MUSIC WEEK APRIL 24, 1976

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Eric Carmen makes it all by himsen bv CHRIS WHITE for going solo, the main one who backed me on the album arc AFTER SEVERAL years of probably being that within the group coming out on the road with me. comparisons to tlic Beatles, and in we had all grown apart. We had put There are two drummers, one who his own case Paul McCartney, it the group together in 1970 because has played with me in various bands finally looks as though Eric Carmen we were all building on common since 1968 and was on the last — former lead singer of the U.S. ground but then we grew apart Raspberries' album. The other live group, the Raspberries — is heading musically and there was really no musicians all come from my k.f'* for the big-time in Britain. Already reason for continuing to play hometown of Cleveland, Ohio I his recent American chart-topper All together. It's ludicrous trying to be heard them playing one night and By Myself has chanted in Britain and into something you're not," Carmen knowing that I would need a back- endorses the opinion of many pop explains. up band, thought that they would be pundits who feel that Carmen is a There was another reason for the ideal." major talent to the reckoned with. split-up, according to him. The Raspberries biggest American i "Raspberries had gone through a lot hit was called Go All The Way in Carmen himself is aware of the of frustrating experiences with our 1972. The song was banned by the difficulties he has had in the past record company in the States. They BBC here for being "too dirty". with the British market and is the marketed us very badly — sort of as Carmen comments: "1 think that is first to point out that the a teen act which we really never were perhaps one of the reasons why the Raspberries while having several and never intended to be. It was Raspberries never broke in England. Top 20 hits in the U.S. always difficult trying to live down being In addition our record company remained a 'cult band' in Europe. loved by rock critics an one end and were having such difficulties '•But now that All By Myself has tccnyboppcrs the other. Yet the marketing us in the Slates that they broken into the chart, I am going to middle section that we were after, never really got to concentrating on do everything I can to continue the the great concert-going album- die European market which was very success/' he says. "Some American buying public, just weren't aware of disconcerting for us. groups prefer to just concentrate on what we did." "Another setback was that we the U.S. market but it is important Carmen says that he has were frequently compared to the to me to achieve acceptance over experienced no difficulties as a solo Beatles and many people said that Eric Carmen here as well." performer, which is none loo my voice sounded like Paul discerning," Carmen says. "1 have The Raspberries split up last year surprising considering that in the McCartney's, but certainly there was reputationhas been tryingof being to a newlive Dylandown jhe listened to Capital Radio and it's States his first solo release went to no intention on our part to sound so really incredible. In the States it after four years and Carmen was For the future, Carmen will be would be just impossible to turn on a almost immediately signed to Arista number one and will turn gold much like the group. Admittedly we returning to the States where he wi as a solo artist by Clive Davis. any day now. His album is also a were influenced by them, having radio station and leave it playing. "There were a number of reasons Top 20 hit. "The same musicians crown up in the mid-Sixties when the be louring major cities wiih ihe banc There is just so much tasteful Beatles and many other UK groups America; after that he will do his programming in Britain." invaded the States. However it was own headlining tour ot U.S. College, ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING only in the same way that people like and Universities, travelling with his He adds: "I'm confident for the Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and own band. He intends to return to future. Arista is a very good Presley influenced bands like the London however, hoping to write company to be with, because they Beatles and the Stones." new songs here for his next LP are very artist-orientated. So many He adds; "I am sure that held us "which should be a litilc less pop companies are run as a large IPITOMBI back because we were never able to than the first one" — and an bureaucratic organisation with no Album GALAXY 26000 Also available on break out of that mould. As soon as appearance is being planned for next real - contact between management Cassette & 8 Track anyone calls you the new anything, January's Midcm. you might as well be dead. Bruce "In America radio is really and the recording artists, but Arista ONLY AVAILABLE ON RECORDS Springsteen is such a great example governed by trends but here in the has always been personally involved of that — for the last two years he UK British audiences are much more with the names they sign."