| For information about Raspberries, please visit: |
| Designed & Maintained by Doggone Good Records Copyright 2006 |
| For lyrics and more information on the Reflections: Side 3 project, please visit www.myspace.com/reflectionsside3 |
| Reflections: Side 3 |
What is Reflections: Side 3 ?
| Reflections: Side 3 |
| Songs from the Raspberries Fan Community |
The genesis of this project took place about 3 years ago, thanks to the efforts of
Howard Whitman. When there was nothing happening in the musical world of
Raspberries, Howard came up with the idea of a tribute by the fans to the band.
The original suggestion was for fans to send their versions of Raspberries songs,
but that idea eventually morphed into asking the fans to send their original music
that was "inspired by Raspberries", or "in the vein of Raspberries."
The entries came fast and furious and the result is a 20 song disc entitled
"Reflections Side 3: "Songs from the Raspberries Fan Community".
The material ranges from pop veterans Billy Sullivan and Kyle Vincent, to Jesse
Bryson (the son of Raspberries' guitarist Wally Bryson), to a host of musicians
who were previously only known by their 'nomme de plume' on the Eric Carmen
Message Board.
Without a doubt, Raspberries are the ultimate "should have been" band. Their
outstanding material went neglected, for the most part, but as you'll hear on this
disc, their music went behind the scenes, inspired and touched many musicians.
Marvin Matthews
Howard Whitman. When there was nothing happening in the musical world of
Raspberries, Howard came up with the idea of a tribute by the fans to the band.
The original suggestion was for fans to send their versions of Raspberries songs,
but that idea eventually morphed into asking the fans to send their original music
that was "inspired by Raspberries", or "in the vein of Raspberries."
The entries came fast and furious and the result is a 20 song disc entitled
"Reflections Side 3: "Songs from the Raspberries Fan Community".
The material ranges from pop veterans Billy Sullivan and Kyle Vincent, to Jesse
Bryson (the son of Raspberries' guitarist Wally Bryson), to a host of musicians
who were previously only known by their 'nomme de plume' on the Eric Carmen
Message Board.
Without a doubt, Raspberries are the ultimate "should have been" band. Their
outstanding material went neglected, for the most part, but as you'll hear on this
disc, their music went behind the scenes, inspired and touched many musicians.
Marvin Matthews
To Purchase:
| The proceeds from the sale of this disc benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation |
Only $10.00 plus
shipping/handling
shipping/handling
Raspberries logo by Kevin Carmont
Now in stock & shipping!
| All on line transactions are handled securely through Paypal |
| Songs from the Raspberries Fan Community |
Larry Lange
Kyle Vincent
The Flashcubes
Qwasi Qwa
Marvin Matthews
Billy Sullivan
Khaoticos
John Lemonis
Paul Cartmill
Unknown Reason
Duophonic
Craig Pearman
Mike Miller
Pat Griffin
Howard Whitman
Billy K
Mitch Spera
Michael Phillips
Bill Campbell
Tony Cartmill
Kyle Vincent
The Flashcubes
Qwasi Qwa
Marvin Matthews
Billy Sullivan
Khaoticos
John Lemonis
Paul Cartmill
Unknown Reason
Duophonic
Craig Pearman
Mike Miller
Pat Griffin
Howard Whitman
Billy K
Mitch Spera
Michael Phillips
Bill Campbell
Tony Cartmill
Larry Lange
Kyle Vincent
The Flashcubes
Qwasi Qwa
Marvin Matthews
Billy Sullivan
Khaoticos
John Lemonis
Paul Cartmill
Unknown Reason
Duophonic
Craig Pearman
Mike Miller
Pat Griffin
Howard Whitman
Billy K
Mitch Spera
Michael Phillips
Bill Campbell
Tony Cartmill
Kyle Vincent
The Flashcubes
Qwasi Qwa
Marvin Matthews
Billy Sullivan
Khaoticos
John Lemonis
Paul Cartmill
Unknown Reason
Duophonic
Craig Pearman
Mike Miller
Pat Griffin
Howard Whitman
Billy K
Mitch Spera
Michael Phillips
Bill Campbell
Tony Cartmill
| Questions? Comments? mam@nwrstudio.com |
Featured Artists
Reflections: Side 3 – Songs From the Raspberries Fan Community is a 20-song compilation of cuts from hardcore Raspberries fans that encompasses original tunes either inspired by the legendary power popsters or in the vein of the ‘Berries’ music. Unlike most fan-based discs of this ilk, Reflections has the added bonus of some established artists who’ve climbed on board, including Kyle Vincent (“The Ghost of Rock ‘n’ Roll”), The Flashcubes (“You Got My Promise”) and Christian artist John Lemonis (the uncannily Eric Carmen-esque dramatic ballad “You’re the Only One”). Family and friends make appearances, as well: Raspberries guitarist Wally Bryson’s son Jesse shows up with his band Qwasi Qwa, contributing the supremely catchy, well-written “I Know,” while current Raspberries sideman Billy Sullivan’s “Passing Strangers” is a gem of a power pop ditty. As for the fan community’s contributions, there are a number of winners: Paul Cartmill’s “Won’t Let Go” is a straight-up power pop number in the vein of “Hey Deanie”; Mike Miller’s “Criticizer” is a solid sonic tribute to Wally Bryson’s vocal and guitar styles, with echoes of Raspberries’ “Party’s Over” and “Play On”; and Tony Cartmill’s peppy “Summer of ‘83” is bolstered by a strong chorus, sounding like it could have been a theme song to an ‘80s teen flick. Overall, there is certainly much to savor about Reflections: Side 3 (available only via www.nwrstudio.com/raspberriestribute). John Borack/Amplifier Magazine November 2006 |
Amplifier Magazine Review!
