In the 70s, a new subgenre of Pop/Rock emerged called “Power-Pop.” It seems the name was first coined by The Who’s Pete Townshend, who used it in the 60s as a way of how he saw their music.
Of course, The Who were nothing like the Power-Pop bands of the 70s, one of which was The Raspberries. And today, we are going to look at the Top 10 Raspberries songs.
Misunderstood?
Some might argue that. It was much maligned at the time and since to a certain extent. If Power-Pop had been leveled up and packaged like “Bubblegum” had been – fun, tongue-in-cheek, and hardly serious – it would have been fine. But, the people behind Power-Pop and most of the bands involved took it all so seriously, which laid them open to a certain amount of ridicule.
One of the driving forces behind this seriousness, apart from the artists who believed in their own publicity, was Capitol Records. And, it is common knowledge how they went a long way to destroying the reputation of another Power-Pop band, The Knack.
Who was it that signed The Raspberries? Oh, it was Capitol. Say no more.
Loved By Some
It can’t be argued that this subgenre became hugely popular with its rock riffs, 60s guitar sounds, and catchy Pop choruses. And bands like The Raspberries, although they didn’t last long, had a major influence.
Despised By Others
I have already alluded to one of the reasons the genre was disliked. But there were a couple of extra considerations. As I said, some of the bands believed all the hype and went along with the commentators’ comments.
Secondly, some also believed what they were being told and that they did sound like certain people. “This song has the power of The Who,” hardly. “It sounds like The Beatles,” I don’t think so. “Just like The Beach Boys,” not at all.
It should have been left alone and not deluged into all the ridiculous hype…
Then it may well have grown and established itself more than it did. But that is music executives for you. How can we make money, and how quickly can we make it? The bands will do what they are told.
Power-Pop became seen as a pre-teen genre. “Nursery Rhyme Rock for children,” as one guitarist called it. However, some of the songs are still played and enjoyed by those that liked them at the time. Nothing wrong with that.
Who Were The Raspberries?
They were four guys from Cleveland that had a clean-cut image with short hair that appealed to the teenyboppers. Furthermore, they looked like they were trying to be like British “Mods” without quite understanding what that era was all about.
They took their influences from a range of British bands from the 60s and The Byrds. Nothing wrong with that, and they created their songs with that at the forefront of their sound. That is one reason they sounded so appealing to a certain section of the record-buying public.
Raspberries weren’t around for too long, just five years. But, they managed four studio albums and released ten singles. So, let’s take a look at them and the best Raspberries songs.
Top 50 Raspberries Songs
1 Don’t Want To Say Goodbye
I have chosen this song first as a prime example. What was one commentator’s description? “A great Paul McCartney-esque ballad.” No, it is not. And therein lay half of the problem.
It isn’t a bad song at all, typical of the time, with some nice vocals and a decent chorus. And it doesn’t need a Beatles comparison to sell it because there wasn’t one. Aiming at the audience, it should have been intended, for it would have done okay.
This was their first single taken from their album called Raspberries, released in 1972. The single wasn’t successful, only making #86 on the American chart. However, you can hear that the vocals were good, and the lead singer was better than some around at the time. There was something to work with. For the right management, that is.
2 I Don’t Know What I Want
This is a track from their last album, their fourth, entitled Starting Over. By the time this was released in 1974, they had different members. Two of the founding members of the band, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti, had left.
The opening was unashamedly copied from a section of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from 1971. I think this is their attempt at getting heavy. But, it is also an example of how they should concentrate on what they are good at rather than trying to be what they are not.
It is another one of those situations where the genre doesn’t seem to have understood who they are and what their target audience is. “I Don’t Know What I Want” is a decent enough song but has far too much pretense about it. It’s not difficult to understand why they took so much criticism when you hear tracks like this. The album didn’t do well, only reaching #143 on the American album chart.
3 Last Dance
This is a track taken from the 1973 album Side 3. Given my criticisms of the last track, this song is much better. It was written by guitarist Wally Bryson and has a real 60s sound about it. “Last Dance” wasn’t released as a single, and the album only reached #128 on the American album chart.
This song has the flavor of a 60s Byrds track. The Rickenbacker lead guitar part gives it that Byrds’ jangly sound. In that respect, they are not stepping out of their comfort zone and are doing what their fans would have wanted. There are some nice harmonies to go along with it, which makes this one of their better tracks. And what earns its place among the Top 10 Raspberries songs.
4 Tonight
I am very tempted to say ‘”here we go again” with this comparison nonsense. In the blurb for this song, it says it is “one part Small Faces, one part The Who, and one part The Beatles.” I don’t know what parts he is talking about but not on this track.
Once again, there are some blatant efforts to just take ideas from The Who. But, they are very watered-down efforts. This is another track taken from the Side 3 album from 1973. It was released as a single but only reached #69 in America and #80 in Canada.
For fans of the band, this will be a welcome selection…
“Tonight” is a favorite Raspberries song among the faithful. But, once again, it is a track that is going to get nothing but criticism from certain quarters. It is a shame because it could have been a decent song. No doubt, the record company executives are filling their heads with ideas of grandeur. Along with, of course, some of the commentators.
