Paul Revere & The Raiders - Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) CD

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) buy CD music Having scored four consecutive Top Ten albums in the previous two years, Grand Funk Railroad may not have seemed to casual observers like a band who needed to rise phoenix-like from the ashes, but the title of the band's seventh album referred to its re-emergence after a litigious split from manager/producer Terry Knight. Now, they were producing themselves, and they added organist Craig Frost, credited here as a sideman, though he went on to join the band formally. The biggest change, however, was a musical maturity. After releasing five studio albums in a little over two years, Grand Funk waited more than a year before releasing Phoenix, and in that time they managed to come up with more variety than they had displayed before. "Someone," for example, was a surprisingly gentle ballad, and "Rain Keeps Fallin'" was stronger melodically than most of songwriter Mark Farner's previous efforts. Unlike earlier albums, Phoenix didn't seem like one rudimentary rocker after another, which made it Grand Funk's most listenable album so far. And that's not to say it didn't rock, as the leadoff instrumental, "Flight of the Phoenix," and the Top 40 hit that closed the set, "Rock 'n Roll Soul," demonstrated. Unfortunately, Farner's lyrical abilities had not increased, while his self-importance had. "I Just Gotta Know," "So You Won't Have to Die," and "Freedom Is for Children" all contained political exhortations expressed in simple-minded terms, the worst being "So You Won't Have to Die," in which Farner, later to become a Christian artist, claimed Jesus had spoken to him on the subject of overpopulation. After such cringe-inducing foolishness, the band's return to rocking with "Rock 'n Roll Soul" could only be welcomed. ~ William Ruhlmann 24-bit digitally remastered reissue of their Top Ten-charting album from 1972 includes one bonus track, 'Flight Of The Phoenix' (2002 Remix With Extended Ending). Capitol. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Recorded at Sound Shop, Nashville, Tennessee. Originally released on Capitol (11099). Includes liner notes by Steve Roeser. Personnel: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ); Don Brewer (vocals, drums, congas, percussion); Craig Frost (piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, organ). Audio Mixer: Jimmy Hoyson. Liner Note Author: Steve Roeser. Recording information: Sound Shop, Nashville, TN (07/24/1972-07/28/1972). Illustrator: Joe Garnett. Photographer: Lorrie Sullivan. Unknown Contributor Roles: Yasuhito Kitai; Kuni Takeuchi. Grand Funk Railroad: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ); Don Brewer (vocals, drums, congas, percussion); Mel Schacher (bass). Additional personnel: Doug Kershaw (electric fiddle); Craig Frost (piano, Clavinet, harpsichord, organ).

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) CD music If all you know about Herman's Hermits is that they had a couple of semi-novelty hits during the British Invasion with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the VIII, I Am," RETROSPECTIVE aims to set you straight. Part of ABKCO producers Teri Landi and Jody Klein's grand plan to redress the balance of historical perspective on 1960s pop, this collection is a perfect overview of the band initially regarded as a safer version of the Beatles. While amiable, sunny pop is the dominant strain here, there are many tracks that further flesh out the group's profile. A version of Sam Cooke's "(What a) Wonderful World" points up the Hermits' soul leanings. The downright nasty "A Must to Avoid" and the witty, rocking "Museum" would sound right at home on a contemporaneous Beatles album. The Hermits' version of the Kinks' "Dandy" displays hipper tastes than many give Peter Noone and company credit for, and RETROSPECTIVE itself calls out for a 21st-century reappraisal of the band's catalog. Liner Note Author: Jim Bessman. Recording information: De Lane Lea Music Recording Studios, London, England (??/??/1964-09/27/1969); Kingsway Recording Studio, London, England (??/??/1964-09/27/1969). Arranger: John Paul Jones . Herman's Hermits: Karl Green (bass instrument); Barry Whitwam, Keith Hopwood, Derek Leckenby, Peter Noone. Personnel: Keith Hopwood, Derek Leckenby (vocals, guitar); Karl Green, Peter Noone (vocals); Barry Whitwam (drums).

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) songs On their second album, the cottage dwellers from Berkshire refined their hippie pop into a looser and vastly more mature work: evocative tales of nonsense in the beautiful "40,000 Headmen," joyful malarkey with Mason's "You Can All Join In," and one of his finest songs, "Feelin Alright," which was a signpost to his imminent departure. Throughout the record Jim Capaldi's understated yet steady drums demonstrate just what a great rock drummer should do, and Chris Wood's sound is everywhere, with trills on flute and blasts on saxophone. TRAFFIC is a record that will always be meant for glorious sunny days. Originally released on Island (9081). Additional Tracks Personnel: Dave Mason (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, organ, bass guitar, drums); Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, bass guitar); Jim Capaldi (vocals, drums, percussion); Chris Wood (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, drums, percussion). Liner Note Author: Jimmy Miller . Photographer: Richard Polak. Traffic: Dave Mason (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, bass); Jim Capldi (vocals, drums, percussion); Chris Wood (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass, percussion, bells). Engineers: Glyn Johns, Eddie Kramer, Brian Humphries.

