Not much I can add to that.
But if "Go All The Way" is one of the greatest pure pop singles ever made — and it most surely is — its creators are equally one of the most misunderstood bands ever. With perfectly constructed three and four minute pop masterpieces that owed more to The Beatles and The Beach Boys than to the oh, so serious rock of the seventies, The Raspberries were like a band caught somewhere out of time.
The songs didn't end with "Go All The Way" either. For those two years between '72 and '74, The Raspberries racked up an impressive string of pop-rock gems, mostly penned by lead singer/songwriter Eric Carmen, who revealed himself to be a master of his craft. "Tonight," "I Wanna Be With You," "Ecstasy," and the brilliant (and very Brian Wilson-like) "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" are only the tip of the iceberg with these guys.
Carmen himself remains criminally under-appreciated as a great pop songwriter. He would later enjoy brief success when his record company briefly cast him as a Barry Manilow-styled pop songsmith for solo records like "All By Myself." Well, at least they got the pop part right.
Still, with New Wave and Power Pop bands ranging from The Ramones to Cheap Trick still a few years away, it would still be some time before the rock world caught up to The Raspberries, and recognized them as the true pop/rock pioneers they were.
All of the hits mentioned above and more are included on this album, which reunites Carmen with his original Raspberries bandmates Wally Bryson, Jim Bonfanti, and Dave Smalley for the first time in thirty years onstage. There are also some well-chosen covers here. What Raspberries gig would be complete without a raucous version of "Can't Explain" for example?
As the bonus DVD opens with the words "They said it couldn't be done. They were wrong,'' time seems to stand still as the band launches into "I Wanna Be With You." Well okay, time doesn't quite stop. The Raspberries are after all some thirty years older and at least one of them looks more like Sam Kinison here, than the foppishly dressed and stylishly coiffed lads we remember from the seventies.
But they still sound pretty damned good. On the hits like "Tonight" and "Ecstasy," they also rock quite convincingly. Most impressive are the way the intricate harmonies of "Go All The Way" and especially the more complex "Overnight Sensation" are recreated onstage (albeit with help from backing vocalists Jennifer Lee, Billy Sullivan, and Paul Sidoli).
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
nice review glen. i really can't wait to get this thing when it comes out. i hadn't listened to the Raspberries in years...but got the urge when i read about Bruce's liner notes.
and gee, from what i can tell i the vids, Carmen really does sound pretty fine after all these years.
2 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Wonderful review, Glen, and glad to hear that Lennon was a fan.
The LP 'Best' is still on my turntable, due in no small part to the pop-perfection sequencing of the first four rinse-and-repeat songs: "Go All The Way," "Tonight," "Ecstacy," and "I Wanna Be With You."
Looking forward to getting this new one.
3 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Guys. Gordon, you'll even be pleased to know that there is a nice picture of Lennon wearing a Raspberries sweatshirt in the booklet.
-Glen
4 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
That's the clincher...
5 - Paulie Mississippi
This is an excellent review. For those who want even more, Raspberries offer an even more detailed set which includes all 21 songs on DVD! Check out the site for more on that!
6 - Glen Boyd
Paulie,
I'm glad you liked the review and appreciate the comment. Just so you know, I did already link the raspberries Online website in the article (twice, actually).
F.Y.I....
But thanx!
-Glen
7 - The Haze
Very good article on an underrated pop band. Eric Carmen is a fine tunesmith if ever there was one. Got to see them live at a local amusement park when I was young and the first thing that came to me was,"It's the Beatles"! Their show was tight and they were professionals at a time when being loose and jamming were the in thing. AAHHH....memories,from the corners of my mind.Thanks.
8 - Glen Boyd
Whoo, Hoo!
This review just got linked to the main news page at Backstreets Magazine, which is the leading Springsteen fanzine.
-Glen
9 - mike yatska
Saw them 1973? at St. Joe's... they played a very solid set of Beatles' and the imitation was very authentic. Hello to all the girls, you know who you are.