Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Paul Revere and the Raiders - Like, Long Hair
 | This is Paul Revere and the Raiders first album, issued on Gardena in 1961. The tracks were recorded during 1960 and '61. Gary Paxton had his hand in a few. There's no surf here, but you'll find a rousing rendition of "Moon Dawg" that's very close to The Gamblers' original, and some solid B. Bumble and the Stingers' style instros, plus some club standard R&B instros as well. |
Picks: Like Long Hair, Summer Time, Moon Dawg
Track by Track Review
Piano Boogie (Instrumental)
Influenced by the success of B. Bumble & the Stingers, Paul Revere and Mark Lindsey laid down this piano boogie beat tune. The great piano lines come from Paul Dick. "Like Long Hair" is based on Rachmaninov's "Prelude In C-Sharpe Minor" It's quite infectious and cool. Kim Fowley was the producer.
All Night Long R&B (Instrumental)
The R&B classic. Nothing special.
Viscounts (Instrumental)
Huge Viscounts arrangement, with the dramatic piano tinkles and savage sax, but not quite as hot.
PNW R&B (Instrumental)
Nowhere near as interesting as the Wailers original. Just good old R&B
Wabash Blues Viscounts (Instrumental)
The Viscounts arrangement of the big band standard.
Piano & Sax (Instrumental)
Hokey piano rhythm and boogie woogie boy oh boy. A fun track, but not particularly memorable.
Piano (Instrumental)
"Chop Sticks" and piano boogie woogie. Nifty.
R&B Sax (Instrumental)
A shallow version of the Viscounts arrangement of this ancient standard. Sax dominated.
Groovey R&B (Instrumental)
Plucky R&B with a vengeance, like in the bars in Vegas just off the strip.
The Last Mile Strip Runway (Instrumental)
Speaking of the strip, this slow R&B grind is designed for the take-it-off ramp crowd, complete with the shouts of anticipation as ever so slightly more anatomy is gradually exposed.
PNW R&B (Instrumental)
A slightly less powerful cover of the Wailers chunky instro. Stilted and less energetic, but the guitar is a but reverbed.
Pre-Surf (Instrumental)
Almost perfect delivery of the Gamblers' classic rage. Very powerful and true. Great twangy guitars and pumping piano. Really good.