The Raiders - On A Straight Away

Review by Jey

Album Review: On A Straight Away by The Raiders Released in 1963, On A Straight Away by The Raiders is a rock album with a surf twist that captures the energy and spirit of its era. Hailing from the US and released under Van Recording, this record doesn’t just ride the wave of surf rock—it crashes through it with raw enthusiasm. While the entire tracklist has its moments, two songs stand out as unforgettable: “It’s Motivation” and the title track, “On A Straight Away.” “It’s Motivation” kicks things off with an infectious groove that grabs your attention right away. The guitar riffs are punchy yet smooth, evoking images of sun-soaked beaches and endless highways. What makes this track stick in my mind isn’t just its catchy rhythm but also its unpretentious vibe. It feels like the band is having fun, not trying too hard to impress anyone. You can almost picture them jamming in a garage somewhere, fueled by youthful energy and cans of soda. There’s something refreshingly real about how simple yet effective the songwriting is. Then there’s “On A Straight Away,” which delivers exactly what the title promises—a sense of forward motion. The instrumentation here is tight, with drums that push the tempo and guitars that shimmer like sunlight on water. This tune sticks because it’s got swagger without being over-the-top. It’s easy to imagine cruising down a coastal highway with the windows down while this plays on repeat. The lyrics might not be groundbreaking, but they don’t need to be; sometimes all you want is music that makes you feel alive. The Raiders may not have been household names outside their circle back then, but On A Straight Away proves they knew how to craft tunes that resonate. Sure, some parts sound dated now—this was the ‘60s after all—but that’s part of its charm. Listening to it today feels like stepping into a time capsule where life seemed simpler, even if it wasn’t. Here’s the thing though: for an album rooted in surf rock, it oddly reminds me more of small-town America than beach culture. Maybe it’s the earnestness or the lack of polish, but it feels like it belongs to dusty roads rather than sandy shores. Either way, On A Straight Away is worth revisiting for anyone who loves vintage rock with heart. Who would’ve thought a little-known gem could pack such a punch?

Download The Raiders - On A Straight Away

Artist: The Raiders
Album: On A Straight Away

Rock

Surf

1963

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

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Filename: the-raiders-on-a-straight-away.zip

MP3 size: 15 mb
FLAC size: 92.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
On A Straight Away
It's Motivation

Video

The Raiders - It's Motivation

THE RAIDERS- on a straight away

Images

Catalog Numbers

V-00663

Labels

Van Recording

Listen online

escuchar en línea
ouvir online
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
online anhören
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
lytte på nettet
écouter en ligne

Formats

Vinyl
7"
45 RPM
Single

About The Raiders

1960s group from Texas, USA. Recorded for Van Recording label with one single (Stick Shift / Skipping Around) picked up for national distribution on . They were originally a three piece consisting of Jessie Castor on bass, Bill Pitcock on drums and Terry Simpson on guitar. When the group started playing in 1961, Terry was a fifteen year old and a freshman in High School, Jesse Caster was twenty-two, and Bill Pitcock was twenty-six years old. Around 1963, The Raiders went through multiple lineup changes and finally became the backing band for Walter Crane, who was a popular vocalist in the area.

Aliases

The Futuras

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The Raiders' album *On A Straight Away* from 1963 is a hidden gem in rock history. It blends surf rock vibes with raw energy, standing out in the early '60s music scene. Tracks like "It's Motivation" and the title song show their knack for catchy, high-energy tunes. Released on Van Recording, it’s a piece of US rock history that deserves more attention.