 Eric Carmen's fans run a rather wide gamut. Bruce Springsteen and Courtney Love rave about the smart, rocking power-pop that the Cleveland-born singer-songwriter created with the influential Cleveland rock band the Raspberries in the early 1970s, "Titanic" songbird Celine Dion digs the epic, pop balladry of Camen's solo career, which began in earnest with his 1976 hit "All By Myself." Carmen, 49, hasn't released an album of new material in the United States since 1985. His last hit single, "Make Me Lose Control" came out in 1988. He hasn't performed publicly in more than a decade. But his music has undeniable staying power. Two of his songs, "All By Myself" and "Almost Paradise (Love Theme From Footloose)" are among the most-played songs in U.S. pop history, with more than 2 million plays each on domestic radio and other broadcast outlets since their release, according to a tracking service developed by BMI, the performing rights society. Dion covered "All By Myself" on her 1996 album, FALLING INTO YOU, which has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide. "Almost Paradise," which was recorded by Heart's Ann Wilson and Loverboy's Mike Reno for the 1984 movie "Footloose" is being revived, too. It is featured in the Broadway musical "Footloose," which launches its first national tour with a public opening tonight at the Allen Theater at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. "I'd like to think my staying power is a testimonial to damn good songwriting," said Carmen, who now lives in Gates Mills with his wife, Susan, and 15-month-old son, Clayton. "My goal has always been to write really, really good songs." There is one thing that might tempt him to perform onstage again -- a proper Raspberries reunion. "We've talked about the possibility of doing it", he says. "My only stipulation is that if we are going to do it, it's got to be done right. I have absolutely no desire to get on a stage And burst everyone's bubble who thought the band was great. If you can do it and present it in the right way and make it great, then maybe you do it, If not, It's better to just leave the myth alone. "
|
