Pros: A classic album full of pop standards and rock 'n' roll gems.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Top 40 hits:"All By Myself," "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" and "Sunrise," plus a live version of "Sunrise" on this Rhino reissue. Album earned a Gold Record Award.
Don_Krider's Full Review: Eric Carmen (Rhino) by Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen wasted no time in getting his first solo album out when the Raspberries broke up in April 1975. Eric grabbed Raspberries drummer Mike McBride and Cleveland dance group, Magic, to begin recording this incredible album. With Raspberries producer Jimmy Ienner at the helm, the pop wall-of-sound goals of this album were achieved magnificently. Nine original songs and a cover of "On Broadway."
The lead-off track, "Sunrise," is a tour de force, creating an instant aural message of a sunrise brightening up a "brand new day." The track also went to # 34 as a single in 1976, one of three Top 40 hits from the album.
"That's Rock 'n' Roll" (written by Eric and a Top 10 hit for Shaun Cassidy) opens with the steady drumming of McBride and blazes to power pop heaven with Eric calling, "Let's see some sweat for the boys in the band."
Rachmaninoff's music heavily influenced "All By Myself", "Never Going to Fall In Love Again" and "My Girl," all magical productions. The centerpiece of the album, for most fans, is the piano solo in "All By Myself" --- an ex-girlfriend told me it reminded her of the solitude of winter. A shortened version of the song became a # 2 single. It also remains Eric's only certified RIAA Gold Record single in the U.S. He did also have a Gold Single as a member of Raspberries for "Go All The Way" in 1972.
"No Hard Feelings" tells the story of the break-up of the Raspberries ("we was locked in image prison") pretty honestly, while "Last Night" moans that "last night when I went to bed/I was so lonely." It's all done with beautiful vocals by Eric, who plays a variety of instruments as well.
The back-up band, Magic, should have been stars in their own right nationally, so perfect is their playing and singing. A third track from the album, "Never Going to Fall In Love Again," peaked at # 11 in the Billboard Hot 100.
This remains Eric's highest charting solo album (peaking at # 20 in Cashbox and # 21 in Billboard). Although Eric does have gold records courtesy of soundtracks and covers of his songs by other artists, this is Eric's only self-performed RIAA-certified Gold Album in the U.S.
Arista has re-released the album on CD in Japan, but not the USA. The album was reissued on CD in the U.S., however, via Rhino Records in 1992. The Rhino reissue includes a live version of "Sunrise" and the single version of "All By Myself." "All By Myself" was covered by Celine Dion in 1997, becoming a Top 5 single for her.
Just released:
Live On Sunset Strip (Deluxe Edition of 2 CDs and a DVD recorded during the 2005 reunion tour) By Raspberries, a 2007 Rykodisc release with liner notes byBruce Springsteen and a photo of John Lennon in a Raspberries sweatshirt in the CD booklet, produced by Mark Linett and Eric Carmen: http://www.epinions.com/content_393207123588
Related review:
Capitol/EMI's 24-bit digitally remastered CD "Greatest" by Raspberries was released in May of 2005 in the U. S. and Europe. It features all 7 of Raspberries Hot 100 singles, has 20 tracks and runs 78:53 minutes: http://www.epinions.com/content_186044681860
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