Somewhere, a long time ago, I saw a promotional film which introduced to listeners of Rock Music by the Raspberries. Serious Rock listeners in the Sixties and Seventies often relied upon guidance about new albums from reviews that ran in magazines like Creem, Rolling Stone, and Crawdaddy along with articles in local papers, and advice from friends. The Raspberries had had singles with modest to excellent chart success, and good to great reviews of their first three albums. The group seemed to have excellent musicianship that was influenced by contemporary bands such as The Who, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles, both as a group and solo.
Cover Art for the Raspberries Starting Over (1974)
Rolling Stone Magazine named Starting Over as one of the top 5 lps of 1974, and I bought it, based upon their short but favorable review of the album. I had heard Raspberries singles on the radio, and once in awhile they would show up on progressive FM stations as well. Their leaders, Eric Carmen and Wally Bryson, were joined by a new pair of musicians, Michael McBride, a drummer, and Scott McCarl, a bass guitarist, them being two musicians who shined as a new rhythm section for the band.
After the end of the Raspberries, Eric Carmen signed a solo contract with Arista Records. He was to have a better type of success with Arista. It appeared that Capitol Records really had no idea how to promote the Raspberries. That said, there were four albums that pioneered power pop, with the crown jewel being Starting Over.
The album's tunes were all excellent. Starting Over opened with a tune called Overnight Sensation. The production by Jimmy Ienner enthusiastically creates the sound of a new band lineup which enthusiastically sought to put out a single which would be a hit, and which upon release, would be picked up by radio stations across the USA, and take the nation by storm. The lead vocal by Eric Carmen pulls in the listener with a confession by Carmen that he "knows it sounds funny, but I'm not in it for the money" and eases into the wish that "I want a hit record, yeah...number 1." The record goes into the song's bridge sounding like an old fashioned car radio and then turns into the regular bridge of the tune. Overnight Sensation is a brilliant track, and shows the trust that the group had with their producer.
For me, Cruisin' Music is another incredible tune which melds the Beach Boys' best car songs with the feel of their summer themed surf music. The bass and drums carry the feeling of Californa Summer Music along with lyrics that complement the picture that the instrumental track contributes. The group vocals are excellent, reflecting the shimmering feel of Brian Wilson's vocal arrangements.
The title track, a gorgeous ballad that foreshadows Eric's solo albums, offers a sweet and romantic ballad. Ballads were offered on each of the Raspberries' first three albums, as well as his first three solo Arista albums. In 1975, Eric Carmen signed with Arista.
It has often been said that the Raspberries' harder rocking tunes reflect the strong influence of The Who. This is very accurate with respect to I Don't Know What I Want. Theme wise, this tune releases The Raspberries inner id......in that the song's vocalist roars that he doesn't "know what he wants, BUT I WANT IT NOW!!!! The tune reveals the petulant side of being a rock star, and it seems to pay tribute to Keith Moon.
The album's second song, Play On, also shows a British influence. The tune is a bit whiny, with the lead vocalist moaning about touring. He reflects that
seemingly homesick feeling that even the best bands experience on those long tours. The music rocks on Play On, which erases some of lyrical complaining herein.
All Through the Night is another vigorous hard rocking tune that explores the groupie phenomenon. There is no doubt in my mind that this band never lacked for young women to sleep with. This tune again shows the brilliance of the power pop that they seemed to compose and play so easily.
The song, like Cruisin' Music, shows some Beach Boys influence, along with solo Paul McCartney.
No Hard Feelings is a song that reflects the split in half of the guys that made up the Raspberries for the first three albums. On November 26, 1973, the split occured. Scott McCarl seemed to need to speak with the former members in order to move on with the new Raspberries lineup. The song rocks, and with the new members aboard, there is nothing lost from the first band to the new lineup that made Starting Over.
The album's entire song lineup will show listeners where American Power Pop had its beginning. I would suggest the Raspberries 4 cd set on Caroline, which may be obtained online. All four Raspberries albums are well done, and demonstrate how bands like The Knack and Cheap Trick inherited the urge and the quality that the best American Power Pop exemplified.
Text copyright 2017 by Peter Reum - All Rights Reserved
After the end of the Raspberries, Eric Carmen signed a solo contract with Arista Records. He was to have a better type of success with Arista. It appeared that Capitol Records really had no idea how to promote the Raspberries. That said, there were four albums that pioneered power pop, with the crown jewel being Starting Over.
The album's tunes were all excellent. Starting Over opened with a tune called Overnight Sensation. The production by Jimmy Ienner enthusiastically creates the sound of a new band lineup which enthusiastically sought to put out a single which would be a hit, and which upon release, would be picked up by radio stations across the USA, and take the nation by storm. The lead vocal by Eric Carmen pulls in the listener with a confession by Carmen that he "knows it sounds funny, but I'm not in it for the money" and eases into the wish that "I want a hit record, yeah...number 1." The record goes into the song's bridge sounding like an old fashioned car radio and then turns into the regular bridge of the tune. Overnight Sensation is a brilliant track, and shows the trust that the group had with their producer.
For me, Cruisin' Music is another incredible tune which melds the Beach Boys' best car songs with the feel of their summer themed surf music. The bass and drums carry the feeling of Californa Summer Music along with lyrics that complement the picture that the instrumental track contributes. The group vocals are excellent, reflecting the shimmering feel of Brian Wilson's vocal arrangements.
The title track, a gorgeous ballad that foreshadows Eric's solo albums, offers a sweet and romantic ballad. Ballads were offered on each of the Raspberries' first three albums, as well as his first three solo Arista albums. In 1975, Eric Carmen signed with Arista.
It has often been said that the Raspberries' harder rocking tunes reflect the strong influence of The Who. This is very accurate with respect to I Don't Know What I Want. Theme wise, this tune releases The Raspberries inner id......in that the song's vocalist roars that he doesn't "know what he wants, BUT I WANT IT NOW!!!! The tune reveals the petulant side of being a rock star, and it seems to pay tribute to Keith Moon.
The album's second song, Play On, also shows a British influence. The tune is a bit whiny, with the lead vocalist moaning about touring. He reflects that
seemingly homesick feeling that even the best bands experience on those long tours. The music rocks on Play On, which erases some of lyrical complaining herein.
All Through the Night is another vigorous hard rocking tune that explores the groupie phenomenon. There is no doubt in my mind that this band never lacked for young women to sleep with. This tune again shows the brilliance of the power pop that they seemed to compose and play so easily.
The song, like Cruisin' Music, shows some Beach Boys influence, along with solo Paul McCartney.
No Hard Feelings is a song that reflects the split in half of the guys that made up the Raspberries for the first three albums. On November 26, 1973, the split occured. Scott McCarl seemed to need to speak with the former members in order to move on with the new Raspberries lineup. The song rocks, and with the new members aboard, there is nothing lost from the first band to the new lineup that made Starting Over.
The album's entire song lineup will show listeners where American Power Pop had its beginning. I would suggest the Raspberries 4 cd set on Caroline, which may be obtained online. All four Raspberries albums are well done, and demonstrate how bands like The Knack and Cheap Trick inherited the urge and the quality that the best American Power Pop exemplified.
Text copyright 2017 by Peter Reum - All Rights Reserved
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