Eric Carmen

Good album.

Review Score:

(6/10)
Originally released in January 1985, this was Eric's first studio album after a 5-year absence. The first single from the album, "I Wanna Hear It From Your Lips," was co-written with "Footloose" lyricist Dean Pitchford. The single made the lower realms of the Billboard Top 40. It also made it to # 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Though the song has often been accused of being a rip-off of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" (as performed by The Pointer Sisters), it stands on its own merits with the able pop production of Bob Gaudio. Gaudio, formerly of The Four Seasons, also produced Frankie Valli's classic "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You." Gaudio produced all but two tracks on this album, and brings out the very best in Eric's unique voice on tracks such as "I'm Through With Love" (which hit the AC Top 20 and the lower reaches of the Hot 100 as the second single) and the beautiful "The Way We Used To Be." Eric's performance of "She Remembered" tells the story of lost love found again at a high school reunion. He tells the story with conviction and alot of heart. There are a couple of attempts to rock out here, as well, with the most convincing rocker being "American As Apple Pie" (also cowritten with Pitchford). The track is produced with great effect by John Mellencamp producer Don Gehman --- you're left wondering what Gehman could do if given the chance to do an entire album with Eric rather than a couple of tracks. That "American As Apple Pie" is so unknown to the album-buying public is almost a sin because it's as infectious as any of Eric's power pop classics from his days in The Raspberries. Perhaps that same public will discover this CD reissue on Geffen's discount label, Goldline. "American As Apple Pie" features drummer Stan Lynch from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and guitarist Larry Crane from Mellencamp's band. Other shining moments are the covers of Michael Bolton's "Lost Inside Your Love" and "Come Back To My Love" (written by latter day Four Seasons' members, most notably Jerry Corbetta, famed former leader of Sugarloaf --- remember "Green-Eyed Lady" and "Don't Call Us" from the '70s?). Eric also does a tribute to Raspberries' "Go All The Way" updated as "You Took Me All The Way" which comes off more as a sequel to the original rather than a remake. An album well worth picking up.---Don Krider.

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