Paul Revere and the Raiders

Synopsis of Pop Music

Many people think ‘punk rock’ was a British phenomenon. The truth is that it began in America in the mid-60’s with musicians who were inspired by the first wave of rough-and-ready rock music in the fifties. Paul Revere and the Raiders were one of the best bands in this category and also one of the most successful. In the mid-to-late 60’s, they crafted an impressive body of work that spawned several hits and influenced several future rockers in the process.

The Raiders were formed by keyboardist Paul Revere (yes, it’s his real name) and vocalist Mark Lindsay in Idaho during the late 50’s. Their live show was a dynamic affair that mixed acrobatics, clowning around and stomping r&b flavored rock in equal measure. They landed a record contract with Columbia Records in 1963 and got crucial national exposure in 1965 as the house band on the TV show Where The Action Is. Wearing Revolutionary-War-styled outfits, they won a new group of fans as they took their on-stage clowning to the airwaves.

Paul Revere and the Raiders went from concert attraction to hitmaking unit in 1965 with the release of “Just Like Me.” Taking a cue from British Invasion units like the Who and the Kinks, this tune featured a snarling, attitude-heavy vocal from Lindsay over a pumping wall of sound that matched the sneer in Lindsay’s voice. They did even better with the #4 follow-up, an anti-drug song called “Kicks.” They closed out the year with two more hits, “Hungry” and “The Great Airplane Strike,” along with an appearance on the TV show Batman.

The hits continued for the Raiders in 1967 with songs like “Good Thing,” “Him Or Me- What’s It Gonna Be?” and the psychedelic “I Had A Dream.” The band got their own Saturday morning television show, Happening ‘68, in 1968 and racked up another hit with “Too Much Talk.” They also produced a surprisingly soulful album in Goin’ To Memphis. It was produced by Chips Moman, who also produced Elvis Presley’s late 60’s hits.

Lindsay began pursuing a solo career in 1970 and had a hit with the Glen Campbell-ish adult pop of “Arizona.” Around this time, the Raiders dropped the “Paul Revere” part of their name and began pursuing a heavier sound in their music. The result was #1 hit with the pounding, drum-heavy rock of “Indian Reservation.” Paul Revere and the Raiders continued to tour and perform throughout the 70’s, eventually returning to their original outfits-and-acrobatics style.

Paul Revere and the Raiders continue to play a minimum of 200 dates a year, bringing their influential, in-your-face style of music to adoring crowds everywhere. Their classic songs continue to be popular with fans of classic rock and have also been covered by artists as diverse as the Flamin’ Groovies and Pat Benatar. It's likely that the Raiders’ sense of punk-ish cool and their onstage energy will provide an example to straight-ahead rock groups for years to come.

Artist Release History

1961 - Like Long Hair
1963 - Paul Revere & the Raiders
1965 - Here They Come!
1966 - Just Like Us!
1966 - The Spirit of '67
1966 - Midnight Ride
1966 - In the Begining
1967 - A Christmas Present...And Past
1967 - Revolution!
1968 - Goin' to Memphis
1968 - Something Happening
1969 - Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow)
1969 - Two All-Time Great Selling LP's
1969 - Spirit of 69
1969 - Alias Pink Puzz
1969 - Good Thing
1970 - Collage (Raiders)
1970 - Paul Revere & the Raiders
1971 - Indian Reservation
1972 - Movin' On
1972 - Country Wine
1976 - The British Are Coming
1982 - Special Edition Featuring Michael Bradley
1983 - Kicks
1983 - Paul Revere Rides Again
1983 - Great Raider Reunion
1984 - Still Live
1984 - Generic Rock Album
1995 - The Essential Ride '63-'67
1998 - Just Like Us!
2000 - Greatest Hits

Pop Sub Categories

pop

Essential Music Albums

The Essential Ride '63-'67 (Legacy/Columbia)

Band Members

Paul Revere keyboards, vocals
Mark Lindsay (1958-75) lead vocals, saxophone
Drake "Kid" Levin (1963-66) guitar
Philip "Fang" Volk (1965-67) bass
Mike "Smitty" Smith (1962-67, 1971-72) drums
Jim "Harpo" Valley (1966-67) guitar
Charlie Coe (1963, 1967-68) bass
Freddy Weller (1967-73) guitar
Joe Correro, Jr.* (1967-71) drums
Keith Allison (1968-75) bass
Omar Martinez (1972-77, 1980- ) drums, lead vocals
Doug Heath (1973- ) guitar

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