In Hindsight: 1977's Boats Against the Current

[LC]

Ah, what the heck. I'll add Boats to this group of "Hindsight" threads, stealing from what I wrote five years ago.

1. "Boats Against the Current.†One of my favorite songs ever. The lyrics got to me right away, even as a 17-year-old, and they still resonate. It’s pure poetry. And the melody is the perfect match, intensifying with each verse and each repeated chorus. And, of course, the vocal might be Eric’s best ever.

2. “Nowhere to Hide.†The opening piano notes here hint at a light "soap opera†feel, but the lyrics quickly take you to a far more complex place: complete and utter depression. Heck, no soap opera could get this despondent. Has there ever been a line in a pop ballad as depressing as, “Happiness is hard to show when you’re numb to all the pain� Unless maybe it’s the next one: “And I’ve been floatin’ ’round like an old newspaper, blowin’ down some windy street/Feeling so alone and incomplete�

3. “Runaway.†Eight-minute songs run the risk of losing you, but not this one. "Runaway" takes hold early on with great lines that, again, read as poetry: “She was just an average blue-eyed golden high-school dream, an illusion nothing real could ever touch.†Who hasn’t been there? The playing and production are brilliant, and the pacing gives us those musical changes that made “I Can Remember†so great. And I love the long tag that pounds away for a couple minutes before fading. This is the type of song that would make an ideal soundtrack for a movie.

4. “Love Is All That Matters.†Judging by my top three picks, this album’s most dismal moments are the ones that have the most appeal to me. Yet I love this little slice of heaven, too — a perfect respite from the gloom and darkness, thanks to the positive lyrics and symmetrical melody.

5. “She Did It.†How can you not dig a song with the line, “Set to sea on a ship called Emptiness, cast away on the island of Loneliness, looking for love� Not even the Beach Boys themselves were this good in the mid- to late-1970s.

6. “Marathon Man.†If there were a Hall of Fame for songs that are ideal companions for roadwork (as in, running or jogging), “Marathon Man†would be a first-ballot inductee. I’ve always found it to be an inspiring three and a half minutes, thanks to the tension in the song, the off-beat production (I especially love the drumming), and the determination in Eric’s voice.

7. “I Think I Found Myself.†This was the only Boats track that didn’t make an instant impact on me: It took a few months to sink in. But sink in it did, and once I “got it,†it became a source of inspiration. The turning point was a winter night in 1977, not long after the album’s release. I always fell asleep with a radio on, and one particular night, the haunting sound of “I Think I Found Myself†awoke me from a deep sleep. It was weird, because here’s a song that you’d just never hear on the radio. Ever. But that night, it got air time on some late-night show during which a calm-sounding host imparted bits of inspirational advice to listeners and complemented it with fitting songs. When he played “I Think I Found Myself,†it pulled me from my slumber and I just soaked it in. Ever since, I’ve treasured it as a song that, in times of doubt or confusion or self-pity, can actually get your thinking back on track: “I’m on the line and out of time/For once in my life, I’m gonna do what I think is right….â€

8. “Take It or Leave It.†It’s not fair to put any song on Boats at the bottom, but keep in mind that No. 8 on an album packed with "A" songs is still pretty damned good. And by no means do I consider this a “weak†track; "Take It or Leave It" boasts an instant hook, great guitar interplay, and fully believable anger in Eric’s voice.

Kirk and Marvin, you're up, along with anyone else who cares to take a shot at this....

[Kirk]

Oh goodie, one more before zzzzzz:

1,4,5,2,3,7,6,8.

[Kirk]

BTW, this might be the only album of Eric's where everyone lists the same song #1...except, maybe Les!

[marvin]

1. Boats Against the Current

2. She Did It

3. I Think I Found Myself

4. Love Is All that Matters

5. Take It Or Leave It

6. Marathon Man

7. Nowhere to Hide

8. Runaway

[LC]

Yep, Kirk, we're counting on Les to push "She Did It" to the top, right?

And excuse my anal-retentiveness, but... I'm taking a moment to lay your list out for myself (and anyone else who prefers words over numbers):

KIRK'S HINDSIGHT

1. Boats Against the Current

2. Love Is All That Matters

3. She Did It

4. Nowhere to Hide

5. Runaway

6. I Think I Found Myself

7. Marathon Man

8. Take It Or Leave It

[Kirk]

I'm sure Bernie appreciates you tidying up my mess, also! He loves a good looking website

[LC]

Ha! Like I said in another of these threads, I love a T-shirt I once saw that read:

"Is there a hyphen in anal retentive?"

PS: True to form, I went into each of my lists after posting them to make them consistent — in some, I used quotes around song titles, in others, I didn't. So... I took the time to make sure I removed 'em all. (Either way is fine, of course, but... I didn't want to have some of both....) Sick, huh?

[James]

Don´t tell anyone LC, but I´ve got that same disease.

:-)

[Raspbernie]

1. Boats Against the Current

2. Love Is All that Matters

3. She Did It

4. Nowhere to Hide

5. I Think I Found Myself

6. Runaway

7. Marathon Man

8. Take It Or Leave It

Bernie

[Craig Benfer]

Ranked #1 but just barely over Eric's debut solo album.

