Though the band has achieved only cult success over the years, they have a loyal fan base and also a following among professional musicians such as Jack Bruce, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, and others. The group's "classic" lineup consisted of Eric Carmen (vocalist/guitarist/bassist), Wally Bryson (guitarist), Jim Bonfanti (drummer), and Dave Smalley (guitarist/bassist). Their best known songs include the aforementioned "Go All the Way" as well as "Let's Pretend", "I Wanna Be with You", "Tonight", and "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)". Seminal producer Jimmy Ienner was responsible for all four of the Raspberries' albums in the 70s.
The group broke up in 1975 after a five-year run, and Eric Carmen proceeded to a successful career as a solo artist. Bryson and Smalley resurrected the group's name in 1999 for another album, which featured indie rock artist Scott McCarl as the vocalist. In 2004, the original four-man lineup reunited and soon undertook a well-received reunion tour. Their music additionally experienced a resurgence of interest after its inclusion in the popular 2014 film 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and its related soundtrack.
The group's history begins in early 1970 as a partnership between singer-songwriter Eric Carmen and drummer Jim Bonfanti, local pop/rock heroes thanks to the respective tenures in the hugely popular bands Cyrus Erie and The Choir. Guitarist Wally Bryson and bassist John Aleksic (both Choir veterans as well) completed the original lineup, which made its live debut in mid-October of that year. With their short hair, matching suits, and Beatlesque sound, the Raspberries ran in direct opposition to the prevailing hard rock mentality of the Cleveland scene. Yet, after just a handful of gigs, the band was among the city's most popular live acts. However, after cutting their first demo session, Aleksic left the lineup in March of 1971. With the addition of rhythm guitarist Dave Smalley, Carmen assumed bass duties.
The Raspberries' demo tape ultimately found its way to producer Jimmy Ienner, a figure interested in a 'wall of sound' approach akin to Phil Spector, and, in the wake of a major-label bidding war, the band signed to Capitol. The group released their their self-titled debut LP (complete with a raspberry-scented scratch-and-sniff cover sticker) in the spring of 1972. Their debut single, called "Don't Want to Say Goodbye", stalled, but the follow-up, called "Go All the Way", a well-received fusion of a The Who-inspired guitar snarl and The Beach Boys-styled vocal harmonies, went on to sell over a million copies on its way to cracking the Top Five. Although some censors felt horrified due to the tune's sexual content, leading to an ban by the BBC, the group preformed the song live on several programs. Carmen and Smalley swapped guitar and bass chores prior to recording the Raspberries' sophomore effort, 1972's 'Fresh'.
That album brought the group additional critical acclaim and praise from their fellow musicians. The record generated two more hits, rocker "I Wanna Be with You" and the smooth ballad "Let's Pretend", solidified the band's stature as local rock heroes. Nevertheless, tension within the ranks— sparked largely by Carmen's creative primacy and the shadow it cast over the songwriting contributions of Bryson and Smalley, both genuinely talented as well— were beginning to boil over. Thus, 1973's 'Side 3' boasted a more raw, aggressive sound than its predecessors, typified by the visceral crunch of the opening "Tonight", and showed a group in flux.
'Side 3' failed even to crack the Top 100, however, and appeared rather out of place compared to the squeaky-clean, laid-back commercial music of the time. Following a triumphant Carnegie Hall date, both Smalley and Bonfanti exited the Raspberries to form their own band, which they soon titled "Dynamite". They were replaced by bassist Scott McCarl and ex-Cyrus Erie drummer Michael McBride. Still determined, 1974's acclaimed 'Starting Over' continued the harder-edged approach of 'Side 3', yielding the band's final chart smash, the much praised "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)". A nasty post-gig confrontation between Carmen and Bryson soon resulted in the latter's departure from the group. After playing a handful of shows as a three-piece, the Raspberries disbanded in 1975.
Carmen then mounted a solo career; tapping McBride to play drums on his self-titled debut LP, which launched the number two blockbuster "All by Myself". He did not return to the upper rungs of the charts for over a decade, however, before scoring a major hit in 1987 with his 'Dirty Dancing' soundtrack contribution. The tune, called "Hungry Eyes", has remained popular for years since then. Re-inspired musically, Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control" additionally reached the number three spot a year later. Bryson, meanwhile, resurfaced in a short-lived band— named Tattoo— before joining the power pop group Fotomaker for three albums during the late 70s. Despite their skill and bursts of critical praise, the other ex-Raspberries besides Carmen found mainstream success elusive.
In March of 1999, all four original members (Smalley, Carmen, Bryson, and Bonfanti) met up for the first time in years, sparking rumors of an impending reunion. A few months later (after three of the four members played together onstage in Cleveland to celebrate the 80th birthday of rock journalist Jane Scott), a Raspberries reunion tour was confirmed as fact by 'Billboard Magazine'. Unfortunately for fans, the reunion failed to materialize. Carmen continued to write and record as a solo artist, while Bryson, Smalley, and latter-day member Scott McCarl opted to resurrect the Raspberries' name as a trio— issuing the album 'Refreshed' in 2000. That release picked up some praise from music journalists but went nowhere commercially.
As stacks of the popular book 'Eric Carmen: Marathon Man' was rolling off the presses, the dream that Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti would ever find themselves in a room together again, let alone reunite to perform, was labeled by many fans as likely as the Titanic rising from its ocean depths. Nonetheless, the band made an announcement in the mid-2000s along the lines of: "Ladies and gentlemen, I present for you the Titanic arisen." Raspberries guitarist Wally Bryson was overheard quipping, "If not now, then when?" (said via phone with Raspberries lead singer Eric Carmen on an evening in July 2004).
