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Rick Henry
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|  | CARPENTERS 1971
« Thread Started on Apr 20, 2004, 7:18pm » | |
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"Carpenters" was released on May 14, 1971. At this point Karen and Richard already had three consecutive top 3 million aelling hits to their credit. and "Rainy Days And Mondays" just entered the charts. The Carpenters were well on their way to earning a lasting place in the history of popular music.
In the U.S. "Carpenters" logged six entire months in the top ten, was certified quadruple platinum and is the Carpenters second best selling album in the U.S. (behind Singles 1969 - 1973).
RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS (Paul Williams / Roger Nichols): This was the second Williams / Nichols compostion the Carpenters took into the top 2 in less than a year. Released on April 23, 1971 "Rainy Days And Mondays" was certified gold for selling more than a million copies. All the classic Carpenters trademarks are present including Tony Morgan's harmonica and Bob Messenger's soulful sax work. Many Carpenters fans consider this to be Karen's finest and strongest vocal. On this song Karen's voice is rich, deep, and dark spiced with a graceful rhythm moving with a vibrancy of light and solemn joy.
SATURDAY (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis): A Richard lead vocal with Karen on harmony vocals. A pleasant upbeat song which has been used as the theme for many weekend radio and television programs. "Saturday" was chosen to be the b-side of the phenomenal "Rainy Days And Mondays".
LET ME BE THE ONE (Paul Williams / Roger Nichols): For over 30 years fans have been saying this song should have been a single. Richard had considered releasing it, but "Superstar" won out instead.
The Carpenters received "Let Me Be The One" in the same stack of demos as "Rainy Days And Mondays", both songs of course written by the winning team of Paul williams and Roger Nichols.
"Let Me Be The One" reinforces the fact that many of the Carpenters album tracks were equally as strong as the hit singles.
(A PLACE TO) HIDEAWAY (Randy Sparks): Written by Randy Sparks founder and leader of the popular 60's folk group The New Christy Minstrels. Barry McGuire, Kenny Rogers, and Kim Carnes all sang with the group at various times. Richard first heard the song performed by Randy Sparks in a nightclub (owned by Sparks) on the same night the pre-Carpenters group Spectrum was scheduled to perform.
FOR ALL WE KNOW (Fred Karlin / Robb Wilson / Arthur James): Yet another Carpenters song which has become a wedding favorite. Originally featured in the 1970 movie "Lover's and Other Strangers". Upon the suggestion of Carpenters manager, Sherwin Bash, K&R went to see the movie. Richard was immediately taken by "For All We Know".
The song became a #3 hit in the U.S. and sold over a million copies, thus becoming their 3rd consecutive Gold single. In the U.K. it reached #18 as the B-side of "Superstar".
Due to the popularity of the song by the carpenters it won an Oscar for Best Song in a movie. Although the recording in the movie was done by another artist.
Fred Karlin, the song's composer, has composed music for literally 100's of big screen movies and television movies and series. Including The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974), Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976), Leave Yesterday Behind (1978), Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (1981), and Labor of Love: The Arlette Schweitzer Story (1993). The lyricists; Robb Wilson and Arthur James are also known as Robb Royer and James Griffin, who were both guitarists with the 70's soft rock group Bread.
SUPERSTAR (Leon Russell / Bonnie Bramlett): This is the first of several Leon Russell songs the Carpenters have recorded. Co-writer Bonnie Bramlett was part of the husband and wife team Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, their biggest hit is 1971's "Never Ending Song Of Love".
"Superstar" was first recorded in 1970 by Rita Coolidge for Joe Cocker's A&M album "Mad Dogs And Englishmen".
Richard, though, first heard the song performed by Bette Midler on the "Tonight Show".
The Carpenters reached #2 for 2 weeks with the song in the U.S. and sold over a million copies for their 4th consecutive GOLD single. In the U.K. it reached #18 with "For All We Know" as it's B-side. In Japan the song was certified GOLD. Richard received a Grammy Award nomination for his musical arrangement of the song, but lost out to a worthy competitor, Paul McCartney's "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey".
