), "Kicks" (ranked number 400 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time) and "Hungry" (1966). and "Let Me" (1969).
History
Early years
Initially located in Boise, Idaho, the Raiders started as an instrumental rock outfit led by organist Paul Revere (born Paul Revere Dick on January 7, 1938).[1] In his early twenties, Revere owned several restaurants in Caldwell, Idaho.[2] and first met singer Mark Lindsay (born March 9, 1942, Eugene, Oregon)[3] while picking up hamburger buns from the bakery where Lindsay worked [2] (this circumstance was later referred to in the tongue-in-cheek song "Legend of Paul Revere"). Lindsay joined Revere's band in 1958. Originally called The Downbeats, they changed their name to Paul Revere & The Raiders in 1960 on the eve of their first record release for Gardena Records. The band scored their first Pacific Northwest hit in 1961, with "Like, Long Hair." The song had enough national appeal that it peaked at #38 in the Billboard charts on April 17, 1961.[4][5] When Revere was drafted for military service, he became a conscientious objector[2] and worked at a mental institution for a year-and-a-half of deferred service as a cook, while Mark Lindsay pumped gas in Wilsonville, Oregon.[2] Lindsay, on the strength of their Top 40 hit, toured the U.S. in the Summer of 1961 with a band that featured Leon Russell filling in for Revere on piano.[2]
By the summer of 1962, Revere and Lindsay were working together again in Oregon with a version of the Raiders that featured drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith, who would spend two long periods with the band.[2] Around this time, KISN DJ, Roger Hart, who was producing teen dances, was looking for a band to hire. Hart had a casual conversation with a bank teller who told him about a band called "Paul Revere-something." Hart obtained Revere's phone number and they met for lunch. Hart hired the band for one of his teen dances. Soon afterwards, Hart became the group's personal manager. It was Hart who suggested they record "Louie Louie", for which Hart paid them about $50, producing it and placing it on his SANDE label. This attracted the attention of Columbia Records.[6] According to Mark Lindsay, the Northwest Raiders were a "bunch of white-bread kids doing their best to sound black. We got signed to Columbia (Records) on the strength of sounding like this."[6] Whether the Raiders or The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" first is a matter of some controversy; however, both groups recorded it in the same studio in Portland, Oregon. By then, Paul Revere and the Raiders included Revere, Lindsay, Smith, guitarist Drake Levin and bassist Mike "Doc" Holliday, who was replaced in early 1965 by Phil Volk.[7]
Hit Making Period / The "Action" Era
1965 marked the beginning of a string of garage rock classics. The Raiders, under the guidance of producer Terry Melcher, increasingly emulated the sounds of British Invasion bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five, and The Animals, albeit with an American, R&B feel. Their second major national hit, "Just Like Me" (1965 - #11) was one of the first rock records to feature a distinctive, double-tracked guitar solo (by guitarist Drake Levin).[2]
The band appeared regularly on national television, most notably on Dick Clark's Where the Action Is, Happening '68, and It's Happening, the latter two of which were co-hosted by Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay. Here they were presented as the American response to the British Invasion. Playing on Paul Revere's name, the group wore American Revolutionary War soldier uniforms and performed slapstick comedy and synchronized dance steps while the ponytailed Lindsay lip synched to their music. This farcical, cartoonish image obscured the proto-hard rock sound that their music often took. The Raiders were endorsed by the Vox Amplifier company (Revere used their Vox Continental combo organ, bassist Phil Volk was seen on television playing their Phantom IV bass (nicknamed "the coffin bass" due to the shape of its body) —with "FANG" in masking tape letters on the backside—and everyone played through Vox Super Beatle amplifiers). Levin left the group in 1966 to join the National Guard, and was replaced by Jim Valley, another Northwest musician the Raiders had met and come to admire during their days playing the Portland and Seattle circuit. Valley was dubbed "Harpo" by the other Raiders due to a vague resemblance to the famous Marx brother[7] (his trademark shtick on Where The Action Is was his horn which would either bring good luck or bad luck). Their hits from the mid-60s included "Kicks" (Billboard Pop Chart #4), "Hungry" (#6), "The Great Airplane Strike (#20), "Good Thing" (#20), and "Him or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" (#5). Of these, "Kicks" became their best-known song, an anti-drug message written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil that was originally earmarked for The Animals. (Mann later revealed in interviews that the song was written about their friend, fellow 1960s songwriter Gerry Goffin, whose ongoing drug problems were interfering with his career with then-wife Carole King.)[8]
In mid-1967, with three gold albums to their credit, the Raiders were Columbia Records' top-selling rock group; their Greatest Hits album was one of two releases selected by Clive Davis to test a higher list price for albums expected to be particularly popular, along with Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits.[9]
