|
|
Post by JohnnyAngel on Jul 11, 2006 11:45:57 GMT -5
My vote gos to "Fun Fun Fun" I love Tich's vocals in this tune, on the second place very close is " I kept on loving you"
Regards
Jorge
|
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Jul 11, 2006 18:53:41 GMT -5
 I went with "I Kept On Loving You" - this is easily my favorite of the Richard leads. I also like "Fun, Fun, Fun".
A few not in this poll which I really like a lot are, "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" and "Say When" from Richard's solo album. |
|
|
|
Post by beaner on Jul 11, 2006 21:05:17 GMT -5
Ah hah! Got ya on this one, Rick. I believe you mean "Say Yeah" rather than "Say When" on Richard's solo album.
As for my choice, if I had to choose from the list above, I'd have to say "I Kept on Lovin' You" but my real choice would be from "
Calling Your Name Again" on his solo album.
Beaner
|
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Jul 11, 2006 23:42:45 GMT -5
Ah hah! Got ya on this one, Rick. I believe you mean "Say Yeah" rather than "Say When" on Richard's solo album. As for my choice, if I had to choose from the list above, I'd have to say "I Kept on Lovin' You" but my real choice would be from " Calling Your Name Again" on his solo album. Beaner  You are right - you got me on this one. It is "Say Yeah" - I love this song and Richard does a great job on it. I always imagine what it would sound like with Karen singing this one.
"Calling Your Name Again" is also a favorite of mine. |
|
ThomB
CERTIFIED GOLD MEMBER
Posts: 110
|
Post by ThomB on Aug 1, 2006 20:09:51 GMT -5
I kept on loving you is my favorite
|
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 3, 2006 12:20:34 GMT -5
I Kept On Loving You
...I have never heard anything from Rich's solo works.
;-)wisejester7
|
|
|
|
Post by Prisoner_Walking on Aug 4, 2006 6:01:22 GMT -5
I know it's not on the list, but one of my favorite Rich vocals is "Daddy's Home" from Live In Japan. I think Rich's beachboy-esque voice suits that type of material well (also the solo he sings in the Perry Como Medley is great).
I think Rich's vocal-range is impressive and he does a great falsetto. But having Karen Carpenter as your sister - boy you don't stand a chance do ya? L
|
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 4, 2006 6:45:06 GMT -5
Another Rich favorite of mine is 'Toy Land' from one of their Christmas specials. Rich looked scared, a little like a deer caught in headlights, but the rendition was beautiful.
|
|
|
|
Post by wisejester7 on Aug 4, 2006 7:40:05 GMT -5
I know it's not on the list, but one of my favorite Rich vocals is "Daddy's Home" from Live In Japan. I think Rich's beachboy-esque voice suits that type of material well (also the solo he sings in the Perry Como Medley is great). I think Rich's vocal-range is impressive and he does a great falsetto. But having Karen Carpenter as your sister - boy you don't stand a chance do ya? L It caught me pleasantly off guard that you compared how Richard might feel being sized up to Karen when it seems it was always the other way around. |
|
|
|
Post by Prisoner_Walking on Aug 4, 2006 8:08:14 GMT -5
Hey wisejester!
Well, I think that Richard is often given a hard time on this.....you imagine being told your whole life that you are a prodogy and you are destined for stardom - his whole family uprooted from one coast to the other JUST to further HIS career for goodness sake! Then one day your kid sister who was a little tomboyish and never good at anything before, comes out with THE most amazing voice of a generation....
Being a musician myself, I've got to admit, as much as I love both of my brothers, if either one of them suddenly showed some phenomenal musical talent which overshadowed my own abilities, I'm not sure I could handle it, LET ALONE stand back and let him become the star like Rich gracefully did with Karen....
