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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 10, 2006 22:21:54 GMT -5
 There are many reasons why the Carpenters are one of the greats. What are some attributes you admire most about their music? |
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Post by makapip on Apr 11, 2006 0:30:52 GMT -5
Their music sounds very clear and pure and rich compared to other music that is played at work.
The other sounds like harmonics is missing and was removed making it sound "thin".
The recording engineer Bernie Grundmand must have used special microphones and sound
processing equipment along with Richard choice of instruments to make that unique Carpenter
sound.
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Post by enigma on Apr 11, 2006 7:17:11 GMT -5
The thing I like most about Carpenters music is thier diversity in styles songs lyrics etc. Diversity is not unique to the Carpenters but it is an aspect of their music and album making process whether it be a Richard lead thrown in or a song with a different style than anything on the record or something you would not expect the Carpenters to do. There are countless examples of this on virtually every record the Carpenters have made and it keeps the albums interesting and unpredictable. This is one major aspect of the Carpenters I like among so many others.   |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 12, 2006 10:17:09 GMT -5
Good points made by both Makapip and Enigma.
I agree the Carpenters sound is rich and clear. Richard always made sure to display a full array of instruments in their songs. Each instrument was strategically placed so that each was clearly distinguishable. Richard's arrangements are some of the very best in the history of popular music. Fresh, crisp, clean and clear.
I also love the fact that there is variety in their music. What other group at the time could take a song like "Goofus" and do as good of a job with it? Listen to music in that song and Karen's voice. They did an excellent job with the song. Then they go all out in another direction and record "Calling Occupants...". I just can't imagine any other female pop vocalist singing this song quite to the effectiveness that Karen did.
Of course Karen's voice is another factor that makes Carpenters one of the "great" bands of our time and of all-time. She has this most beautiful, rich and smooth voice. I know I am biased toward Karen Carpenter, but I truly feel she's atleast one of the ten best vocalists ever in the history of music. |
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Post by Ming on Apr 12, 2006 11:00:27 GMT -5
I think the Carpenters are great because Karen has a beautiful voice, Richard can write good songs.
Ming
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Post by ps11932 on Apr 12, 2006 16:57:36 GMT -5
I certainly agree with everything you all have said here. Karen had such a clear voice, great range and pleasant to listen to, and of course had that "presence" that always transports you to the concert. I've always admired the arrangement of the instruments- a good example being "Sing." And the varieities of styles- country to disco to jazz, and on and on. I don't think we will ever grow tired of listening.
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Post by smoothie2 on Apr 12, 2006 18:59:21 GMT -5
;DWelcome ps11932!...
Glad u found this site. WoW ...Absolutely Agree with
all that's been said ...The C's are unique and will always be "in their own league"...along with their wonderful harmonies and diversity in music styles, I guess I just enjoy the harmony and superb songs.
R. and K. also as a team were also unique compared to many other groups of the time 60's,70's,80's ...
because they LASTED LONGER THAN MANY GROUPS
AND/OR SINGERS...
This fact fits in perfectly in w/ the blend of all their other ingredients making them out of this world Terrific!!   
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 13, 2006 21:18:37 GMT -5
 Gee....it should be so easy to put this into words, yes? I mean....after all....it's the REASON I listen to them - because they're so great. Okay, let's just begin with Karen's voice. And what a beginning that is! I have not heard anything like it before, or since. Yes, some come close to Karen's sound, and others have some of her, well, let's call them techniques down pretty well. But the voice of the Karen Carpenter just won't ever be duplicated. It was beautiful - low or high - lustrous - as clear as crystal - as smooth as chocolate that had already melted - as bold as anything you can imagine - as crisp and clean as the finest Spring morning, and as rich as the most decedent dessert ever made. It "ministers" to us in a way, that beckoning, amazing voice, because it is just so beautiful. Her voice never wavered, not once. It was always strong, and she used it like the fine instrument that it was...softly, boldly, happily, sadly, melancholy, blue, peacefully, sweetly..... and Karen always sang from her heart and her soul, with an absoluteness of conviction. And then there is Richard. Oh my what an unbelievable talent this man is, through and through. His penchant for the choral made the Carpenters sound one that will forever be remembered. Yes, he followed true pioneers of this particular sound, Les Paul and Mary Ford, but Richard continued to create and he aspired to greatness for Carpenters as they grew in their abilities. He knew how to write for Karen, and did just that. For her. Her key. He chose songs, because he was an expert at it, that would suit that golden voice, right down to the phrases and vowel sounds that Karen sang. (Taking NOTHING away from KC with that statement, please - after all, she was the one to sing it) yet, Richard knew what sounded right, from the beginning, and he, along with Karen, simply built on that for some of the magnificent performances we continue to be thrilled to listen to, today. Those glorious harmonies. Whether three parts, or 24 parts, those harmonies can just melt me when I hear them. So absolutely perfectly, precisely blended, and the dynamics used in the singing of these beautiful harmonies can still make the chill factor such an immediate reality for me. I liked their repertoire, too. What an awesome span of time they actually covered in their songs. I Can Dream Can't I?, and top 40 hits they wrote.....things like Ave Maria, and Mr. Guder.....so different.....so distinctly apart one from another.....but all Carpenter interpretations that simply rival any of their contemporaries then, and now. (sounds rather like the title of an album cover, doesn't it)? The combination of all of these things made for a sound that continues to be their own. No one is going to replicate it, not really, no matter how they try. It was their sound....the Carpenters...Karen and Richard. It was their vision, and it will be their legacy. What don't I like about the Carpenters music? I can't think of a thing. Tim 
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Apr 14, 2006 2:24:28 GMT -5