| Amplifier Magazine and E-pinions Reviews Below! |
e-pinions review by Don Krider!
"Reflections: Side 3": A Raspberries tribute album that works!
Oct 28 '06 (Updated Oct 29 '06)
Author's Product Rating
Pros
Some great power pop anthems, including a great anti-war tune, highlight the 20-song collection.
Cons
Song production standards vary from professional to do-it-yourself at home recordings.
The Bottom Line
An interesting tribute album in which fans of Raspberries perform original songs written in the style of the band. Featured
performers include Kyle Vincent, The Flashcubes and Qwasi Qwa.
Full Review Reflections: Side 3 - Songs From The Raspberries Fan Community is the culmination of a three-year
project by fans of 1970's rock idols Raspberries.
The Doggone Good Records release from executive producers Howard Whitman, Marvin Matthews and Mike Miller (of
Norwegian Wood Studios) features some well-known power pop names like Kyle Vincent (who had a Top 20 AC hit in
1997 with Wake Me Up (When The World's Worth Waking Up For) on Hollywood Records) and The Flashcubes along
with some very pleasant surprises among the lesser-known names on the 20-song CD.
Even better, the proceeds from sales of the CD benefit a very good cause, the VH-1 Save The Music Foundation.
Some background
For the uninitiated, Raspberries scored seven Hot 100 Billboard chart hits in 1972-74, including the million-seller Go All The
Way and their album Starting Over was named Album Of The Year by Rolling Stone magazine in 1974.
The band's legendary status and fan loyalty led to the band reuniting in 2004, nearly 30-years after leaving the music scene
in 1975, with its original lineup (Eric "All By Myself" Carmen, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti) back together.
That band signed with Rykodisc earlier this year and their 2005 Los Angeles reunion show (the culmination of a successful
2004-2005 U. S. tour) was recorded by producer Mark Linett (Grammy-nominated engineer of Brian Wilson's Smile).
That Raspberries reunion tour saw some big names attending shows by the band, including Rick Springfield, Jon Bon Jovi,
Paul Stanley of Kiss, Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli of The Rascals, with members of The Romantics, The Go-Go's, The
Sex Pistols and Blondie, among others.
Bruce Springsteen even dedicated one of his songs to the band at three of his shows and the New York press proclaimed
the Raspberries New York City shows as "one of the year's 10 best live shows."
The final result of that tour and the Los Angeles concert recording is now being prepared for a CD/DVD release, and the
band plans a "personal appearance" soon in Cleveland. But that's another story.
This project
The story at hand, and this fine CD, Reflections: Side 3 - Songs From The Raspberries Fan Community, was conceived
when the concept of a lasting Raspberries reunion happening was but a dream nearly three years ago.
Using the message boards of various official and fan sites, and personal contacts, the three men behind the project
encouraged musical contributions from fans of the band. This CD resulted from those contributions.
The CD's title, Reflections: Side 3 - Songs From The Raspberries Fan Community, comes from some fan based tributes
that appear on Raspberries.net called "Reflections" and the title of Raspberries 1973 album, Side 3.
The resulting CD has some stunning tracks. You never know what to expect from a tribute album, especially one that
involves original material by the performers on the CD (not covers of Raspberries' songs).
In this case, this is a CD worth having in a power pop/alternative rock fans collection --- it's a good introduction to a large
number of acts and a few of the songs are every bit as good as the Raspberries' original tunes, which is quite an
achievement.
Some standout artists
The 20 songs on Reflections: Side 3 - Songs From The Raspberries Fan Community are all good, but a few of the tracks
make the CD more than worth the price of purchase.
Larry Lange
The song that kills me is Whatever Happened To Love by Larry Lange. It's one of those rare tunes that has you wanting to
sing along with it even when it's not on the CD player --- a melody and lyrics that stick in your head all day long.
