Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) - Paul Revere and the Raiders

Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow)

Paul Revere and the Raiders

Columbia CS 9753

1969

A return to form after the disappointing (to me anyway) "Goin' To Memphis" and "Something Happening."  This offers the alluring mixture of bubblegum and garage that fueled them in their classic period.  Despite the title, it is not all that hard and it is certainly not heavy, which to me is a good thing.  1969 had way too much crappy hard and heavy music already.  As for the marshmallow, well I guess there is some of that, the sappy "Trishalana" comes to mind, gotta keep the teenyboppers happy.  There are plenty of good songs to make up for that, the vaguely hippyish single "Mr. Sun, Mr Moon," the hard-rocking "Out on That Road," the light pop-psych of "Cinderella Sunshine" and the Stonesish "Without You."  Plus you get to hear Paul Revere imitate a monkey, at least that's what I think he's doing.   Recommended for anyone who thinks fuzz guitar automatically improves any record.