The Raspberries

Several Raspberries best-of collections preceded the release of this one in 2002. It's something of a toss-up as to whether it or the best previous one, Capitol Collectors Series, should be given the nod. Each has 20 tracks and there's much duplication, though six of the songs on The Very Best of the Raspberries don't appear on Capitol Collectors Series. Still, all the songs that would probably be considered essential and the most familiar and popular appear on both: "Go All the Way," "Let's Pretend," "I Wanna Be With You," "Overnight Sensation," "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye," "Tonight," "Ecstasy," and "Starting Over," for starters. The difference lies chiefly in the selection of secondary tracks, and Cherry Red generally opts for some of the songs that represent their more harder-rocking side. Each best-of does the job about as well as the other for the fan who wants just one Raspberries album, and if you want more, there are RPM's thorough Power Pop, Vol. 1 and Power Pop, Vol. 2 compilations. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide