| This CD is a compilation of recordings Scott McCarl,
formerly of Cleveland pop legends Raspberries, has done from 1969 through
1996. Play On will definitely call to mind the legendary phrase
"file under powerpop", because McCarl performs a Beatle-esque udpated sound
better than anyone, even doing both John (Nobody Knows, the demo
intended to Carmen
Don't Make Me Sad) AND Paul (Thanks For The
Ride)! The Raspberries were important because they brought to pop a
generic style, with so many good ideas that their approach remains vital
today. They can be remembered as the ones who incorporated into the Fab
Four legacy some aspects of the `60s/`70s the Beatles themselves never
tackled (e.g. that "mod" approach). Even if Scott McCarl solely appeared
on the fourth and last Raspberries album Starting Over Play On
is more reminiscent of their early "Fresh" sound. On all seventeen tracks
(and not a bad one here!) one can notice McCarl's incredibly great aptitude
for covering a wide variety of styles. Some of the tracks harken back to
brilliant Raspberries-esque slices of pop (I'll Be On My Way, Go
Down Swingin'...), but McCarl also delivers a more modern approach,
like on the perfect Rubinoos-meets- The-Records-like anthem In Love
Without A Girl. There are even a couple of wonderful tracks that call
to mind the best pop material of `70's overlooked outfits like Blue (Fallin'
In Lovin'), |
Artful Dodger, The Beckies or Fringe Benefit (Run The Sun, Surrender,
Don't
Wanna Go) often tinged with soft-toned Rod-The-Mod vocals.
The backing team is vintage early eighties powerpop, involving various
popsters like Michael Purkhiser & Brent Warren (formerly in The Action
circa `80), Billy Sullivan (who penned with Warren the wonderful Some
Sunny Day, given away with a Yellow Pills mag), Michael Favorito, Kyle
Vincent, Tommy Dunbar and Titan's owner Tom "It's All Pop" Sorrells. There
are treats for `60's aficionados here as well ; two tracks from the two
singles of an Omaha, Nebraska outfit called Yellow Hair featuring McCarl
on vocals and bass as well as Tom Sorrells on drums!
Although McCarl grew up in the midwest, Play On epitomizes more
than ever that myth of Cleveland stamped as a "new Liverpool" back in the
early `70's. Play On's recording sessions are not exactly from the
mid-`70's era, but nevertheless it is one of the best of the genre ! Hey,
I wonder whatever happened to the Cleveland scene ? ! Where are Dynamite
(with Smalley & Bonfanti after they left the Raspberries), Don Kriss
Entourage, and Love Affair (Richard Reising's pre-Euclid Beach Band group)
? |
