American rock group the Raspberries disbanded on this day in 1974 (or 1975). 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."
I playing their records at a party in Edmonton in 1978 and I remember people liking the music so much they were asking who they were. Read the Youtube comments in the video above...they were that great of a band, and perhaps too much forgotten.
Their best known songs include "Go All the Way", "Let's Pretend", "I Wanna Be with You", "Tonight", and "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)".
After the group broke up, lead singer Eric Carmen would go on to a successful solo career, from the mega-hit All By Myself to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. He also wrote "Almost Paradise" (performed by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson for Footloose, 1984), as well as songs that were made major hits by Shaun Cassidy ("That's Rock & Roll" and "Hey Deanie").
His songs were also covered by Olivia Newton-John, Franki Valli, Bay City Rollers, John Travolta, Patti Labelle, Celine Dion, Diana Ross...and Mötley Crüe.
A few years back I followed Eric Carmen on Twitter and he followed me back. That really never happens with other celebrities. He is a conservative and a Trump supporter and left Twitter after the election.
I miss him.
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