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) album for sale Rehearsed and written at a cottage in the Berkshire countryside, Traffic's debut was former child prodigy Steve Winwood's first foray into headier territory after a stint playing R&B-fueled rock & roll with the Spencer Davis Group. Rounded out by drummer Jim Capaldi and multi-instrumentalists Chris Wood and Dave Mason, Traffic's 1967 debut MR. FANTASY was originally released in the U.S. under the title HEAVEN IS IN YOUR MIND. This reissue contains the album as it appeared in the U.S. plus several bonus tracks. The record includes experimentation with vaudeville-inspired numbers ("Berkshire Poppies"), flamenco-flavored fantasy ("Dealer") and sitar-drenched meditations ("Utterly Simple"). Winwood's inspired organ playing and soulful singing pokes out on cuts like "Coloured Rain." In keeping with the band's unorthodox approach to composition and arrangement, "Giving To You" offers a funky groove sandwiched between tidbits of an overheard conversation about the relative merits of jazz. Originally released on Island (9061). Additional Tracks Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios, London, England between April and November 1967. Personnel: Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, bass guitar, percussion); Chris Wood (vocals, flute, saxophone, organ, percussion); Jim Capaldi (vocals, drums, percussion). Recording information: Olympic Studios, London, England (04/1967-11/1967). Photographers: Michael Putland; Mike Sida. Arranger: Steve Winwood. Traffic: Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, bass, percussion); Dave Mason (vocals, guitar, sitar, tamboura, shakkai, Mellotron, bass); Chris Wood (vocals, flute, saxophone, organ); Jim Capaldi (vocals, drums, percussion). Reissue producer: Bill Levenson.

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) CD music Paul Revere & the Raiders didn't have an especially high perceived hipness quotient by the time their run as hitmakers came to a close in the mid-'70s, thanks to their revolutionary war costumes, their near-constant presence on television, and their goofy sense of humor. Then again, it might have been hipper to like Kansas or Emerson, Lake & Palmer by that point, but how many folks listen to them of their own volition today? Slap Kicks! The Anthology 1963-1972 into your CD player and you'll get 77 minutes of high quality proof that the Raiders and their music have truly stood the test of time -- this is prime quality American rock & roll, replete with killer hooks, tough guitars, and high attitude vocals. While garage rock enthusiasts have come around to the virtues of the Raiders in recent years, Peter Shillito's track sequence dares to venture beyond the band's glorious fuzztone period into the final post-"Indian Reservation" years of the original lineup, and he's cherry-picked enough worthy tracks to support the argument that they managed to quit before they began to flat-out suck. While fans of "Louie Louie" won't have much use for "Country Wine," "Birds of a Feather" is a pleasingly sunny slice of country-accented pop, and "Just Seventeen" and "Powder Blue Mercedes Queen" are unexpectedly muscular hard rock. And can you really argue against an album that has "Just Like Me," "Hungry," "Good Thing," "Him or Me -- What's It Gonna Be" and "Kicks" on it? Not to mention the equally brilliant if lesser known "The Great Airplane Strike," "Ballad of a Useless Man" and "Louie Go Home"? Paul Revere & the Raiders were masters of that most vital of all rock formats, the three-minute single, and Kicks! The Anthology 1963-1972 collects thirty of their best sides on one disc. If this isn't the definitive Paul Revere collection, it's close enough to satisfy nearly anyone with a taste for their many virtues. ~ Mark Deming The first comprehensive single disc collection of the sensational Paul Revere & The Raiders. From "Louie Louie" (1963) through the hits of the mid 60s to the Indian Reservation Raiders of the early '70s, this is the ultimate 30-track hit collection. Every important song from 1963 to 1972, including 11 US Top 20 hits. Includes "Just Like Me", "Kicks", "Good Thing", "Him or Me, What's It Gonna Be?" and the #1 "Indian Reservation". All original recordings with rare photos, informative notes, and superb sound. Liner Note Author: Ian McFarlane.

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) buy CD music After getting hit hard by the new underground press, the Raiders supposedly sent out test pressings of their new single, "Let Me," under the name Pink Puzz. This LP shows them returning to form a bit, even packaging it in a gatefold sleeve with printed lyrics. All songs were written by Lindsey, both with and without Keith Allison. ~ Gary Mollica CD contains 5 bonus tracks. Personnel: Mark Lindsay (vocals, saxophone); Drake Levin, Robert White , Freddy Weller (guitar); Paul Revere (keyboards); Mixmaster Michael Smith, Joe Correro (drums). Audio Remasterer: EROC. Liner Note Author: Chris Welch . Arranger: Mark Lindsay. Import