Paul Revere & The Raiders - Goin' to Memphis (1968)

In 1968, with numerous classic hits under their collective belt, Paul Revere and the Raiders were ready to stretch out and explore new musical territory. One of the first manifestations of the band's creative restlessness--and perhaps the biggest departure of their recording career--was Goin' to Memphis. Recorded at Memphis' American studios (where Elvis Presley would stage his comeback sessions the following year) with legendary producer Chips Moman and such local session aces as Tommy Cogbill, Spooner Oldham and Bobby Woods, the project diverged sharply from the Raiders' established sound, introducing a gritty blue-eyed soul style that proved to be an ideal showcase for the vocal and songwriting talents of frontman and main songwriter Mark Lindsay. At the time, the abrupt stylistic shift generally confused the band's audience. But in the years since, Goin' to Memphis has been recognized as a lost gem, thanks to such effortlessly soulful tunes as "Peace of Mind," "Every Man Needs a Woman" and "I Don't Want Nobody," as well as distinctive covers of the R&B classics "Soul Man" and "Boogaloo Down Broadway." The Sundazed edition of Goin' to Memphis features new liner notes by Lindsay, recounting the history of this one-of-a-kind project.