The Raspberries-Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) 1974

[jpodunk60]

Rolling Stone Magazine selected "Starting Over" as one of the best albums of 1974 and one of its columnists, Dave Marsh, selected this as the #1 Song of the Year..guessing this is a little know fact. A fitting exit for the excellence that was Raspberries...

[emile235]

Beach Boys influence maybe? lol

[SpaceOdyssey56]

Fantastic song!

Since it first hit the airwaves, I've loved "Go All the Way", a song that Eric Carmen made sound a whole lot easier to sing than it really is, but only became a fan of their other music a few years ago, after covering it in karaoke circles. I've more recently covered "Overnight Sensation", which might be the only other Raspberries song available in a karaoke version.

That means that if anyone reading this runs a karaoke company...

GIVE US MORE RASPBERRIES!!!!

[stephenmath1]

very underrated band, awesome power pop pioneers, some shades of the same 60's flavoured Beach Boys type chorus here discernible in Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control" - thanks for posting

[nycdude999]

This went to #18 on the US Pop Charts in 1974. This should have been # 1 of course.

[TheJakal55]

@nycdude999 Too true very underrated single; really good time 74 when muic was music.

[Lordscotia]

I must confess to a guilty pleasure.I am a sucker for an Eric Carmen song,albeit the Raspberries or solo.I love his stuff,yet I should hate it!Keep writing that great stuff Eric.

[SpaceOdyssey56]

The Raspberries were an incredible band. Amazing style on the part of Eric Carmen, whose voice projects real power and emotion.

[Thadesgal]

One person was a flop.

[peterzang]

Yes this is music. Emotional, honest, chance-taking, but never forgetting how to make it all accessible.

[airsidetv]

They played this in New Zealand in 1974, I had a double sided single, Go All The Way on one side and Overnight Sensation on the other, this is the pinnacle of 70s music production, it has everything... wow those were the days, love it where it goes 'AM radio' in the middle and where the drums thunder back in OMG memories, his later song Make me Lose Control had similar elements.

[DaveWollenberg]

@BrooksRobby5 Yeah, it does, in a way.

[waterman9465]

Wasnt played in Detroit in 1974, and it isn't moving me now.

[nycdude999]

@waterman9465 Have you tried prunes?

[winggoddess]

i like the piano.

[DaveWollenberg]

The Raspberries hit #18 in Billboard, 11-9-74. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx!

[Drewalloveryou1]

This is the greatest song ever written



[phill90212]

lOTS OF AIRPLAY BACK IN THE 70'S ON pICADILLY RADIO IN mANCHESTER uk...THANKS FOR POSTING UP, IT TRULY IS BLOODY AMAZING.

[wsperger]

I'm torn over my favorite Raspberries song - this or Tonight.

[photoguybrian]

I had this album way back then. This was a fantastic song and album.

[socrates1818]

John Lennon helped mix this tune

[MrSlimjimk]

Great band. My mates got that record that smells like rasperries. must be worth a few bob now

[M1903A1]

One of our local DJs commented on this song...when he first heard it he was driving someplace in Florida. He was so stunned by it, especially the comeback at the end, that he had to pull off the road and absorb it all. Needless to say, once it was done he drove straight to his local record store and bought it!

[SteveCaftdunt]

Ye Gods, is this classic ditty really some 36 FFS !!!!! 36 years olde - still sounds as fab today as it did then - Wow !! some serious skin work going off on this track !!!

[themighty1440]

Oh, What a song.The first time I heard this was on BBC Radio One I went to Rumbelows in Uxbridge Midlesex and bought it. It still sounds fresh.

[phill90212]

This was a minor hit in the Uk back in the 70's but what a cracker. Did get the airplay at the time...and still does.

Thanks for posting up. Enjoyed every moment.

[WakeMeWhenYouNeedMe]

Some of the greatest artists of all time including my man Bruce consider this to be one of the greatest singles of all time. :D

This is my pop's favorite band, so he got me into these guys. Too bad Eric has gone have crazy lately. -_-'

[ppaulmorris]

I have always liked this. Thank you very much.

