Definitive Collection (CD - 1997)

Personnel includes: Eric Carmen (vocals, guitar, piano, tack piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion); Scott McCarl, Dave Smalley (vocals, acoustic guitar, bass); Wally Bryson (vocals, guitar); Dan Hrdlicka, Andrew Gold, Ritchie Zito, Richard Reising, Daniel Kortchmar, Burton Cummings (guitar); Tommy Morgan (harmonica); Jay Winding (acoustic & electric pianos); Jeff "Elbows" Hutton (keyboards); James Newton Howard (synthesizers); Steve Knill (bass, background vocals); David Wintour (bass); D. Dwight Krueger, Michael McBride (drums, percussion, background vocals); Jim Bonifanti, Michael Botts, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Gene Estes, Ollie Brown, Joseph Porcaro (percussion).

Producers: Eric Carmen, Jimmy Ienner, Bob Gaudio.

Engineers include: Shelly Yakus, Jack Sherdel, Kevin Beamish.

Includes liner notes by David Wild.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Personnel: Eric Carmen (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, tack piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, synthesizer, drums, percussion, background vocals); Wally Bryson (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Scott McCarl (vocals, acoustic guitar); Michael McBride (vocals, drums, percussion, background vocals); Jim Bonfanti (vocals, drums); Dave Smalley (vocals); Richard Reising (guitar, electric guitar, harpsichord, synthesizer, background vocals); Dan Hrdlicka (guitar, background vocals); Danny Kortchmar (acoustic guitar); Richie Zito (electric guitar); Tommy Morgan (harmonica); Jai Winding (piano, electric piano); Burton Cummings (piano); George Sipl (organ, synthesizer, background vocals); James Newton Howard (synthesizer); D. Dwight Krueger (drums, percussion, background vocals); Joe Porcaro (drums, percussion); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Michael Botts (drums); Gene Estes, Ollie E. Brown (percussion); Steve Knill, Brian Russell, Curt Becher, Samantha Sang, Valerie Carter, Joe Chemay, Brenda Russell, Bruce Johnston (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Val Garay.

Audio Remixers: George Sipl; Jim DeMain.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Jimmie Haskell; Andrew Gold; Tony Camillo; Charles Calello.

Arrangers: David Campbell ; Eric Carmen; Paul Buckmaster; The Raspberries; Bruce Johnston.

The Definitive Collection lives up to its title. Over the course of a single disc, the compilation features all of Eric Carmen's best-known songs and biggest hits, from the pair of Raspberries hits ("Go All the Way," "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)") to such mainstream pop singles as "All by Myself" and "Hungry Eyes." While the Raspberries' albums are worthwhile listening in their own right, Carmen's solo records were often wildly uneven. The Definitive Collection distills all of the best songs from his spotty albums, making it essential for both casual listeners and Raspberries' fans who want a sampler of the songwriter's solo career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

From the edgier, more rock-oriented material he recorded with the Raspberries in the '70s, to his more easy-going material recorded in the '80s, THE DEFINITIVE collection makes clear the prodigious talents of singer/songwriter Eric Carmen.

"Go All the Way," which contains a classic hook, is a Beach Boys-inspired smash with a few alluring time changes thrown in. "I Wanna Be With You" is a rock & roll number lifted from Todd Rundgren's "Couldn't I Just Tell You," as Eric explains in the liner notes. "Let's Pretend," with its catchy harmonies, is a lost classic that unfortunately only rose as high as #35 on the pop charts. "Tonight" features the raucous drumming of Jim Bonfanti. Another can't-miss track is "All By Myself," which appeared in 1975 on Eric's first solo album. The piano and string arrangements, combined with Carmen's reflective voice, make for a song that's certain to played as long as adult-contemporary stations exist. "That's Rock n' Roll" is a danceable number that chronicles the road life of a rock & roll band. "Hey Deanie," a '50s-style rock tune that was later a hit for Shaun Cassidy, rounds out the set. minimize