Lange, author of the book The Beatles Way: Fab Wisdom For Everyday Life and the songwriter of a 1990's tune, No
Matter What (also known as No Morira) that won ASCAP's Most Played Song Of The Year Award, writes an anti-war
tune here.
Whatever Happened To Love, written by Lange and Mike Lorello, blends '70s Raspberries rock with lyrics that should
become a modern anti-war anthem. It's such a cool concept: mix a delicious sounding power-chorded melody with lyrics
that not only grab your attention, but which also make you think:
...screaming off the sea at night, rockets in the sky, how did we get back to live and die, whatever happened to love (I
wanna know)... show me where it says in your Bible, that peace is in a rifle..."
There's even a mention in the song of a Raspberries' fan who was a captain serving in Iraq who couldn't attend a
Raspberries reunion show but wrote the band from the battlefront in Iraq to tell of his love of the band (Raspberries Eric
Carmen and Dave Smalley, the latter a Vietnam veteran himself, read the emotional letter on stage during the reunion tour):
"...Captain Tim's a friend of mine, they sent him to the war, now he's wondering what he's fighting for... the truth is
standing there naked, but we're all wrapped up in hatred..."
I'm not usually big on anti-war songs because they often sound less than sincere, but I love this one --- it's honest, timely,
and it's pretty darn cool.
Kyle Vincent
I first got into Kyle Vincent's music 21 years ago when he was lead singer of the band Candy. Candy had a minor MTV hit
with Whatever Happened To Fun?, were produced by Raspberries' original producer Jimmy Ienner, and featured future
Guns 'n' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke.
Vincent went on to adult contemporary solo success in the late 1990's via the Top 20 AC hit Wake Me Up (When The
World's Worth Waking Up For). He's got the multi-range vocal talent of Eric Carmen, the pop sense of Barry Manilow and
the rock star good looks of Rick Springfield. That the man isn't a major star has always amazed me.
On Ghost Of Rock 'n' Roll Vincent delivers his usual standout performance via an ode to lost Top 40 radio sounds with a
rocking backbeat as he sings the musical question:
"...rock and roll radio, what happened to the friend that I used to know?, you were there when I needed you most, now
you're just a ghost of rock 'n' roll..."
The Flashcubes
The pride of Syracuse, The Flashcubes have never disappointed in a long power pop career. Their track here, You Got My
Promise, delivers the goods in every way --- from lead singer/bassist Gary Frenay's yearning lead vocal, to guitarists Paul
Armstrong and Arty Lenin's crazed power chording, to the amazing drum kit pounding of Tommy Allen, these guys are
fantastic!
"...I'm gonna have to prove myself to you, eight days a week, so that you can trust in me, believe the words I speak, you
got my promise, that I'll be here with you..."
Qwasi Qwa
These guys were teen sensations in Cleveland, Ohio, getting media buzz for having guitarist Jesse Bryson (son of the
Raspberries lead guitarist, Wally Bryson) in the band.
Their gigs involved screaming young girls in their audiences, according the Cleveland Scene magazine, they won a readers
poll as Best Americana Band in a Cleveland Free-Times poll, and in 1997 they won first place in the Mountain Dew/Belkin
Productions High School Rock Off competition.
After high school, the band cut a couple of albums before Jesse Bryson went on to record with other bands, including
Rosavelt and The Bryson Group.
Qwasi Qwa's track here, I Know, features Chuck Andrews on lead vocals in a song written by Andrews and Bryson that
originally appeared on Qwasi Qwa's Shaking Hands With The Governor CD. The blues-tinged sound is more '60s Eric
Burdon/Animals than it is Raspberries, and that's a good thing in this case:
"...the truth can hurt sometimes, I know..."
Billy Sullivan
Billy has backed everyone in rock history it seems, including Eric Carmen, Peter Noone, Mark Lindsay and Gary Lewis.
Raspberries' fans know him best from playing as a sideman on the recent Raspberries reunion tour and as co-writer of the
tune I'll Be On My Way on the album Play On by former Raspberries' bassist Scott McCarl.
Sullivan's All American Popster solo CD is also worth picking up.
Sullivan's track here, Passing Strangers, is a standout --- he wrote the tune, sings all the vocals and plays all the
instruments. With a moderate rock beat and some sizzling lead guitar, Sullivan sounds like Scott McCarl vocally here in this
lovely tune about seeing a potential lover on the street and wondering if a romance will work:
"...'cause we're passing strangers in the night..."
Khaoticos
With a sound that's at once a perfect marriage of The Fountains of Wayne and The Posies, the band Khaoticos blows me
away with their track, Hold On, which is full of gorgeous multi-part harmonies, ringing guitar sounds and a great Brian
Wilson-ish production in a tune about trying to win your lover's heart back:
"...how can I touch you, how can I have you, how can I make you stay and love me once again..."
