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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 3, 2005 15:17:13 GMT -5
From the 1981 album "Made In America". This was the Carpenters' last top 20 hit in the U.S.
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Post by JIM on Dec 3, 2005 18:05:48 GMT -5
I Love it!!!!! The first time I heard this song on the radio, I was driving my girlfriend to the hospital to see her sister who had just gone into labor but I made her stay in the car until the song finished. Jill was not amused but hey the Carpenters were back on the radio and that trumps sisters in labor! Everything worked out she did not deliver for 3 more hours. Jim
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 4, 2005 10:17:12 GMT -5
I gave the song an "It's Okay". I remember when I first heard the song. It was on the radio. Oddly enough I did not fall in love with it. It seemed to be missing something. And when played next to songs like Blondie's "Rapture" or even Hall And Oates' "Kiss On My List" the song seemed out of step with the times even somewhat dated. It seemed a bit too lightweight.
Regardless I still like the song for myself. It's not a favorite - but I like it because it's Karen. There are very few songs that Karen has sung that I will give the "Leave It" rating.
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Post by Rob813 on Dec 4, 2005 19:20:45 GMT -5
It's not one of my favorite songs, but it was great to hear the Carpenters back on the radio in 1981. Clearly they were trying to upgrade their style. In retrospect, I think Richard took alot of direction from Karen's solo sessions in steering their sound in a more sensuous direction. Of course we'll never know what might have followed. All in all, it's a quality song, but not another Close To You or We've Only Just Begun.
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Post by heartwaves on Dec 4, 2005 22:06:47 GMT -5
It depends on what kind of mood I'm in for this song. It has been one of my favourites, then it hasn't been.....I've been off & on with this Carpenter song through the years.
I do love the smooth romantic, easy flow of the tune....with a "touch" of sexiness! I think one needs to be in a certain "romantic" frame of mind, to enjoy this song. 8)
So like I said, it ALL depends on the mood! I'll give it an "it's okay" for now.
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Post by karen69roland on Dec 6, 2005 22:30:17 GMT -5
This song is not one of my favorites, it's not even in my Top 50..., but, I still love it. I never watch the video though 'cause to me, even if I'm one of the rare fans who likes Karen thin..., in that video she looks awful. [glow=red,2,300][/glow][shadow=red,left,300] [/shadow][shadow=red,left,300]Roland Chayer[/shadow][shadow=red,left,300] [/shadow]
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Post by enigma on Dec 7, 2005 9:18:01 GMT -5
I voted I love it because I love this song. I do find the song kind of sad because I associate it with the Carpenters final curtain call even though technically it is not. It was the final time they made the top twenty so ended their popularity on the singles charts. Nonetheless I still love the song it is one of my favorite Carps songs.
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Dave
Ultra Emissary
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Dec 7, 2005 21:52:06 GMT -5
I liked it then, and I still like it...especially so now that it has special memories attached to it, like dancing with my wife in the driveway to this song and having her tell me I'm weird! Priceless!
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 9, 2005 0:15:03 GMT -5
I put that it's an ok song...I mostly just enjoy their most familiar songs better.
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Post by Moe on Dec 11, 2005 3:35:20 GMT -5
I went ahead and chose, "love it." It is not a classic like Superstar or Rainy Days, but it is a great song. I also like the extra background voices with the Carpenters to give it a different sound.
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Post by JIM on Dec 11, 2005 14:27:15 GMT -5
???As Moe mentioned and I agree, the additional backrounds really sound cool. Which brings me back to the old topic of work leads being completed. Even if there were a couple of Tryin To Get The Feeling Again leads or other similar material. Certainly any Carpenter fan would treasure them and RC should know this by now.
Jim
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Dec 14, 2005 13:26:51 GMT -5
Four stars out of five. The soft, romantic orchestration of "Touch Me When We're Dancing" is set against the ambiguously seductive lyrics for a more "adult" audience (as are the two versions of "Make Believe It's Your First Time" in the ensuing duo and solo albums). This is a milestone of sorts in trying to revamp the Carpenters' public image to a more mature one. This song has a mellow, laid-back quality that makes you want to cuddle up to someone and do some slow dancing. Like it, but not love it as much as other stronger tunes the Carpenters have done.
