Fresh (Raspberries album)
Fresh is the second studio album by Raspberries, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). It contained two Top 40 singles. "I Wanna Be With You" reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] number 10 on Cash Box[4] and number 7 on Record World. "Let's Pretend" reached number 35 on Billboard, number 18 on Cashbox, and number 14 on Record World. It was their highest-charting album, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard album chart.
| Fresh | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 1972 | |||
| Recorded | Abbey Road Studios, London, Record Plant Studios, New York | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:00 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Jimmy Ienner | |||
| Raspberries chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic link |   |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[1] |
| Creem | C[2] |
Creem critic Mike Saunders said of it that "This is the best album I’ve heard in a long time, and it looks like we have an important group on our hands."[5] Music critic Greg Shaw said that the album is "every bit as enjoyable as the classic Beatles albums."[5]
Record World called the single "Drivin' Around" a "Beach Boys-styled hot rod rocker."[6] Music critic Robert Christgau called it a "remarkable Beach Boys takeoff that has tape decks in it."[7]
This album was re-released on CD as part of Power Pop Vol. 1, also containing their first album, Raspberries.
Track listing
Timings and credits taken from the original Capitol issue (ST-11123).
| No. | Title | Lead Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Wanna Be with You" (Carmen) | Eric Carmen | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Goin' Nowhere Tonight" (Carmen, Smalley) | Dave Smalley | 2:30 |
| 3. | "Let's Pretend" (Carmen) | Carmen | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Every Way I Can" (Smalley) | Smalley | 2:44 |
| 5. | "I Reach for the Light" (Carmen) | Carmen | 4:01 |
| 6. | "Nobody Knows" (Carmen, Smalley) | Carmen | 2:19 |
| 7. | "It Seemed So Easy" (Carmen, Smalley) | Smalley | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Might as Well" (Bryson) | Wally Bryson | 2:25 |
| 9. | "If You Change Your Mind" (Carmen) | Carmen | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Drivin' Around" (Carmen, Smalley) | Carmen | 3:03 |
Charts
| Chart (1972/73) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 31 |
| United States (Billboard 200) | 36 |
Band members
- Eric Carmen - rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals, piano
- Wally Bryson - lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
- Dave Smalley - bass, backing and lead vocals
- Jim Bonfanti - drums, backing vocals
Production
- George Marino - mastering engineer
References
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "The Raspberries". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the '70s. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0306804093. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- Christgau, Robert (March 1973). "The Christgau Consumer Guide". Creem. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- Raspberries lyrics. Top40db.net.
- Cash Box Top 100 1/20/73. Cashbox (January 20, 1973).
- Hann, Michael (July 12, 2016). "Cult heroes: Raspberries – 60s-loving progenitors of powerpop". The Guardan. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. May 18, 1974. p. 10. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide '70s: R". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 246. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
Bibliography
- Borack, John M. (2007). Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide. Not Lame Recordings. ISBN 978-0-9797714-0-8.