Go All The Way by The Raspberries

Album: The Raspberries (1972)

Charted: 5

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Songfacts®:

Raspberries lead singer and bass player Eric Carmen wrote this song. He went on to fame as a solo artist ("Hungry Eyes") and songwriter ("All By Myself").
This song is about a girl trying to convince a guy to "Go all the way," meaning to have sex with him. Carmen told Blender magazine in 2006 that he was inspired by The Rolling Stones performance of "Let's Spend The Night Together" when Mick Jagger had to sing it as "Let's spend some time together."

Said Carmen, "I knew then that I wanted to write a song with an explicitly sexual lyric that the kids would instantly get but the powers that be couldn't pin me down for."
The Raspberries dressed in matching suits. "Go All The Way" was part of their first album, and it was their only hit. They made two more albums before breaking up.
The album contained a raspberry-scented scratch-and-sniff sticker.
When the group was trying to think of a name, one of the four members rejected a suggestion with the phrase, "Aw, Raspberries" (an old Our Gang line). They had their name. , IL) >>>
Suggestion credit:
Maverick - Chicago (Buffalo Grove
Eric Carmen explained: "I remember 'Go All The Way' vividly. The year was 1971. I was 21. I had been studying for years. I had spent my youth with my head between two stereo speakers listening to The Byrds and The Beatles and later on The Beach Boys - just trying to figure out what combinations of things - whether it was the fourths harmonies that The Byrds were singing on 'Mr. Tambourine Man' - I must have worn out 10 copies of that first Byrds album listening to it over and over, and turning off the left side and turning on the right side trying to figure out why these certain combinations of instruments and echo and harmonies made that hair on your arms stand up. I did the same thing with Beatles records, and I tried to learn construction.

Then I went to school on Brian Wilson. That was a real breakthrough for me because he was doing things that I thought were so incredibly sophisticated before anybody was doing anything even close. The Pet Sounds album is, to me, the best pop album of all time. Brian introduced me to the idea of writing a bridge for a song that really had nothing to do with the verse and chorus.

In the early days, I spent a lot of time concentrating on writing bridges that took you some place that you didn't expect to go. Many songwriters wrote a song, the song's in the key of C, it comes time for a bridge and they go to A minor. That bored me. Brian would go to E flat or somewhere strange, and he managed to do it smoothly. He also had a way of delivering you out of the bridge in such a way that you felt like maybe the song had modulated up a step, but you were really back in the original key. That, to me, was artwork. So when I sat down to write 'Go All The Way,' there were a couple things I had in mind. I thought, 'What part of the song is it that people really want to hear? It's the chorus.' As a result of all that, 'Go All The Way' has a 10-second verse, and then the chorus is a minute long. I figured just to get to the chorus as fast as I can. That was the plan behind the song. I repeated that when I wrote 'I Wanna Be With You.'" >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bernie and the folks at EricCarmen.com for all above
This was an early example of "Power Pop," which were rock songs with radio-friendly hooks.
The title was inspired by a book Carmen came across by Dan Wakefield called Going All The Way.
The Killers covered this song for the 2012 film Dark Shadows.
This song appears in the 2000 film Almost Famous, but was not included on the soundtrack. It did make the soundtrack to the 2014 film Guardians Of The Galaxy, which went to #1 in America and revived many '70s hits.

Comments: 31

Mo From Mesa from ArizonaI was watching a special on the Raspberries around 1973 and Eric Carmen stated he didn’t want the band to be like Bad Company. Oh, well…
Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenThe group was obviously fond of the Beatles’ “Please Please Me.”

