I Can Remember - Raspberries Live - Eric Carmen, 1973

Live 1973 television performance. Let's start with the video's faults first... (1) camera features way too many closeups and dominance of Eric Carmen (not his fault of course), (2) band mates are grossly underplayed, (3) orchestra seems to be generated by keyboards, and (4) not enough variety of audience, band and other visuals. Now, let's get to the positive. 'I Can Remember' was a masterpiece off the Raspberries debute LP (you know, the one with the pleasant raspberry smell), which was one of those rare albums where every track was simply superb... no filler at all. Though the Raspberries crafted perfect 3 minute pop ballads, ICR was the exception... over 7 minutes of goosebump-inducing classical angst drama at it's finest! Because of it's length, it never made it to radio play and is seldom remembered as one of their big hits, though it easily could have been. But this performance was the one which won-over several of my sceptical college-buds who had previously ridiculed anyone that might enjoy the Raspberries, (serious music listeners weren't supposed to like top-40 music in that era). When this performance opened on our TV screen, the room grew silent, people actually stopped talking and listened attentively for the entire 7 minutes. At ICR's conclusion, exclamations soon followed with "wow!", "incredible!", "that was fantastic!", "I'm speechless!", "boy!!", and "now tell me about those guys again." No, this video is not perfect but it reminds us that for a few short years in the early '70s, we had the Raspberries... and they were candy to the ears!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carmen
• Raspberries
• Jesus
• Bryson
• Smalley
• Bonfanti

[philipcarol]

As mentioned before, look at the dates the two songs were written and see which was first.

[6leafdom]

i meant the 2nd one...the faster tempo one

[philipcarol]

There's only one song.

It has two distinct parts to it, but only one song.

Again, this shows Carmen's musical sophistication since such a technique is quite common with classical music, but far less so with popular music.

(The Beatles also did such a thing with their song "A Day In The Life"... one of their best songs!)

[ianslass]

One of the most beautiful songs my ears have been blessed to hear!

[philipcarol]

Your statement perfectly reflects my sentiments on that Friday evening in 1973 when I turned on the television to "Don K's Rock Concert" (I can't say his name legally here) and was swept away by seeing Eric and the Raspberries perform this masterpiece!

[prettymom777]

Well, he did it again a few minutes ago. Had me crying.

Eric, you'd better be doing some more serious writing, or I won't get the emotional release!

Raspberries forever, too! I hope for a 2009 concert, but I haven't read anything yet about that.

[Tony221100]

masterpiece

[jpodunk60]

If you are one of those out there that thinks Eric Carmen is just Dirty Dancing, just give this a look...Just watch him sing, play and perform his heart out...Of course he wrote this. If you have any appreciation for sheer talent, you will be a new fan looking for more saying "How could I not know about this guy???"

[finnbar1234]

perfect

[godmaderockandroll4u]

just take it for the song, you either like it or not

[mike28890]

Wally Bryson - One of the most under-rated musicians of our time.

[twiggystick]

Mega, mega group who produced some of the finest music ever - Eric Carmen is a  genius. This number combines so many musical genres in one unbelievable performance. Thanks so much for post.

[bwworld]

Indeed this was always a favorite of mine...along with Eric's solo number, Sunrise, which also deserved more airplay and recognition than it got because it was "too long" for pop radio.

[215buck]

I couldn't agree MORE, on The Raspberries AND Badfinger being underrated!!! I only hope The Raspberries got to enjoy more of their earned revenue, than the poor, mismanaged souls that were Badfinger!!! what happened to them, was NOTHING short of a crime!!!

[toddcharry]

beautiful song

[rotosoundz]

well...those of us who are old enough to remember 1971 will remember The Raspberries....this song featured Eric......and he should have gotten the camera time