The Complete Columbia Singles of Mark Lindsay includes every 45 rpm released on that label by the former vocalist for
Paul Revere and the Raiders. These 24 tracks differ greatly from the frat/garage rock recorded during that band's mid-'60s heyday. In the late '60s, as
the Raiders' singles began to fall off the charts,
Mark Lindsay branched out from the garage sound and recorded singles that emphasized country rock and mainstream pop with sophisticated arrangements and lyrics by such songwriters as
Kris Kristofferson,
John Denver,
Neil Diamond,
Jimmy Webb, and
Gordon Lightfoot. "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" was the first single that pointed in that direction and was, ironically,
the Raiders' only number one hit.
Lindsay officially left the band following its release. The songs are remastered and presented in chronological order with the first five tracks in mono and the remaining in stereo. The Complete Columbia Singles also includes a previously unissued rendition of
Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe," which was originally going to be the flip of
Lindsay's debut single. Real Gone did a great job putting this package together with rare photos from
Lindsay's archive, plus several new interviews. ~ Al Campbell