The Weeklings vibrant new concept album, “Raspberry Park” on JEM Records, would be cause for celebration alone, but there’s even more to celebrate because their album release party coincides with the Light of Day Festival’s annual Asbury Angels Induction Ceremony. Joining in the joint festivities on Jan. 19 at The Stone Pony will be Dramarama, Joe P., Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Ten Ton Mojo, Midnight Callers, Evan Rotella, Ben Arnold, Bob Polding & Gary Oleyar, Jon Caspi and Mike Rocket.
Such an amazing night fits with the nod The Weeklings give to Asbury Park on their new LP, their fourth since 2016. The epic power-pop album is an eclectic musical trip to the mythical and magical Raspberry Park based on The Weeklings’ stylized musical interpretation of their adopted hometown. Unexpected musical and emotional twists pepper the platter’s path.
The 17-song collection kicks off with a “Sgt. Pepper”/“Magical Mystery Tour”-like opening co-title track, “Raspberry Park #1.” Like The Weeklings’ three previous albums — 2016’s self-titled debut and “Studio 2” and 2020’s “3” — “Raspberry Park” leans heavily on the Fab Four. But there’s also a nod to Asbury icon Bruce Springsteen with the Beatlesque rockabilly-inspired take on “I’m on Fire,” one of the LP’s singles.
Other singles include the funky rootsadelic “Brian Jones,” a slinky, exotic nod to the late, great founder of The Rolling Stones; a mystical cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and the witty John Lennon-like “April’s Fool.” All are in rotation on Sirius/XM satellite radio, as well as many terrestrial and internet radio stations around the world.
Most recently, The Weeklings released a video for “All the Cash in the World,” a harmonic stomp that sounds like a cross between the power pop of the British Invasion and the inspirational roots rock of Sun Records.
Speaking of mashups, The Weeklings beautifully blend the lyrics of Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul” with the melody of the Stones’ “Satisfaction.” What makes the mashup even more magical is that the lead vocals are by British Invasion legend Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits.
The tune is one of two that feature Sounds of Asbury Park-like horns. The other is a soulful closing cover of The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home,” which sounds like a cross between Paul McCartney and Otis Redding.
More than anyone, Beatles fans will adore this album, perhaps even more than its predecessors because of its thematic scope. “Raspberry Park” is The Weeklings’ “Sgt. Pepper,” especially the way a reprise of the title track prefaces the closing cover. Vocalist-bassist Glen Burtnik, vocalist-guitarist Bob Burger, lead guitarist John Merjave, and drummer-percussionist Joe Bellia have made their own masterwork while paying passionate homage to the band who most inspired them.
Right after the grand Pony show, The Weeklings will jet to Florida to open for Cheap Trick at The International Beatles on The Beach Fest on Jan. 27. Other dates on the Rasberry Park Tour include Fest for Beatles Fans, Feb. 11, TWA Hotel, JFK Airport, Queens, N.Y.; Feb. 24, Towne Crier, Beacon, N.Y.; March 22, Levoy Theatre, Millville, with Classic Stones in a Beatles vs. Stones bash; April 5 to 10, On the Blue Cruise with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, The Zombies, Alan Parsons, Starship, Little River Band, Al Stewart, Uriah Heep, Glen Hughes of Deep Purple, Rare Earth and John Ford Coley; April 13, Beatles Bash with 10-piece horn and string section, Grunin Center, Ocean County College, Toms River; May 17, Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, Pa., and June 8, Lizzie Rose Music Hall, Tuckerton. For more, visit www.weeklings.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at makinwaves64@yahoo.com.
