The Raspberries Songs Ranked
Raspberries were an American pop rock band formed in 1970 from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their pop-rock sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring “exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies. The members were known for their clean-cut public image, with short-hair and matching suits, which brought them teenybopper attention as well as scorn from some mainstream media outlets as “uncool”. The group drew influence from the British Invasion era—especially The Beatles, The Who, The Hollies, and Small Faces—and its mod sensibility. In both the U.S. and the UK, the Raspberries helped pioneer the power-pop music style that took off after the group disbanded. They also have had a following among professional musicians such as Jack Bruce, Ringo Starr,[6], and Courtney Love. Here are all of The Raspberries songs ranked.
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10. Overnight Sensation (Starting Over, 1974)
“The title speaks for itself. Other than their big hits (go all the way, let’s pretend, I wanna be with you & overnight sensation) most people have never heard any other Raspberries tunes. I have always loved the songs I’ve mentioned here, but was quite thrilled by the new songs I discovered on the CD.”
9. I’m a Rocker (Side 3, 1973)
“The Raspberries “I’m A Rocker” is a melodic pop rock track that was penned by Eric Carmen. The song was written as a nod to Little Richard, and 1950’s rock and roll. The song should have been a huge summertime AM radio hit. “
8. Tonight (Side 3, 1973)
“Tonight”, penned by main man Eric Carmen, from the Raspberries’ third LP, the scratch ‘n’ sniff _Side 3_, is a harder rocking track than previous singles from the group, sans the cookin’ backseat action of “Go All the Way”. While the song is another infectious pop cut, inspired by Carmen’s affection for the Small Faces, the powerful number didn’t fare well on the charts, failing to crack the all-important top 40. The single, which was pressed and issued prior to the release of _Side 3_, stalled at number 69 on the _Hot 100_ chart, never to be aired on Casey Kasem’s weekly three-hour review of the hottest songs in America.”
7. Let’s Pretend (Fresh, 1973)
“Here is one of those songs you think about from time to time which elicits fond memories from a pop music era long gone, yet once the effort is taken to dig it out and give it a spin, you wonder again what the fuss was all about. That said, the Raspberries were all the rage in coastal Queensland for a couple of summers in the early 1970s and it was very cool to blast them out of your expensive car cassette speakers!! “Let’s Pretend” was a top 5 hit in Brisbane during 1973.”
See more: The Raspberries Albums Ranked
6. I Saw the Light (Raspberries 1972)
“‘I Saw the Light’ is actually my favorite song here and is arguably the Raspberries ballad [Carmen’s forte] par excellence. A ridiculously tight McCartney-flavour baroque pop ballad with some truly lovely chromatic harmonies and a consistently involving melody. Short, and perhaps a tad too repetitive in its outro, but very sweet indeed. Lovely piano work in the instrumental break too. It’s, well… lovely. Did I… mention that?”
5. Come Around and See Me (Raspberries 1972)
“There’s even some nods to, just as Badfinger of the same era did, the British Invasion and the Beatles in the pleasant ‘Come Around and See Me’.
4. Goin’ Nowhere Tonight (Fresh, 1972)
“Awesome 70s pop and there are about 5 songs on here that could have been smash hits and not of them were… Oh well, at least its here for all of our listening pleasure, possibly one of the most underrated pop acts from their day that are appreciated by other famous acts.”
See more: Supertramp Albums Ranked
3. I Wanna Be With You (Fresh, 1972)
“Power pop near-perfection from the Raspberries with a number which could have fitted nicely into a Beatles set-list mid-1964, title and all.”
2. Don’t Want to Say Goodbye (Raspberries 1972)
“A song, that also could have been recorded by the fabulous Bee Gees sometime between 1967 and ’69. It was the piano, it was the orchestral arrangement, and it also was the tune. The difference was the singing, as the Raspberries never were able to do anything comparable to the Brothers Gibb.”
1. Go All the Way (Raspberries, 1972)
“This has to be one of the best pure pop songs of its time. “Go All the Way” by the Raspberries is excellent, and has a great riff that opens up the song and the catchy chorus that any good pop song needs. Eric Carmen and the Raspberries hit the big time with the instantaneous hook that drives “Go All the Way”, from the group’s self-titled debut LP. “
