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Post by Rick Henry on May 22, 2006 21:40:14 GMT -5
 Let's talk about the Carpenters' greatest songs. Which song do you think is their greatest.
I came up with a list of eleven songs. I chose these songs due to universal popularity, importance to Carpenters fans and overall musical excellence. I stayed away from choosing my favorites. If I did that than this list would include "Road Ode", "Guess I Just Lost My Head", "Boat To Sail", "Desperado", "I Can't Make Music" and others.
Here's a breakdown of why I chose these eleven songs:
"Close To You", "We've Only Just Begun", "Rainy Days And Mondays", "Superstar", "Yesterday Once More" and "Top Of The World" were chosen for the obvious reasons - hugely popular songs - worldwide classics - overall excellence in musicianship and vocals.
"Now" I chose because of sentimental value for Carpenters fans. This may not be Karen's strongest vocal performance - but it was an outstanding scratch vocal. In my mind for a scratch vocal it's incomparable. But more important it was Karen's last recorded song - which automatically puts this song in the category of greatness.
"Solitaire" made this list as it's the song more Carpenters fans say is Karen's all-time best vocal performance.
"Goodbye To Love" made the list because the song is so famous for Tony Peluso's guitar solo and it's also one extraordinary musical arrangement.
"A Song For You" made it due to the fact that it's a deep rich dark song which many say is Karen's message to us.
"Only Yesterday" made it for it's outstanding musicianship, Karen's great vocal. And for the fact that it is the song most Carpenters fans chose as their favorite song.  Are there any songs you feel should have made this list? Do you think any of the songs on this list do not belong on it? |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on May 23, 2006 1:11:55 GMT -5
  Excellent topic, Rick. Great choices, too. I chose We've Only Just Begun, because to me, it epitomizes the Carpenters sound. It has a gorgeous lead vocal by Karen. It has all the ingredients one thinks of when thinking of a great Carpenter tune - fabulous, rich, lush backing vocals. Track upon track of wonderful vocal work by both Karen and Richard. A soaring melody line. Excellent lyrics. Chord structure that is a "knock your socks off" sort of structure (major 7ths, suspensions, and others). I think each of these songs are beautiful in their own rite. However, when I think of Carpenters, I think of all the characteristics mentioned above. And yes, We've Just Begun.... Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on May 23, 2006 23:23:09 GMT -5
I still haven't voted in this poll yet. This is a tough one as these are all quality songs. I have it narrowed down to four songs.
Carpenters had so many great songs. Literally a hundred plus great songs. What's amazing about that is the fact that their career was relatively short - yet in that span of just thirteen years they managed to record a good amount of quality music. |
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Post by Ming on May 24, 2006 10:02:51 GMT -5
I choose 'Yesterday once more'. This was the first Carpenters songs that I heard. I love the lyrics.  Ming |
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Post by smoothie2 on May 24, 2006 23:24:23 GMT -5
;D   Yes, tough choice indeed, since there are VerY FeW of their songs, if any, that are "bummers"...
I chose "Only Yest."because it has all the ingredients of a perfect song, ...Palma expressed in one of her posts that one of her songs
has a "hook"...a tune or part of the song just catches and doesn't let go. And so, Only Yest. truly has that hook at least for me. Right from the start, with Karen's low vocal and then the drum
beat, which it's hard for your feet to stay still on that "hook" and then the great guitar and harmonies for the chorus.
Perhaps "Road Ode" could have been on the list also ,or
Sweet Sw. Smile or For All We Know. but as was said
not all hundred plus could make the list.
;D 
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Post by enigma on May 25, 2006 6:33:01 GMT -5
I chose Superstar. I consider it one of Karens finest performances to me the song is pure pop perfection!  |
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Post by Rick Henry on May 25, 2006 14:25:35 GMT -5
I gave this some thought. I narrowed it down to "We've Only Just Begun", "Superstar" and "Only Yesterday". I voted for "Superstar". I wanted to vote for "Only Yesterday" as it is my all-time favorite Carpenters song. Had this topic been Your Favorite Carpenters song than the vote ceretainly would have gone to "Only Yesterday". ON behalf of "Only Yesterday" the arrangement is outstanding and I feel is one of Richard's best, I love that wall of sound. Karen's voice on this is also great. This is one of the very best pop tunes of all-time. Though, truly I feel "Superstar" is the Carpenters' greatest song.
