PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS
Greatest Hits (Columbia / Legacy)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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It states on the original liner notes from the LP's back cover that Paul Revere & the Raiders, braved, endured and outlasted the British invasion, and that they were no overnight sensations. Blatant lies scribbled in desperation I should think, as the group spiralled quickly into oblivion after one top ten hit during a brief fling on Dick Clark's "Where It's At". Look up one hit wonder in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of this quintet clad in embarrassing patriotic garb. That hit of course is "Kicks", and there's no denying its raw power and longevity, ranking up there with other seminal Northwestern mid- sixties punk anthems from The Kingsmen and The Sonics. The Raiders roared with that great unbridled energy, evident on the great "Just Like Me", "Hungry" and their version of "Louie Louie". Too bad they tried to conform their sound to the changing times, aping the Beach Boys and The Beatles, when they shoulda stuck with their rough and ready r&b sound and given the Rolling Stones a run for their dirty dollar. Anyhoo, it's all here, the good, the bad and the not so good-looking.

© 2000 - John Sekerka