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Post by JIM on Dec 16, 2005 6:25:36 GMT -5
I feel the concensus here is that MIA was the Carpenters way of striking a balance between what was and what might be. Deep inside I believe Richard was well aware of Karen's departure from there past with her solo album as a catalyst into a new era of Carpenters music but between A&M and himself unwilling to go that far out on a limb with there image. As with so many acts from the 70's the Carpenters had reached there zenith point with Horizon and even if the personal strugles that plagued there lives had not been a factor, after reaching the hights they had achieved going back to the top again was most likely not going to happen as much as I hate to say it. The entertainment industry is fickle at best and they managed to stay on top for 5yrs despite the slings and arrows of criticts. However there is no dought in my mind that the success of the Carpenters would have endured, thanks to the millions of fans around the world. As I have said before they had made the leap from being a top 40 act and into the level of Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra and so on. Top 40 is a reflection of our culture and always searching for the next defining reflection of an era. Even still in my life I can't imagine an era of music more exciting then when the Carpenters were at the top! Jim
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Post by Rob813 on Dec 16, 2005 23:47:04 GMT -5
Bravo, well said Jim. I totally agree that the Carpenters era at the top was very exciting. I'm so glad I was "of age" when all of their success happened. I think that Karen and Richard would have reached icon status had Karen lived. Their place in the pantheon of the greats didn't require any more hits to be assured. It was just a matter of time before they would have received the respect they so much deserved. The longevity of their music is testament to that fact. Just my thoughts.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 17, 2005 12:06:19 GMT -5
I feel the concensus here is that MIA was the Carpenters way of striking a balance between what was and what might be. Deep inside I believe Richard was well aware of Karen's departure from there past with her solo album as a catalyst into a new era of Carpenters music but between A&M and himself unwilling to go that far out on a limb with there image. Jim My viewpoint on MIA is different here. I feel it was somewhat a step back. Yes, I agree the musical arrangements are outstanding and Karen's vocal performances are spectacular as always. But the album on the whole was just not that exciting. It was too safe of an album. As artists I feel there was only minimal growth here. This was the album released to "not ruffle the feathers of the fans". I feel the album was not completely in step with what was going on in the music scene in the early 80's.
After Karen Carpenter's solo effort was released I felt even more that MIA was a step backwards. Karen had the right idea with her solo album. She hit it right on the mark. Her sound was right in tune with what was happening. She trailblazed with a fresh new bold sound. Karen was ready to be a trendsetter going into the 80's. But instead her album was shelved and out came "Touch Me When We're Dancing" - which is a nice song and is loved by Carpenters fans - but to the general public the song was written off as fluff. And it was evident as this, the first new Carpenters material in over 3 years fizzled out at #16 - and the next three singles from the album failed to reach even the top 50. As with so many acts from the 70's the Carpenters had reached there zenith point with Horizon and even if the personal strugles that plagued there lives had not been a factor, after reaching the hights they had achieved going back to the top again was most likely not going to happen as much as I hate to say it. The entertainment industry is fickle at best and they managed to stay on top for 5yrs despite the slings and arrows of criticts. Jim I feel that Carpenters would have eventually made another big comeback - but not until sometime around 1985. Both Mia and VOTH (nice albums as they were) just were not the vehicles to bring the Carpenters back to the limelight. Though I feel Carpenters would have hit their stride again just judging from Richard's solo effort "Time". Musically the album was right in tune with the mid-late 80's sound. Excellent guitar chords, great bass and percussion rhythms and as always beautiful keyborads. The album had hot dance pop tunes like "Say When" and beuatiful classic ballads like "Something In Your Eyes". The only thing is it lacked focus in the way of outstanding lead vocals - Karen's voice was missing from these songs - that's why I feel Richard's solo album was not a success. Though it had all the ingredients for success and had Karen been singing "Say yeah" I feel it would have been a huge hit.
