Raspberries

Raspberries are a power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio in the United States. They had a run of success in the 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies."^[1] The members were known for their clean-cut public image, with short-hair and matching suits, which brought them teenybopper attention as well as scorn from some mainstream media outlets as 'uncool'.^[2] The group drew influence from the British Invasion era — especially The Beatles, The Who, The Hollies, and The Small Faces — and its mod sensibility.^[1] In both the U.S. and the U.K., the Raspberries helped pioneer the power pop music style that took off after the group disbanded.^[3]

The group's original lineup consisted of Eric Carmen (vocalist/guitarist/bassist), Wally Bryson (guitarist), Jim Bonfanti (drummer), and Dave Smalley (guitarist/bassist). Their best known songs include "Go All The Way", "Let's Pretend", "I Wanna Be With You", "Tonight", and "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)".^[1] Producer Jimmy Ienner was responsible for all the Raspberries' albums in the 1970s, which often attempted to replicate Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production techniques.^{[4][dubious – discuss]} The group broke up in 1975 after a five year run, and Eric Carmen proceeded to a successful career as a solo artist. Bryson and Smalley resurrected the group's name in 2000 and continue to tour,^[1] taking in indie pop singer/songwriter Scott McCarl working as the vocalist.^[5]

Formation

The group had its roots in two of Cleveland's most successful local bands in the late 1960s, The Choir and Cyrus Erie. The Choir, originally called The Mods and composed of Dann Klawon, Wally Bryson, Dave Burke, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti, had a more extensive repertoire of original songs, notably "It's Cold Outside," which parlayed its massive local success (#1 in Cleveland) into a nationally-charting single (peaking at #68 for Roulette Records). The Choir then went through a series of lineup changes, with Smalley and Bonfanti remaining in the various versions, until 1968, when Dave Smalley was drafted and sent to Vietnam^[6], and The Choir disbanded, although it reformed behind Bonfanti and ultimately survived until 1970.

Although The Choir had the hit and a string of singles, Cyrus Erie, founded by brothers Michael McBride and Bob McBride, became the better-drawing local act shortly after Eric Carmen joined in 1967. Carmen persuaded Bryson, who had recently left The Choir, to join. In live shows, Cyrus Erie mainly covered other artists' songs, but signed to Epic Records and recorded two Carmen/Bryson originals ("Get the Message" b/w "Sparrow") as a single. Following this, Bryson quit to return to The Choir, which led to Cyrus Erie disbanding. Carmen and Dann Klawon then formed a new act called The Quick, and recorded a single of two Carmen/Klawon originals for Epic, without much success.

1970-1972

After discussions between Carmen and Bonfanti about forming a new group, the first lineup for Raspberries was Eric Carmen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Jim Bonfanti (drums), Wally Bryson (lead vocals, lead guitar) and John Aleksic (bass guitar). Aleksic left the group at the end of 1970. In 1971, Dave Smalley (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), just back from Vietnam, became the fourth member of the original recording lineup with Carmen moving to bass. The Raspberries' demo tape went to the desk of producer Jimmy Ienner, for whom Carmen had previously done session work, and after a major-label bidding war^[7], the band signed to Capitol Records.^[8]

The Raspberries wore matching ensembles on stage. The group was somewhat ridiculed for making its stage entrance in tuxedos and large bouffant hairdos which, according to Carmen, "complemented the style of our music".^[9]

1972-1974

Following the success of "Go All The Way", which peaked at #5 in the U.S. in the spring of 1972, Carmen and Smalley switched instruments, with Carmen moving to rhythm guitar so that he would be upfront on stage, while Smalley took over bass. After two albums, Raspberries and Fresh Raspberries, both released in 1972, creative tension came to a head sparked largely by Carmen's creative dominance (and commercial success) over the contributions of Bryson and Smalley. Accordingly Side 3 turned out to be a more raw, aggressive effort than its predecessors, typified by the opening track "Tonight". After its release, Smalley was ejected from the band, and Bonfanti departed soon afterwards. They subsequently formed their own band, Dynamite. They were replaced by bassist Scott McCarl and ex-Cyrus Erie drummer Michael McBride for what was to be fourth and final Raspberries album, Starting Over ^[10].

Post-breakup

The band broke up in April 1975, but their sound had been distinctive and their influence was lasting. Bruce Springsteen praised the Raspberries at several stops during his Summer 2005 tour ^[11]. Paul Stanley of Kiss, Tom Petty, and Axl Rose of Guns n' Roses, have all also cited Raspberries as an influence in their songwriting.^[2]

Singer-guitarist and primary songwriter Eric Carmen went on to have a successful solo career as a singer and writer of romantic pop ballads. His first solo hit "All By Myself" hit #2 nationally, and was successfully covered by Celine Dion in 1996. Carmen later had additional Top Ten singles success with his work for movie soundtracks, such as "Hungry Eyes" (from Dirty Dancing, 1987) and "Make Me Lose Control" (also from Dirty Dancing, 1988). He also wrote "Almost Paradise" (performed by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson for Footloose, 1984).^[12][13].

In 1999, three of the four Raspberries recorded Raspberries Refreshed, though without Eric Carmen^[14].^[15]. The album's tracks, written by the three remaining members, attempted to re-create the group's original sound ^[16].

In November 2004, the House of Blues nightclub chain opened its Cleveland branch with a Raspberries reunion concert. This led to a well-received 2005 mini-tour starting at the Chicago House of Blues, a VH1 Classic special, and a concert broadcast on XM Satellite Radio. A date from the 2005 tour was recorded, and released in 2007 as "Live on Sunset Strip." The double CD and one DVD contained a foreword from Bruce Springsteen, and a 1970s photo of John Lennon wearing a Raspberries 'Just Like Starting Over sweatshirt. Capitalizing on the release, the Raspberries played further shows in New York, California, and their hometown of Cleveland.^[17].

A biography of the band titled Overnight Sensation - The Story of the Raspberries by Ken Sharp was released in 1993. In 1996, a tribute album to The Raspberries called Raspberries Preserved was released by Pravda Records, a Chicago-based indie record label. The album featured 21 cover versions by such acts as The Rubinoos, Bill Lloyd, Brad Jones, Tiny Lights, Rank Strangers, the Gladhands, and The Shambles.

Discography & chart history

Albums

Singles

"Go All The Way" was banned by the BBC.

Compilations

• 1976 - Raspberries' Best (Capitol)
• 1987 - Overnight Sensation: The Best of the Raspberries (Zap!)
• 1991 - Capitol Collectors Series (Capitol)
• 1995 - Greatest Hits [1995] (Capitol)
• 2000 - Greatest Hits [Expanded] (Capitol)
• 2002 - The Very Best of the Raspberries: Overnight Sensation (Cherry Red - Import)
• 2003 - Best of the Raspberries (Capitol)
• 2005 - Greatest (Capitol)
• 2007 - Live on Sunset Strip [CD/DVD] (Rykodisc)
• 2007 - The Very Best of Raspberries (Toshiba EMI)

Anthology matrix

References

Further reading

Wolff, Carlo (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN 978-1-886228-99-3

External links

• The Official Raspberries Website
• Eric Carmen official website
• "Live On Sunset Strip" Review
• The Raspberries entry at Allmusic