Don't Want to Say Goodbye
| "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Raspberries | ||||
| from the album Raspberries | ||||
| B-side | "Rock & Roll Mama" | |||
| Released | February 1972 | |||
| Recorded | early 1972 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road Studios London | |||
| Length | 5:00 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson | |||
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Ienner | |||
| Raspberries singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Don't Want to Say Goodbye" is a song written by Eric Carmen and Wally Bryson that was first released on the Raspberries 1972 debut album Raspberries. It was released as the first single from the album and reached No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Reception
Record World said of "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" that it's "a ballad with just a touch of the Beatles sound. No ifs, ands or buts, this one should hit. Impressive beginning."[1] Cash Box said of it that "Lighthouse producer Jimmy Ienner blazes a ballad trail, setting new Cleveland quartet in a fine light of its own. Tune should appeal to Top 40 and MORs."[2] Wichita Beacon critic Paul Baker called it a "beautiful song" despite not charting as well as hoped.[3] Elk Grove Herald critic Tom Von Malder noted the song's "exciting changes of tempo."[4]
Music journalist Mark Borack has remarked that the composition is elegantly adorned with resplendent piano interludes and melodious strains. The discerning critic Dave Swanson, contributing to Ultimate Classic Rock, appraised it as the ninth most superior gem in the Raspberries' repertoire. Swanson's description of the composition evokes a splendid McCartney-esque ballad, characterized by its opulent, resplendent, and enduring melodic qualities. Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian, in his evaluation, positioned it as the fifth most exquisite creation in the Raspberries' oeuvre. He discerned that the melody and arrangement of this opus bore a somewhat more progressive demeanor than some of the band's mellifluous pop anthems, lauding in particular the magnificent chord modulation in the chorus. Meanwhile, Old Time Music critic Joseph L. Hollen conferred upon it the esteemed ranking of the Raspberries' tenth finest creation. In his assessment, he deemed it a song of no small merit, characteristic of its era, distinguished by its dulcet vocal harmonies and a commendable chorus.
Releases
Capitol Records chose to release "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" as the lead single from Raspberries.[5] The song stalled at #86 on the Billboard Hot 100, but did better in some areas.[6] For example, it was a hit in the band's native Cleveland and reached the Top 20 on the survey of the radio station KYSN in Colorado Springs.[6][7][8][9][10] It also reached #90 on the Cash Box Top 100 and #89 on the Record World Singles Chart.[11][12] Music journalist Ken Sharp said that one of the reasons the single did not perform well was that it was too long, at 5 minutes, when it is difficult to get radio programmers to play new artists even when the single is shorter.[13]
Lead singer Eric Carmen said that the band was surprised that Capitol released "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" as the lead single and said that "They pressed up the records without saying anything on the label because they thought that we sounded a lot like the Bee Gees and they wanted to fool program directors."[5] Carmen also said that "I didn't want to tell anybody how to do their business, but a five-minute ballad as your first single? I couldn't see tons of music stations throwing that record on."[13] The band had wanted "Go All the Way" to be their first single, and were proven prescient when that song was released as the second single and went to the Top 10.[13]
"Don't Want to Say Goodbye" was later released as the B-side of the Raspberries' 1974 single "Ecstasy". It was also included on several Raspberries' compilation albums, such as Raspberries' Best, Capitol Collectors Series and Greatest.[14][15][16]
References
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. February 19, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ "Cash Bod Singles Picks" (PDF). Cash Box. February 19, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ Baker, Paul (May 24, 1972). "Disc-Ussion". Wichita Beacon. p. 8C. Retrieved 2023-04-04 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Von Malder, Tom (May 19, 1972). "Playback". Elk Grove Herald. p. 2-3. Retrieved 2023-04-04 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Carmen, Eric (2005). Raspberries Greatest (liner notes). Capitol.
- ^ a b Swanson, Dave (August 11, 2013). "Top 10 Raspberries Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. May 20, 1972. p. 64. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Adams, Deanna (2002). Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent State University Press. p. 254. ISBN 9780873386913.
- ^ "Action Records" (PDF). Billboard. April 15, 1972. p. 60. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ "KYSN's Top 40 Survey". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. June 8, 1972. p. 10-D. Retrieved 2023-04-04 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box. May 13, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ "Record World Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. May 27, 1972. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ a b c Sharp, Ken (2011). Eric Carmen Marathon Man. EricCarmen.com. ASIN B004OEIMVC.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Raspberries' Best". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Capitol Collectors Series". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Greatest". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-04-05.