Happy Birthday to Eric Carmen, who turns 68 today (August 11th).  Carmen is best remembered for writing and singing lead on the Raspberries‘ string of power pop hits, including “I Wanna Be With You,” “Let’s Pretend,” “Tonight,” “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” and their 1972 Top Five signature hit “Go All The Way.”  Carmen went on to solo success with 1975’s “All By Myself,” and “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,” as well as writing Shaun Cassidy‘s Top Ten hits “That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll,” and “Hey Deanie.”

In the 1984 he co-wrote Ann Wilson and Mike Reno‘s duet “Almost Paradise” from the Footloose soundtrack, sang 1988’s “Hungry Eyes” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, and scored his last Top Ten hit later that year with “Make Me Lose Control.”

Coming on August 18th is Pop Art Live, the new Raspberries live collection that chronicles the band’s initial reunion show on November 26th, 2004 at Cleveland’s House Of Blues.  Highlights on the set include such Eric Carmen classics as “Go All The Way,” “Let’s Pretend,” “I Wanna Be With You,” “Tonight,” “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” “Ecstasy,” and more.  Also included are covers of the Who‘s “I Can’t Explain,” and a triple shot of Beatlesgems — “Ticket To Ride,” “No Reply,” and “Baby’s In Black.”

Recently released is The Essential Eric Carmen. The collection, which is the first double-disc retrospective of Carmen’s 45-year career, contains classic tracks from his solo years, his major works with the Raspberries — and even a cut from his pre-‘Berries band, Cyrus Erie.  Along with the hits comes his most recent track, called “Brand New Year,” featuring backing from the key members of his hero Brian Wilson’s longtime band.  His Raspberries classic “Go All The Way” was featured on the soundtrack to the 2014 hit summer movie, Guardians Of The Galaxy.