We Love the Beach Boys: "Drivin' Around" by the Raspberries

Self-Portrait by Peggy Bacon, c. 1934

A while back, I did a "We Love the Beatles" thing about the Raspberries (here). As it turns out, the Raspberries loved the Beach Boys as well. But, unlike the excellent McCartney-esque ballads that came from Eric Carmen's Beatles love, the band's Beach Boys tributes are among the worst songs they recorded.

I only really categorize two Raspberries songs as Beach Boys pastiches, 1972's "Drivin' Around" and 1974's "Cruisin' Music" - both songs were singles, both songs featured apostrophes replacing final "g"s, and both songs are quite crappy. I'm not even sure I can pinpoint just what I dislike so much about "Drivin' Around" - it's pretty innocuous apart from a tacky brass arrangement on the chorus. I think it comes down to the fact that "Drivin' Around" evokes Mike Love instead of Brian Wilson. Also, there's something so ham-fisted and clumsy about it that rubs me the wrong way. And it's not just me, either. I've heard that Raspberries guitarist wasn't a fan of Eric Carmen's obvious Beach Boys sound-alikes. I usually like power pop better when it incorporates some Beach Boys influence, but the Raspberries are the only exception to this rule I can think of.

"Drivin' Around" by the Raspberries