Raspberries - Power Pop 1 (20 tracks) +Album Reviews

This is More Like It

shilough | Doylestown, PA United States | 10/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD compiles the first two Raspberries LPs IN THEIR ENTIRETY. This is a much better option than any "Best Of" compilation, because many of the bands real gems were not singles and are never anthologized....If you are casually familiar with this band, you will be pleasantly blown away after hearing these first two albums. Nearly every song is fantastic. Eric Carmen & Wally Bryson (check out his previous band, THE CHOIR) were Beatles and Brian Wilson worshippers at a time when this was not fashionable. Their prescient knowledge of and admiration for (at the time) commercial failures like "pet sounds" and the entire Left Banke catalog is obvious, and impressive. This band had a self-conscious, Romanticized, self-mythologizing concept of Pop music as a holy grail, similar to Brian Wilson's idea of "Teenage Symphonies to God". In my opinion the high point of this compilation is Carmen's epic "I Can Remember". (Beach Boys fans, note his not-so-subtle but delightful theft of part of the melody from the little-known Beach Boys song "She Knows Me Too Well".) If you like Emmitt Rhodes, Badfinger, The Left Banke, etc, this is a great CD, get this rather than a "Best Of" compilation."

Don't know why there aren't more releases like this

William J. Eichelberger | Ft. Thomas, KY | 01/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I managed to track down the individual Japanese releases of the Raspberries on cd, but still picked up this and volume 2 when I saw them. While the Raspberries are probably not everyone's idea of a big '70's band, their four album catalog is filled with more great songs than any piddly greatest hits collection could ever hope to contain, and it's great to see them get the respect that they deserve. While the debut and "Fresh" were marginally weaker than "Side 3" and "Starting Over" on the companion volume to this set, they've still got some great moments that shouldn't be missed. Eric Carmen's vocal prowess is usually given a lot of the credit for the Raspberries sound, but Wally Bryson's Rickenbacker and Jim Bonfanti's maniac drumming were equally responsible, and at times carried the show. (Anyone who thinks that Dave Smalley was just along for the ride should pick up a copy of the Choir retrospective, "Choir Practice" on the Sundazed label. Dave was a talent in his own right.) Great stuff, but the best part of this collection may be the incredibly detailed liner notes, which are a great read while the cd spins.
Someone should do this with the first four Eric Carmen cd's."

WHAT?! ..YOU DON'T OWN THIS!?!?......

Christopher Rush | Concord nh. | 09/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At about the time that the RASPBERRIES were calling it a day,our teachers were talking about "THE NEW MATH"...some mysterious,ZEN-like thing that would sweep the country in days to come...Surely that is what the folks at CAPITOL were utilizing when they decided,that rather than releasing the FOUR 'berries studio albums,they would issue FIVE best of's (or was it six?)instead.Thankfully, the powers that be at RPM RECORDS don't think like a record company, and as a result we have all four albums on two CD's---GARSH--WHODATHUNK? AAAANYWAY,They sound great,the liner notes are a gas and if you've never heard of the RASPBERRIES that just means that you've never heard the RASPBERRIES.Save time,buy both and discover what a huge fan you really are..That's usually what happens....."

As Good As They Say It Is

Kevin Rooney | San Francisco, CA | 06/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must say that I was skeptical when I read another reviewer say that this was the best compilation by far. But that seemed to be the consensus and after buying this disc, I have to whole-heartedly agree. This is a great CD, that I've been addicted to since it arrived. Eric Carmen had such a vast writing style, that sometimes I think that I'm listening to a Beatles tune, the next a current country/rock song, and the list goes on. Amazing. I loved the Raspberries originally for the song that summed up my first love..."Let's Pretend". I was 14 years old, in jr. high school and it couldn't have been written any better. After I listened to this disc I find out that Eric Carmen wrote so many other great tunes...like "Go All The Way", and "I Wanna Be With You". Others that I've found haunting are the beautifully melodic "Waiting" and "I Can Remember". The latter goes through a chord change that is so unique, and the words so compelling that I find myself waking up to them in the morning. I knew Eric Carmen was talented, having written some other hits post-the Raspberries, but Wow! Makes me wonder if he's been wrtiting anything lately. So when one of the other reviewers tells you to go ahead and buy both of the series, Vol. 1 & 2 together to save yourself the time, you should take it. It's good advice. The only reason to wait is that having just this one CD gives me something to look forward to...by listening to Vol. 2 soon. I just ordered it. And I've had several months of joy living with Vol. 1 and all of the great music...which means the tunes and the words. Other treats on this disc are "I Reach For the Light", "Nobody Knows", and the summer drivin', infectious "Drivin' Around". So be guilt free and treat yourself. You won't be sorry. And as one song says, you'll be saying "I Saw the Light" too. Enjoy!"

First two Raspberries album on one disc

Alan Brodie | Knoxville TN | 07/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is includes the Raspberries' entire first two albums on one disc. If you're familiar with those albums you won't be disapppointed. The package also includes detailed liner notes, photos and interviews with all of the band members about each individual song. This is a great item for any Raspberries fan!

On the other hand if you're not familiar with the Raspberries' original albums, here's a little more for you. Their first album is really a variety of different styles. It opens with their hit Go All The Way but also includes the country-tinged Come Around And See Me, a real solid rocker Rock & Roll Mama and several beautiful love songs, Don't Want To Say Goodbye and Waiting. There is also the mini-operatic I Can Remember which clearly shows what would eventually blossom into Eric Carmen's solo career. Their second album, Fresh, is much more pop oriented and brings back styles of the 60's. Many of the songs are very Beatlesque and a couple include riffs that are seemingly borrowed from Rubber Soul. There are also the top 40 hits I Wanna Be With You and Let's Pretend, and a classic but forgotten summertime gem called Drivin' Around. Both of these albums are pure fun to listen to and they are both included in the Power Pop Volume 1 CD.

By the way there is also a Power Pop Volume 2 which includes the Raspberries' final two albums and it is equally as enjoyable. Too bad this band had internal turmoil and didn't see but three years on the charts. Power pop may have been bigger if they had."

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