Reaon I bring this up is because Volk's 80th birthday was yesterday; he's a Facebook friend and I am delighted to report that he is still alive and well and making music.
I should add that the above pictured The Spirit of '67 is one of the great American rock albums of the second half of the '60s, and if you don't know it your life is the poorer.
Did Fang take lead vocals on any other tracks? Hard to compete with Mark Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteIf memory serves, he might have sung something on their previous album…ill have to check.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia tells me he did lead vocals on several tracks on several albums. BTW, "Midnight Ride" was the 2nd lp I ever had.
DeleteI do own the album (the Sundazed CD reissue) so my life is okay. I also think it's a shame that, despite creating a considerable body of work and having significant commercial success, Paul Revere & the Raiders never got into the Rock-&-Roll Hall Of Fame. And that it is probably less and less likely, with each passing year, that they will ever get in.
ReplyDeleteTo your point Chris E; and Steve's; Is it the presentation? The costumes? There is some reason PR & the Raiders are not 'serious musicians' or some such rubbish.
ReplyDeleteWhile they weren't the Beach Boys this kid at 13 would watch Where The Action Is to
ReplyDeletesee the Raiders and Lindsay. As a front man, lead singer he had more stage presence than Jagger at that time.
While they relied on other songwriters I was glad to read that Lindsey is co listed on 2 of my favorite songs -
Him or Me, Good Thing. My favorite, Hungry with that fuzz bass
The Raiders will get into The R&R HOF about the same time Procol Harum and Richard Thompson get in.
ReplyDeleteNEVER!
By the way Midnight Ride is my go to Raiders go to album.
Despondent Captain Al
the only song on the album that i've heard before is 'hungry' - my first search for a live version of that on youtube found carlo driggs as the vocalist, somewhat of a disappointment - paul revere seems to have been an accomplished comedian as well as musician and businessman
ReplyDeleteCharlie - Google search this -
Delete"Paul Revere and the Raiders, song Hungry live performance"
You find the original
players two stepping and Mark Lindsay playing to the camera
Unlike what most chuds on the internet will say, this band were never, or will ever be, underrated. I make no apologies for these guys.
ReplyDeleteGrab the latest issue of Ugly Things magazine which has a huge interview with Jim Valley. What a life he's had!
While Lindsay and Melcher did the bulk of writing (besides the NY pros) the others were allowed a song per album. Harpo didn't get one on "Spirit of '67" (which he says likely denied him 40 grand in 1960s money) and paved the way for his exit. That and his (light) drug use that Revere couldn't abide.
Bob on IL
As they say, the revolution WAS televised, first by the Beatles on Sullivan then the Raiders on Where the Action Is. Those two artists started an untold number of American garage bands.
ReplyDeleteBob in IL