Song:Good Thing
Album:The Legend Of Paul Revere
Though most music fans probably remember their goofy costumes and silly antics, Paul Revere & The Raiders made damn good pop music and had several top ten hits in the 60s including Good Thing. The leader of the group was organist Paul Revere Dick (born Jan. 7, 1938 in Harvard, NE). He lived in Boise, ID in the early 60s. He led an instrumental group and owned several restaurants. Mark Lindsay (born Mar. 9, 1942 in Eugene, OR) worked at a bakery where Revere bought hamburger buns. Their band was originally called The Downbeats and then Paul Revere & The Raiders. They had a regional hit in the Northwest US with Like, Long Hair in 1961. By this time they were living in Oregon. DJ Roger Hart became their manager and by 1965 he got them a contract with Columbia Records. Other members were drummer Mike Smith, guitarist Drake Levin and bassist Phil Volk. Their sound was very similar to other Northwest bands like The Kingsmen. The Raiders even recorded Louie Louie but The Kingsmen had the hit. Columbia moved the band to Los Angeles and put them together with producer Terry Melcher. Melcher is the son of Doris Day. But he had worked with Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys and produced The Ripchords hit Hey Little Cobra. Johnston joined The Beach Boys and Melcher became a staff producer at Columbia. Good Thing was one of several top ten hits and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Like a lot of their songs, Good Thing was written by Lindsay & Melcher. This became a problem for Smith, Levin and Volk who wanted more creative input. They all left in 1967. They weren't as successful after that and were ready to split up when the Mark Lindsay solo session Indian Reservation turned into a #1 hit in 1970. The group faded and Lindsay went solo in 1976. He currently tours the oldies circuit. Paul Revere currently performs in Branson, MO. This 2CD comp is very reasonably priced. Here's Paul Revere & The Raiders performing Good Thing 1966.
No comments:
Post a Comment