Major Lineup Change
At the height of their popularity, the Raiders power trio of Jim Valley, Phil Volk and Mike Smith left the group as they became disenchanted that the band was prevented from evolving into a more egalitarian creative team, miffed at being replaced by studio musicians in the studio, and unhappy with the band's continued teen-oriented direction while a more serious rock and roll style was emerging. The first to leave was Valley, who embarked on a solo career.[7] Drake Levin rejoined the band on guitar to finish the spring 1967 tour. The original power trio of Levin, Volk, and Smith flew to New York together and the Raiders were set to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, Revere was upset about the power trio leaving the group and blamed Levin for influencing Volk and Smith's pending departure. Levin showed up at the Ed Sullivan Theatre to perform with Volk and Smitty for the very last time, but Revere refused to allow Levin to play.[10] Unbeknownst to the group, Revere had hired a new guitar player, Freddy Weller, to perform that night. Drake Levin, being good hearted, graciously stepped aside and even showed Freddy the chords to the songs. Levin was forced to watch the performance from the theatre wings as the Raiders made their one and only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on April 30, 1967. It was the only time that Weller, Volk, Smith, Lindsay, and Revere were to perform together. The following month, Volk and Smith left the group; they subsequently rejoined former Raiders guitarist Drake Levin to form a band called Brotherhood. Charlie Coe, who had played guitar for the Raiders in 1963, rejoined the group on bass and Joe Correro, Jr. became the new drummer.
The "Happening" Era
Changing tastes in the late 1960s rendered the group unfashionable, but they still continued to have hits through the rest of the decade, such as "I Had A Dream" (1967 - #20), "Too Much Talk" (1968 - #18, #11 in Cashbox), "Don't Take it So Hard" (1968 - #27), "Cinderella Sunshine", and "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" (1968 - #18). On January 6, 1968, just four months after the cancellation of Where The Action Is, Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay returned to the airwaves as hosts of a new Dick Clark-produced show in which the Raiders made several appearances, Happening '68 (later shortened to Happening). This weekly series was joined from July to September that year by a daily (and another Clark-produced) series It's Happening, also hosted by Revere and Lindsay. In August 1968, bassist Coe left the group again and was replaced by former Action heartthrob Keith Allison. According to author Derek Taylor, the Raiders were seen as "irrelevances. . . . Nervous citizens felt reassured that some good safe things never changed."[11]
Mark Lindsay took more control of the band during this time. He produced all the records beginning with Too Much Talk in 1968, and the psychedelic album Something Happening. Lindsay's vision for the Raiders was represented on songs such as "Let Me" (1969 - #20 - Gold Single), and albums Hard 'N' Heavy (with marshmallow) and Alias Pink Puzz. The success of "Let Me" allowed Paul Revere and the Raiders to tour Europe with the Beach Boys in the spring of 1969 (they also recorded two songs for the long running German music program Beat-Club at this time).[12] Later that autumn, Happening ended its run on TV.
The "Raiders" '70s Era
In an effort to change the bands' sound and image, the name was officially shortened to The Raiders. Collage was an attempt to move the Raiders into another direction. Despite a glowing review in Rolling Stone magazine (critic Lenny Kaye praised the album's production and remarked, "Mark Lindsay never fails to give the impression that he knows what he's doing. Almost single-handedly, he's brought the Raiders to a stronger position than they've occupied in years.".[2][13] Unfortunately, Collage, and its single "Just Seventeen" (1970 - #70), was a dismal commercial failure, and Lindsay began to turn toward solo projects. Joe Correro departed after their spring tour ended, to be replaced by his predecessor Mike "Smitty" Smith.[2]
"Freeborn Man", a song written by Lindsay and bassist Keith Allison, has since gone on to be a country rock standard, covered by Outlaws, Junior Brown, and Glen Campbell among many others.
Ironically, The Raiders biggest hit, "Indian Reservation" (1971 - #1 - Gold single), was recorded as a Mark Lindsay solo session[citation needed]. Some sources erroneously credit the lead vocals to Freddy Weller, who had recorded a cover version of The Cowsills' hit "Indian Lake" around that same time, hence the confusion. For promotion, Revere took the unusual step of riding cross-country a total of four times, plugging the song at every market available. Revere's efforts paid off, and "Indian Reservation" peaked at #1 for one week in July.[14] Paul Revere: "I called the head of Columbia's promotion and told him I was going on a record promotion trip, which was something artists didn't do anymore."[2] "Indian Reservation" was Columbia Records biggest selling single for almost a decade, clearing over 6 million units. They followed this success with a top 20 album (Indian Reservation) and the #24 hit "Birds of a Feather." The Raiders expanded to include drummer Omar Martinez and keyboardist Bob Wooley.