Gee....it should be so easy to put this into words, yes? I mean....after all....it's the REASON I listen to them - because they're so great. Okay, let's just begin with Karen's voice. And what a beginning that is! I have not heard anything like it before, or since. Yes, some come close to Karen's sound, and others have some of her, well, let's call them techniques down pretty well. But the voice of the Karen Carpenter just won't ever be duplicated. It was beautiful - low or high - lustrous - as clear as crystal - as smooth as chocolate that had already melted - as bold as anything you can imagine - as crisp and clean as the finest Spring morning, and as rich as the most decedent dessert ever made. It "ministers" to us in a way, that beckoning, amazing voice, because it is just so beautiful. Her voice never wavered, not once. It was always strong, and she used it like the fine instrument that it was...softly, boldly, happily, sadly, melancholy, blue, peacefully, sweetly..... and Karen always sang from her heart and her soul, with an absoluteness of conviction. And then there is Richard. Oh my what an unbelievable talent this man is, through and through. His penchant for the choral made the Carpenters sound one that will forever be remembered. Yes, he followed true pioneers of this particular sound, Les Paul and Mary Ford, but Richard continued to create and he aspired to greatness for Carpenters as they grew in their abilities. He knew how to write for Karen, and did just that. For her. Her key. He chose songs, because he was an expert at it, that would suit that golden voice, right down to the phrases and vowel sounds that Karen sang. (Taking NOTHING away from KC with that statement, please - after all, she was the one to sing it) yet, Richard knew what sounded right, from the beginning, and he, along with Karen, simply built on that for some of the magnificent performances we continue to be thrilled to listen to, today. Those glorious harmonies. Whether three parts, or 24 parts, those harmonies can just melt me when I hear them. So absolutely perfectly, precisely blended, and the dynamics used in the singing of these beautiful harmonies can still make the chill factor such an immediate reality for me. I liked their repertoire, too. What an awesome span of time they actually covered in their songs. I Can Dream Can't I?, and top 40 hits they wrote.....things like Ave Maria, and Mr. Guder.....so different.....so distinctly apart one from another.....but all Carpenter interpretations that simply rival any of their contemporaries then, and now. (sounds rather like the title of an album cover, doesn't it)? The combination of all of these things made for a sound that continues to be their own. No one is going to replicate it, not really, no matter how they try. It was their sound....the Carpenters...Karen and Richard. It was their vision, and it will be their legacy. What don't I like about the Carpenters music? I can't think of a thing. Tim WELL SAID, TIM! |
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Post by makapip on Apr 15, 2006 15:01:34 GMT -5
And that spectacular drumming on the early songs.
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 15, 2006 19:30:48 GMT -5
And that spectacular drumming on the early songs. You are so right Makapip... Karen Carpenter the drummer is yet one more reason why Carpenters are such a great group! |
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Post by makapip on Apr 16, 2006 2:54:24 GMT -5
They are the best in Christmas songs like "Merry Christmas Darling" , Karen Has a lot of
presence in this one. "Ave Maria", and "Little Altar Boy".
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Post by wisejester7 on Jul 20, 2006 21:13:55 GMT -5
Gee....it should be so easy to put this into words, yes? I mean....after all....it's the REASON I listen to them - because they're so great. Okay, let's just begin with Karen's voice. And what a beginning that is! I have not heard anything like it before, or since. Yes, some come close to Karen's sound, and others have some of her, well, let's call them techniques down pretty well. But the voice of the Karen Carpenter just won't ever be duplicated. It was beautiful - low or high - lustrous - as clear as crystal - as smooth as chocolate that had already melted - as bold as anything you can imagine - as crisp and clean as the finest Spring morning, and as rich as the most decedent dessert ever made. It "ministers" to us in a way, that beckoning, amazing voice, because it is just so beautiful. Her voice never wavered, not once. It was always strong, and she used it like the fine instrument that it was...softly, boldly, happily, sadly, melancholy, blue, peacefully, sweetly..... and Karen always sang from her heart and her soul, with an absoluteness of conviction. And then there is Richard. Oh my what an unbelievable talent this man is, through and through. His penchant for the choral made the Carpenters sound one that will forever be remembered. Yes, he followed true pioneers of this particular sound, Les Paul and Mary Ford, but Richard continued to create and he aspired to greatness for Carpenters as they grew in their abilities. He knew how to write for Karen, and did just that. For her. Her key. He chose songs, because he was an expert at it, that would suit that golden voice, right down to the phrases and vowel sounds that Karen sang. (Taking NOTHING away from KC with that statement, please - after all, she was the one to sing it) yet, Richard knew what sounded right, from the beginning, and he, along with Karen, simply built on that for some of the magnificent performances we continue to be thrilled to listen to, today. Those glorious harmonies. Whether three parts, or 24 parts, those harmonies can just melt me when I hear them. So absolutely perfectly, precisely blended, and the dynamics used in the singing of these beautiful harmonies can still make the chill factor such an immediate reality for me. I liked their repertoire, too. What an awesome span of time they actually covered in their songs. I Can Dream Can't I?, and top 40 hits they wrote.....things like Ave Maria, and Mr. Guder.....so different.....so distinctly apart one from another.....but all Carpenter interpretations that simply rival any of their contemporaries then, and now. (sounds rather like the title of an album cover, doesn't it)? The combination of all of these things made for a sound that continues to be their own. No one is going to replicate it, not really, no matter how they try. It was their sound....the Carpenters...Karen and Richard. It was their vision, and it will be their legacy. What don't I like about the Carpenters music? I can't think of a thing. Tim Tim, I couldn't agree more... Plus Karen's drumming ... AND the fact they were siblings and their voices had some VERY similar qualities which really helped blending together |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jul 21, 2006 10:10:51 GMT -5
And the fact that there are so many of us who still love Carpenters music to this very day is testament to their greatness. |
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