When I read about power pop groups, The Raspberries rank second only to Badfinger as a frequently mentioned influence. I was sorry to read this morning that lead Raspberries singer Eric Carmen passed away. In the Summer of '88, his solo hit, "Make Me Lose Control," was on the radio constantly, thanks to its memorable, sing-along chorus. It's a pleasure to still hear it on the radio and online today.
Four of the best songs Carmen recorded with The Raspberries, in my view, are:
- Drivin' Around (For those who like the feel of Summer-themed Beach Boys tunes, this deserves a listen.)
- Go All The Way (One of the coolest, crunchiest rock guitar intros--and riffs--ever recorded. This 1972 track was the band's biggest hit and warrants the airplay it still gets.)
- I Wanna Be With You (Another infectious melody with well-executed call-and-response vocals. The Sneetches and Shoes recorded a strong cover version.)
- Nobody Knows (A tightly constructed track with impressive Beatles-influenced vocals, especially in the chorus. This is one of the band's more underrated tunes.)