Drummer Jim Bonfanti was already on board, and bassist Dave Smalley joined onto the project shortly thereafter. The rest, as they say, is history. The original band members rehearsed in a rented space just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. They quickly re-learned all of their biggest hits and reacquainted themselves with their chops. For all four musicians, it was like time had stood still. They were back together again— for real this time— and had plenty of fans interested in future touring.
Raspberries first considered a reunion four years before then, but Carmen has remarked that the offer from promoters would not have allowed the band to put on a show with the production values it felt its fans deserved. "My caveat has always been that there's a mythology about the band, and I don't want to burst that bubble. If we couldn't put on a good concert, I didn't want to do it," he stated. After playing House of Blues clubs with Ringo Starr in 2001, Carmen loved the venues' vibe had had some inspiration. So, the House of Blues in Cleveland appeared to be the ideal place to play at.
"It's kind of fun to look around after all these years and see these people, who were my fellow musicians and my friends, working together again. And it sounds like us," Smalley stated. "Our fans have just not given up," Wally commented, "I've said it wouldn't happen, but they've been so persistent and loyal. I think we all kind of got the same feeling: 'Let's go and do this before we're freaking 95.'"
"The intention initially was just to play one show," Eric remarked. However, "[a]s we started rehearsing, a number of very interesting things happened— not the least of which was, we sold this first show out in four minutes. It totally knocked the House of Blues for a loop." The band's long-awaited live reunion, bringing them across the nation, ended up being featured in a 2007 album titled 'Live On Sunset Strip' (also known as 'The Raspberries: Live on Sunset Strip'). The release earned praise from critics such as Allmusic's Bruce Eder, who stated that "these guys can still sing their hearts out and play their asses off ".
Website: http://www.raspberriesonline.com/main.shtml
I Saw The Light
The Raspberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Solitaire for two
Till she was leaving
I never really knew
When I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
I realized (I saw the light)
It was all when I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
I realized
Then you're home forever more
And now that you're here
There is nothing to fear
[It was all] when I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
I realized (I saw the light)
The lyrics of the song "I Saw the Light" by The Raspberries reflect a moment of realization and clarity that come through a romantic encounter. The opening lines of the song, "Old friends, bookends / Solitaire for two / Till she was leaving / I never really knew" set the scene of two people who have been spending time together but have not yet taken their relationship to a deeper level. The singer has been playing solitaire, a game played alone, with his friend, and it is only when she is about to leave that he realizes he has been missing out on something.
The turning point of the song comes in the chorus when the singer looks into the eyes of his friend and sees the light. He realizes in that moment that there is something more between them than just friendship. The repetition of the phrase "I saw the light / I realized" emphasizes the suddenness of the moment and the impact it has on the singer. The song then shifts to a more optimistic tone with the lines "There's a knock on the door / Then you're home forever more / And now that you're here / There is nothing to fear." The knock on the door signifies the arrival of the person who has been away and the start of a new chapter in the singer's life where he no longer has to play solitaire alone.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Saw the Light" capture the emotional journey of falling in love and the moment of clarity that comes with it. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has experienced the joy and fear of opening up to someone and the realization that love can change everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Old friends, bookends
The singer had been friends with someone for a long time, but their relationship was stagnant and unchanging.
Solitaire for two
The two people were together but still felt lonely.
Till she was leaving
The singer didn't realize how much he cared until the other person was about to leave.
I never really knew
The artist had been blind to their own feelings and the feelings of the other person.
When I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
Finally, the artist saw the other person's true feelings and intent.
I realized (I saw the light)
The singer finally made a connection about their own feelings and how they relate to the other person.
It was all when I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
The realization and newfound understanding all came from the eye contact and connection with the other person.
There's a knock on the door
Someone has come into the artist's life bringing new hope and possibilities.
Then you're home forever more
The new person has brought a sense of belonging and safety to the artist's life.
And now that you're here
The artist feels grateful and relieved that the new person is here with them now.
There is nothing to fear
With the new person in their life, the singer feels confident and without worry.
[It was all] when I looked in her eyes (I saw the light)
The connection and newfound hope came from seeing things in a new light, thanks to the other person.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERIC CARMEN, WALLY BRYSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xlxfjh
Astonishing that this was not a hit, or even a single. Has one of the most gorgeous melodies you could ever hope to hear.
mrtwang32
A better choice than "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" which is a great track but too long to be a hit single. By the time "Go All The Way" faded the band was ready with "I Wanna Be With You" but yes, "I Saw the Light" should have been featured at some point.
dtjimmyb
Astonishing is that this band didn't become a world wide hit. Easily the best thing that Cleveland ever put out.
Joe is great.... but anything he did after James Gang really doesn't count.
aabacchi
Yes, this melody is perfect. Like songs written by Brian Wilson. Amazing.
MARCO ANTONIO Annunciato
Adoro o Raspeberries. Essa canção é linda
lyonslaforet
Shame the Raspberries remain an unfairly neglected band for they had great melodies in their songs!
sweetpurplegurl
This song is so beautiful.....love the knock 💞💞💞
iSNARK!
Keep those Raspberries treasures coming Annie! BMP
RodCornholio
Genius...what else can one say?
Roy Douglas
The Raspberries and Badfinger ruled back then!!!