My Eric Carmen/Raspberries Top 20

[PaulMaul]

This has been in the works for 6 months. I've been considering my choices carefully. And (cue the drumroll)....here it is! My top 20 favorite songs from both the Raspberries and the EC solo catalog...in reverse order.

In many cases I can't explain my preferences. It's just my gut feeling about what I like best.

Since posting my 'berries top 10, I've done a few revisions, so this list takes precedence. Without further ado:

20. Nowhere to Hide -- the only one of the "core 5" piano songs from "Boats" that I really like

19. That's Rock 'n' Roll -- one of the catchiest choruses ever!

18. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

17. Ecstacy

16. Cruisin' Music -- love the backing vocals!

15. She Did It -- I'm surprised that I like this song as much as I do, as it's not really of a genre I would generally go for. But it just sounds so great!

14. All By Myself -- kind of surprised it's this low, could be burnout

13. Go All The Way -- I've never been as high on this as most. But I still love it!

12. I Saw the Light -- I love the simplicity of the ascending run in the chorus.

11. Desperate Fools - truly an underappreciated (not by you all, of course) gem

10. Starting Over

9. My Girl -- I think this may be the most melodically interesting EC song, and the chorus is fantastic. Possibly the most impressive backing vocals in the catalog

8. Marathon Man -- I like it more than most for some reason -- very powerful, my favorite song on "Boats"

7. Someday -- fanastic wall of sound! Not crazy about the "Change of Heart" album, but the few songs I like, I love!

6. I Want to Be With You

5. Tonight

4. Nobody Knows

3. Sunrise -- Most of the top of my list is 'berries dominated, but I love this song. Absolutely a triumph. The moment in the introduction "when the sun rises" is breathtaking.

2. If You Change Your Mind -- some of the most creative guitar parts in the catalog, and brilliantly played too!

1. Let's Pretend -- my favorite EC melody, my favorite EC vocal performance, my favorite EC song, period!

There you have it.

[angelina]

Some interesting choices Paul.....this will become a slow, long thread as people take their time compiling. "If You Change Your Mind " makes my top 5 as well.

Thanks!

[Tim From Wisconsin]

Ummm... I don't see "I Can Remember" on your list - Maybe you forgot to listen to it?

It has been my #1 from the beginning and still is!

Tim

[Wendy-Ann]

1. Let's Pretend -- my favorite EC melody, my favorite EC vocal performance, my favorite EC song, period!

I knew I liked you!

[PaulMaul]

Ummm... I don't see "I Can Remember" on your list - Maybe you forgot to listen to it?

It has been my #1 from the beginning and still is!

Tim

Nope, I listened to it. I know it's a common favorite, just like "Boats", but neither of them is that high on my list. That's why these discussions are interesting. There are parts of "I Can Remember" that I like, but the total package doesn't work for me as much as it does for some others. Diff'rent Strokes.

[PaulMaul]

Ummm... I don't see "I Can Remember" on your list - Maybe you forgot to listen to it?

It has been my #1 from the beginning and still is!

Tim

I just looked at the Raspberries Top 10 list I posted a year ago, and I had "I Can Remember" at #7 (above Starting Over, Overnight Sensation and Go All The Way). I wouldn't rate it as high now, but arguably I might like it enough for it to displace something in the 15-20 range of the list.

[Guest Rachan]

I am in COMPLETE agreement.

My all time favorite !!

From the opening of "I can't sleep nights..wishing you were here beside me'

Even at 8 years old I knew how romantic that was.....

That song is pure magic to me

[Tony Cartmill]

7 out of your 20 are on my list...

[James]

Good post Paul. Good thread.

Here's mine:

1. "Boats Against The Current"

2. "Overnight Sensation"

3. "I Can Remember"

4. "Sunrise"

5. "Love Is All That Matters"

6. "My Girl"

7. "If You Change Your Mind"

8. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again"

8.5 "Everything" (I wish it was longer!..)