"Superstar" is known the world over. It was a huge hit and is a classic everywhere you go. The song has been remade by countless people from different musical genres including Sonic Youth, Chrissie Hynde and Luther Vandross. This is also one of Karen's finest vocal performances. Many consider this to be Richard's very best musical arrangement of the entire Carpenters works. The song received a Grammy nomination for it's arrangement. |
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Post by smoothie2 on May 25, 2006 23:12:25 GMT -5
Indeed Superstar is featured on just about all their albums...a real signature song for them.
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Post by Carps1000 on May 29, 2006 11:07:23 GMT -5
All Cs songs are the greatest so what a difficult choice....It had to be Only Y as it has everything in it & its The Cs at their best Song writing/vocal/ music & a good chart placing too. Ken Carps1000000000000
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Post by Rick Henry on May 30, 2006 21:43:45 GMT -5
Indeed Superstar is featured on just about all their albums...a real signature song for them. I found this post intriguing that I went and surveyed all the compilations which were released in the U.S. after Karen's passing. I began with "Yesterday Once More" and continued through to "Gold: 35 th Anniversary Edition".
Of the eleven songs listed in this poll "Top Of The World", "Goodbye To Love" and "Only Yesterday" show up most on Carpenters compilations. All of these are Carpenter/Bettis compositions. |
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Post by Craig Klose on May 31, 2006 10:46:27 GMT -5
Dear folks,
I wanted to weigh in on this one too: I cannot believe Masquarade did not make the list! I think this is one of their best recordings - very sophisticated, a little jazzy but still very serious. An incredible pop song. What a rich vocal on Karen's part...
I also love Let me be the One. Such a beautiful melody.
Sometimes (by the Mancinis) at the end of the "Carpenters" album is, I think, a VERY special song. I actually cannot hear it without being moved to tears! WHAT a tender vocal! Exquisite!
And the Bacharach/David Medley from the same LP is also a perfect little gem of the Carpenter's sound - it really shows how they were so in sympathy with the sound(s) of the times.
I do agree as well with those who place Superstar at or near the top of the list.
This is an interesting excercize - I think it goes far toward demonstrating how everyone brings their own heart to thier love of the Carpenter's music - and how rich their oevre is that so many people can find so many favorites. Thanks for reading!
Craig Klose
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Post by Rick Henry on May 31, 2006 11:42:49 GMT -5
Indeed Superstar is featured on just about all their albums...a real signature song for them. I found this post intriguing that I went and surveyed all the compilations which were released in the U.S. after Karen's passing. I began with "Yesterday Once More" and continued through to "Gold: 35 th Anniversary Edition".
Of the eleven songs listed in this poll "Top Of The World", "Goodbye To Love" and "Only Yesterday" show up most on Carpenters compilations. All of these are Carpenter/Bettis compositions. To further this comment on songs which have made it on the most compilations the same three songs ("Top Of
The World", "Goodbye To Love" and "Only Yesterday") have made it on more compilations than any of their other songs put together. This makes sense as they are all Carpenter/Bettis compositions. "Close To You", "Rainy Days And Mondays", "Superstar", "I Need To Be In Love" and "Yesterday Once More" are also on many of Carpenters compilations.
"This Masquerade" is a great song and should have been included on this poll but for some reason I didn't include it. I was trying to narrow it down to a list of ten songs I was going to omit "Now" but just couldn't. "This Masquerade" was still there and I almost left it in which would have made it a list of twelve songs - but as I say I was trying to make this a list of the ten greatest Carpenters songs.
I chose "Superstar" as being Carpenters greatest song. I tried to be unbiased in making my choice of what I felt was their greatest song. I wanted to chose "Only Yesterday" as it is my favorite of all Carpenters songs - but really when it come to greatest "Superstar" edges out "Only Yesterday" just a tad bit. Though "Only Yesterday" is truly a fantastic song. I would have to say OY is one of the Carpenters very best arrangements. I really like all the sounds and instruments in it. The vocal arrangement is one of the most complicated and intricate of any Carpenters song. Karen and Richard truly went all out in producing "Only Yesterday". |
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Post by ps11932 on May 31, 2006 17:20:11 GMT -5
I'm not going to vote now but this is a superb topic and very helpful in stimulating thought as to the various elements that make a particular song especially outstanding, that make it particularly influential and that have (in music and/or lyric application) a tremendous positive influence. Like most of you I like just about everything I've heard of C's- even my least favorites are great, but it's good to look at things froma wider perspective, too.
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