Paul Revere and the Raiders Spirit of 67 Review by Gary Hill
I think these guys tend to get a bit of a bad rap. The outfits and poppy choruses probably have a lot to do with that. The truth is, they were a product of their times. They also had a lot of great music, if you can look past the image and just listen. They even had a tendency toward the raw edged 60s sound that would later influence the punk rock movement. This album is considered by many to be their best. This edition includes the original mono version along with a new stereo remix and some bonus tracks. It's well worth having for fans of the band and those who want to give them another try alike. I should mention that since the first eleven songs are the same in both mixes, I've used the same track reviews for consistency.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Mono Album
Good Thing
This rocker feels like a 60s version of what would later be considered punk rock. There is some of the same kind of thing The Rolling Stones did in those days, mixed with a bit more of a pop production. There are some vocal bits here that feel like nods to the Beach Boys.
All About Her This mellow cut is trippy and definitely melancholy. I really like this song. It's such a pretty piece of music.
In My Community Built on a really classic 1960s rock vibe, this is classy stuff. I dig the little guitar fills. The vocal arrangement is classy, too. Sure, it sounds dated, but it works.
Louise The hard rocking verse section on this is another that has some hints of the sound that would later be dubbed punk rock. The chorus is more of a standard 60s over-polished texture. Still, this rocker is one of my favorites here. It has a lot of energy and oozes cool.
Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard) This feels like a slab of 1966. The early psychedelia is all over this. Yet, it also has some pop in the powered up choruses. I really like the mellower verses a lot.
Oh! to Be a Man
Another mellower cut, this has a dark kind of psychedelic element. It's another that's really quite strong.
Hungry This rocker is so catchy. I can see why it was a pop hit. This is one of the highlight of the set for sure. It has a great rocking riff driving it. The vocal arrangement has hints of The Beach Boys. This is pop, but also a bit hard edged. There is some meat on these musical bones.
Undecided Man The strings on this make me think of "Eleanor Rigy." There are definite links to that kind of sound. This is a mellower cut, but it has some good energy. I like the vocal arrangement on this. It's a powerful cut, really. The more rocking stuff later has an almost theatrical element.
Our Candidate Old school rock and roll is at the heart of this thing. It has some definite Bob Dylan built into it. There is some harmonica here. This has such an old school sound, even for the time.
1001 Arabian Knights There some world music elements at the core of this. The cut is a very psychedelic based mellower number. I'm not overly crazy about this number, but it works reasonably well and is a nice bit of variety.
The Great Airplane Strike This rocker really makes me think of the kind of thing The Rolling Stones were doing at this time. Add in some Bob Dylan, and you'll be in the right vicinity. This is a great tune. It's fun, and one of the highlights of the set.
Stereo Album
Good Thing
This rocker feels like a 60s version of what would later be considered punk rock. There is some of the same kind of thing The Rolling Stones did in those days, mixed with a bit more of a pop production. There are some vocal bits here that feel like nods to the Beach Boys.
All About Her This mellow cut is trippy and definitely melancholy. I really like this song. It's such a pretty piece of music.
In My Community Built on a really classic 1960s rock vibe, this is classy stuff. I dig the little guitar fills. The vocal arrangement is classy, too. Sure, it sounds dated, but it works.
Louise The hard rocking verse section on this is another that has some hints of the sound that would later be dubbed punk rock. The chorus is more of a standard 60s over-polished texture. Still, this rocker is one of my favorites here. It has a lot of energy and oozes cool.
Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard) This feels like a slab of 1966. The early psychedelia is all over this. Yet, it also has some pop in the powered up choruses. I really like the mellower verses a lot.
Oh! to Be a Man Another mellower cut, this has a dark kind of psychedelic element. It's another that's really quite strong.
Hungry This rocker is so catchy. I can see why it was a pop hit. This is one of the highlight of the set for sure. It has a great rocking riff driving it. The vocal arrangement has hints of The Beach Boys. This is pop, but also a bit hard edged. There is some meat on these musical bones.
Undecided Man The strings on this make me think of "Eleanor Rigy." There are definite links to that kind of sound. This is a mellower cut, but it has some good energy. I like the vocal arrangement on this. It's a powerful cut, really. The more rocking stuff later has an almost theatrical element.
Our Candidate Old school rock and roll is at the heart of this thing. It has some definite Bob Dylan built into it. There is some harmonica here. This has such an old school sound, even for the time.
1001 Arabian Knights There some world music elements at the core of this. The cut is a very psychedelic based mellower number. I'm not overly crazy about this number, but it works reasonably well and is a nice bit of variety.
The Great Airplane Strike This rocker really makes me think of the kind of thing The Rolling Stones were doing at this time. Add in some Bob Dylan, and you'll be in the right vicinity. This is a great tune. It's fun, and one of the highlights of the set.
Bonus Tracks
(You're a) Bad Girl (Mono 45)
This cut is another that seems related to the kind of stuff the Stones did. It's a fun tune.
Hungry (Alternate Version) This alternate mix is still classy. I like it a lot. I don't think I prefer one over the other.
The Great Airplane Strike (Mono Single Version) A single version of the earlier cut, this still works really well in this format.