1. Boats Against The Current A+

2. Love Is All The Matters A+

3. Nowehere To Hide A+

4. Runaway A

5. She Did It B+

6. I Think I Found Myself B-

7. Marathon Man B-

8. Take It Or Leave It C

[LC]

1. Boats Against The Current A+

2. Love Is All The Matters A+

3. Nowehere To Hide A+

4. Runaway A

5. She Did It B+

6. I Think I Found Myself B-

7. Marathon Man B-

8. Take It Or Leave It C

My Craig-inspired "grades update":

1. Boats Against the Current A++

2. Nowhere to Hide A+

3. Runaway A

4. Love Is All That Matters A

5. She Did It A

6. Marathon Man A

7. I Think I Found Myself A-

8. Take It or Leave It A-

Tough grader, aren't I? Just can't find much fault with this record.

While you're in here reading this, have another look at "She Did It." I remember seeing this on TV back in the day....

[Les R.]

Kirk: You got that right!

1. SHE DID IT A++

2. Boats Against the Current A

3. Nowhere to Hide A-

4. I Think I Found Myself A-

5. Love Is All that Matters A-

6. Marathon Man B+

7. Take It Or Leave It B

8. Runaway B-

If Billboard doesn't clearly tell the story about which song is better liked (SDI #23, BATC #88), then Cash Box certainly does: (SDI #15, BATC #92). In Canada, BATC did not chart, but SDI reached #11 for four consecutive weeks. ("That's Rock 'n' Roll" kept it out of the Top 10!)

[Craig Benfer]

No fair giving ++'s.

[James]

1. Boats Against the Current A+

2. Love is All That Matters - A+

3. Runaway - A

4. I Think I Found Myself - A

5. She Did It - A

6. Take It Or Leave It - B

7. Marathon Man - B-

8. Nowhere To Hide - B-

[LC]

Craig Benfer said:

No fair giving ++'s.

Maybe not, but... I'm tellin' ya, "Boats" the song is deserving of an A++. It's that good, IMHO, as Les would insist of "She Did It."

In fact, I just bought the import CD that presents Eric's first three albums all together on two discs (God knows why; I already have all three recordings in multiple formats). So I listened to the whole Boats album again, from start to finish, and came to the conclusion that I was trying too hard to have gradations in my grades. Specifically, I think I gave A- grades to "I Think I Found Myself" and "Take It Or Leave It" just to avoid doling out all As and A+s. But that's lame. “I Think I Found Myself” is so unique and ethereal and inspirational that I can't dock it any points at all. And "Take It Or Leave It" is just a great rocker; the album needed it. Put it on and crank it; even at our advancing ages, those guitars are so right, and the lyrics are tight, and the vocal is spot on. So I'm adjusting:

1. Boats Against the Current A++

2. Nowhere to Hide A+

3. Runaway A

4. Love Is All That Matters A

5. She Did It A

6. Marathon Man A

7. I Think I Found Myself A

8. Take It or Leave It A

PaulMaul, I'm anticipating that you'll be a little tougher in your grades, which is fine, so I'll be interested in seeing your thoughts. Others, too.

[PaulMaul]

OK, here's a list that's sure to be different from everyone else's:

1. Marathon Man

2. She Did It

3. Nowhere To Hide

4. Love Is All That Matters

5. Boats Against the Current

6. I Think I Found Myself

7. Run Away

8. Take It Or Leave It

I won't give ratings. I love Marathon and She Did It, and really don't love anything else on the album. I recognize so many love a lot of these songs, but they just aren't my thing, and don't represent much of what I love in Eric's songwriting.

[Duane]

LC...the "In Hindsight" threads are great. Great idea.

It's interesting to read everybody's comments...why they like certain songs or albums better...how much EC's music means to them...how and when they found EC's music, etc. I love that bond that we share here at Bernie's little slice of Heaven. We may not agree on certain songs, but somewhere in EC's catalog is music that has touched each one of us...we wouldn't be here if it didn't. Some have followed him since the Raspberries, maybe before...some have followed since his solo days...and some didn't get hooked until recently. However or whenever we each found EC's music, it evidently made enough of an impact to make each of us join this great site. I like a lot of music, but this is the only musician's site I belong to or visit. I hope Eric realizes what an impact his music has had on so many people. He should be very proud. Eric said in that "Where Are They Now" interview that being a songwriter meant the most to him. I think he nailed that. I don't know of anybody that has written so many different songs that have touched so many different people...it just amazes me. I don't know how you turn off a talent like that, but if he never writes another line he has given me (and others) a lifetime of great music.

Thanks, Larry for stirring up these great conversations and memories.

[Duane]

Boats Against The Current is my favorite song and album of all time...by any artist...I've wrote my thoughts on Boats many times so I'll not bore you with it again.

Let me try to rank the rest of them...

