Everything and More was a 3 cassette
package which contained all of the
songs the Raisins had never released on vinyl. When they knew they were
going to break up, this package became their swan song. The songs are in
approximate chronological order. As the flyer included with this package
states:
Dr. Robert © Lennon/McCartney, everything else published by Smorgaschord or Smorgaschord/Sunnyslope.
This takes me back to seeing the boys in 1981. I like ice talks about a '72 Monza. Or is it a '73? Stealin' Dad's Beer usually started with a long drum solo. I still don't know how Rob played the riff in Dr. Robert and sang at the same time. That riff makes an appearance on 'Mattress'. Quarters was also released as a single, and talks about how they will eventually make it big. Subsistance dance was the first song I remember being in an odd time signature. Porkopolis is their art-rock legacy. One day I'll type in the lyrics. Clive was about a record company exec (male). The weenie was head of Arista but still didn't sign them. The Problem was about the only song that Rob could not play with a broken string. Leopards lets Rob rail at Keith Emerson, UB40, and Nina Blackwood.
Rick sang The Last V-8, a great song. The Bottom Line is one of my all time favorites. On it, Bam used several small dowels taped together instead of sticks. This concept was later ripped off by Pro-Mark for their 'Blasticks'. My Red Truck had a video. One More Sunny Day is a truly twisted song that gave us the legendary lyric: I got laid.....off my job. Creep like me is another fine song with Bad Bob on vocals. You can almost picture him in his 7-11 shirt, belting this one out. Straight Line is the song most likely to be sung by me and my friends when we were walking out of a Raisins show in a drunken stupor, or when we were walking out of the same bars they used to play in, pining about their absence years later. Animal Heaven is a song that I thought would be remade by the dots or the Bears. Another nice piece of work sung by Bad Bob.
*All songs published by Smorgaschord, songs marked * are Smorgaschord/Sunnyslope. Exceptions are noted.
A bunch of great tracks which will probably never be heard live again. When I heard the Raisins broke up, the first thought through my mind was "I'll never hear Porkopolis live again". I mean, who is gonna cover that song? Anyway. A lot of Bob songs on this tape. Trust me, "Hillbilly Break Dance" is anything but traditional. I thought that "Planet Y" would have actually gotten airplay if given a chance. On this version of "King of Beers", Bob sings; and in fact, I believe he sang on all of the songs he wrote. "Kansas City" is a unique farewell: everyone switches instruments. If I remember correctly, Bob plays drums, Rick plays Guitar, Bam plays bass, and Rob plays a hysterical keyboard solo.
Thanks to Rob Murphree (not Fetters) for the track listing for tape three.
I asked Bob if a lyric sheet would be available. He quite literally laughed in my face. Maybe that could be a project for dots fans: to create a complete libretto of all raisins lyrics. Apparently there are no extant copies. Let me know what you think.
Any additions to these pages are welcomed and encouraged. Email me with your input. This page created by Ashley Morris