Not Bad Considering
P. Dunlop | PORTLAND, OR United States | 07/03/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This was a comeback effort and the results are mixed. Rock and roll changed on the Raiders in 1967, thanks to Sgt. Peppers, the San Francisco sound and the advent of harder rock. Up to that point, The Raiders were best known for Kicks, the anti-drug anthem that appeared a couple of years earlier. By 1968-69, Paul Revere and crew were widely regarded as relics of a bygone era.
Alias Pink Fuzz was their attempt to re-enter the rock fray. When songs from the album were initally played on the radio, the Raiders were not identified as the artist...by design. Several of the songs are worth price of admission. The LP version of Let Me is a nice novelty and it's nice to get the single and LP versions in the same package. Energetic highights include Original Handy Man, Hey Babro and I Need You. Some of the songs, Frankfort Side Street, for example, foreshadow what Mark Lindsey would subsequently record as a solo artist...sentimental pop.
This isn't a great album. Too much filler. When viewed in the context of what was being produced by others in 1969, it does not hold up well. The next album, Collage, was far more interesting...although it did not sell well and went out of print quickly."
My Own Take On This Release
Dawn Funck | Eastpointe, MI USA | 01/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of the Raiders since they were on TV (Where the Action Is / Happening '67). Up until Alias Pink Puzz, they played their traditional 60s fare and Pink Puzz was their 'conversion'. LP, moving them from bubble-gum to more serious fare . It also moved me (as a kid) into a more modern phase and served to change my appreciation of 'modern' music from that point on. I doubt that I would have moved much further if the Raiders HADN'T been the ones to put this out.
I think it's a great LP, and with the addition of Keith Allison and Joe Carrera Jr., it was certainly a distinctly different and (for the time) progressive sound.
One of my favourites, for sure. I'm glad to have found it on cd - it's been years since I listened to my album! I feel that Paul Revere and the Raiders have been truly overlooked by the music media. They could certainly get gritty and totally rock when they wanted to and if you get the chance to look up some of their less known recordings, you'll see what I mean. After all, they WERE the first band to perform Louie Louie..."
It's "ALIAS PINK PUZZ, NOT FUZZ!"
gootch | Bartlett, Illinois United States | 07/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a "Raider Rooter" since my Older Cousin had 45's in '66, I have collected as many PR&TR'S 45/33's/cassettes & a reel to reel of THIS! I disagree with the review as this was a "comeback" as Mark & Company were kind of at thier peak! Let Me is an extended version. Thank You(follow the lyrics)/Frankfort Side Street (about Prostitution)/Hey Babro (ehum)/
Louisana Redbone (yeeha!)A slow # called Here Comes the Pain. Side 2 jams with the Original Handyman! Then I Need You. We made our OWN words to Down in Amsterdam! Then a longer version of I Don't Know! We wrap with Freeborn Man(written by Freddy Weller). We grew up with the Raiders & I will ALWAYS say that they are the most UNDERATED U.S.band period! Paul's touring in Reno/Mark is in Oregon hosting an Oldies show soon to be opening a Resturant! YEA!"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1