[mralukianowicz]

One of my three favorite local bands (Sensations and Lost Souls were the other two) as a teen and colege kid. I will never forget the big crowds watching Raspberries at the Agora. They did great Beatles cover songs. They may have not made it nationally but they were truly a great band.

[ivaro3]

One of the great power pop tunes of all times, in my view. Great piano, great drums, great idea about the song starting in the background and then getting louder as the dream becomes reality-GREAT idea and execution. I don't think you can improve much on a pop tune. Who doesn't want a hit record? It's kind of the Raspberries, "Hey Jude" with the repetition of the "wanna hit record, yeah."

[thabigrock2112]

The Raspberries are one of the best bands ever with no legacy. Pop sensibility with heavy guitars is unmatched!

[pianoman1237]

I want to learn this on piano :(

[candelise]

@pianoman1237 It is in F major, to start with.

[Paulhensby]

This is a great rock record and I love it. Thanks for posting it. Love the fade before the drumkit tour!

[Lisarata]

I like the sad parts best!

[NcicHit]

I like some of their stuff too. I traded it all off at one time. Now I need to find about five of their songs I really like. I just got their greatest hits album.

[goriii19582006]

A great song that was underrated. I hope there will be uncompressed 24-bit/192k-sampling-rate 5.1-channel-surround and 7.1-channel-surround versions of this song available soon. Perhaps this song will be available on the upcoming Blu-ray Profile 3.0 Audio disc in the near future.

[candelise]

@goriii19582006 Just get the CDs. They are fine enough!

[zoenen1]

Raspberries, The Quick, Milk And Cookies, Redd Kross, 20/20, Posies, Paul Collin's Beat, The Pop, The Nerves, Loud Family, Matthew Sweet, Three O'Clock, The Knack & Romantics

[feniblog]

A great song that we heard only rarely here in uk in the seventies.A lot of people must have missed out then but this a great opportunity to listen to a classic that stays with you.

[candelise]

@feniblog With respect, it did get a fair amount of airplay in the UK back in '76 when it was re-released.

[feniblog]

@candelise I only remember it being played on sunday afternoons on radio one as that was the only station going in those days but it still sounds great even now.

[candelise]

@feniblog Er,yes Radio One was about the only station except that Radio One would broadcast all week!

[DaveWollenberg]

Hit #18 in Billboard. God bless!

[dowcushmanclark]

I was in high school in the mid-70's and my friends and I just about wore out my copy of their Greatest Hits. This is such a great piece of production : tuneful and funny.

[spankywzl]

Still awesome. Still get chills from the harmonies , and the little "NUMBER ONE" part. If you have ever written a song, you can relate to the premise. Man I love this song !! Thank you for posting it, and digging a little deeper than Time/Life or American radio.

[susandiane311]

The "Rolling Stone Book Of Rock Lists" has this as the best song of 1974.

[centwestern]

One of my all time favs. Pity it ever was a hit in The Netherlands.

Dispite that, being a deejay in a club in those days I played it very often and many people likes this extended version.

Yes it recalls nice memories..

[DominoRyder]

About as good as a song can get. I'm only 26 and wasn't born when this song came out, but I can still relate to the exuberance of having a radio played song.

[solveig1759]

I'd say this song along with Andy Pratt's Avenging Annie and Henry Gross's Shannon is amongst the essential songs every -one should know

[garageband66]

Ouch! So I take it you were not too impressed with "Boogie oogie oogie and Yowsa Yowsa Yowsa"? LOL !

[moparfan59]

Agree 100% goat. I can't play it very loud on my computer. My speakers only go up so much. I gotta get the cd so I can play it on my stereo the way it should be played.

[garageband66]

Then buy some CD's and crank it up!

Thanks for the view.