Back to MIA another thing I don't understand is how much both Karen and Richard (and A&M Records) spoke about trying to get away from the "cheeky" goody two shoes image but they release MIA with what is probably one of their "sticky sweetest" covers ever. Yes, it is a nice drawing, but for a group trying to distance themselves from the "goody two shoes" image this was the wrong cover to do that. The cover did just the opposite and made their image even more "sticky sweet". I was working in a record store when the album was released and I remember hearing more than a few people joke about that album cover. People were not nice about it.
Yes, I like MIA and the music is performed beautifully but I feel MIA was not the right album to try and make a big comeback during a time when musical tastes were changing.
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Post by JIM on Dec 17, 2005 13:17:07 GMT -5
::)Hey Rick, I could not agree with you more. That is why I said that after hearing Karen's solo album and its very mature,to mature for RC obviously. RC went with fluff in stead of more stuff! So it was indeed a huge step backwards from the Ramone Karen project which was right on target for the times.
Also I must agree with you again, way to cheeky! Of course I must make it clear that i teasure this album as much as any other, there just no way Karen could dissapoint me but like you said where was the STUFF! When Youv'e Got What It Takes,? how fluffy is that? The more I think about this album it was more of a step sideways then backwards. Backwards would have at least produced at least one or two power ballads. I Believe You with its RC book end arrangement has to be my favorite track but why so many strings?
As a Carpenters fan I can totally appreciate where RC was trying to go with MIA for Karen and Richard it was a new day for those good old dreams after such a long time away from there career together.
Just my thoughts Jim
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 17, 2005 15:12:28 GMT -5
::)Hey Rick, I could not agree with you more. That is why I said that after hearing Karen's solo album and its very mature,to mature for RC obviously. RC went with fluff in stead of more stuff! So it was indeed a huge step backwards from the Ramone Karen project which was right on target for the times. Also I must agree with you again, way to cheeky! Of course I must make it clear that i teasure this album as much as any other, there just no way Karen could dissapoint me but like you said where was the STUFF! When Youv'e Got What It Takes,? how fluffy is that? The more I think about this album it was more of a step sideways then backwards. Backwards would have at least produced at least one or two power ballads. I Believe You with its RC book end arrangement has to be my favorite track but why so many strings? As a Carpenters fan I can totally appreciate where RC was trying to go with MIA for Karen and Richard it was a new day for those good old dreams after such a long time away from there career together. Just my thoughts Jim Some excellent thoughts there Jim. I agree with your statement of "sideways". Certainly "sideways". If Carpenters were to go backwards they would have put something out that was totally lost. MIA, although, not their most exciting album, was certainly a good album. Just as I said not the right sound for the time and definitely not the right album cover. I don't think having a few "power ballads" would have been going backwards. Power ballads have always been in style since 1972. Songs as powerful as "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" or "I Just Fall In Love Again" would have made MIA a gutsier album.
You are right Karen (and Richard) have never disappointed. But I do feel MIA was just playing it too safe.
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Post by karen69roland on Dec 17, 2005 16:47:41 GMT -5
I think the album was, in some ways, fitting with the general pop market. A song like *(Want You) Back In My Life Again* is pretty much The Carpenters version of *Physical* by Olivia Newton John (big hit in 1981 also), but à la Carpenters, which is a *softer* sound. *Strenth Of A Woman* sounds like the kind of song Barry Gibb would have written for Barbra Streisand (1980)..., there's that typical retro song that The Carpenters were known to put on most of their previous records (Beechwood 4-5789), so, that's surprising for them. *Those Good Old Dreams*, *When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)* and *I Believe You* could have fit on *Passage* in 1977..., and, what I think The Carpenters future would have been like in the '90's and 2000's years is classic *Walt Disney* type of songs like *Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song)* and *Somebody's Been Lyin'*..., that's what I picture them doing if Karen was still alive.
So there's a good variety of past, present and future on *Made In America*..., it's a good 1981 album.
The cover is nice, but, I don't like it either..., not for the same reasons mentioned earlier though..., my reason is that I don't think Karen looks like Karen..., I see someone else, I don't see Karen when I look at it..., that's my reason to why I don't like that cover art. [glow=red,2,300][/glow][shadow=red,left,300] [/shadow][shadow=red,left,300]Roland Chayer.com : The Van Karen Life[/shadow][shadow=red,left,300] [/shadow]
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