Customer Reviews

Hard'n'Heavy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Paul Revere & the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay followed up their psycadelic 1968 opus "Something Happening" with the slightly more straight ahead pop/rock of "Hard 'N' Heavy (with marshmallow)". The title itself was a reference to their image at the time as a Saturday morning bubblegum group. Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay co-hosted the Saturday morning show "Happening" from March 1968 to September 1969, and remained very popular with teens, but the band longed for a bit more serious appreciation. To that end, they dropped the Revolutionary War costumes, and spent more time in the studio (with Mark as producer) coming up with records that could compete with the increasingly experimental sounds in late 60's rock. Although Mark had used studio players on some Raiders records, this album features the group as the core of the project. Joe Correro, Jr. was one of the best drummers, period. I've rarely heard a drummer with such innovative fills (I've been trying to copy his drum breaks on "Mr Sun Mr. Moon" for years and still haven't figured out what he is doing there!). Freddy Weller was an excellent guitarist with strong roots in country, and also wrote some songs for the Raiders. Keith Allison was a seasoned studio pro who had played on Raiders sessions even before he joined the group, and could play bass, guitar, and keyboards with equal proficiency. Paul Revere, of course, helped define the group's sound with his rockin' piano and Vox organ. As for Mark Lindsay, he was one of rock & roll's great voices, equally at home on a ballad or a loud rocker. Mark was also a great producer - listen to the layers of sound he arranged on "Cinderella Sunshine". It's a psycadelic blend of marimba, organ, tack piano, and fuzz guitar that goes on for 4 minutes. The hardest rocker on this album is "Time After Time", while country influences come through on Weller's "Hard 'N' Heavy 5 String Soul Banjo" (featuring guest instrumentalist James Burton). "Money Can't Buy Me" is almost "unplugged Raiders", and "Out on That Road" gives Freddy and Paul a chance to show of their instrumental chops. Sundazed, as always, gives us some excellent bonus tracks, including the super rare vocal version of "It's Happening", and their Pontiac commercial "The Judge" (it uses the same music track as "Time After Time"). There's also a hidden bonus track at the end of the disc, even if you haven't heard it yet, the tune will be familiar. Keith Allison contributes good liner notes on the "rebel Raiders". I must have.

This album was a bit of a comeback effort on the charts after the poor showing of "Something Happening" but it still didn't crack the Top 50 on Billboard's pop album charts. Hits include "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" & "Cinderella Sunshine". The latter has two versions on the album, the 45 version and an album version that's considerably different. The best album cut is "Time After Time"; after that the tracks fall off. This album has a better reputation than that of their previous album but they are both close to equal. The bonus track "Do Unto Others" is an outstanding song that was issued as a B side on a 45. This song has always been one of my favorites by them, and, in fact, was the deciding factor in purchasing this album.

Being born in '63 I was a very young fan indead, and Paul Revere and the Raiders were a great inspiration to me ever since. Hard & Heavy brings back many memories because my cousin played the album so often. Out On That Road and It's Happening are spectacular songs. Thanks guys for being so musically inclined. jwsstanek@aol.com

I bought this in '69 when it first came out. Loved it but then kind of forgot about it. I saw it in CD and had to have it! Still great tunes.

This was 1 of my 1st EVER LPS that I bought on my own at EJ Korvettes for a whole $3.79! I was only 11 as I put on my Wards Airline phonograph & played it to death! Mr.Sun was a big hit. $ Can't Buy Me was way cool as it was 1 of my albums that split the sound(2 different versions PLUS I could seperate the speakers~OOOH!) Time After Time jammed (with a pre Joe Jr. bit)Ride on my Shoulder was Mark. Then that crazy Revere's bit before Without You. ML'S pretty tune Trisalina. S2 BOOGIED with Out On That Road!

PR'S piano highlights! Time out with Keith & Freddy's foot stompin' break, then H & H 5 String Soul Banjo=YEEHA! Where U Goin' Girl is mellow. Mark gets a door in his face 4 the break then the LP version of Cinderella Sunshine. We conclude with Call on Me. I STILL say the Raiders are 1 of the MOST UNDER RATED bands! PERIOD!!! I have all their LPS & 45's! GROOVY, MAN! That Ole' Revere is STILL rockin' in Reno! YEAH!