Raspberries: "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)"

[stevie nice]

Going by rote here, can't remember specific dates or such, but this was going to be Raspberries biggest hit ever when it was released in late 1975. It flopped. stalling around #18 or so, but it made "pick hit" status on Bob McAllister's "Wonderama" show and rightly so!! This is one of the grear singles of the 70s and one listen and you will agree if you wanna find it. The band, whose biggest hit was "Go All The Way" in the early 70s (a rock song that was certainly comparable to the greatest classic rockers of the early 70s, think "Hollies-Long Cool Woman," "Deep Purple-Smoke On The Water," or "B.T.O.-Taking Care Of Business," Overnight Sensation" was Raspberries pleading for commercial and artistic success. And it almost worked!! The single, which was something close to 5:30 long (pretty long for an unedited pop song, especially in the mid 70s, was still a top 20 hit, even tho many considered it the band's crowning failure, and it separated the band, ultimately from a lot of other acts that it was lumped with, basically band like Tommy James and The Shondells (who in their own right were a SUPER late 60s pop band) or, I dunno, u think of a band that sounds like this.

Eric Carmen, who was the lead vocalist of this act, later had a couple of major pop hits with "Hungry Eyes" and "Make Me Lose Control." But, honestly, if you wanna seek out good music, and u are a fan of those 2 solo tracks, elevate your mind and check out the 2 aforementioned songs, and if u're really brave, find "Let's Pretend" or "Tonight." Definitely an act that didn't get irs rightful props!!!!

[irock]

I agree.  I always liked the Raspberries.  Carmen was much better with the group than without it, at least in my opinion.

EDIT: Although, Carmen did have one excellent single (not his biggest hit) called When I Was Young. The melody was lifted directly from the slow movement of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto. It's a very nice tune.

[reception]

Here's a clip.