Raspberries begin to quickly capture local attention as one of the area’s most exciting and promising new band, garnering a weekly Sunday residence at Cleveland’s premiere club, The Agora.   At Agency Studios located above The Agora, Raspberries record a demo comprising “I Saw The Light,” “Come Around And See Me, “Please Let Me Come Back Home” and “Oh Tonight”.   Back from an Army stint serving in Vietnam, ex-Choir member, Dave Smalley joins Raspberries and performs the first show with the band on May 5, 1971.   Raspberries perform every Thursday at J.B.’s in Kent and build a huge and devoted following among the local crowd and college students   May of 1971, Raspberries play backing band to rock and roll icon, Chuck Berry at shows in Columbus and Cleveland.   Impressed by the Raspberries demo tape, producer Jimmy Ienner arranges seven major labels to see the band on their home turf at J.B.’s in Kent.   A bidding war ensues and Raspberries sign with Capitol Records.   In three weeks, Raspberries wrap recording of their debut LP at New York’s Record Plant with producer Jimmy Ienner