[.ca] Powerpop V.2

Side 3 / Starting Over:
A compilation of the third and fourth Raspberries releases. Unfortunately the fourth release "Starting Over" was considered the 1974 record of the year at the same time the band disbanded. As with the prior release you are entertained with 19 tracks of RASPBERRIES greatness. The production greatness of Overnight Sensation(Hit Record) even in 1974 is unsurparrased to date! The Smile, Jimmy Ienner produced all their efforts as well as the early Stevie Nicks. He was THE GAME. Thank for stemming the British Invasion and keeping Gator Growl 1973 in check.

Long live the two-fer!:
The second in a two disc set, this killer collection houses the last two albums in the Raspberries all too brief career, Side 3 and Starting Over. I can't say that there aren't moments on this disc that don't come up to the level of the rest, Should I Wait and Money Down being the two that come to mind, but the inclusion of Tonight, Ecstacy, Overnight Sensation, I Don't Know What I Want, and Starting Over on one disc washes over any weak moments that the band might encounter. This is a great way to own the Raspberries albums on cd if you don't happen to live in Japan where they apparently have a greater appreciation for fine music. (It's the only explanation I can think of.)

Definitive Raspberries, Part 2:
Picking up where "Power Pop, Volume One" stopped off, "Volume Two" collects the Raspberries last two albums, "Volume 3" and "Starting Over." This disc, 20 tracks and 70 minutes long, has the Raspberries at their sonic height, although no huge hit singles are here. The closest is "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" which climbed to #35 on the charts before plunging. The band are much rockier and have much more of an edge on this collection than on the first, especially on "Starting Over" and despite having gone through personnel changes resulting in only half of the original band remaining, the music consistently improved over time. Furthermore, the music has aged well, and is just as fresh and crisp today as it was 25 years ago. what a shame that the record buying public wrote Eric and Co. off as "one hit wonders" and "bubble gummers." Tunes such as "Ecstacy" certainly show that these guys were far from being Tommy James and the Shondells or the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Once again, RPM's packaging is immaculate, with an informative fold-out inlay card chock full of biographical and discographical information, and track by track annotations by band members themselves. Do yourself a favor, pick up both volumes of "Power Pop" and give the Raspberries a listen. You'll be hard pressed to find a band which could put 3 or 4 minutes of tape to better use. If you're like me you'll be transported back 25 years and feel the car radio wailing away with some fine Midwestern "power pop."

ACE!:
THE two classic Raspberries albums on one c.d! Altogh three of my favourites songs("LETS PRETEND","DONT WANT TO SAY GOODBYE" and "Go all the way" are on the first two albums, i find the last two as more consistent. "ECSTACY" is one of the best songs ever, Carmen vocals are on the highest pitch, Bryson plays like Twonsend, and Bonfaty kills his drums. "LAST DANCE" & "TONIGHT" ARE SUPERB,and Dave Smally on "HARD TO GET OVER A HARD BREAK" is excellent. IT IS very easy to fall in love with some of the songs on "Starting over"(their final l.p.), The theme's song+ "I could hardly belive your mine",are just beautiful 'Small Faces'ish. Scott mCcarl, is a hungry young man that blows everything with "play on" and the haunting 'Rose coloured glasses". Altogh,there are some O.k. songs here and there(Bryson's weak 'Party's over') The overall are some perfect pop songs, from a perfect band

"Make you sweat 'til your feet are wet?" C'MON, Eric!:
Let me venture a guess and assume that you agree that the Raspberries were never really...uh...'cutting edge.' Yeah...'Go All The Way?' C'mon, break out the insulin or something. At least though, Eric, Wally & the boyz never tried to hide the fact that they were in it for the bucks and the babes (ain't we ALL). And, like most everything in the early '70s (the decade that good taste forgot), they were imminently forgettable. Imagine my surprise then, when, in '74 or '75. my guitar player's 13 year old sister wanted me to listen to her copy of the Raspberries' "Overnight Sensation." The opening track on side two, 'All Through The Night' sounded EXACTLY like what Rod Stewart would mutate into several years later in his "Do You Think I'm Disco" dayz. Dig THIS: "...All thru the night/if you play yo' hand just right/I'm gonna make you sweat till yo' feet are wet/now don't say I didn't warn ya" WHOAH Dude! Been spending quality time with 'Exile On Main St,' huh? Wally Bryson's 'Party's Over' is hilarious, and it sounds exactly like nasty ol' Kiss at their naughtiest: "Now I'm older and wiser and a bad criticizer/and I'm crazy but I don't give a..." You get the idea. You have to listen for yourself to hear Bryson's and new bassist Scott McCarl's 'Hands On You' - they must have been SERIOUSLY into some Black Jack. Regretfully, "Overnight Sensation" ain't available on CD, so this will have to do. Buy it, and I guarantee it'll make you feel like you're a senior in high school and you're surreptitously enjoying your little sister's records...

• Tonight
• Last Dance
• Making It Easy
• On the Beach
• Hard to Get over a Heartbreak
• I'm a Rocker
• Should I Wait?
• Ecstasy
• Money Down
• Overnight Sensation
• Play On
• Party's Over
• I Don't Know What I Want
• Rose Coloured Glasses
• All Through the Night
• Cruisin' Music
• I Can Hardly Believe You're Mine
• Cry
• Hands on You
• Starting Over