[gravano2]

Great tune , no airplay here in Canada , I don't know why ? Boy Eric can write great tunes

[garageband66]

Canada like most countries promote their own. I could never understand why Lighthouse, Chilliwack, the Collectors, & other Canadian bandds did not get as much airplay in the US as they should have.

[gravano2]

Yes , but great songs still make it through , only go all the way got airplay

[Argonaut121]

@garageband66 I don't know. I live in Canada and listened to this album a lot back in the old days. That said, it didn't get much aiprplay and I always thought they were under-appreciated.

[jdbenedict1961]

@gravano2 This song had great airplay in the USA . . . . . I remember thinking this song was the greatest song when it first came out . . . I still love to hear this!!

[gravano2]

@jdbenedict1961 I still spin the greatest hits today , I love this music , the last 20 years have been so bad , very very sad

[choosing2lookeast]

@gravano2 Probably tied with the rules changing back in the day. Canada passed a law demanding that the majority of songs playing the air be of Canadian content. Of course if you lived near Detroit/Windsor in the 60s and 70s and listened to CKLW, you got the best of both countries which I loved cuz I could pick up the signal in Cleveland :)

[gravano2]

@choosing2lookeast I live near Buffalo , and you are right - the play list is very different . I enjoy both but Americans do rock more

[goofygoat2009]

this song must be playd loud.

[bulldogsop]

one of the best ever. Sorry , but cant agree with Bigwig7. In my opinion, this song is on its own.. Beach boys have nothing on this one. Bulldog...

[jonkheere1]

garageband66

Thank you for posting this 70,s classic.

I heard it on the radio a couple of days ago and got that 70,s moment when you hear a song for the first time in years and it instantly took me back to 1974.

LOVE IT!!!!!

[garageband66]

Thanks for the kind comments.

[garageband66]

thank you for checking out the site. It is great to go back in time to great memories.

[cutlasjohn25]

anybody know the where-abouts of Scott McCarl & Scott McBride ?? Thganks... John

[buttdok90]

This song bring back memories.

Sweet and cool!

[bigwig7]

I heard this for the first time a couple of days ago. This sounds so much like the Beach Boys - just like the records they made on their album 'Holland' - Unbelieveable - really good song. Thanks for posting

[garageband66]

Really? Sail On Sailor is about the only thing on Holland, that I would call power-pop like the Raspberries did. It is no secret that the Raspberries wanted to be more "rock" than the Beach Boys and named the Beatles as another big influence. Eric Camen idolized the BB's w/ the Rasp and in his solo career as well. I just can't see Holland comparing to Overnight Sensation. Explain a bit more please.

[bigwig7]

Hi Garageband66. Sail on Sailor was the record I had in mind when I first heard this record. Sorry just a big BB fan. Heard this track (Overnight Sensation) for the first time on the radio a few months back and loved the harmonies (reminded me of the BB). Lead singer on this track also has a similar sounding voice to Roger Daltrey. Great record anyway.

[bluecrab2u]

One of the all-time great power pop songs. I put it on a comp and by chance, followed it with Roxette's "Fading Like a Flower." (I was just kind of going in alpha order.) The segue worked out really well!

[garageband66]

Intresting comp. The alphabet often allows for those unusual segues.

[peterwilliamham]

Thankyou for posting 5*****

[garageband66]

My pleasure; thank you for the view.

[unasemaje]

Brilliant! I'd forgotten how good this song was, and it brings back happy memories of my younger days! Many thanks for posting it!

[NameCC8687]

Awesome track, thanks for posting it.

[garageband66]

Thanks for the view.

[e018sv]

I really like how you started with the AM transistor radio pics and gravitated to the Stereo systems and finally the concert set at that 4 part harmony break. a well thought out presentation. Eye candy as well as ear candy. 70's power pop is so sweet and nothing to appologise over if you like it. I wish those days were back.

