Posted on 01/31/2013 12:23:22 PM PST by Reaganite Republican
Perhaps the hottest rock act to ever come out of Boise, Idaho was (and is) the group Paul Revere & the Raiders, who saw considerable commercial success in the 1960s and early 70s with hits such as 'Kicks' and 'Hungry' (1966), 'Him Or Me- What's It Gonna Be?' ('67) and then in 1971 their only #1 single, 'Indian Reservation' ('Cherokee people, Cherokee pride...' -you know, that one).
The band was together as early as 1958 as The Downbeats, and enjoyed an early Northwest-only regional hit with 'Like, Long Hair' in 1961. Influenced by British Invasion bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, and The Animals, their sound evolved over time to include those influences but with more of an American, 'R-n-B' feel to it.
Even though keyboardist 'Paul Revere' -born Paul Revere Dick in Harvard, Nebraska- was a conscientious objector who worked in a mental hospital to avoid overseas combat assignments -so not much of a patriot really- the band featured a 'patriotic' look to play off his name -an American answer to the British Invasion.
They appeared in Revolutionary War uniforms, three-pointed hats, etc to play off the New England 1770's period theme. This created a visual appeal/gimmick that was a natural for TV, and they appeared on Dick Clark and other shows of the day for (lip-synched) appearances, as below.
Trivia: in November 1966, Paul Revere & the Raiders were scripted into the original Batman show for an episode entitled 'Hizzoner The Penguin'...
Video/more at Reaganite Republican...
For the record they were a great rock and roll band. Some of the best American rock on radio at the time, Hungry, Just Like Me, Him or Me, What’s It Gonna Be, are perfect AM radio songs. Kicks is one of the only ant-drug songs at a time when the opposite was cool.
Indian Reservation was originally released and a #20 hit by an Ex member of the British group the Sorrows, Don Fardon in 1968. The Raiders version started out as a solo project by Mark Lindsay but was credited to the group and became their only number 1 hit. Mark does have some Indian heritage and has been involved in their causes.
Before anyone lambasts the group for being anti-American, members were drafted and Drake left the group to serve in the National Guard. Ask the Vets in the Ride to the wall Foundation about Paul Revere’s dedication to them and his support. You can hardly lump these guys into the category of America haters in their prime.
I still say their verison of Steppin’ Stone is superior to the Monkees version and should’ve been their hit.
I heard the Don Fardon version on the radio in the summer of 1968.
Interestingly, most of the Cherokee don't live on reservations.
But the girls loved him.... ("oh those brown eyes!")
Me? I was into the coffin shaped Vox guitars and bass they played.
More simple times,,,,,,,
In the summer of 1966, my father had completed a year working for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Germany, and we were scheduled to return home to suburban Los Angeles. However, a strike by machinists early in the summer had grounded most of the major airlines. As the date of our scheduled departure in early August neared, and the walkout dragged on, we grew worried that we might be stranded in Europe. However, we found a flight to New York on an outfit called Trans-Caribbean Airlines, but were uncertain as to how to proceed from there.
After two days in New York City, we found a flight to Dallas and decided to take it, even though it only took us part of the way home. While in Dallas, I walked a few blocks from our hotel to Dealey Plaza to look at certain warehouse used to store school books that had been in the news about three years previously. At the time, it was apparently still being used as a warehouse.
After three days in Dallas, we finally found a flight to LA on a regional carrier, serving mostly Southern destinations, called Delta Airlines.
When "The Great Airplane Strike" came out shortly afterwards, my brother made sure to buy a copy to add to his growing collection of pop hits.
I grew up with one of Don and the Goodtime’s brothers. Named Holden. He was the drummer, I think. And older than me and his brother Neil. And I thought Raiders were from Portland, also.
ONLY the video... all text here if you look
My ears have ‘seen’ a few too many concerts too...
Speak in the horn, sonny!
Note in my post above I mentioned that ‘Paul Revere’ was a unconscious objector... I’m no fan of the guy’s politics, obviously
And ‘Indian Reservation’ is BS, fully agreed... but I do LOVE their sound
By the way, it was just the era- I thought differently back then too
Can’t limit myself to bands that match up with my politics... pretty short list.
I chalk it up to ‘naivete’... but give ‘em a break for what they said in the 60s, I’m aware of the damage that movement caused BUT even John Lennon became a (closet) Reaganite in his later years!!!
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2011/06/shocker-of-decade-john-lennon-was.html
Good stuff, thx SM
Back then my musical tastes tended toward country and Southern Gospel...still do. Although there are some leftists in the country genre (notably Merle Haggard), I do avoid such recordings by those artists.
As for rock and roll music, the whole lifestyle advocated by most, not all but most, was and is distasteful to me, especially the abhorrent hippie types. That said, one rock and roll artist that performed some fine Gospel tunes was Elvis Presley, especially Farther Along. I sure hope that he repented and got right with God before his death.
Thanks for that information. I was living in Seattle during much of The Raiders’ success, listening on Colorful KOL, Thirteen Double Oh.
Lan Roberts. Pat O'Day. Jimmy Stalwart (doing traffic from his Link Trainer). Golden days of rock radio,
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