Carmen, Eric - Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) Lyrics

Eric Carmen and the band were a great band and from Ohio too. Never got to see them live. I really regret that.

There is a piece of the intro to "Go All The Way" at the very end. Turn up volume to hear it. It's at 5:27 or so.

Most underrated American band ever!

Eric Carmen is an absolute genius-Brilliant song!

Turns out John Lennon loved this song so much he claimed to have co-produced it. We have a good taste )

Who's listening to this in 2019? What a tune this is...

I read that Eric Carmen wanted to create the perfect pop record. The fact that it only reached #18 contributed to The Raspberries demise.

Brilliant- totally underrated. Love where they create the transistor radio sound!

Goosebump music

This sounded so cool on the radio back in '74. The context can't be reproduced.

hi sounds great I love it thank you the best

An overlooked gem,that's for sure.

Such a brilliant song! Thanks for posting! Such an under-rated band! Ah well! Glad to see so many folk lovin them these days! Backin the day we were few and far between! Foks didn't see them as being as IN as Led Zeppelin or The Who! I disagree! The were Power Pop at it's best!

Wally Bryson (Cherokee Nation), one of rock's most talented, underrated guitarists.

I REMEMBER DJ AING THIS IN THE BARNABY ILDERTON RD YEARS AGO

This was a great song, especially the arrangement with soft intro and the hard ending. It reached #18 on Billboard's Hot100 in the fall of '74. One reason I think why it didn't go higher was because it's over 5 1/2 minutes long and AM radio didn't like anything over 3 minutes. And this was their last charted single so I think Eric & the boys felt the end was near for the Raspberries. Still a great song by a great group.

Saw them do this live at Fairfield University. Amazing lp, too.

Ya think Queen listened to this band?

I have been looking for this song since the moment I first heard as a 12 year old back in 1974. I use to think they sang the chorus " Oh The Baby Rattles " boy was I wrong I'm happy I finally Found it and I thought I'd die before I did.

Eric Carman with the band too

Hi great song I love it thank you

Hi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51C8kiqRhBU check out Nick from Australia video and please please subscribe.

The spark and posture of Alex Chilton.

Reminds me of listening to Capitol Radio (London) in the summer of 76. A pop masterpiece indeed.

Capital Radio, when it used to be a brilliant station, no longer. British DJ Dave Lee Travis loved this record. Always played on Radio 1. When radio 1 was a brilliant radio station.

This makes me smile!

I was fortunate enough to be 15 in 1972 when these guys let us have it with Go all the way. Hooked from that moment on.

As a song writer, this is my anthem! Just one #1 song, and I'll be on easy street, collecting royalties until it is time for my dirt nap. Eric Carmen penned many a stellar song, but spoke volumes to anyone who ever had starry eyed rock star dreams, with this ode to the humble creators, toiling away with pen, pad and recording device, on through the wee hours of the morning, until, at long last, his/her musical biscuit is served to a drooling public, hungry and eager to crank it to eleven, so that the whole neighborhood can bask in its freshly baked goodness!!!
"All of Chuck's children are out there, playing his licks!" - Bob Seger
"Never spend your guitar or your pen." - Pete Townshend

Amazing record - got decent airplay over here in the UK....but ....not a hit !! Shame on us :-(

Nic Flay It did get decent airplay didn’t it. Johnnie Walker especially played it to death. Criminal that it wasn’t a hit particularly with some of the utter garbage that was big that year.

I listened to this many times with my best friend..... I miss her, wonder where she is now

Ah, those days when we bought the song because it sounded great. Now it's who can produce the best video with today's crap.

This song has a cool "radio" effect at around 3 minutes through and a false ending a little over 4 minutes through.

this is a brilliant song and production.

CLASSIC!!!

Gets played on Radio2 (UK) quite often even tho' its no longer a teenager ! Classic for those willing to listen !

