Paulie Mississippi Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 It's the same old story, where the producer or the engineer think they're the stars. Eric is and always has been somewhat of a visionary; an odd thing considering his early days in Raspberries were trying to recreate the past. In so doing, they paved the way for decades of future performers who look back at them as "the beginning" and not "the middle" of Power Pop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 The Geffen CD is solid! I don't know why some on this board pick it apart just because it has some 80's drum sounds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Eric, Is this producer you speak of, the Four Seasons guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Eric, It's scandalous that you have had to "fight tooth and nail" to get YOUR songs done in the way you know they should be done--YOUR way. Thank goodness that you're as tenacious and marvelously resourceful as you are musically gifted. In fighting to do something the right way, I've found that the combination of tenacity and resourcefulness (is that a word?!) eventually wears down my boss because it completely confounds him. I see that you discovered this years before I did! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvthemraspberries Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Eric, For over 30 years your music has been a significant part of my life, and now to have you give us insights into the way they were written and your thoughts about them truly is a great privilege. Never in my wildest dreams for one minute did I ever think that one day this would happen. Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with us.Kiwi. I agree Kiwi! Never in a *million* years, would I have imagined...thanks Eric for taking the time to share these insights with us ~ truly fascinating for me as a long-time fan (since the tender age of 11!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Positively mind-boggling that the artist can't make the song they want to make especially when they WROTE IT and know how it's supposed to sound! How do you keep your sanity? All I can say, Eric, is that we REALLY appreciate all the effort because the end results are always stunning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I watched a program on TV the other day about the recording of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Brian May was saying similar things in that Freddie knew how it should sound before they had even heard of the idea. He commented that Freddie had it all sorted in his head before anything else and I know we have heard similar things from Eric. Surely you would think that any producer worth his "salt" would recognise that and the fact the uniqueness the writer's ideas will bring to the song.Muzza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringer Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 The piano and Eric's voice....it's magical, intense, emotion....like sand and the ocean....can't be separated. Too beautiful. The engineers should mix, suggest, and not interfere with the artists. Let artists be artists, and express themselves, in a way only they can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymooladi Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 Very interesting story Etic, I'm so happy you stuck to your guns!! For this song and each and every other song. I Remembered is just so beautiful and perhaps meant to be. I just can't possibly think of it any other way. Thanks for sharing with us, we are always interested in learning about the songs. I so hope you start writing and singing again Eric because you have a wonderful gift and I hate to see it wasted. You have a beautiful voice!Love June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Eric, Please keep these stories coming. It is great to hear first hand history of the songs we have come to know by heart. After I read these stories I want to hear the 'other' version of the song, so I can judge for myself. When I first heard the version of “Boats Against The Current†with the background vocals I wondered who could possibly have thought that version was better than the original. (Actually, my first thought was “What IS that background noise?â€!!) Does the alternate version of She Remembered exist somewhere? Can it be shared? It would be fun to hear that version. My guess is we would most likely agree on which version is the best.KC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share Posted June 11, 2007 I doubt that anyone has a copy of the other take. Record labels are notorious for losing tapes or just throwing them out after some period of time. I wish some of those two inch reels from "Boats" were still around. I'd love to be able to use some of today's technology to do some re-mixes, but I doubt Arista even knows where they are. I've always thought the job of a good producer was to get the artist's vision on record. Obviously there are lots of producers who believe THEIR vision is better than the artist's. I was sitting in John Kalodner's office one day, and I remarked to him that I kept working with successful producers thinking they were going to really bring something to my records, and time after time, they just didn't show me anything. John sat back in his chair and said "I don't know why you're so surprised. If they were really that good, they'd be artists." ec 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 I just wish Celine or Barbara could hear "She Remembered". Just re-work that one line about "standing with another guy" and I hear either one of those gals doing wonders with that song... It's really frustrating that a couple of phone calls can't be made... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspyrock Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 I wish some of those two inch reels from "Boats" were still around. I'd love to be able to use some of today's technology to do some re-mixes, but I doubt Arista even knows where they are. Eric, I understand that oxidation after a while becomes a concern on the 2" tapes & maybe even on the 1/4" mix-downs?? --- The Joe Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Marshall Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Eric...there are quite a number of artists who've retraced their steps and re-recorded some of their songs. Generally...Bob Marley improved on things he'd recorded but wasn't necessarily happy with the first time around. Some went the 'unplugged' route. Others just updated material with a more current production feel.If you were/are unhappy with some songs that 'whomever' decided to put THEIR 'stamp' on...why not go back and rescue the art for representation YOUR way?Perhaps not an entire album's worth of updates...but some key songs you feel didn't see release as you would have wanted them to along with some new[er] 'shots'........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mac Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 You seemed to have worked very well with Harry Maslin. The Tonight You're Mine album is very well produced and still sounds great today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Brian Mac, I love that album--all of it! I never even thought about how well Eric got on with Harry Maslin, but in light of the discussion here, it's definitely a point worth pondering. --D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mac Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Dar, And the Toothe was no slouch either. I don't think Eric ever found better. But yeah, Tonight Your Mine was a rockin record. Harry Maslin, got that thunderous drum sound Eric is known for, and the guitars sounded great too and Eric never sang better.Then again, for all I know Harry could have just sat there with his feet propped up on the board, and let Eric do all the work. Some producers just take the $$$ and do nothing. Only E would know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 Harry is a pretty nice guy and a good producer. We were both going through some very difficult times during that record. All in all, I think Harry did a fine job on that album. ec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 In all honesty save for a couple of cuts, I did not like the Geffen album at all. Then when I heard the "Tonight You're Mine" album, I felt sanctified. The opening cut ("It Hurts Too Much"), exploded from my speakers, and every cut after was a joy. THIS was THE Eric Carmen album that I'd been waiting for.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Hurts Too Much was the goods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 That's why the Raspberries should do a bonus track cover of "It Hurts Too Much" on their follow up CD...Wally can do a shredding guitar solo in place of the sax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 In all honesty save for a couple of cuts, I did not like the Geffen album at all. Then when I heard the "Tonight You're Mine" album, I felt sanctified. The opening cut ("It Hurts Too Much"), exploded from my speakers, and every cut after was a joy. THIS was THE Eric Carmen album that I'd been waiting for.Marv Marvin, did you hear the TYM album AFTER you heard the Geffen album? I thought you were all over EC with every new release.I was late realizing that almost every song on a EC album was prime. That was so rare for my music tastes. So, I gobbled up 2 copies of each vinyl during my 1983-1984 "Carmen Genius Discovery" period. Bt the time The Geffen album was released, that was my first "rush out and get it during the first week" for Eric's music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Tony I bought the albums as soon as they were released. I know the Geffen album came after "TYM", that's why I was so disappointed. "TYM" raised the bar, and the Geffen album was sub-par in comparision (in my opinion).Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Oh, your post was written as if you heard TYM after Geffen. And since my lie detector machine is in the repair shop again, another Freakin' Canadian gets the benefit of the doubt today. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Yeah I re-read the post, and it was confusing the way it was written. No rush to get the lie detector back quite yet.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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