Paul Revere and the Raiders, a band synonymous with the vibrant energy of the 1960s, are often remembered for their flamboyant Revolutionary War-era costumes and high-energy television performances. However, beneath the visual spectacle lay a bedrock of solid rock and roll, packed with catchy hooks and dynamic musicianship. With the release of The Complete Columbia Singles, a 3-CD compilation by Collectors’ Choice Music in 2010, the focus shifted back to where it truly belonged: Paul Revere And The Raiders Songs. This article delves into the musical legacy of the Raiders, drawing insights from interviews with former band members Mark Lindsay, Phil “Fang” Volk, Jim “Harpo” Valley, Keith Allison, and manager Roger Hart, to rediscover the enduring appeal of their music beyond the on-screen antics.
Unearthing Lost Gems: The Unreleased Raiders Recordings
Discussions with band members revealed tantalizing glimpses into potentially “lost” Paul Revere and the Raiders songs. Guitarist Jim Valley excitedly recalled 1967 sessions for “Long Way to Go,” a Barry Mann – Cynthia Weil composition. This track, featuring electric violin and oud, was envisioned to propel the Raiders into a more mature musical direction, moving beyond the teen pop image. Valley believed it was far from a typical “teenybopper song,” but unfortunately, Mark Lindsay’s vocal range at the time hindered its completion.
Valley also recounted studio sessions at Armand Steiner Studios, squeezed in between relentless touring. These sessions were dedicated to recording cover songs like “Stand by Me” and “Bad Boy” specifically for the Where the Action Is TV show. While the band would lip-sync to these tracks on air, the recordings themselves were essentially live studio performances. These raw tracks showcased the core band, without studio musicians, and notably highlighted Paul Revere’s musical contributions, often more prominent than on their official album releases.
Mark Lindsay reminisced about the earliest iterations of the band in Idaho (1958-1961), where a band member owned a Wollensak recorder. These early recordings, mostly covers and Ventures instrumentals reflecting their two-guitar lineup, offer a glimpse into the band’s formative sound. Lindsay also mentioned a potentially unearthed treasure: an eight-track recording of a live show in Hawaii from around 1968 or 1969. The whereabouts of these tapes remain a mystery, and no one seems to know of live recordings from the band’s peak 1966-67 era.
Roger Hart, the band’s manager, possesses a unique piece of Raiders history in his personal collection: a complete set from the Division Street Corral in Portland, dating back to May 1965. Recorded by an early fan, this “muddy recording” captures the entire performance, from Hart’s introduction to their rendition of “Oo Poo Pa Doo.” Despite owning it, Hart admits to never listening to it in full, perhaps content with his vivid memories of those performances.
The Raiders’ Enduring Musical Legacy
The extensive television exposure Paul Revere and the Raiders received, particularly during their peak from 1965-1967, was a double-edged sword. While Phil Volk notes they hold the record for most TV performances by a 1960s group – over 750 – this very visibility, combined with their comedic image, might have obscured their musical credibility for some. However, the inclusion of Raiders tracks on the expanded 1998 Nuggets box set marked a turning point. Modern listeners began to rediscover their music alongside harder-edged contemporaries like the Sonics and Wailers, recognizing their connection to the raw energy of Northwest rock. As Roger Hart aptly stated, “When you take away the pictures, what you’re left with is a tough, Northwest-style rock band that managed to make it… and take over the country.”
This rediscovery contrasts sharply with the mid-60s AM radio context, where a Raiders single might be sandwiched between the Lemon Pipers and the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Today, they receive accolades from figures like Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s bandleader, who hails them as “the best show group ever.” Greg Prevost of the Chesterfield Kings places them among the most important American bands, asserting that “the Raiders are one of the most important groups to emerge in the U.S. Their albums and singles — both in content and production — are in the same league with the ‘Top 5’ (Stones, Beatles, Who, Kinks, Byrds).” The Complete Columbia Singles 3CD set serves as compelling evidence to support this claim, showcasing their singles, mostly in punchy mono mixes.
Despite their significant impact, Dick Clark Productions, responsible for Where the Action Is and other shows, has never compiled a Raiders video retrospective. The Where the Action Is and Happening episodes remain unreleased on video, largely due to the grainy quality of most surviving episodes (kinescopes). Ironically, this absence of readily available visual content might be beneficial for critical re-evaluation. Stripped of the visual shtick, listeners are left to focus solely on the music. While their on-screen persona often leaned into comedy, their music, characterized by hard-rocking hits like “Steppin’ Out,” “Kicks,” “Hungry,” and “Good Thing,” was undeniably serious rock and roll. Paul Revere and the Raiders masterfully blended youthful exuberance with the untamed spirit of rock and roll, creating a string of finely crafted, hook-laden pop singles that defined an era.
Reflecting on their legacy, Mark Lindsay emphasized, “I’d rather people remember us as a kick-ass rock and roll band than as humorous, because there wasn’t a lot of slapstick onstage. That came with TV.” Keith Allison echoed this sentiment, lamenting that the Raiders “don’t always get credit for the quality of the records.” Jim Valley cherishes fan interactions where people express how the Raiders “made us feel good” and were “the reason we came home after school to watch Where the Action Is.” Phil Volk summarized their essence: “First and foremost we were musicians. That’s very apparent if you listen to some of the b-sides. Those are us playing spontaneously from our gut, from our soul. We played with taste, with soul, with chops. We were the real deal.” Rediscovering Paul Revere and the Raiders songs is an invitation to appreciate the genuine musicality that powered one of the 60’s most iconic bands, beyond the costumes and the television screen.