John Lemonis
Eric Carmen should be producing this gentleman.
John Lemonis is better known as a Christian singer, but he has a beautiful, classic pop voice, and he has written the best
Eric Carmen ballad that Eric never recorded with his track here, You're The Only One, a string-laden piano ballad that
reminds me of such lesser known Carmen solo tunes as Foolin' Myself and The Way We Used To Be.
Lemonis plays all the instruments here on this outstanding production. It's one very pretty pop ballad:
"...you turned my life around, right from the very start, because you're the only one, you're the only one that I trust with
my heart..."
Duophonics
Sounding like The Rubinoos and Fountains Of Wayne at their best, The Duophonics song, Please Don't Say Goodnight
Tonight, was originally recorded by the band back in the 1970s.
They've updated the song and the vocals here making for a fresh, vibrant, modern-sounding rock track which takes me
back to my '70s high school and college radio favorites (you know, "guy sees girl, guy dates girl, guy begs girl"...):
"...please don't leave me here to sleep alone, please don't say goodnight tonight..."
Craig Pearman
A Raspberries' fan delight, Craig Pearman's Let's Take A Chance combines various Raspberries melodies into one tune that
I now proclaim as the ultimate Raspberries' tribute. Power chords, harmonies, and a driving, sugary sweet melody --- what
more could a power pop fan desire?
"...let's take a chance and try our love, 'cause we've got nothing to lose girl..."
Howard Whitman
Originally written for Howard' Whitman's 1980's band The Lobsters, this rockin' little number features some interesting
lyrics about a conversation with your wanna-be girlfriend's dad:
"...her father took me drinking, and it kind of got me thinking, he had a scotch and water, made a little offer, 'Keep your
hands off of my daughter'..."
The CD
On a single CD, with a generous 75 minute and 43 second running time, you get 20 songs by 20 artists. These range from
rock 'n' roll gems to surprisingly delicious pop ballads, all done in the spirit of Raspberries' music.
The 8-page CD booklet features liner notes by Marvin Matthews and includes comments by most of the artists. Though the
project isn't officially endorsed by the band, there are comments in the booklet from three of the band's members (Carmen,
Bryson and Smalley).
Some songs showcase superb studio production, while others suffer a bit from their do-it-yourself (DIY) recording origins
--- that may bother pop music purists, but I've never liked over-production, and I've enjoyed many DIY recordings over the
years (much of what we call garage rock and punk started out as recorded tunes played by poor guys playing in a garage
or basement on the cheapest of recording equipment).
All the songs on this CD are good, just the same.
Worth noting is that proceeds from the sale of this CD will benefit the VH-1 Save The Music Foundation. Details are at
http://www.nwrstudio.com/raspberriestribute .
The tracks:
Whatever Happened To Love by Larry Lange, Ghost Of Rock 'n' Roll by Kyle Vincent, You Got My Promise by The
Flashcubes, I Know by Qwasi Qwa, For You And I by Marvin Matthews (with Howard Whitman; this answers the musical
question, "What if Springsteen sang lead with Raspberries?" for me) and Passing Strangers by Billy Sullivan.
Also, Hold On by Khaoticos, You're The Only One by John Lemonis, Won't Let Go by Paul Cartmill, Remote Control by
Unknown Reason, Please Don't Say Goodnight Tonight by Duophonic, Let's Take A Chance by Craig Pearman and
Criticizer by Mike Miller (perhaps the finest tribute to Wally Bryson ever, it features a blending of Wally's guitar riffs from
several Raspberries' classics).
Also, How Could You Do This To Me? by Pat Griffin, Something To Hold On To by Howard Whitman, Something I'm
Good At by Billy K, Where's The Road? by Mitch Spera, Why Tell Me It's Over by Michael Phillips, What Do You Want?
by Bill Campbell and Summer Of '83 by Tony Cartmill (nice soft rocker that laments that "a dream can turn into a chance
you let go by").
The final thought
You can help out the VH-1 Save The Music Foundation and treat yourself to some great, melodic power pop by buying this
CD. This is a good album offering a chance to experience 20 different artists on one CD and would make a fine stocking
stuffer this holiday season.
Special thanks
To Epinions.Com music category lead Shelly, aka Lambchops (http://www.epinions.com/user-lambchops), for adding this
title to the Epinions' musical database.
On the web
Ordering information and the web page for this CD (clickable links to the websites of many of the artists on the CD are on
this page): http://www.nwrstudio.com/raspberriestribute
Mike Miller's Norwegian Wood Studios: http://www.nwrstudio.com/
Raspberries sites: http://www.raspberries.net and http://www.raspberriesonline.com
The 2005 Capitol Records anthology, Greatest, by Raspberries: http://www.epinions.com/content_186044681860
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Driving