5 Overnight Sensation
This is a song that has a very different sound from the songs on their first album. “Overnight Sensation” was taken from the Starting Over album from 1974 and was one of the last tracks they recorded. They broke up soon after. It was also one of the most successful Raspberries songs, reaching #18 in America and #22 in Canada.
“Overnight Sensation” has a different sound in that it has a piano and saxophone along with some nice vocals. And the piano entrance gives it a different feel. Without question, a song that Raspberries fans will enjoy.
6 Let’s Pretend
This is a track taken from their second album, Fresh, released in 1972. The single became their second best-selling track reaching #35 in America and #13 in Canada. The album reached #36 on the American Album chart.
Quite an ordinary song, but with plenty of decent vocals. The arrangement gives it a lift, though. And, as always, it will be a favorite amongst their fans. Although, not much Power-Pop about this well-known Raspberries song.
7 On The Beach
This is another track from their Side 3 album from 1973. However, “On The Beach” was not released as a single. Side 3 is considered by some fans as their best in terms of its content. But, it only reached #128 on the American Album chart. That was a long way behind their previous release Fresh which peaked at #36.
“On The Beach” has got the essential elements you might expect from Raspberries. Plenty of those “Byrds-sounding” guitars and some decent harmony vocals.
8 Ecstasy
Sorry to burst your bubble, Mr. Commentator, but this song does not give The Who a run for their money. Another track from their Side 3 album from 1973.
Interesting “Kinks-like” opening that then drifts into a Pop song with very 60s vocals. It goes along at a decent pace and is one for the teeny-boppers of the era. “Ecstasy” is bound to bring back memories for the young teens of the 70s.
9 I Wanna Be With You
Back to the album Fresh from 1972 for this offering. One of their more successful singles, it reached #16 in America and #17 in Canada. When listening to The Raspberries’ best songs, it is clear that the earlier recordings were the best of the bunch. This is another of their Pop songs that draw heavily on its sound from the early Byrds.
And that is what they were best at. Simple Pop songs with a catchy hook and a recognizable sound. They weren’t a Rock band or a British Mod band. When they tried to be, the wheels fell off.
This track represents what they were, and there is nothing wrong with producing Pop material for a younger audience. That is the reason “I Wanna Be With You” was more successful than most because they stuck to what they could do well.
10 Go All The Way
This is from their first album, Raspberries, which was released in 1972. The song starts like it might break into a Rock song with an interesting start. But, then, it drifts into a Pop song with a style that will be familiar to Raspberry fans, with plenty of harmonies and recognizable guitars.
It had to be the final choice as it was the most popular Raspberries song. “Go All The Way” reached #5 in America, #5 in Canada, and #14 in Australia.
11Party’s Over
12Hard to Get Over a Heartbreak
13Starting Over
14Come Around and See Me
15I Saw the Light
16Makin’ It Easy
17Rose Coloured Glasses
18Drivin’ Around
19I Can Hardly Believe You’re Mine
20Play On
21Go All the Way (Acoustic)
22Don’t Want to Live Without You
23Temptation’s Calling Your Name
24I’m a Rocker
25Goin’ Nowhere Tonight
26I’m a Rocker (Reprise)
27The Way I Feel Tonight
28Makin’ Music
29Nobody Knows
30If You Change Your Mind (Acoustic)
31Money Down
32Play On (Acoustic)
33Rose Colored Glasses (Live)
34Cruisin’ Music (Reprise)
35Overnight Sensation (Acoustic)
36Might as Well (Reprise)
37Come Around and See Me (Reprise)
38Should I Wait (Acoustic)
39Party’s Over (Reprise)
40Don’t Want to Say Goodbye (Reprise)
41Starting Over (Acoustic)
42I Don’t Know What I Want (Reprise)
43I Wanna Be With You (Acoustic)
44Tonight
45Should I Wait
46Making It Easy
47If You Change Your Mind
48Cruisin’ Music
49Cry
50Baby’s in Black
Looking to Add More Great Music to our Library?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Songs About Pain & Suffering, the Top Songs About Being 16, the Top Songs About Coming Home, the Top 10 Songs by The Who, and the Best Phil Wickham Songs of All Time for more amazing song selections.
Top 50 Raspberries Songs – Final Thoughts
Raspberries didn’t last long, and it isn’t hard to see why. They were given all sorts of comparisons that just didn’t exist. They weren’t The Who, The Beatles, The Small Faces, The Hollies, or The Dave Clark Five. Not even close. Just because they pretend to be, does not mean they are.
And that is where it all goes wrong…
They were a teenybopper Pop band that had a little bit more than most others in the same genre. But, some were convinced it was something more than that.
In one sentence, an observer says the singer sounds like Roger Daltrey, and in the next, like Steve Marriott. Has he ever heard either? Eric Carmen doesn’t sound like either of them. Carmen was a very good singer, but the other two were world-class.
The Raspberries were good at what they did when they did what they were best at. And it’s worth listening to a complete album of their work, The Very Best of The Raspberries. It didn’t last very long, and I suppose there will be reasons given why. When they stuck to what they did well, they were a good Pop band.
Until next time, happy listening.
