"Let's Pretend" is a song by

Raspberries The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus '' Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with w ...

, released in March 1973 as the second single from their second LP, ''

Fresh Fresh or FRESH may refer to: People *DJ Fresh (born 1977), UK-based drum and bass artist *DJ Fresh (producer), US-based R&B producer born Marqus Brown Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Fresh'' (1994 film), a crime film * ''Fresh'' (200 ...

''. It was written by band leader

Eric Carmen Eric Howard Carmen (born August 11, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist. He was first known as the lead vocalist of the Raspberries. He had numerous hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Rasp ...

, who also provided the lead vocals. The song reached the top 40 on three principal US charts, including at number 35 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number 14 on ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

''. It was also a number 13 hit in Canada, becoming their second greatest hit in that country. The song spent 16 weeks on the ''Billboard'' chart, longer than any of their other singles except for their greatest hit, " Go All the Way", which lasted 18 weeks. ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said that the "Raspberries change the pace a bit and deliver a strong semi-ballad with all the grace and capabilities of the

Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developme ...

early sound."

Background

Eric Carmen stated that "Let's Pretend" is one of the best melodies he has ever written, and that he reused part of it for his first solo hit, "

All By Myself "All by Myself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen released in 1975. The verse is based on the second movement (''Adagio sostenuto'') of Sergei Rachmaninoff's circa 1900–1901 '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Opus 18. The ...

". He said the song lyrics about young people in love dreaming about eloping and making a life together are a recreation of the concept in

Beach Boys A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shell ...

' song "

Wouldn't It Be Nice "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is a song by the American rock music, rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1966 album ''Pet Sounds''. Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love, it is distinguished for its sophisticated Wall of ...

Television performance

"Let's Pretend" was performed on '' The Midnight Special'' television program (season 1, episode 15) on May 4, 1973. The show was hosted by

Johnny Nash John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940October 6, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit " I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists ...

Later uses

"Let's Pretend" was included on the ''Raspberries Pop Art Live'' CD set from their reunion concert recording, November 26, 2004, at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio, released August 18, 2017.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover versions

* "Let's Pretend" was covered by the

Bay City Rollers The Bay City Rollers are a Scottish pop rock band known for their worldwide teen idol popularity in the 1970s. They have been called the "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh" and one of many acts heralded as the "biggest group since the Beat ...

in 1976 on their album, ''

Dedication Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church, or other sacred building. Feast of Dedication The Feast of Dedication, today Hanukkah, once also called "Feast of the Maccabees," is a Jewish festival observed for eight days fr ...

.'' * In 1978, the song was also done by

Joey Travolta Joseph Allen Travolta (born October 14, 1950) is an American actor, singer, producer, director and screenwriter. He is the older brother of actor John Travolta. Early life Travolta was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, a nearby suburb ...

on his 1978 eponymous debut LP. *

The Lettermen The Lettermen are an American male pop vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959. They have had two Top 10 singles (both No. 7), 16 Top 10 singles on the Adult Contempor ...

included "Let's Pretend" in a medley with the Raspberries' first hit, "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" on their 1979 LP covering 1970s love songs entitled ''Love Is...''.

References

External links

Lyrics of this song
* * 1973 songs 1973 singles Raspberries (band) songs Capitol Records singles Pop ballads Songs written by Eric Carmen Song recordings produced by Jimmy Ienner {{1970s-single-stub