Susannah Hoffs and Matthew Sweet did a nice cover of this a while back.
Michelle Kapes from Chesterland, OhioHad the absolute pleasure of Raspberries playing at my senior prom in 1971 at our all girls school in Cleveland. What a memory to treasure forever. Still my all time favorite band, with Eric Carmen being my heartthrob!
Rich from ClevelandThis song is so Beatles-derived and even brings in the "Come on--come on" of "Please Please Me" that it's almost a parody. In contrast to that classic, here the one begging for some "satisfaction" is the girl!
The Dint from Brooklyn NyI was 10 when I heard that heavy guitar opening, that was it, I was hooked & had to have a guitar, the chorus was great as well. One of the best songs ever. Now I can play it as well. My first favorite group.
Beatle from St. Louis, Mo."Go All The Way" entered Billboard's Hot top 100 chart at position #88 on July 1, 1972; NOT on June 25th 1972.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 25th 1972, "Go All The Way" by the Raspberries entered Billboard's Hot top 100 chart at position #88; and on October 1st it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
The group had six other Top 100 records, with "I Wanna Be With You" being their next biggest hit, it reached #16 in 1973.
Nancy from Baltimore, MdI was so young when this song came out but I still loved it. I liked it better even more later.
Rick from Belfast, MeEric Carmen........sensational voice. This song validates the point that the 70's music rocked! Carmens rendition of Nillson's "All By Myself" was as good, if not better, than the original!!!!!!!!!!
Darrell from Frederick, Md, MdWow! I was oh so little when this came out, but I remember hearing this alot. It brings back such good memories of my innocent childhood. My parents were still together and were still so young and beautiful! This song holds a special place in my little life!
Tod from Las Vegas, NvThe song has four parts beautifully transitioned. The Rasberries were great. If they had more than one songwriter they would have soared to a supergroup. Only Carmen had the creative talent.
Tom from Chicago, Il Eric Carmen is a true song-smith. In my opinion, there aren't many. He's in the same class as the artists he admired as a kid... McCartney, Bacharach, Carmen...
Song-smiths.
Debra from Lees Summit, MoI was 16 when this song was contributing to my delinquency. I still love this song. Sex was the best during "Go All the Way" and "Wild Thing". I still have the jacket with the scratch n sniff sticker and, yes, it really does still smell! I remember after the album came out some lady somewhere passed out because of the "strong smell" and they quit putting it on. I was glad I'd already gotten mine.
Wayne from Salem, VaA very good and powerful pop/rock song. I was 12 years old in 1972. And I remember this one well.Brings back alot of memories.
Michael from San Diego, CaSweet, hard rockin' classic rock tune with cranking guitars and emotional lyrics. I liked when Philip Seymour Hoffman portraying Lester Bangs, played this song briefly in that terrific movie "Almost Famous"
Paul from Midland, MiThe Raspberries also had hits:" I Wanna Be With You" and "Lets Pretend". Trust me.
Mark from Washington, D.c.Yes, it is true. This song is the anthem for loosing my virginity (I am a guy) with my high school sweetheart (hers too) but it was so very very right and so very beautiful.

I miss her today almost 30 years later
Russ from Los Angeles, CaA correction to another comment: Eric Carmen did indeed play bass on some of their early songs, specifically on the production (CD) version of "Go All The Way". My guess is that he wanted to be the next Paul McCartney. He and Dave Smalley subsequently switched instruments permanently. Most of the Raspberry videos that you see were filmed after they had made the switch, which is why you always see Dave Smalley playing bass.
Mike from Provo, UtI remember in 74-75 when there was a contest for schools sponsored by M&M Mars (I think) to submit the most candy wrappers or 3x5 cards with M&M written on it. The prize was a Raspberries album and concert. My school won and it was my first concert, even before KISS and Black Sabbath. Sweet
Judy from Marietta, OhAre the Raspberries planning to perform any more. I found out they did in 2005 but can't find any scheduled dates. Judy, Marietta, OH
Joey Fulco from Ny, NyHi, on the firt post it states that Eric Carmen was The Raspberrie's bass player! He was infact the lead singer, but it is important to note that Dave Smalley was the bands founder & bass player!
Thank You
Michael from Fayetteville, NcLet's Pretend was a modest hit too.
Matt from Atlanta, GaForget the detail...I couldn't tell you my favorite song any group, well maybe The Knack, but that wouldn't count. I was 13 when this song came out, and I loved it. I knew nothing about love or sex, and I probably didn't get what Carmen was singing about. But in love again at 44, I really feel this song. When you love a woman so much until there is simply no one else, well, that's about as good as it gets. I LOVE YOU, DEBBIE!!!
Jade from Milan, IlI love the song Go all the way, I can't get enough of it
Garrett from Nashville, TnGreat song; much more complicated musically than it sounds. BTW, Carmen wrote other good rock songs, including "That's Rock and Roll," and "Hey Deanie."
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnTrip Shakespeare (a band out of Minneapolis that eventually morphed into Semisonic) covered this song.
Rick from San Juan, United StatesThe group began as "The Choir", formed in Cleveland by Wally Bryson, David Smalley and Jim Bonfanti. Their 1967 hit "It's Cold Outside" was issued first on Canadian-American and later Roulette. In 1971, Eric Carmen and the three aforementioned members of The Choir formed The Raspberries.
Phil from San Jose, CaEric Carmens only good rock song!! I have not heard it in years until the movie Almost Famous.
Dave from Pomeroy, OhThe Raspberries are back together!!!
Rick from Lafayette, NjThe Raspberries made four albums (not three).1/ Raspberries 2/Fresh 3/Side Three and their last offical album 4/Starting Over. Raspberries had four top 40 hits: Go All The Way #5 - 8/19/74. I Wanna Be With You #16- 12/09/72. Lets Pretend #35 - 5/12/73.Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) #18 - 10/12/74.
Donald from Cleveland, OhActually "I Wanna Be With You" was a hit and "Tonight" was also a minor hit. The group was formed in Cleveland, OH.

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