[TOFFEEBLUE344]

Heard it this morning on the radio at the

Local CAB it was one of the great record's

i forgot about and since then,i've been

singing it to myself Thank You Garageband66 and YouTube

[mdengler]

I recently saw Raspberries in concert... they STILL sound great and this song in particular was fabulous!

[foggyrf9]

if you're criticising LIly Allen's 'singing' you've missed the point of her style.

[garageband66]

Nice asses can make up for a lot of shortcomings when it comes to talent.

[isolationblues]

This band was actually quite good. Some of you may find this interesting, a friend of mind saw the Raspberries many many years ago playing on Revere Beach in Massachusetts and there were only a few people in the audience watching them. He tells me they were just awesome.

[garageband66]

They were so much better than many gave them credit for.

[socrates1818]

Johnny Lennon helped mix this baby, dig the 'refrigerator falling down the stairs" - drums sound at 4'24"

[Normk43]

I'm in the Uk and bought all the Raspberries releases. Overnight Senastion topped the lot. A great Brit mod sounding group. I just wish they had achieved the success they deserved. I stiil feel like a teenager when the "tinny" transistor radio plays.

[garageband66]

That was probably the best mixing job ever done on any release.

[EmpressOfWyoming58]

I remember when 96 Rock FM announced that the "newly progressive Raspberries" had a new LP out and they were going to play it on such and such a day at such and such a time. There was hype. And of course of "too cool JR. Hippy" teens laughed our butts off. But, looking back on music I thought silly at the time, a lot of it was better than we thought. Heck, I love the Carpenters now-a-days.

[EmpressOfWyoming58]

WKLS 96.1 96 Rock FM Atlanta of course.

[KCVROCKS2008]

man i love this song, pop music at its' best.

[daviel60]

Simply sublime song! Thanks SO much for posting. It wasn't a hit but, for some reason, that makes it even more powerful and this was underlined when my partner and I met sixteen years ago and we could both sing the words to this song although neither of us owned it! It only goes to highlight the sheer power of the song I think. Timeless.

[lilbitz2005]

My mom has this on record still,from their greatest hits album to this day even being 22, love listening to this, brings back many great memories, and its one of the best songs ever.

[ninthwave999]

Thanks for the video, I really liked what you did with the little transistor radios for the "radio" part of the song. Made me smile. I hadn't heard the song in years, it was played a lot on the radio here in the UK and DJs were constantly caught out by the fake ending!

[garageband66]

I had one of those transitors my summer vacation in Daytona Beach and I cannot tell you the times that song played and it sounded like a normal song and I never picked up that fake change until I got the 45 and played it at home.

I remember too that a certain girl from Muncie, Indiana tried her best to take it home with her as a souvenir for our love affair so to speak. I wonder what she's doing now?

[soccerrun]

1 of my favorite singers ever is Eric Carmen (love the long version of All by Myself). This is my favorite song from their group and I thought it should have been a huge hit. Thanks for putting it all together. Are you old enough to remember when they were in their prime? Nice picture by the way.

[garageband66]

Oh yes, I was in the crowd to see them in Atlanta (I think)in 73 at the time Fresh came out. The song that brought the house down was a version of the "Locomotion" that Grand Funk obviously copied and recorded in 74. They rocked but way too many 9-11 year olds in the audience; music was great though. I saw Eric as a solo artist when he opened for the Beach Boys with Wally on guitar in 75.

[gazboat]

Very beautiful post garageband66...Literally in my top ten...bloody stunning...the epitome of wanting to be...I am so jealous that you saw them...must have been amazing...When it goes into the lo-fi radio bit and then kicks out with the stunning drums...bloody gorgeous...xxx

[MusicIdiotSavante]

An opus of monumental proportions. One of Carmen's very best!

[garageband66]

Yes it's a goody. I still like the long version of I Can Remember and Gonna Run Away from Eric's Raspberry and solo work.

As far as Opus goes and all.

[garageband66]

Of all time? Wow! Glad to do it!

[GuitarComet]

Dis be da sh!t mang!