In 1972, The Raiders made one last attempt at a pop album, with Country Wine, but Columbia was sinking money into other acts, such as Blue Öyster Cult and Aerosmith, and Country Wine sank in the resulting quagmire. They did continue to release singles for Columbia until their contract expired in 1975. Their last hits were "Country Wine" (1972 - #52), "Powder Blue Mercedes Queen" (1972 - #54), "Song Seller" (1972 - #96), "Love Music" (1973 - #97) and "All Over You" (1974 - did not chart).[2] Freddy Weller and Mike Smith departed on New Year's Eve 1972. Weller was replaced by guitarist Doug Heath. As their chart career faded, The Raiders' concert fortunes dwindled, and they found themselves playing smaller venues, lounges and state fairs as an "oldies" act, a situation Revere found pleasing, but not so Mark Lindsay. Referring to a 1973 show at Knotts Berry Farm, Lindsay stated "that (show featured) one of our bad sets. They only let us do thirty minutes and it's hard to construct a good show. (For this set) we didn't do any of the old (songs)."[7]
After Mark Lindsay
Lineup changes ensued in 1975, with Mark Lindsay departing the band after a gig at Knott's Berry Farm. Lindsay continued his solo career, having previously landed a hit single in late 1969 with Kenny Young's "Arizona". After two final singles for Warner Bros. records in 1977, Mark turned his attentions to film scoring and commercials. He was also head of A&R (artists & repertoire) for United Artists Records in the 70s. Keith Allison departed in April 1975, to be replaced by current Raider bassist Ron Foos."[2]
Country music was the choice of former guitarist Freddy Weller, who had much success on the country charts before, starting with his country version of Joe South's "Games People Play" in 1969 reaching #2 on the country charts as well as recording albums, (his first two solo albums were produced by Mark Lindsay), and Top 10 singles on the country singles charts such as his covers of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land", The Cowsills' "Indian Lake", as well as "These Are Not My People" and "Another Night of Love" for Columbia during this time while with the Raiders, as well as after leaving the Raiders (Freddy's stint was 1967-1973). In a memorable event, Revere married for the second time on the 4th of July, Bicentennial Year 1976 on stage at a Raiders show ."[15] Revere announced his retirement from the music business at the end of 1976, but was back on the road by 1978 with a new cast of Raiders. Along with guitarist Doug Heath, Revere linked in this period with a group called "Louie Fontaine & The Rockets", and went on the road with them as "Paul Revere & The Raiders", featuring Blair Hill ("Louie Fontaine") as lead vocalist. This configuration even appeared as "Paul Revere's Raiders" without Paul, for awhile in 1978.[16]
The quintet of Paul Revere, Mark Lindsay, Drake Levin, Phil Volk and Mike Smith reunited for Dick Clark on national television in 1979 and performed a medley of their biggest hits. The same year "Indian Reservation" was covered by the German group Orlando Riva Sound.
The punk rock and New Wave eras would see a wave of interest in the Raiders' music; "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" was covered by The Sex Pistols, Minor Threat, and Liverpool band The Farm (although The Monkees' cover version was better known than the Raiders' original), and later "Just Like Me" would be covered by The Circle Jerks, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar). David Bowie covered "Louie, Go Home" and The Who took that song and changed the title and lyrics to "Lubie, Go Home". "Hungry" was also covered by Sammy Hagar and the new waver David Edwards did a cover of "Kicks." The Flamin' Groovies tackled two Raiders songs ("Him or Me, What's it Gonna Be?" and "Ups and Downs") and The Morrells did a country-tinged arrangement of "Ups and Downs" as well. The Paisley Underground, garage rock revival, and grunge movements would all acknowledge the Raiders' influence. "Kicks" was also covered by Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork of the Monkees as one of three new recordings included on their 1986 compilation Then & Now... The Best of The Monkees.