To Don, Thanks for the lyrics. I had forgotten I even requested the lyrics. For English class in high school I chose this song to decipher the lyrics. Lotta, lotta years ago. Thanks again.

I love everything about this song! The low key opening line, all the tempo changes, the AM radio impersonation near the false ending, the false ending, the drums that kick off the re-entry. This song is just great!!!

Love this!

Don, this is Ron. You are correct sir!

I wonder if Phil Collins was thinking about that drum break when he wrote " In The Air Tonight"?

Nathan Road, one of the busiest roads in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
I walked down the road tonight and kept singing the chorus "Want a hit record again, want a hit record again ..." to myself. The feeling is incredible, What a song, what a timeless classic.

I haven't heard this in such a long time. Thanks very much (I mean it!!) for putting it in my head. It's a fantastic tune!

Very Nice!

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but supposedly John Lennon helped produce this track. He was in his "Lost Weekend" period in L.A. (Paul visited him in Malibu, there are pics of this), and Lennon was impressed enough to lend a helping hand to the recording. If true, anyone with greater insight on this please be my guest and post!!

Not true

Perry Kane Eric Carmen said John Lennon was in the studio next door, producing Harry Nilsson's record, Pussycats. He popped his head in and said he was blown away by this record.

Perry Kane John was a big fan and was an uncredited contributor on the album.

My all time top single. Absolutely brilliant.

Does anyone have the lyrics to this song? Great song...just wish I could understand what they're saying.

Overnight Sensation
Raspberries
Well I know it sounds funny
But I'm not in it for the money, no
I don't need reputation
And I'm not in it for the show
I just want a hit record
Want to hear it on the radio
Want a big hit record
One that everybody's got to know
Well the program director don't pull it
Then it's bound to get back the bullet
So bring the group down to the station
You're gonna be an overnight sensation
I've been tryin' to write the lyric
Not offensive but satiric, too
If you can get it in the "A" slot
It's just gotta make a mint for you
And I want a hit record
Want to hear it on the radio
Want a big hit record
One that everybody's got to own
Overnight sensation
I fit the words
To a… Full lyrics on Google Play Music

Well I know it sounds funny
But I'm not in it for the money, no
I don't need reputation
And I'm not in it for the show
I just want a hit record
Want to hear it on the radio
Want a big hit record
One that everybody's got to know
Well the program director don't pull it
Then it's bound to get back the bullet
So bring the group down to the station
You're gonna be an overnight sensation (oh yeah)
I've been tryin' to write the lyric
Not offensive but satiric, too
If you can get it in the "A" slot ah ah
It's just gotta make a mint for you
And I want a hit record yeah
Want to hear it on the radio (number one)
Want a big hit record yeah
One that everybody's got to own
Overnight sensation
I fit the words
To a good melody
Amazing how success
Has been ignoring me so long
I've used my bread
Making demos all day
And writing in the night
While in my head I hear
The record play
Hear it play
Hit record, yeah oo oo oo oo
Want a hit record, yeah oo oo oo oo
Want a hit record, yeah oo oo oo oo
(Number one)
Want a hit record, yeah
(Number one)
(repeat to fade)
Written by Eric Carmen

Martin Smith k

Just heard this for the first time, today. Blew my mind!

where have ya'll been?

Everytime I heard this song, it wouldn't leave my head for hours on end. Thanks for posting.

One of Bruce's favorite records.

Hellz yeah! Hornsby rocks!

Pop Genius

entered Cashbox Sept 14, 1974

THIS IS A POP MASTERPIECE!! HAS ALL THE GREAT PRODUCTION STYLES OF PHIL SPECTOR, BRIAN WILSON, BOB CREWE, BONES HOWE!! BUT IT WAS PRODUCED IN 1974 BY THE UNDERRATED JIMMY IENNER!!

+David James yes indeed. yes sireee

Love how they would record over each track several times in many of their records. Sounded like an orchestra!! Watched them working on one of their records and saw them doing this; Masters!