|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 1, 2006 18:36:04 GMT -5
Some interesting thoughts about the length of songs back in the days of vinyl 45's. It was true that if you wanted to be played on the radio your song had to be under or around 3 1/2 minutes long. Though, I noticed around 1975 that seemed to change somewhat. All of Elton John's hits from 1975-76 were over four minutes long - and they received major radio airplay. BeeGees had several hits in the mid to late 70's which were near or over 4 minutes such as "Tragedy" and "Stayin' Alive". Paul McCartney's "With A Little Luck", Manfred Mann's "Blinded By The Light" and the Eagles' "New Kid In Town" and "Hotel Califronia" were all lengthy songs. Though, the trend for shorter songs seemed to come back into fashion sometime around 1983 - but by that point radio seemed to become very generic - and run by corporations instead of DJ's playing a fun mix of different styles and eclectic artists. I've heard that nowadays a record company can pretty much buy a record (album or single) into the top spot. A #1 record today really is not as big of a deal as it was back in 1970. It's something how even radio and the music charts are run by corporate business men (women) - so much that it has even compromised the artistry and musicianship of popular music. Just a few thoughts on the subject. Sorry if I ran off-topic a bit.
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 2, 2006 8:07:06 GMT -5
There are so many songs left unsung, but here is my wish list of songs I wish were longer:
Dancin' In The Street Any Day Now Make It Easy On Yourself
Carpenters commercials songs:
Good Friends Are For Keeps Japanese Chocolate song Morton's Potato Chip song
Medley songs:
It's Impossible My Funny Valentine As Time Goes By
I'm sure there are a lot more. These are just the songs that pop in my mind right away.
Good topic!
;-)wisejester7
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 2, 2006 19:34:34 GMT -5
also some of their older songs...i.e. All Of My Life and Don't Be Afraid
|
|
|
Post by smoothie2 on Aug 2, 2006 23:31:13 GMT -5
This might sound really weird - but I kinda wish that there was a full version of the Morton's Potato chips commercial - even on that brief recording Karen's voice is achingly beautiful! While I think about it - wouldn't it've been great to hear a longer version of the Japanese chocolate commercial too "from the heart comes the rose...."? One of Richard's strength's as an arranger was making sure that each track lasted just long enough to satisfy the listener and leave them wanting more without dragging them out FOREVER! The Beatles were good at that too. I guess radio stations then (and even now)wouldn't have played long singles - did that have to do with the space on a vinyl record? Anyway, if you think about it, very few Carpenter's tracks are more than 4 minutes (with the exception of the more "novelty" tracks like "Calling Occupants", "Argentina" and "Because We Are In Love" etc), and many people often comment how short the album running times are! Just imagine how many more Carpenters songs we would have to treasure if Richard and Karen had had the time to include a few more tracks on each album?! Leo You asked the question about the vinyl here....and I'm not positive about that, but can answer the question about the length of songs they "used" to play on the radio (see, age DOES have it's advantages - just ask DAVE) ....anyway - Radio stations used to not play anything over 3:05. After that, they would need to do a station identification or at the very least a sponsors commercial ad. I can even remember when the DJ's used the 45's, before going to the actual albums (doesn't this sound weird, now - considering we use CD's?) But yeah, they would have two turntables (used to also have a big window where we could watch them work - ONLY ONE - there were never TWO dj's at the same time. One 45 would be playing, and they would have the other "cued-up" ready to go. It was an interesting process. I would guess the 45's WOULD, indeed, only hold so many minutes, however, they began to make mini albums out of 45's, and some of them would actually have two or three songs on a side. Tim Wonderful info. Tim!...I sure didn't know about the mini albums that were made from the 45's.
|
|
|
Post by smoothie2 on Aug 2, 2006 23:38:05 GMT -5
???Don't worry Rick about getting off topic...in this case I think all this info. fits in perfectly actually with how long songs are (or were) and etc. Besides, I love those songs you mention here. Especially, With a Little Luck by Mc cartney...haven't heard that in a long time.
|
|
|
Post by smoothie2 on Aug 2, 2006 23:41:09 GMT -5
There are so many songs left unsung, but here is my wish list of songs I wish were longer: Dancin' In The Street Any Day Now Make It Easy On Yourself Carpenters commercials songs: Good Friends Are For Keeps Japanese Chocolate song Morton's Potato Chip song Medley songs: It's Impossible My Funny Valentine As Time Goes By I'm sure there are a lot more. These are just the songs that pop in my mind right away. Good topic! ;-)wisejester7 ???thanks wisejester7 for your excellent input and the thought you put into it. You pretty much have the same kind of wish list that I do.