1. BATC A++

2. Love Is All That Matters A+

3. Runaway A+

4. Marathon Man A+

5. Nowhere To Hide A

6. I Think I Found Myself A

7. She Did It A

8. Take It or Leave It A

The first four were no problem, the next four took a while. Love Is All That Matters is perfection...a beautiful song. I've said many times, Runaway is the shortest 8 minute song I've ever heard. It's a roller coaster of beautiful music, I enjoy the ride every time I listen to it. One of these days I'm going to start a thread about Runaway and get some stuff off my chest. NTH and ITIFM are almost a toss up to me...I love the lyrics of both. I'm not crazy about the intro of ITIFM, but once it gets going it's perfect. She Did It at #7 doesn't seem right (sorry LesR). I love the song...it was actually my first EC purchase (the 45 with Someday on the B side)...so it has meaning to me, it just seems too light-hearted pop for this deep album. I think it would have fit better on the Change Of Heart album. I know it was the first single and the highest charting song of the album...it just doesn't seem to "fit" on Boats (IMHO). I feel the same way about Take It Or Leave It, it's a great rocker on an album that is not a rocker...it would've fit better on Tonight You're Mine (IMHO). Seems most people here have TIOLI at 7 or 8 so I guess we agree on that, but there's really not a weak or filler song on the album. It's a crying shame this album had so many production delays and problems. Had this album released while the Eric Carmen iron was still hot, who knows how different EC's career would've been. Had this album been a commerical success, maybe Clive would've just stayed out of EC's way and just let the man make his music. We would have all been better off...

[Brian Michael Page]

My rankings:

1. Boats against the Current

2. Love Is All that Matters

3. Marathon Man

4. She Did It

5. Take It or Leave It

6. Run Away

7. Nowhere to Hide

8. I Think I Found Myself

BMP

[LC]

LC...the "In Hindsight" threads are great. Great idea.

It's interesting to read everybody's comments...why they like certain songs or albums better...how much EC's music means to them...how and when they found EC's music, etc. I love that bond that we share here at Bernie's little slice of Heaven. We may not agree on certain songs, but somewhere in EC's catalog is music that has touched each one of us...we wouldn't be here if it didn't. Some have followed him since the Raspberries, maybe before...some have followed since his solo days...and some didn't get hooked until recently. However or whenever we each found EC's music, it evidently made enough of an impact to make each of us join this great site. I like a lot of music, but this is the only musician's site I belong to or visit. I hope Eric realizes what an impact his music has had on so many people. He should be very proud. Eric said in that "Where Are They Now" interview that being a songwriter meant the most to him. I think he nailed that. I don't know of anybody that has written so many different songs that have touched so many different people...it just amazes me. I don't know how you turn off a talent like that, but if he never writes another line he has given me (and others) a lifetime of great music.

Thanks, Larry for stirring up these great conversations and memories.

Duane, thank you! These were all fun to do.... I hadn't listened to some of these old records all the way through in a while, so it was my pleasure.

One question: Where is the "Where are they now?" interview you referenced?

[Kirk]

Larry, I believe that interview is in the special section for supporters of the website IIRC.

[Duane]

One question: Where is the "Where are they now?" interview you referenced?

Larry...it's in the "All For Love" forum...The Ultimate Archive that Bernie started for ec.com members...iIt's the 10th video.

[Les R.]

She Did It... just doesn't seem to "fit" on Boats (IMHO).

"I set to sea on a ship called emptiness, cast away on the island of loneliness..."

That's why Eric put it on Boats! Not that it wouldn't have sounded nice on the Change of Heart LP too, but the opening line alone makes it fit the theme of Boats. Apparently there was some overlap of planning for the two albums because they were released barely a year apart, and "Someday," the flip side of "She Did It," ended up on Change of Heart, which of course fits the theme of that album to a 'T'.

I have sometimes wondered why Eric chose not to do a cover of a classic '60s song for Boats as he did on both his first and third LPs (and his most recent). I would have liked to have heard him do Johnny Rivers' "Summer Rain," which I don't believe has ever been redone.

"We sailed into the sunset, drifted home caught by a gulfstream..."

That song could have made a very nice epilogue to Boats!

[LC]

Time to take another look at Boats:

1. Boats Against the Current A++. Cheating with the ++, I know, but I had to give its No. 1 spot emphasis.

 

2. I Think I Found Myself A+. The big change, up from No. 7 all the way to 2nd, with an added +. I’ve just grown to appreciate it more over the years. I got sidetracked somewhere, but I really can’t recall just when....

3. Love Is All That Matters A+. I slid this melodic ballad ahead of “Runaway.” It seems to have a cult following among musicians posting on YouTube, doesn't it?

4. Nowhere to Hide A+

5. She Did It A. I slid this Brian WIlson-esque pop classic ahead of "Runaway."

6. Runaway A

7. Take It or Leave It A. I slid this one ahead of “Marathon Man,” because it’s such a tasty rocker.

8. Marathon Man A. 

And that’s final!

[James]

I looked at my above list from 8 years ago, and no changes at all.

"Take it or leave it"....I like it a lot. But I think the right version of this song has yet to be recorded. Eric´s version was very good, but the production maybe was a little hollow, forced.....it doesn´t "roll" like it should, for eg. like the last 2 minutes of "No Hard Feelings". I think Eric would be the one do the "perfect" version, but with a different/better production effort.