Many consider this dark tune to be the Carpenters' finest work. On this song Karen showcases her deep dark rich tones with a bold dynamics of range and soul.
DRUSCILLA PENNY (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis): Definitely a product of the 70's featuring Richard's lead vocal and Karen's ever infectious harmony vocals. While "supersatr" was about groupie missing her rock and roll boyfriend, "Druscilla Penny" is the other side of the story about a lonely rock star obsessed groupie. "superstar" is dark and foreboding and "Druscilla Penny" is brisk and done with a dry dark sense of humor.
ONE LOVE (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis): This song was written by Richard and John in 1967 when they worked at Dsineyland's Coke Corner. It was originally titled "Candy" after a waitress who worked at one of disneyland's restaurants. Later it was changed to "One Love" and was given that Carpenters stamp of quality musicianship.
BACHARACH / DAVID MEDLEY: This Burt Bacharach / Hal David medley includes the songs "Knowing When To Leave", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Walk On By", and "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?". This is similar to the medley K&R performed Burt Bacharach's charity concert, minus "Any Day Now", "Baby It's You" and "Close To You".
The Carpenters have put together several medleys with all of them being refreshing and full of textured rhythms and beautiful harmonies. The Carpenters were the masters of the medley.
SOMETIMES (Henry Mancini / Felice Mancini): Composed by Henry Manicni who set a poem written by his daughter to music. This beuatiful ballad proves that less is more, featuring only Richard's piano and Karen's voice.
A highly decorated album "Carpenters" won a Grammy, contains an Academy Award winning song and reached #2 in the U.s., #12 U.K. and #47 in Japan. In 1971 this album proved that the Carpenters were more than just a fluke, but the real thing.
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omar
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|  | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #1 on Jul 29, 2004, 12:29pm » | |
I strongly agree that along with A Song For You, this album stands out as being their best collection. Karen's vocals are impeccable as are Richard's lush arrangements. So here goes the track by track analysis:
1.Rainy Days And Mondays(A perfect opener and showcases Karen's powerful voice. Her lead and backing vocals are very well blended together.Truly a Carpenters "classic")
2.Saturday(With Richard singing lead,it features one of his better vocal performances. Not really a strong piece but nevertheless it fits in well with the album)
3.Let Me Be The One(One of my personal favorites on the album and certainly one of their best.
A remix of this appeared on the From The Top box set which has a longer intro and ends differently from the album version. I wish LMBTO had been a big hit for the duo.)
4.A Place To Hideaway(Definitely a strong piece and a rather mournful one too. I wonder how it would have done if it were a single?)
5.For All We Know(Another classic. Only Karen could deliver a song like this so flawlessly. By the way this one was from the film "Lovers And other Strangers
6.Superstar(This song is easily one of their best and certainly one of Karen's strongest emotional pieces, a real tearjerker. Infact I would rate this as one of their five biggest hits. Definitely makes up the core of this album along with Rainy Days,For All We Know and Let Me Be The One).
7.Druscilla Penny(Was Richard trying to conjure up an Eleanor Rigby type character? I personally preferred his vocals on Saturday but nevertheless the lyrics on Druscilla are more powerful.)
8.One Love(Beautiful and romantic. A typical track suited for Karen's voice. The arrangements on this one are probably one the best on the album.)
9.Bacharach/David Medley(I know that a longer version of this medley exists somewhere with a few more extracts. Correct me if I'm wrong Rick. Anyway a Bacharach reference in the Carpenters songs is vital to their sound. After all it was Close To You that started it all. As for this medley I loved the way they interprit Walk On By and Make It Easy On Yourself).
10.Sometimes(A Mancini tune. Just a simple piece with piano and vocals. A perfect way to end the album. This should've been re-recorded with a proper orchestration and maybe then it would been a single).
All things said and done I'm still waiting for a 24bit remastering of all the albums and especially this one. Rick did you notice the sound quality of Rainy Days on the remastered version by A&M? It somehow sounds a little off to me. Anyway a great album all the same.
