The Raspberries

The band was built around the Brit rock obsessions of vocalist Eric Carmen and guitarist Wally Bryson. They had a string of huge hits like Go All The Way, Tonight and the autobiographical Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).

These hits made them one of the best commercial rock bands of the early 70s. Granted, their songs were hardly deep, but as heartfelt evocations of romantic teen angst and the naiveté of young love, they remain unbeatable.

For their sterling efforts they were maligned, misunderstood and passed over by the media and the masses alike. Perceptive writer's hailed them as 'the saving grace of rock & roll', but in the post-Woodstock days of unkempt hair, cosmic philosophies, faded denim and 25-minute blues jams, there was precious little tolerance for an outfit boasting multi-layered harmonies, tightly constructed pop love songs, matching white suits and shorter-than-average hair.

The Raspberries recorded four magnificent albums; Raspberries, Fresh, Side 3 and Starting Over.

Early in 1975, Carmen dissolved The Raspberries, smarting from public rejection of yet another of his masterworks. Retaining ace pop-producer Jimmy Lenner, Eric hurled himself into a solo album, simply named Eric Carmen.

Carmen made number two in the US with All By Myself and Shaun Cassidy made it to number three with a version of That's Rock & Roll. Meanwhile down-under, Aussie pop sensation Mark Holden made the Top Ten with a version of Carmen's Never Gonna Fall In Love Again.