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Scott McCarl — Play On
(Liberation Hall 5070, 1997/2022, CD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-06-04

Play On Cover art

Bassist Scott McCarl joined The Raspberries for their final album, Starting Over, in 1974 and co-wrote five of that album’s eleven power pop songs. In 1997 he released his one and only solo album, Play On, which Liberation Hall has just reissued with some different songs and different running order. The reissue contains twelve original songs, plus a cover of Gerry and the Pacemaker’s hit “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying.” The other songs range from jangle pop to Beatle-esque ballads with Scott sounding remarkably like John Lennon. In addition, I hear similarities to mid-period Fleetwood Mac on “Fallin’ in Love,” a bit of Pink Floyd Animals on “Suspicious,” 60s power pop on “Don’t Wanna Go,” similarities to The Drifters’ “Save the Last Dance for Me” on “Doin’ It Right,” and some poorly executed Southern rock on “Go Down Swingin’” and “Like Nobody Can.” Apparently Scott preferred to use colloquial English and drop the final “g” in his song titles. If you like nostalgic power pop songs, then check out this reissue.

Filed under: Reissues, 2022 releases, 1997 recordings

Related artist(s): Scott McCarl

 

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