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DR Drummer
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #2 on Aug 21, 2004, 8:04pm » | |
Outstanding synopsis and colorful analysis. Other critiques have also given this album Great musically creative and artistic reviews. I ordered it today over the web and can't wait to hear it all. I bought "Close To You" last night and was all smiles with a "2 Thumbs Up" with its first listening ever for me. This, as I was 12 years old when was first released way back when. Talk about your proverbial hidden gold and platinum mines for some of us although I loved and listened to their airplay singles.
What musical talent, creativity and artistry by this Incredible duo (and friends). They were so cool back then and Karen was the Absolute best. I really love and miss her beyond words. The DVDS I just received spell bindingly and heart stoppingly bring it all home.
200 concerts a year could not have been good for their minds and bodies though.
They were so driven, so talented. 
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I can take all the madness that the world has to give. But I won't last a day without you. |
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HD
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #3 on Jul 30, 2005, 10:31pm » | |
Hi I was wondering if I could find the actual lyrics to the song, A place to Hide away....I just looked at my album and it does not have any lyric sheet to it. Can anyone help me with this? I would like to say, I Love the music of The Carpenters. Karen had a Beautiful voice that was silenced all too soon. Sincerely, hd
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Ming
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #4 on Jul 30, 2005, 11:33pm » | |
Yes, here you go.
I've got to find a place to hideaway
Far from the shadows of my mind
Sunlight and laughter, love ever after
For how I long to find a place to hideaway
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
Blindly follow where you'll be
Knowing tomorrow brings only sorrow
Where can I go to find a place to hideaway
Bright colored pinwheels go round in my head
I run through the mist of the wine
(*) The night and the music remind me instead
The world once was mine
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping
Love is for weeping
Oh, how I long to find a place to hideaway
Repeat (*)
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You are the one who makes me happy when everything else turns to grey. |
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Rick Henry
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Why wait for tomorrow, tomorrow may never come?
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #5 on Jul 30, 2005, 11:50pm » | |
Quote:Yes, here you go.
I've got to find a place to hideaway
Far from the shadows of my mind
Sunlight and laughter, love ever after
For how I long to find a place to hideaway
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
Blindly follow where you'll be
Knowing tomorrow brings only sorrow
Where can I go to find a place to hideaway
Bright colored pinwheels go round in my head
I run through the mist of the wine
(*) The night and the music remind me instead
The world once was mine
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping
Love is for weeping
Oh, how I long to find a place to hideaway
Repeat (*) |
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Hi Ming - excellent job of posting the lyrics to "A Place To Hideaway". Just one correction where it says "wine" Karen is actually saying wind. But she's pronouncing it with a long "i" like the word "wind" as in a toy you wind up. And to keep poetic liscence she isn't pronouncing the "d" at the end. Hence she is saying "wine". But the lyric is actually "wind" - as in the wind blows softly.
I've got to find a place to hideaway
Far from the shadows of my mind
Sunlight and laughter, love ever after
For how I long to find a place to hideaway
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
Blindly follow where you'll be
Knowing tomorrow brings only sorrow
Where can I go to find a place to hideaway
Bright colored pinwheels go round in my head
I run through the mist of the wind
(*) The night and the music remind me instead
The world once was mine
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping
Love is for weeping
Oh, how I long to find a place to hideaway
Repeat (*)
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The Online Village Mall: CLICK HERE
The Carpenters MySpace: ENTER HERE
The Christian Music Site: CLICK HERE
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Ming
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #6 on Jul 31, 2005, 12:11am » | |
Thank you, Rick. 
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You are the one who makes me happy when everything else turns to grey. |
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hd
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| | Re: CARPENTERS 1971
« Reply #7 on Jul 31, 2005, 12:55am » | |
Thank you so much for the help I do appreciate it, I found those lyrics that you both posted, but I wasn't sure if they were correct...I just wanted to make sure of it before I used it.
Again I do appreciate your help. I sure am glad we still have the Music of THe Carpenters. It's nice to come and check out the site here, You have done well with it.
Keep up the good work.
hd
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