Goin' to Memphis
Encyclopedia
Goin' to Memphis is the eighth studio album by American
pop rock
group Paul Revere & the Raiders
. Produced by Terry Melcher
and Chips Moman
, it was released in 1968 and reached number 61 on the U.S. albums chart.
solo album.
Lindsay composed six of the album's twelve songs, and Paul Revere & the Raiders perform on only one track - "Peace of Mind". Goin' to Memphis was the final Raiders album to be produced by Terry Melcher
, who terminated his involvement with the band after its completion. Released in 1968, it peaked at number 61 on the Billboard 200
albums chart.
In a 1968 review, Billboard
wrote that Memphis soul
was a "natural fit" for the band, having "always had soul elements in its style."
Allmusic's Bruce Eder called the album "a serious departure, without a trace of the garage punk
or pop-psychedelia
sound of their earlier albums, but it was also a reasonably successful one." He described Lindsay's vocals as "astonishingly strong and gritty" and suggested that Goin' to Memphis may have influenced Lindsay to undertake a solo career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
group Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
. Produced by Terry Melcher
Terry Melcher
Terrence P. Melcher was an American musician and record producer, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of American West Coast rock music. His greatest contribution to the culture of the time was producing The Byrds' innovative hits "Mr Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and his...
and Chips Moman
Chips Moman
Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman is an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, and Merrilee Rush, as well as guiding the career of the Box Tops in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1960s...
, it was released in 1968 and reached number 61 on the U.S. albums chart.
Composition and reception
Goin' to Memphis is very much a Mark LindsayMark Lindsay
Mark Lindsay is an American musician, best known as the singer for the group Paul Revere & the Raiders.-Biography:Lindsay was born in Eugene, Oregon and was the second of eight children...
solo album.
Lindsay composed six of the album's twelve songs, and Paul Revere & the Raiders perform on only one track - "Peace of Mind". Goin' to Memphis was the final Raiders album to be produced by Terry Melcher
Terry Melcher
Terrence P. Melcher was an American musician and record producer, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of American West Coast rock music. His greatest contribution to the culture of the time was producing The Byrds' innovative hits "Mr Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and his...
, who terminated his involvement with the band after its completion. Released in 1968, it peaked at number 61 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart.
In a 1968 review, Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
wrote that Memphis soul
Memphis soul
Memphis soul, also known as Memphis Sound, is stylish, funky, uptown soul music that is not as hard-edged as Southern soul. It is a shimmering, sultry style produced in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax and Hi Records in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring melodic unison horn lines, organ, bass, and a driving...
was a "natural fit" for the band, having "always had soul elements in its style."
Allmusic's Bruce Eder called the album "a serious departure, without a trace of the garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
or pop-psychedelia
Psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop is a psychedelic musical style inspired by the sounds of psychedelic folk and psychedelic rock, but applied to a pop music setting...
sound of their earlier albums, but it was also a reasonably successful one." He described Lindsay's vocals as "astonishingly strong and gritty" and suggested that Goin' to Memphis may have influenced Lindsay to undertake a solo career.
Track listing
- "Boogaloo Down Broadway" — 2:37
- "Every Man Needs A Woman" — 3:11
- "My Way" — 2:30
- "One Night Stand" — 2:31
- "Soul ManSoul Man (song)"Soul Man" is a 1967 song written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, first successful as a #2 hit single by Atlantic Records soul duo Sam & Dave.-Song history and background:...
" — 2:30 - "Love You So" — 3:28
- "I Don't Want Nobody (To Lead Me On)" — 2:24
- "I'm a Loser Too" — 2:29
- "No Sad Songs" — 2:03
- "Cry On My Shoulder" — 2:19
- "Peace of Mind" — 2:15
- "Goin' to Memphis" — 2:44
Chart performance
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 61 |