9. "No Hard Feelings"

10. "Heaven Can Wait"

11. "Foolin Myself"

12. "I'm A Rocker" (live version only)

13. "I Saw The Light"

14. "Let's Pretend"

15. "Ecstacy"

16. "On The Beach"

17. "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye"

18. "Inside Story"

19. "The Way We Used To Be"

20. "Cartoon World"

P.S. Thru the 4 Raspberries albums and the first 3 solos, every Eric Carmen song was good-great for my taste (I didn't love "You Need Some Lovin" or the song "Tonight You're Mine" on the 8th album). The album "Tonight You're Mine" on balance was still a brilliant album of pop/rock songs. And I enjoy listening to virtually every song on the last 2 solos also.

Anyway, that was 7 straight albums with all good-great songs! (mostly great songs). I know no other artist I can say that about.

That's why Eric Carmen is the best.

James

[Wendy-Ann]

Well, it's been a while that I've been under James, so I thought I’d be under James tonight. And it looks like he doesn't have a choice.

PS: Once again I'm sure I shocked you all and threw the earth off of it's axis when I listed my numero uno song at the top of the "pseudo" back cover of an album.

Slow night...

[marathon mama]

. . .

20. Nowhere to Hide -- the only one of the "core 5" piano songs from "Boats" that I really like

19. That's Rock 'n' Roll -- one of the catchiest choruses ever!

18. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

17. Ecstacy

16. Cruisin' Music -- love the backing vocals!

15. She Did It -- I'm surprised that I like this song as much as I do, as it's not really of a genre I would generally go for. But it just sounds so great!

14. All By Myself -- kind of surprised it's this low, could be burnout

13. Go All The Way -- I've never been as high on this as most. But I still love it!

12. I Saw the Light -- I love the simplicity of the ascending run in the chorus.

11. Desperate Fools - truly an underappreciated (not by you all, of course) gem

10. Starting Over

9. My Girl -- I think this may be the most melodically interesting EC song, and the chorus is fantastic. Possibly the most impressive backing vocals in the catalog

8. Marathon Man -- I like it more than most for some reason -- very powerful, my favorite song on "Boats"

7. Someday -- fanastic wall of sound! Not crazy about the "Change of Heart" album, but the few songs I like, I love!

6. I Want to Be With You

5. Tonight

4. Nobody Knows

3. Sunrise -- Most of the top of my list is 'berries dominated, but I love this song. Absolutely a triumph. The moment in the introduction "when the sun rises" is breathtaking.

2. If You Change Your Mind -- some of the most creative guitar parts in the catalog, and brilliantly played too!

1. Let's Pretend -- my favorite EC melody, my favorite EC vocal performance, my favorite EC song, period! ...

It would be impossible for me to rank the songs. Every single one on your list is so great - thanks for posting !

[ANDREA]

Good post Paul. Good thread.

Here's mine:

1. "Boats Against The Current"

2. "Overnight Sensation"

3. "I Can Remember"

4. "Sunrise"

5. "Love Is All That Matters"

6. "My Girl"

7. "If You Change Your Mind"

8. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again"

8.5 "Everything" (I wish it was longer!..)

9. "No Hard Feelings"

10. "Heaven Can Wait"

11. "Foolin Myself"

12. "I'm A Rocker" (live version only)

13. "I Saw The Light"

14. "Let's Pretend"

15. "Ecstacy"

16. "On The Beach"

17. "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye"

18. "Inside Story"

19. "The Way We Used To Be"

20. "Cartoon World"

James

I LOVE your list James!!!

[James]

Yes, a good list it is.

:-)

By the way Andie, I meant to mention that the videos you did of Eric's songs are very good. Someone should post them again.

You ... are a creative jewel.

James

[Aventurine]

Here is mine

1. Boats Against the Current

2. Foolin’ Myself

3. Nowhere To Hide

4. Run Away

5. I Can Remember

6. All For Love

7. Starting Over

8. Let’s Pretend

9. After You

10. Someday

11. If You Dhange Your Mind

12. Isn’t It Romantic

13. She Rememberd

14. Tonight

15. Waitng

16.I Wanna Take Forever Tonight

17. Nobody Knows

18. I Saw The Light

19. Overnight Sensation

20. Love At Last

Aventurine

[LobsterLvr]