[pingpongengineer]

As fresh as it was when I saw the Raspberries perform it in the multipurpose room at Rutgers back in the day.

[garageband66]

The Raspberries Live at the Multipurpose Room! Somehow it just doesn't have the same impact as a coliseum or hollywood bowl. But I'm sure it was a blast just the same.

[madmusketeer]

Love the drumming. Sounds like Keith Moon on the skins!!

[garageband66]

I hear that Jim Bofanti really tears this up on stage today, even though he is not the one palying them here.

[mowm88]

Great tune, along w/ 'Rock and Roll Lullabye' and 'Beach Baby', great retro/Beach boys tributes of the 70's. I love it.

[garageband66]

I like Rock and Roll Lullabye. I'll have to play that soon, it's here somewhere.

[yellowroselola]

this is fun!!!!

[garageband66]

It's what rock-n-roll used to be. It doesn't happen very often now.

[tricky159]

Great song heard it first on radio luxembourg , never really caught who the band were untill a workmate mentioned the song about 8 years later & told me it was the Raspberries .Then Eric Carmen came into conversation "All by myself" suddenly the light bulb in my head came on . sorry for the ramble ,again great song, thanks for posting..

[garageband66]

Rambling is encouraged here. Thanks for the memory and the view.

[philipleanza3]

The concert garageband66 was referring to earlier, actually had 4 acts on the show. I remember because I was there. It was at the now defunct Richfield Coliseum just outside of Cleveland in the dead of winter. It is still the best concert I have ever seen in my 53 years on the planet. Eric opened the show and performed a fine 45 minute set at his piano performing most of the songs from his 1rst solo LP....The 2nd act was Dave Mason....The 3rd act Hall & Oates....Headliner Beach Boys! Fantastic!

[garageband66]

South Carolina, where I was raised had this silly "performance tax" of sorts and we never got the "full package" in any concert. I am happy for you that you got to see all the acts in Cleveland but I assure you the Beach Boys and Eric Carmen were "all by theirselves" in the Carolina Coliseum in 76.

[duxberry1958]

superduper

[garageband66]

Thanks for the view!

[Islwynpaul]

I want garangeband66 to respond to my comment.

[garageband66]

Your wish is my comman

[Islwynpaul]

cheers, you are a gent.

[mattjackleroy]

Saw the Rasp. do this song a while back on their mini-tour. Great job.

[garageband66]

Thanks! Wish they'd come here. I saw Eric on his solo tour promoting his first solo effort opening for the Beach Boys in 75 or 76. Never got to see the Rasps play together at all.

[mattjackleroy]

I have met Brian Wilson, Jan and Dean, etc.. and seen the BBs many times over the decades. Always wanted to meet ECarmen and thank him for all the good tunes. Maybe one day....

[garageband66]

My age is beginning to show. My sister who is 4 years older than me reminded how she had to "drag" me to Atlanta to see the Raspberries in 72 or 73. I can't believe I forgot about that.

I remembered hearing their version of the Locomotion that Grand Funk later covered in 74. I think they were the headliner or with another big band. She can't recall either.

[Trude1974]

I was beginning to think I imagined I ever had this single in my collection.So glad that You Tube came up trumps again with the soundtrack to my youth. I bought it from the '20p box' in the local record in 1976 and played it the whole summer. GOOD TUNE!

[garageband66]

Check out Cruisin Music from the LP also on this site! Thanks for the view!

[meesalikeu]

thee "loudest" pop song of all time? hellz yes. just one of the many great aspects about it.

[garageband66]

Loud is good...very good!

[hollies65]

All hail the kings of powerpop!

[garageband66]

May they reign forever and ever!

[cutlasjohn25]

Thanks for posting this awesome song. It's my favorite song from The Raspberries. You did an excellent job on the video too. Nice to see the older photos also. One of the better bands out of our city of Cleveland !!

[garageband66]

Hey, I liked the Outsiders too!