Revere continued with a relatively stable lineup through the 80's and 90's, featuring longtime members Omar Martinez (drums and vocals since 1972), Doug Heath (guitarist for the Raiders since 1973), and Ron Foos (Allison's replacement in 1975). Occasional new record releases included the self-produced "Special Edition" in 1983, with Michael Bradley on vocals, and "Paul Revere Rides Again", released in 1983 through Radio Shack stores. They even recorded a home video for MCA Universal in 1996 titled "The Last Madman of Rock 'N' Roll". Revere's son Jamie joined the band on guitar for several years in the 90's (featured on "Generic Rock & Roll" (1992) and "Generic Rock 2" (1996). In 2001, the Raiders released "Ride to the Wall", featuring several new songs, along with their versions of 60's hits, with proceeds going to help veterans of the Vietnam War. They performed at Rolling Thunder's Memorial Day event in Washington D.C. in 2001 for POW-MIA's of the Vietnam era. A steady touring schedule kept Paul and his "new Raiders" in the public eye. [2] Keith Allison, who played in the Raiders from 1968 to 1975, has since gone into acting, and appeared in the film Gods and Generals.[3]
In 1997, the group's classic 1966 Midnight Ride lineup (singer Mark Lindsay, guitarist Drake Levin, bassist Phil "Fang" Volk and drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith) reunited in full costume (though without Revere himself) for a 30th anniversary performance in Portland. Smith died four years later, in 2001, at the age of 59.[17]
in 2000 Sundazed Records released a two CD package entitled Mojo Workout that focused on the R&B and soul sounds from early in the Raiders' Columbia career.
Original bassist Phil "Fang" Volk currently tours with his own band, "Fang and the Gang." Guitarist Drake Levin also performed on occasion in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After leaving the Raiders in 1967, Jim Valley continued to perform and hone his songwriting skills in a variety of acts. In the early 1980s he was encouraged by educational professionals to use his musical talent to help inspire school kids. He is now an acclaimed and award-winning children's music artist and educator, traveling the world as an emissary of the "Rainbow Planet". Now living back in his native Pacific Northwest, Valley also continues to write and record his own albums.
Joe Correro Jr., the Raiders' drummer from 1967-1971, currently performs as part of the Los Angeles-based Richard Sherman Trio jazz combo. Two other former Raiders, bassist Mike "Doc" Holiday and guitarist/bassist Charlie Coe made a special guest appearance with Mark Lindsay at a show in Boise, Idaho in 1996. They both still reside in Idaho.
On October 13, 2007 Paul Revere & the Raiders were officially inducted, along with their Manager Roger Hart, into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. In attendance were Mark Lindsay, Phil "Fang" Volk, and Roger Hart to accept their awards.
Righteous Brothers Bill Medley's son, Darrin Medley, also sings, and has been performing with Paul Revere & the Raiders.
Paul Revere & the Raiders are currently performing at Andy Williams "Moon River Theater" in Branson, Missouri.
On July 4, 2009, original member and lead guitarist Drake Levin (1946-2009) died at his home in San Francisco after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.[18]
Discography
- 1961: Like, Long Hair
- 1963: Paul Revere & the Raiders
- 1965: Here They Come!
- 1966: Just Like Us!
- 1966: Midnight Ride
- 1966: The Spirit of '67
- 1967: Revolution!
- 1968: Goin' to Memphis
- 1968: Something Happening
- 1969: Hard 'N' Heavy (with Marshmallow)
- 1969: Alias Pink Puzz
- 1970: Collage
- 1971: Indian Reservation
- 1972: Country Wine
See also
References
- ^ Paul Revere & The Raiders Lyrics and Biography on musicianguide.com (retrieved 30 March 2008)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rhulmann, William (April 20, 1990). Paul Revere's 30 Year Ride. Goldmine/Krause.
- ^ Bartels, Eric (2007-03-20). "A Raider rides again". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=117416882904275300. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books.
- ^ Otfinoksi, Steve (1997). The Golden Age of Rock Instrumentals. Billboard Books.
- ^ a b Fricke, David (2001). Mojo Workout.
- ^ a b c d Barnes, Ken (March 1973). Paul Revere and the Raiders. Phonograph Review.
- ^ Weller, Sheila (2008). Girls Like Us. Atria Books.
- ^ Willwerth, James (1973). Clive: Inside the Record Business. Ballantine.
- ^ Phil Volk Interview Oct 19, 2009 - Greg Martin Radio Show
- ^ Taylor, Derek (1987). It was Twenty Years Ago Today. Fireside.
- ^ Raiders Plan to Conquer Britain!. Disc and Music Echo. June 21, 1969.
- ^ Kaye, Lenny (June 11, 1970). Raiders Collage. Rolling Stone.
- ^ Bronson, Fred, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1985. ISBN 0-8230-7522-2
- ^ Woodward, Tim (February 27, 1978). Sequel. People/Time Inc..
- ^ [1]
- ^ See tribute to Mike Smith by Paul Revere here
- ^ RIP: Drake Levin, guitarist with Paul Revere & Raiders The Louie Report. Retrieved on July 5, 2009.
External links
