Change of Heart

Mention Eric Carmen and the first thing that comes to mind is his solo debut, Eric Carmen (1975), released after pop-rock band the Raspberries split up. Its magnificent ballad ‘All by Myself’ represents his career; Celine Dion's version became a worldwide hit in the 1990s. This third solo album yielded a smash hit with its title song, which reached No. 19 in America. Perhaps its tightly formed urban sound and AOR-like texture found favour because they reflected their time.

Carmen seems especially good at expressing his roots in a relatively direct way. Here, ‘Desperate Fools’ shows a classical influence, the light rock-and-roll ‘Hey Deanie’ was a hit for Shaun Cassidy, ‘Someday’ has a memorable Beach Boys-style chorus, and ‘Baby I Need Your Lovin'’ covers a Motown hit. Each is plainly and skilfully made into a pop-rock song. His straightforward affection and respect for the music he loves leave one feeling refreshed.