Why weren't the Raspberries bigger?

If ELO has made this....

 

When (approximately) did you first hear of them?

I first learned of them in 1992 or 1993 when I read glowing reviews of Big Star in the 1992 version Rolling Stone Album Guide. Had never heard of them before. At that time I lived within easy driving distance of the Princeton Record Exchange, and lo and behold they had a 2-fer of #1 Record/Radio City, which had been released in 1992. I was amazed at what I heard -- although it took me a little more time to get into Radio City.

 

...they would have over-produced it.

 

Great attitude

 

Very strong maybe, but it would have been a hit single. Very Lynnesque melody etc.

 

Yeah. It's kind of sad. Ardent, and its distributor Stax at that time couldn't pay to get records on the radio like the big boys. So Big Star hit the music scene with a non-audible thud. I often wonder what would have happened if there were deep pockets behind Big Star in 1972?

 

1974 for me

 

Consider that this wasn't their choice to make a first I pressin just random do dan luck that you heard a song you hate. Heck, listening to samples or streaming isn't going to cost you anything. There was one band I felt this way about amd a decade later I regretted my decision not to investigate more as I never got a chance to see them live.

 

That's fantastic, you were lucky.

There's a longtime DJ in my area (DC area) who also knew of them in 1974 by way of their Long Island radio station concert (he grew up on Long Island, but DJwise he has always been in or around DC). I didn't ask him about Big Star until earlier this year.

 

The Raspberries set me on a course that would include, Starz, Shoes, and Big Star. They gave me the gift of Power Pop, and I'm forever in debt.

 

I was a fan of Eric Carmen's solo work in the 70s; when Columbia House put the 4 Raspberries LPs on sale for $2.99 each, I ordered them. I still love listening to my MP3s (legally downloaded) of the albums (the CDs were too expensive).

 

About a mile and half from where I sit there's a bar in Kent called JB's. The Raspberries used to play a regular Wednesday night gig there. That spot was previously held by Glass Harp. Before them it was the James Gang. Good music here in Kent when I was young.

 

Because they weren't better.