1. All For Love

2. Nobody Knows

3. Cindy In The Wind

4. It Hurts Too Much

5. If You Change Your Mind

6. I Don't Know What I Want

7. Go All The Way

8. I Wanna Be With You

9. Let's Pretend

10. Boats Against The Current

11. Desperate Fools

12. Someday

13. She Remembered

14. Marathon Man

15. I Can Remember

16. Runaway

17. All By Myself

18. Isn't It Romantic

19. On The Beach

20. American As Apple Pie

Dave

[LatetotheParty]

This is tough; I tried to do a top 5 and the rest fall in album order

1. I Can Remember

2. Go All The Way

3. I Can Hardly Believe You’re Mine

4. If You Change Your Mind

5. Foolin’ Myself

6. Waiting

7. Let’s Pretend

8. I Wanna Be With You

9. Should I Wait

10. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

11. Starting Over

12. All By Myself (long version)

13. My Girl

14. Boats Against the Current

15. Runaway

16. Tonight You’re Mine

17. It Hurts Too Much

18. Someday

19. I’m Through With Love

20. Make Me Lose Control

[RaspBen]

1. Go All The Way (ever since i was 5 still hasn't changed)

2. Ecstasy

3. Let's Pretend

4. All Thru The Night

5. Play On

6. Starting Over

7. I Can Remember

8. I'm A Rocker

9. Party's Over

10.Never Gonna Fall In The Love Again

11.Foolin Myself

12.Boats Against The Current

13.All For The Love

14.It Hurts To Much

15.Im Thru With Love

16.The Way We Used To Be

17.I Was Born To Love You

18.Someone That You Loved Before

19.All By Myself

20.Hungry Eyes

Monica

[James]

I don't know how I left "Waiting" off my list. It's definately top 10.

James

[LatetotheParty]

James, 20 spots is NOT ENOUGH for this list; in needs to be a "TOP 40" LOL...because I didn't have enough room for my 3 favorite Side 3 rockers: Tonite, Ecstasy and I'm a Rocker!!

[Raspbernie]

Great thread, but I'm not sure I can even do this! Here's an attempt, though:

1. Boats Against The Current

2. She Remembered

3. The Way We Used To Be

4. Tonight

5. If You Change Your Mind

6. All For Love

7. Go All The Way

8. Love Is All That Matters

9. I Wanna Be With You

10. Foolin' Myself

11. Let's Pretend

12. Ecstasy

13. My Girl

14. I Reach For The Light

15. Nowhere To Hide

16. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

17. Someday

18. I Saw The Light

19. I Don't Know What I Want

20. Heaven Can Wait

Bernie

[wimvriezen]

A top 20 list without:

-Don't Wanna Say Goodbye

-I can remember

-Overnight sensation (Hit-record)

is not well done,

go on and do your homework again.

[Raspbernie]

Oopsy... "I Can Remember" is definitely in my Top 20, so I guess I need a Top 21

Bernie

[Les R.]

TEN lists and only one has "She Did It"? Need to plead for a bit of sanity and balance in all this list making! My Top 10 faves are all Top 40 charting hits, which is more reflective of the sentiment of the general public:

1. She Did It

2. Hey Deanie

3. Go All the Way

4. All By Myself

5. Let's Pretend

6. That's Rock 'n' Roll

7. Never Gonna Fall in Love Again

8. Make Me Lose Control

9. Hungry Eyes

10. Change of Heart

11. Don't Want to Say Goodbye

12. Someone That You Loved Before

13. I Wanna Be With You

14. I Reach for the Light

15. She Remembered

16. I'm Through With Love

17. Boats Against the Current

18. I Wanna Hear it from Your Lips

19. Someday

20. Last Night

[Brian]

Hey Eric........What are your favs???? Are you looking at these???? Where are you??????

[marvin]

1. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

2. I Wanna Be With You

3. Tonight

4. Might As Well

5. If You Change Your Mind

6. My Girl

7. Play On

8. Last Night

9. It Hurts Too Much

10. Go All The Way

11. Someday

12. That's Rock N' Roll

13. The Way We Used To Be

14. Boats Against The Current

15. Should I Wait

16. Make Me Lose Control

17. She Did It

18. Hey Deanie

19. Come Around And See Me

20. Don’t Want to Say Goodbye