popdude Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I just got done reviewing the "Boats Against the Current"/"Change of Heart" CD reissue for Goldmine Magazine and was struck by how well "Boats" in particular has aged.I wasn't a huge fan of the album upon hearing it for the first time many moons ago, but now with a few years of "life experience" (I wouldn't say wisdom) behind me, I can really appreciate what a masterful achievement it is - both musically and lyrically - from beginning to end.Even "Change of Heart" - which has been summarily dismissed by some as nothing more than "a disco record" - has more than a few gems on it. "Someday, "Hey Deanie" and the majestic "Desperate Fools" are all stellar, and even the "disco" tunes are as catchy as hell.And finally, this thought: look back on the albums that Raspberries released (only four) and Eric's solo oeuvre (six albums) and count the number of Eric Carmen-penned tunes that are very good or better. It's a long list, to be sure.As far as assimilating his influences - Beatles, Beach Boys, classical music, Small Faces - and producing music that is catchy, memorable and stands the test of time, there really are few artists who've done it better than Eric Carmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 As far as assimilating his influences - Beatles, Beach Boys, classical music, Small Faces - and producing music that is catchy, memorable and stands the test of time, there really are few artists who've done it better than Eric Carmen. EARLY MAY, 1997…BERNIE: Eric's music is so incredible, I can't believe there isn't a website celebrating him and his accomplishments!KATHY: Why don't you start one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Shortly thereafter, 1997...Woo-hoo! I've got to get me a computer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 A girl I worked with used to always hear me playing the Definitive Collection in my office and one day printed out when Bernie used to write chapter by chapter his early incarnations of an EC biography. She printed it all up and handed it to me and said "I know you like this Eric Carmen guy, so I looked him up on the internet and this is what I found". Needless to say, no work got done that day!I left work and bought my first home computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 BTW, just for the record (and back to the original post that started this thread), the first time I heard "Boats Against The Current" I considered it the best album I had ever heard. I still feel that way thirty years later.As for "Change of Heart," outside of the obligatory overuse of the high hat on a few of the uptempo tunes, I'm not sure it was ever really relegated to the "disco" trash bin—at least among EC afficionados. Besides "Hey Deanie, "Someday," and "Desperate Fools, which were mentioned, the LP also included "Heaven Can Wait," a soaring EC ballad of the highest order!Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popdude Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 BTW, just for the record (and back to the original post that started this thread), the first time I heard "Boats Against The Current" I considered it the best album I had ever heard. I still feel that way thirty years later.As for "Change of Heart," outside of the obligatory overuse of the high hat on a few of the uptempo tunes, I'm not sure it was ever really relegated to the "disco" trash bin—at least among EC afficionados. Besides "Hey Deanie, "Someday," and "Desperate Fools, which were mentioned, the LP also included "Heaven Can Wait," a soaring EC ballad of the highest order!Bernie I think (and this is just a theory) that many record buyers may have been mystified by BATC at the time, particularly if they were Raspberries fans expecting another "Go All the Way" or "I Wanna Be With You," or even if they were fans of the first solo record expecting more "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again," "Sunrise" or "No Hard Feelings." It was a record that is so personal, so majestic in scope and concept, that it may have been too difficult for the record-buying public to get its collective arems around it.As far as "Change of Heart," I agree that EC fans would never consider it his "disco" record, but seeing as how he had never before released anything so overtly danceable (nor with so many chirpy female background vocalists), it certainly was convenient for many reviewers to - unfairly - pigeonhole the album in that way. And I agree, Bernie - "Heaven Can Wait" is quite good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I remember purchasing the "Boats" album, looking at the pensive Eric on the cover and thinking, "Hmm...this one's not going to be a rocker." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay52 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I've always enjoyed "Change Of Heart"."Desperate Fools" for me has always been one of Eric's greatest songs."Heaven Can Wait"--"Life is short my darling,but tomorrow come what may"..gets me everytime.I still love "Hey Deanie" and the Beach Boys styled back-up vocals over "Deanie,love is all there is..don't wanna lose it.........""Desperate Fools"---"The sun beats down on the LA scene, but you can't feel the cold when the grass looks so green, and the games that I played were not worth what I paid, in a town full of desperate fools".Now thats a beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 i still like the first release better,though i loved hey deanie BEFORE shaun cassidy!! still love "inside story" from a latter l.p. ,,lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kiwi Connection Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I find Desperate Fools very haunting, especially with the use of the harmonica. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay52 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Chris.."Inside Story" is a great song to play air guitar to, not that I ever did or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I remember mixing my Best of Eric Carmen tape back in the 80's where I put the "Desperate Fools Overture" as the intro right into "Marathon Man". It fit nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angloberry Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I remember being aghast when I first listened to "Desperate Fools" thinking that Eric was sending us a message that he had had enough and was about to pack it all in! The lines "the games that I played were not worth what I paid", and "...but I know in my mind, that I'm starting to be what they want me to be, and I wonder sometimes what's becoming of me".I was overjoyed therefore when a couple of years later I was strolling around Harrods in London and chanced upon the record bin containing Eric's new album "Tonight Your Mine" complete with risque cover!By the way, the title track to "Change of Heart" is also a belter and is one of Mrs A'berry's favourites too. I love the end of the middle eight - the lines beginning with "Sooner or later...." with the totally unexpected chord change on the word YOU in the line "...I'm gonna get YOU back in my arms again". That's one of those special Eric moments where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I never played air guitar on Inside Story but I *have* played the lead violin part along with Desperate Fools quite a few times. These albums are amazing and have stood the test of time. --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannoman Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Quote: I find Desperate Fools very haunting, especially with the use of the harmonica. So true Marilyn. Great melody, haunting lyrics and a superb harmonica interlude that ties it all together.I love BATC, the original - not the version with the wimpy background singers. They ruined that beautiful song much like Sandy Linzer massacred Sparrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 It was such a departure for me, a fan from the first days, that the "Boats" album took me about a year to really like...The title track was an instant winner, but it took me a long time to "get" the rest of it..."A newspaper tumblin' down some windy street" sets up one of the real great images on record..."Change of Heart"...Most disposable of all his CD's(I guess) although a lot more accessable at first...I like Cassidy's version of "Hey Deanie" and I think that "Heaven Can Wait" and "End of the World" are underrated in the EC scheme of things...."Someday" would/should/could make a great single and was always a Lew "anthem" for female rejection(All too often)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.