RIP Eric Carmen

I'm sad to report that Eric Carmen died over the weekend at age 74. He was one of my ALL-TIME favorite singers & a brilliant songwriter.

I'm glad he had quite a few top 40 hits as a solo artist and a member of the Raspberries - as well as writing top 10 hits for Shaun Cassidy and Mike Reno/Ann Wilson. But still, I
think he was underrated and has written a lot of great songs that most people don't know.

I was fortunate enough to get to know him when he lived in L.A. in the '90s (I even spent a couple times in his home when I interviewed him for SongTalk Magazine about his
songwriting - and he was a super friendly and kind guy).

RIP Eric.

Edited by EdisonLite

His forgotten gem for me is "I Wanna Hear
It From Your Lips". Great 12" mix as well.

Also one of MY all-time favorite singers (and songwriters). I wrote this the
other day on Steve Hoffman’s forum:

Nooooo! I can’t believe I’m hearing this news just now. I’m shocked, sad,
just…I’m sorry to his family and friends. Raspberries still are one of my all-
time favorite groups.

I’ll never forget listening to an 8-track of my aunt’s that my mom borrowed
(K-Tel’s “Fantastic”). This was probably 1976-7. The songs by other artists
were all pretty good and enjoyable, and then “I Wanna Be With You” came
blasting away and I was mesmerized. It was loud and “in your face” (thanks,
compression). I thought it was one of the most thrilling sounds I ever heard.
The ringing guitar intro, the melodic vocals, the quick verses that practically
go straight to the chorus…Eric’s intonation on this song (and on “If You
Change Your Mind”), where he goes lower register (“If we were ol-der” and
“Someday’s a long time”) almost brings a tear to my eye. Such smooth
vocals for a rocking song. I never knew that a song could be so different,
exciting, and good. It pretty much changed my way of thinking about music.
Still is probably my favorite song.