"Let's Pretend"
Single by Raspberries
from the album Fresh
B-side"Every Way I Can"
ReleasedMarch 1973
Recorded1972
GenrePower pop
Length2:51 (single version)
3:42 (album version)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Eric Carmen
Producer(s)Jimmy Ienner
Raspberries singles chronology
"I Wanna Be with You"
(1972)		 "Let's Pretend"
(1973)		 "Tonight"
(1973)
side label
45 RPM

"Let's Pretend" is a song by Raspberries, released in March 1973 as the second single from their second LP, Fresh. It was written by band leader Eric Carmen, who also provided the lead vocals.

The song reached the top 40 on three principal US charts, including at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 14 on Record World. It was also a number 13 hit in Canada,[1] becoming their second greatest hit in that country. The song spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart, longer than any of their other singles except for their greatest hit, "Go All the Way", which lasted 18 weeks.

Background

Eric Carmen stated that "Let's Pretend" was inspired by a cover photo in Time magazine of "a guy and girl dripping wet out in the woods" with a headline that was "something like 'Teenage Sex.'".[2] Carmen said that it is one of the best melodies he has ever written, and that he reused part of it for his first solo hit, "All By Myself".[2][3] He said the song lyrics about young people in love dreaming about eloping and making a life together are a recreation of the concept in Beach Boys' song "Wouldn't It Be Nice".[4]

Reception

Cash Box said that the "Raspberries change the pace a bit and deliver a strong semi-ballad with all the grace and capabilities of the Beatles early sound."[5]

Rolling Stone rated it as the No. 36 "boy band song" of all time and said that the band "cranked up the romance notch to the max, unleashing a dreamy power-pop ballad complete with Eric Carmen’s swooning vocals about the night lasting forever."[3]

Music journalist Ken Sharp rated it the Raspberries' 7th best song, comparing it to the "bittersweet ballads found on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds" and calling it "one of Eric's most transcendent melodies."[6] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it as the Raspberries 5th best song, saying that it is "one of [the Raspberries'] most Beach Boys-inspired moments" and "about as perfect a pop song as you will likely ever stumble upon."[7] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated "it as the Raspberries 8th best song, saying that it "defines the sweet side of Eric Carmen’s melodies and hooks."[8]

Allmusic critic Mark Deming said that the song was "gush that's seasoned with a solid undertow of lust."[9] Old Time Music critic Joseph L. Hollen wrote "Quite an ordinary song, but with plenty of decent vocals. The arrangement gives it a lift, though."[10]

Television performance

"Let's Pretend" was performed on The Midnight Special television program (season 1, episode 15) on May 4, 1973.[11] The show was hosted by Johnny Nash.[12]

Later uses

"Let's Pretend" was included on the Raspberries Pop Art Live CD set from their reunion concert recording, November 26, 2004, at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio, released August 18, 2017.[13]

Chart performance

Cover versions

Band members

  • Eric Carmen – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals, piano
  • Wally Bryson – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • Dave Smalley – rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • Jim Bonfanti – drums, backing vocals

References

  1. 1 2 "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Carmen, Eric (2005). Raspberries Greatest (album liner notes). Capitol.
  3. 1 2 "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. July 27, 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  4. ↑ "An Interview with Eric Carmen". Ericcarmen.com. May 22, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 3, 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  6. ↑ Borack, John M.; Sharp, Ken (2007). Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Guide to Power Pop. Not Lame. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9780979771408.
  7. ↑ Swanson, Dave (August 11, 2013). "Top 10 Raspberries Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  8. ↑ Kachejian, Brian (29 April 2020). "Top 10 Raspberries Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  9. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Fresh". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  10. ↑ Hollen, Joseph L. (March 30, 2023). "Top 10 Raspberries Songs". Old Time Music. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  11. ↑ "Raspberries Setlist at the Midnight Special, Burbank". setlist.fm.
  12. ↑ "The Midnight Special: Host: Johnny Nash". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  13. ↑ "CD Preview: The Raspberries' Pop Art Live".
  14. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 246. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. June 2, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 30, 1973". Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Item: 9481 – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 380. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  19. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  20. ↑ "The Lettermen – Love Is... (1979, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1979.
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