Let's Pretend (Raspberries song)

"Let's Pretend"
Single by Raspberries
from the album Fresh
B-side "Every Way I Can"
Released March 1973
Recorded 1972
Genre Power pop
Length 2:51 (single version)
3:42 (album version)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Eric Carmen
Producer(s) Jimmy Ienner
Raspberries singles chronology
"I Wanna Be with You"
(1972)		 "Let's Pretend"
(1973)		 "Tonight"
(1973)

"I Wanna Be with You"
(1972)		 "Let's Pretend"
(1973)		 "Tonight"
(1973)
side label
45 RPM

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

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 nation. 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.

Eric Carmen stated that "Let's Pretend" 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". 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".[2]

Television performance

"Let's Pretend" was performed on The Midnight Special television program (season 1, episode 15) on May 4, 1973.[3] The show was hosted by Johnny Nash.[4]

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.[5]

Chart performance

Cover versions

"Let's Pretend" was covered by the Bay City Rollers in 1976 on their album, Dedication. It was also done by Joey Travolta on his 1978 eponymous debut LP.

References

  1. 1 2 "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ "An Interview with Eric Carmen". Ericcarmen.com. May 22, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/raspberries/1973/the-midnight-special-burbank-ca-33cc5491.html
  4. ↑ http://www.tv.com/shows/the-midnight-special/host-johnny-nash-205410/
  5. ↑ http://www.thatdevilmusic.com/2017/06/cd-preview-raspberries-pop-art-live.html
  6. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. June 2, 1973. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  7. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 30, 1973
  8. ↑ "Item: 9481 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 380. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
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