The harmonies on "Overnight Sensation" are instantly reminiscent of several Beach Boys classics, and of "Good Vibrations" in particular. There is even a part where the harmonies come through an AM transistor radio placed onstage (you can see this on the bonus DVD), which is a clever touch. When Carmen intros the song, he makes direct reference to that transistor radio, tying it to the songs lyrics about "wanting a hit record, wanna hear it on the radio."
Carmen himself sounds great here, and still hits the notes the way he used to (well, most of the time anyway). Wally Bryson is as sharp as ever on guitar, and Smalley and Bonfanti anchor it all down on bass and drums respectively.
In its deluxe edition, Live On Sunset Strip includes the full concert on two CDs, with five songs ("I Wanna Be With You," "Tonight," "Overnight Sensation," "Ecstasy," and of course "Go All The Way"), showing up on the bonus DVD. There's also a booklet that contains Springsteen's liner notes (as well as additional notes by John Lennon's one-time girlfriend May Pang talking about Lennon's love of the band). Most noteworthily, this set gathers the lyrics to some of The Raspberries best songs — since they are all performed here — together in the booklet.
There's nothing terribly deep about most of these lyrics. Still, what spells "ecstasy" better than a line like this one:
"I never knew how complete love could be,
Till she kissed me and said
Baby, Please Go All The Way
Feels So Right,
Being with you here tonight."
The Raspberries Live On Sunset Strip will be released next Tuesday, July 31.
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.