By Ken Paulson
Mark Lindsay: The Complete Columbia Singles is a another fine reissue from Real Gone Music.
“Reissue” may be a misnomer here. Although most of the material has been released before, collcting these largely overlooked singles in one place would have been a daunting challenge for any record collector. This is a singular collection in more wys than one.
Lindsey is an underrated rock ‘n roll frontman, and Paul Revere and the Raiders really don’t get their due as one of the most dynamic bands of the ‘60s.
Interestingly, on The Complete Columbia Singles, we hear how effectively Lindsay distanced himself from the rock ‘n’ roll band that made him famous. His solo work focused on ballads and engaging pop, similar in many ways to B.J. Thomas’ best work.
The big hits are here, including “Arizona,” “Silverbird” and the somewhat dated “Miss America.”
The most interesting covers include Neil Diamond’s “The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind” and Bacharach and David’s “Something Good.” Lindsay clearly enjoyed the challenge of more complex arrangements.
The singles collected here hold up well, capturing early ‘70s pop in all its melodic glory