[cutlasjohn25]

I've been able to meet Eric, Wally Dave and Jim over the years as I collect autographs in my copy of "Rock n Roll & the Cleveland Connection" and I've found them to be really great guys !!

[garageband66]

Wow! I saw eric backstage when he toured with the Beach Boys in 76, I believe and Wally was supposed to be there but I did not see him.

Will there be a new Raspberries release due to the success of the reunion tour?

[cutlasjohn25]

I wish I knew the answer to that. I think it would do pretty good IMO. The Outsiders were another awesome Cleveland band. I would love to meet some of them someday and get their autographs in the book.

[garageband66]

Many authors have directly credited the Outsiders with creating the "Cleveland" sound that paved the way for the many midwest bands that followed them. I have heard many garageband releases that did not have the O's success that sound very similar from that same time period.

[cutlasjohn25]

Time won't let me, Respectable and Help me girl were good songs from the Outsiders and I'm sure they had alot of influence on other bands from Cleveland. Another cool song was Stronger than Dirt which was from Tom King & the Starfires (pre Outsiders).

[garageband66]

I have heard all the Outsiders cuts you have mentioned and like a lot of one-hit wonders, they could not find as strong of a follow-up as their biggest.

Tom King and the Starfires is one I am not familiar with. Were they a local band on an independent label?

[cutlasjohn25]

Yes they were. They became the Outsiders in I believe 1965. They started out on the Pama label. "Stronger than Dirt" was a hit on the Ghoulardi show too.

[meesalikeu]

stronger than dirt was very well known to late night horror movie fans in cleveland via ghoulardi and the ghoul.

[bronzekneecap292813]

thanks for this song, reminds me of 9th grade playin football and partyin with the cheerleaders.

[garageband66]

Mmmmm. Cheerleaders!

[daviel60]

This must be the best non-hit record ever! What a joy to see it posted. Have loved it for years and years - this has made my day. Thanks so much.

[garageband66]

You are welcome.

[BeatleJaynumber9]

Eric Carmen is a genius.

Jim Bonfanti was not the drummer here. This is from Raspberries fourth album 'Starting Over' Mike McBride was the drummer on that album. Bonfanti is an awesome drummer, and kicks ass on this live.

[garageband66]

There is not a lot of images featuring Mike McBride as a drummer. Are you aware of a reason for that?

[BeatleJaynumber9]

He was only the drummer for the last album. I think he was a band member from 12/73-4/75. The band was not feeling the love from the fans at that point, despite having put out the amazing album 'Starting Over'. Check out the vids from '74 on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. 'Go All The Way' might be the only one on youtube now right now.

Ken Sharp put out a book called 'Overnight Sensation' check it out if you can find it.

McBride played on Eric's first solo album.

[burkepota]

Massively underrated, massively understood and massively talented to this day. And the reviewers of the time that sought to tag them as clones weren't listening at all. Too bad because those of us who lved (love) the band might have had 10 albums instead of 4. Still... if you're only left with 4- what an amzing body of work contained 'in 4'.

MFR

[seesaw65]

This is an awesome song.Thanks

[garageband66]

My pleasure!

[mackemc57]

What more can I say but absolutely bloody brilliant!!! Been looking for this thanx for pasting.

[garageband66]

You're welcome.

[jfglistens1959]

Oh Man....what a great song. So many layers. Springsteen called this a classic. Bonfanti's drumming is awesome!

[garageband66]

Springsteen was right!

[jameszeppelin]

good good good ole days uuuuuummmmmmmmm

[RooForce]

I'm with twiggystick -- an all-time great, and it doesn't get any better than Bonfanti's drumming. Thanks for postiing.

[garageband66]

Thanks for replying! The Raspberries were and still are a great band!

[twiggystick]

Many thanks for posting this - one of my all-time favourite numbers and still as great today! Absolute classic.

[garageband66]

My pleasure! Thanks for viewing!

[DaddyBog]

Thanks for adding this on.