Album Review of
Rocker: Fang and the Gang

Written by Robert Silverstein
June 29, 2021 - 3:44pm EDT
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A true legend from the heyday of mid 1960s pop-rock scene, Phil “Fang” Volk released his definitive musical statement in 2020 called Rocker. Fang made his mark way back when as the original bass guitar player in rock and roll icons Paul Revere & The Raiders. Although he long flew under the radar as a solo artist, as Rocker clearly depicts, Fang is also a gifted multi-instrumentalist and he puts his solo career into perspective with the double CD Rocker set, credited to Fang And The Gang. Overshadowed in the original Raiders by singer Mark Lindsey and keyboardist Paul Revere, not to mention original Raiders guitar hero Drake Levin, Phil leaves no stone unturned on the comprehensive Rocker. Not only does Rocker feature Phil’s rare solo output but it also contains tracks that he recorded and produced for other artists including family members. Featuring a huge cast of musicians, 39 track double Rocker CD serves as a fine anthology of sorts and it also contains two quite comprehensive CD booklets brimming with extensive history about Phil and these tracks. Not only does Rocker feature Phil’s original music but there’s a bunch of fun-filled covers here including the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”, “Shake Rattle & Roll”, “Nature Boy”, “Just Like A Woman”, “Lucille” and many others. There’s also a number of tracks featuring Phil’s late wife, singer Tina Mason, tracks with his daughter as well as tracks featuring Raiders members, including the late, great Drake Levin as well as Mike “Smitty” Smith from way back in 1967. Superb production and state of the art recording abounds throughout the thoroughly entertaining and quite eye-opening Rocker double CD set by American rock and roll hero Phil Volk.