Over the weekend, singer, songwriter and musician Eric Carmen died at the age of 74. Carmen is of course known for his hits as a solo artist, including “All By Myself,” “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” and “Make Me Lose Control,” as well as for his contribution to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, “Hungry Eyes.”

But before Carmen was cranking out hits for radio and Hollywood, he was a member of the band the Raspberries. Founded among friends in Cleveland in 1970, the Raspberries were known for their catchy melodies and tight harmonies layered on a guitar-rock sound — essentially putting them at the vanguard of what has come to be known as power pop. Other early architects of the genre include Badfinger, Big Star and Cheap Trick.

Power pop has continued through the years thanks to such artists as Teenage Fanclub, Liz Phair, Matthew Sweet and Fountains of Wayne, and those artists’ influence persists to this day. Let’s celebrate that sound, from the pioneers of power pop to its current practitioners.

So for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what power pop songs do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played
Raspberries – Tonight
The Only Ones – Another Girl, Another Planet
Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend
Big Star – September Gurls
Badfinger – Baby Blue
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – American Girl
Dwight Twilley Band – I'm On Fire
Charly Bliss – Glitter (bonus)