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 3, 2006 1:27:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by GoodOldDreams on Aug 3, 2006 16:32:53 GMT -5
The Carpenters' a cappella barbershop quartet-style vocal harmonies in "Without a Song" from their intro to their last TV special are captivating. This is my favorite rendition of this song — outshining even Sinatra's — and would have been even more outstanding if it were performed in its entirety. As I marvel at their wonderful vocal gymnastics on this tune, the song is suddenly cut off and over all too soon...
|
|
|
Post by GoodOldDreams on Aug 3, 2006 16:51:04 GMT -5
Too bad in this era of multimedia conglomerates that radio stations can be programmed from remote, centralized sites that do not necessarily reflect the tastes of local audiences. BTW, the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and Pink Floyd's "Stairway to Heaven" were a couple more notable hits with lengthy playing times on the radio during their heydays.
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 3, 2006 23:16:11 GMT -5
Too bad in this era of multimedia conglomerates that radio stations can be programmed from remote, centralized sites that do not necessarily reflect the tastes of local audiences. BTW, the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and Pink Floyd's "Stairway to Heaven" were a couple more notable hits with lengthy playing times on the radio during their heydays. Yes, radio is truly not the unpredictable and spontaneous media it once was. I can remember hearing Carpenters, Bob Dylan, Bill Withers, John Denver, Janis Joplin, Electric Light Orchestra, Tony Orlando And Dawn, Diana Ross, Waylon Jennings, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles all on one radio station played one right after the other.
Hey, Dreams did you mean to say Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" or maybe Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb"?
|
|
|
Post by smoothie2 on Aug 4, 2006 0:14:05 GMT -5
, however, they began to make mini albums out of 45's, and some of them would actually have two or three songs on a side. Tim Wonderful info. Tim!...I sure didn't know about the mini albums that were made from the 45's. The mini albums on 45's were especially popular in the late 50's to mid 60's. there were several 4 song singles released by Elvis Presley and the Beatles. I also remember seeing few released by Frank Sinatra as far back as the late 40's. There were a few of these 4 song singles released by the Carpenters - they are pretty rare and I have yet to see one. [/quote]wow...didn't know that...now knowing you somewhat , Rick you'll be searching for one of those rarities... wonder what songs those included..
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 4, 2006 0:23:04 GMT -5
Hi Kathy... I forget where I saw the listing, but one of two of the songs were "Yesterday Once More" and "I Won't Last A Day Without You".
I will have to search and find this to share more info. I believe it was a special DJ or maybe juke box release.
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 4, 2006 0:40:55 GMT -5
Okay it didn't take too long for me to find my list.
There are a few Mexican releases: "For All We Know", "Help", "Maybe It's You" and "Mr. Guder".
"Superstar", "Druscilla Penny", "Merry Christmas Darling" and "Sometimes".
"Hurting Each Other", "One Love", "Saturday" and "(A Place To) Hideaway".
"Close To You", "I Kept On Loving you", "Ticket To Ride" and "Don't Be Afraid".
From Brazil: "Bless The Beasts And Children", "Top Of The World", "Please Mr. Postman" and "Sing".
From Japan: "Please Mr. Postman", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Baby it's You" and "Someday".
"Yesterday Once More", "Superstar", "top Of The World" and "Jambalaya".
"Top Of The World", "Hurting Each Other", "Help" and "Goodbye To Love".
There are several others but too many to list. I also know of atleast one U.s release - but can not find that list.
|
|
|
Post by GoodOldDreams on Aug 4, 2006 10:32:00 GMT -5
Too bad in this era of multimedia conglomerates that radio stations can be programmed from remote, centralized sites that do not necessarily reflect the tastes of local audiences. BTW, the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and Pink Floyd's "Stairway to Heaven" were a couple more notable hits with lengthy playing times on the radio during their heydays. Yes, radio is truly not the unpredictable and spontaneous media it once was. I can remember hearing Carpenters, Bob Dylan, Bill Withers, John Denver, Janis Joplin, Electric Light Orchestra, Tony Orlando And Dawn, Diana Ross, Waylon Jennings, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles all on one radio station played one right after the other.
Hey, Dreams did you mean to say Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" or maybe Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb"? Hi Rick, Whew, it was just one of those days... what I meant to refer to was Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", the mega radio hit clocking in at 8 minutes. I also like Pink Floyd's "Time" and "Us and Them", clocking in respectively at 7 minutes 6 seconds and 8 minutes 49 seconds! Good catch, Rick!
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 14, 2006 17:34:15 GMT -5
Carpenters music is a part of the tapestry of our lives. That means that their songs all just end too soon.
|
|