Raspberries

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Raspberries were an American pop group from Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 1970. The best-known line-up consisted of Eric Carmen on vocals, guitar, bass and piano, Wally Bryson on guitar, Dave Smalley on guitar and bass and Jim Bonfanti on drums. The group grew out of two local bands from the 1960s, The Choir and Cyrus Erie. The producer Jimmy Ienner made all four albums of the 1970s.

Music and breakthrough

The albums were Raspberries and Fresh from 1972, Side 3 from 1973 and Starting Over from 1974. Well-known songs are Go All the Way, Let's Pretend, I Wanna Be with You, Tonight and Overnight Sensation (Hit Record). The group split up in 1975, after which Eric Carmen had a successful solo career. In 1999 Bryson and Smalley used the name again for an album, and in 2004 the four original members came together for a reunion tour in 2005.

Influence

The music derives from the British Invasion, especially the Beatles, the Who, the Hollies and the Small Faces. The result is pop music with strong melodies, harmonies and crisp guitars. The group wore neat, matching suits, which won it many young fans and the scorn of some critics. Even so, the Raspberries are regarded as pioneers of power pop, a style that only really blossomed after the group had stopped.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1972Fresh
• 1972Raspberries
• 1973Side 3
• 1974Starting Over

Mentioned in other articles

• Powerpop GenreIn the early 1970s it was played by Badfinger, Raspberries and Big Star, followed later by Cheap Trick and The Knack.

See also

• Powerpop