Search - Paul Revere & Raiders :: Just Like Us

It's just not right...

James D. Morrow | Omaha,NE USA | 08/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...and it's not fair that a group that produced so much memorable, and just downright fun music, should be forgotten. It's not just that they were about the most popular group in America between '65 and '68, it's that they were so good at it. I don't ever equate popularity with talent but these guys had it all. Whether singing a Mann/Weill or Boyce/Hart chartbuster or one of their own creations, they nailed it. Take their version of Stepping Stone and compare it to the Monkees. No disrespect to the Monkees but the Raiders version simply shreds the Monkees version. And I LIKE the Monkees version.

This, their second LP is where America's love affair with the boys in the continental suits began in earnest. They had been very hot in the northwest for several years but "Just Like Us" was certainly a turning point. If you want garage rock done extremely well, you got it. I put some Raider tunes on a comp I made for my daughter, and a day later she played Steppin' Out and Baby Please Don't Go asking me "Who are these guys, and why have I never heard them before?!? I could tell her who they were, but not why they had been tossed in the dumpbin of pop music history. Now she has most of their discs and is jonesin' for a release of WTAI on DVD.

Look, it doesn't matter if you're 15 or 50, if you like rock and roll, like it raw AND well played, like fantastic tunes (original and covers) with a sense of joy and a wink and a nod, you won't go wrong here. They are worth more than a best of collection and they continued being good long after their popularity faded. At least get this one, "Midnight Ride" and "Spirit of 67" but those are not the only ones worth having, just the first. My very first concert was a WTAI show featuring Tina Mason, Keith Allison and others, topped off by about 40 minutes of Paul Revere and the Raiders. It's still in my top ten of all time which includes Hendrix, Stones, Prince, Ramones, Talking Heads, Pixies, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, The Who etc. That's some pretty stiff competition, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was even in a band that wore raider boots (no costumes though, thank goodness) and covered three or four of their songs. I don't mean to go on, but these guys truly deserve respect that matches their output both in terms of quality and popularity. It must have been the goofy costumes. I'll admit it-they WERE silly-but were they any sillier than most of the clothes from that period? A dumb reason to miss a great band. Don't fall for it."

Just Like Me to Rave About This Collection!

BeatleBangs1964 | United States | 02/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gear up that 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 and cruise past the cool garage in the Pacific Northwest where Paul Revere & the Raiders launched their cool career. This is an excellent collection of classics and cover versions of other classics and 60s hounds will undoubtedly love it.



The Raiders' heyday of 1965-1967 ran alongside that of other cool garage bands that made it big such as the Sonics with their runaway train, "Have Love Will Travel." Their Pacific Northwestern Peers, the Sonics and the Raiders will certainly have you wanting to jump into your very cool 1965 Dodge Coronet with your satellite set to the Cool Oldies. You will love Drake's incredible guitar style; the folk influence in songs such as "Catch the Wind" and the high powered rock that was a staple in 60s garage band music. You will probably start to dance when you hear "Just Like Me," a 1965 gem that is well loved to this day.



Yes, you do want this collection of timeless classics and you will certainly be glad you have it. Now get that Coronet ready with your cool dial set to songs like this! I just love this collection!"