Rating: **
(2 stars)
Title: In
the Beginning
Company: Jerden
Catalog: 7004
Year: 1966
Grade
(cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments:
Available: 1
Price: $35.00
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With the band having hit the big time via their contract with Columbia, Jerden Records didn't hesitate trying to cash in on their success. Released in 1966,
"In the Beginning" pulled together a selection of their earliest work. Consisting largely of popular rock covers (including numerous throwaway instrumentals), there wasn't anything particularly wrong with material such as "Shake Rattle and Roll", "Work with Me Annie" and "Hey Baby". On the other hand, there wasn't much that fell under the "must hear" category. Without much exposure or marketing support, the album failed to chart. (Always loved Peter Whorf's dorky art work.)
"In the Beginning" track listing:
1.) Shake Rattle and Roll (Charles Calhound) - 2:12
2.) Don't Be Cruel (instrumental) (Otis Blackwell - Elvis Presley) - 2:42
3.) Linda Lu (Sharpe) - 2:42
4.) So Fine (Otis) - 2:39
5.) Blues Stay Away (instrumental) (A. Delmore - W. Raney - R. Delmore - H. Glover) - 3:35
6.) Work with Me Annie (Hank Ballard) - 2:16
7.) Mojo Workout (Julian Bright) - 3:45
8.) Rinky Dink (instrumental) (Winley - Clowney) - 2:40
9.) Hey Baby (Cobb - Bruce Channel) - 2:30
10.) Hard Tonk (instrumental) (Glover - Doggett - Butler - Sheppard - Scott) - 3:30
11.) Irritable You (Dixon Kasha) - 2:40
12.) Crisco (Raiders - Smith - Godlsmith - Barnum) - 2:46
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Rating: ****
(4 stars)
Title: Midnight
Rider with Paul Revere & the Raiders
Company: Columbia
Catalog: CS
9308
Year: 1967
Grade
(cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: ring
and corner wear; stereo pressing
Available: 1
Price: $10.00
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Ironically, by the time 1966's "Midnight Ride with Paul Revere & the
Raiders" was released, the group was beginning to grate under the continuing stream of media abuse resulting from their massive exposure and commercial successes. Continuing their partnership with producer Melcher, the collection offered up another effortless mixture of pop ("There She Goes" and "All I Really Need Is You") and more rock oriented material (the
pseudo-psychish "There's Always Tomorrow", "Louie, Go On Home" and a roaring cover of "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" - The Monkees basically appropriated Revere's version for their hit cover). Elsewhere, though it attracted a wave of
criticism from "hip" folks, the band deserved credit for being one of the first to stake out an anti-drug stance. Some four decades later their recording of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil's anti-drug
paean "Kicks" is still one amazing slice of rock. Other will certainly
disagree, but to our ears, this may be their most consistent and enjoyable
effort. Hitting # 9, the collection provided the band with their second gold seller.
Unfortunately, shortly after the album was released Levin quit, reappearing
with The Brotherhood.
"Midnight Ride with Paul Revere & the Raiders" track listing:
1.) Kicks (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) - 2:25
2.) There's Always Tomorrow (Mike Smith - Davey Levin) - 2:40
3.) Little Girl In the 4th Row (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 2:52
4.) Ballad of a Useless Man (Drake Levin) - 2:07
5.) I'm Not Your Stepping Stone (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:28
6.) There She Goes (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 1:40
7.) All I Really Needs Is You (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 1:25
8.) Get It On (Phil Volk - Drake Levin) - 3:08
9.) Louie, Go Home (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 2:38
10.) Take a Look At Yourself (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 1:45
11.) Melody from An Unknown Girl (Mark Lindsay - Paul Revere) - 2:08
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Rating: ***
(3 stars)
Title: Hard
'n' Heavy (with Marshmallow)
Company: Columbia
Catalog: CS
9753
Year: 1968
Grade
(cover/record): G+/VG
Comments: water
damage along bottom
Available: 1
Price: $5.00
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Produced and arranged by Lindsay, "Hard and Heavy (with
Marshmallows)" found the group attempting to navigate between top-40 commercialism and a more contemporary sound. Faced with the impossible task of pleasing both contingents, the band deserved some credit for preserving their professionalism throughout the uneven collection. Surprisingly tight and enjoyable, material such as "Call On Me", "Where You Goin' Girl" and "Money Can't Buy Me" demonstrated the group's longstanding mastery of the top-40 pop genre. Even more impressive, tracks such as "Ride On My Shoulder" and "Without You" displayed the band's credible rock moves (again diluted by nerdish group uniforms, c'mon guys, polyester leisure suits and white shoes ...). In contrast, stabs at psychedelia ("Trishalana"), and country ("Hard and Heavy 5 String Soul Banjo") were less impressive. Released as singles "Cinderella Sunshine" b/w "Theme from "It's Happening"" (Columbia catalog number 4-44655) and "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" b/w "Without You" (Columbia catalog number 4-44744) provided the band with a pair of minor hits. Between songs individual band members appeared in short narrative cameos. Neither their best nor their worst, the album proved a modest success, peaking at #51. (Originally released with a black and white jacket, Columbia reissued the set with a color sleeve.) Shortly after the set's release Lindsay announced he was leaving in pursuit of a solo career (see separate entry).
"Hard and Heavy (with Marshmallows)" track listing:
1.) Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon (Mark Lindsay)- 2:46
2.) Money Can't Buy Love (Mark Lindsay) - 3:36
3.) Time After Time (Keith Allison - Mark Lindsay) - 4:17
4.) Ride On My Shoulder (Mark Lindsay) - 2:00
5.) Without You (Keith Allison - Mark Lindsay) - 4:49
6.) Trishalana (Mark Lindsay) - 2:46
7.) Out On the Road (Keith Allison - Mark Lindsay) - 3:39
8.) Hard and Heavy 5 String Soul Banjo (Freddy Weller) - 3:17
9.) Where Are You Going Girl (Freddy Weller) - 2:49
10.) Cinderella Sunshine (Mark Lindsay) - 4:18
11.) Call On Me (Joe Correro Jr. - Mark Lindsay) - 3:10
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Rating:
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Year: 19
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