LC Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 We've had lots of list-making threads here over the years... and they've all been fun and interesting. Now... a list of one. Your single favorite Raspberries song... what is it? One choice only, and... why? For me, it would have been "Go All the Way" for many years, because that was the one that caught my ear, or it could have been "I Can Remember," because it's beautiful and it's like getting three songs in one, or the irresistible "Let's Pretend." But after the benefit of many years of listening, I keep coming back to one choice as my favorite Raspberries song: "Overnight Sensation." And why not? It's such an epic pop masterpiece, one that, according to legend, caught the attention of (and maybe some mixing help from) John Lennon, and one that's beloved by Bruce Springsteen, per a concert shout-out several years ago. Personally, I was a little late discovering "Overnight Sensation" — I picked up on it not upon its original release but a couple years later (1976), via the release of the Raspberries' Best Featuring Eric Carmen vinyl album. Even though it had some chart success in 1974, for some reason it didn't get airplay in my part of the country (western NY State). But I was drawn in the first time I heard it, and found the lyrics to be an enlightening and cool description of what it was like to be a pop songwriter — the challenge and hard work and frustration and, finally, success. It's worth repeated listening even today, so I give you three choices. Take 17 minutes to give all three a review... you won't regret it. 1] The original recorded version, brilliant and wonderfully produced. Now this is how you write and play and record a "hit record": 2] A rare 1974 live version that I'd never heard until now (it just got posted on YouTube this month) — one where Eric gives a playful and improvisational vocal in the 2nd verse. (Bernie, do you know anything about this version?): 3] And, finally, the topper: this awesome reunion video, very well-captured, with the band in perfect form (cool to see Jim on drums and Dave on bass). Does it get any better than this? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Funny, I discovered "Overnight Sensation" , the same way as you LC (via the Best Of, featuring Eric Carmen) and in the same year as you (1976). We´ve got many parallels in our Eric Carmen fandom experience. That´s pretty cool. That is (today) my 2nd favorite Raspberries song. I´ll go with "I Can Remember" as my #1. Musical masterpiece with poignant, beautiful lyrics. James 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 It is quite cool that we took so many similar music paths, James. You must have been in an area where "Overnight Sensation" also got ignored by the deejays of the day. I remember reading on other threads here that some remember it getting lots of airplay back in the day in their part of the country, but for me (and you), our deejays were slackin'! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 PS: Make sure you check out that live 1974 version above --- it's a real treat. Eric's voice is well-recorded. I wonder where it comes from? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Yes, I´m from Columbus and in Columbus only "I Wanna Be With You" got airplay. No other Raspberries songs. So when I bought the "Best of..." I was hearing all those great songs for the first time. Our house had caught fire back in the winter of 1976/77 and we were living in a condo for a few months as the house was being repaired. The house was still habitable so I´d go there on weekends and listed to my music, the volume at full blast ! .. my family was not there so there was nobody to bother. That´s where I listened the poop out of that "Best Of...." álbum. I was mesmerized by the greatness of those songs. But it was strange as nobody else was familiar with this great music, at least nobody I knew,...so the fandom experience was pretty much experienced alone until I found this site some years ago. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 We must all have great taste in music...I keep seeing "Go All The Way", "I Can Remember", "Let's Pretend", Overnight Sensation" mentioned on our 'Raspberries Favorite Song' lists. "Go All The Way" was it for me, also, until 1974, when "Overnight Sensation" became the single best pop/rock record that has ever been recorded. In fact, that whole album should be #1 on everybody's list. But, adding to the equation how evocative a song can be (and who can ignore that aspect), I must choose another perfect pop masterpiece from the same album, "Starting Over", a song that is so autobiographical that it perfectly reflects what was going on at that time in my life. No wonder this album is always my pick for 'desert island' listening! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Ellen Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 SO is a masterpiece. What a unique and thrilling array of vocal and musical emotion from Eric. GATW will always be my fave because of the musician who wrote it and because of the pure positive energy contained in the words and music. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew C. Clark Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Wish I was on "American Idol" & performed that song!!! Matt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katariina Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 In 1:19 ( from the 1974 version) sounds like the singer is Mick Jagger (playing with his voice like he), then our EC comes back after some time, and in the end ..mamamammaajejeee it´s his trademark 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Larry, I'm not sure where that performance is from. I'd have to listen to the various live versions I have in my files to be fully sure. But no doubt it is cool. And a really high-quality recording to boot! "Overnight Sensation" is pretty awesome, but my #1 pick would be "Tonight." Bernie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Ellen Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 LC, Must interject the Ecstasy v. Tonight question within your thread. (Hope you don't mind my little hijack!) Definitely TONIGHT! M.E. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LobsterLvr Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 "Nobody Knows". Yup, every time I hear it it gets better. It's timeless. Dave 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Shaft Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 "I Wanna Be With You". The GREATEST Power-Pop song ever written (but "My Sharona" comes pretty darn close!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katariina Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 today, driving home from kindergarten (in Estonia for children from age 1,5-6) my 2-year old son asked for "his song". I asked, which one? "You know, the "Oops-song", my song, I want to hear it again!" His favourite EC song is "I Wanna Hear It From Your Lips", he is excited to listen backsingers "Oops". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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