Favorite Power Pop Songs #1 - "Go All the Way"

@teamfreak16 (43421)
Denver, Colorado
February 28, 2017 8:24am CST
After spending the last nine days revisiting my favorite power pop tunes, I believe you might find #1 a tad anticlimactic, but here we are. The top spot in my Favorite Power Pop Songs series belongs to "Go All the Way" by the Raspberries. The Raspberries formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1970, and after a nineteen-year hiatus, continued on until 2009. Their classic lineup consisted of vocalist/guitarist/bassist Eric Carmen, guitarist Wally Bryson, guitarist/bassist Dave Smalley, and drummer Jim Bonfanti. (Of course, you know Eric Carmen for solo hits such as "All by Myself" and "Hungry Eyes." Did you know he also wrote "Almost Paradise" for Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, and a few Shaun Cassidy hits?) I've used this song before, so instead of regurgitating the same info, here is some cool stuff: Bruce Springsteen has always spoken highly of the Raspberries (he even wrote a foreword that was used in a Raspberries CD/DVD set,) and Paul Stanley, Tom Petty, and Axl Rose have all cited the band as an influence. And that CD/DVD set? It also includes a cool 1970 photo of John Lennon wearing a Raspberries sweatshirt! From their 1972 self-titled debut album, "Go All the Way" performed admirably. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 (#5 in Canada as well, and #14 in Australia, it was banned by the BBC, however,) sold over a million copies, and was certified gold. "Go All the Way" has been covered by Matthew Sweet and Bangles vocalist Susanna Hoffs for one of their decade-specific cover albums, and by The Killers. "Go All the Way" is, to me, the quintessential power pop tune, the one I play if someone is unfamiliar with the sub-genre. A bit obvious for #1, but what else could it have been? (Info verified by Wikipedia)
5 people like this
4 responses
@FourWalls (62063)
• United States
1 Mar 17
Funny, I was reading this at lunch on my way home, and what comes on the radio in the restaurant but "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" by Eric Carmen? This is definitely a 70s classic song.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62063)
• United States
1 Mar 17
@teamfreak16 -- yeah, "All By Myself" is as bad as "Go All the Way" is good.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Mar 17
@FourWalls - I couldn't have said it better myself.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Mar 17
I was never much for Carmen's solo stuff, but that's quite a pleasant coincidence.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
1 Mar 17
As soon as you banned by the BBC, you know record sales are going to be good!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Mar 17
It sure worked for Frankie Goes to Hollywood!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
2 Mar 17
@teamfreak16 You have to wonder sometimes about what is going on behind closed doors!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169828)
• United States
28 Feb 17
I like that song..So many great rock pop tunes aren't there?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Feb 17
Oh yes. So many. It was hard to narrow it down to ten.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Feb 17
Oh man is that a blast from high school past. I can hear the song in my head!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Feb 17
It's definitely a good one to have in your head. I hope to keep it in mind all day. At least until it's R&B time.
1 person likes this