|
|
|
|
Post by enigma on Aug 4, 2006 10:47:36 GMT -5
Hey wisejester! Well, I think that Richard is often given a hard time on this.....you imagine being told your whole life that you are a prodogy and you are destined for stardom - his whole family uprooted from one coast to the other JUST to further HIS career for goodness sake! Then one day your kid sister who was a little tomboyish and never good at anything before, comes out with THE most amazing voice of a generation.... Being a musician myself, I've got to admit, as much as I love both of my brothers, if either one of them suddenly showed some phenomenal musical talent which overshadowed my own abilities, I'm not sure I could handle it, LET ALONE stand back and let him become the star like Rich gracefully did with Karen.... Hi prisoner walking Hope I am not out of line here but you did bring up some interesting things here. I only want to share some info that you may not know. First you might want to know that Karen was actually good a alot of things before she sang a note she was very athletic and we know she was a good softball player. Also she was an accomplished drummer before she (or pehaps Richard) discovered she had a great voice. Also the favored prodogy idea was always present in the Carpenter houshold no matter how much attention Karen got Richard was still the top dog not only at home but in all aspect of the Carpenters careers so he only appeared to take a back seat to Karen. As far as how us fans see it Richard was not alright at first with Karen overshadowing him nor were the Carpenter family but they really had no choice in the matter due to Karens awsome voice she natureally sang the majority of leads and was most popular as most lead singers tend to be. Richard knew the formula for sucess relied heavily on Karens voice so early on he accepted this and allowed Karen continue to be the focus of the band. Alot of bands can't predict who will be the most popular member but generally when one member acieves popularity early on the rest of the member take a second seat for the sake of the sucess of the band. ie Richard took a back seat to Karen because it was best for the Carpenters he did not like it but he had little choice in the matter the people spoke they wanted Karen and Richard had to listen. Just some thoughts and info to share sorry for getting off topic yet again and I hope I did not offend anyone.   |
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Aug 4, 2006 11:15:33 GMT -5
Some interesting insights from both Enigma and Leo. What you say makes sense. Music isn't the only area where a person can excel. Karen didn't show any talent in music in her pre-teens and early teens but that doesn't mean that she wasn't good at anything. I believe not only was she excellent at softball, she was also pretty good at art.
What strikes me as funny is that people often say Karen didn't discover her musical abilities until later on. Golly she was only 15 when she discovered her talent for playing drums. That's pretty young if you ask me. Then by the age of 17 she was singing - also very young. Most 15 and 17 year olds aren't even thinking about a possible career - they're just interested in talking on the phone with their friends and going to the beach (that's if you were raised in Southern California).
I remember several times Richard being upset because he was introduced at many functions as the piano player for the Carpenters. But when it came to Karen there was no doubt who she was. I think Richard did have issues with this. But as you stated, Enigma, he knew what was best for achieving success and he was smart about it. He let things go the way they were going naturally. And regardless of all the major success and accolades Karen received as one of the world's finest singers, the family (mainly mom) still regarded Richard as the star. Maybe in mom's eyes that was true. Everybody has a different viewpoint as to what is fantastic. Mom most likely loved classical piano over pop music. As far as I'm concerned they are (were) both super-talents.
Now in Leo's defense I believe he was quoting a statement Karen made, in which she said she couldn't do anything until later. This was only a snippet of an interview. I believe Karen was referring to music - but the piece we hear makes it sound like she couldn't do anything at all. Also she made this comment when she was about 22 years - so 15 - 17 years old is relatively "later" when you are only 22. Of course we know in the reality of all thing 15-17 is very young. |
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyAngel on Aug 4, 2006 13:52:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by GoodOldDreams on Aug 4, 2006 16:03:44 GMT -5
Great topic, Jorge!
Like many of you, I like Richard's vocal leads on "I Kept on Loving You," but I also find Richard's expressive, appropriately wistful singing in "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" very moving. "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," not included in this poll, is another personal favorite. I often find myself singing along with Karen's harmonies to Richard's leads in these songs.
I agree with Leo, Enigma and Rick's analyses of the issues that Richard and Karen had to deal with in order to adjust to the audience's overwhelming response to their talents, challenging their initial perceptions and expectations of their respective roles in the group and family. I couldn't have said it better myself!
|
|
|
|
Post by ps11932 on Aug 4, 2006 19:01:06 GMT -5
Very interesting insights regarding the family dynamics. I guess no relationships or interactions are ever without potential for stress. But I have nothing but love and respect for both Karen and Rich. As far as the song I vote, along with the majority to this point, for "I Kept On Loving You." It seems like the most clear and strong of the vocals, and somehow it reminds me of a 70's type sound, that I like (Maybe because that's when I was young!)
|
|
|
|
Post by Prisoner_Walking on Aug 5, 2006 5:30:13 GMT -5
Hey Guys,
I think I have been misinterpreted! 
I just want to clarify...I wasn't suggesting that Karen wasn't good at ANYTHING before she started singing - how could I call myself a fan and somehow have overlooked her amazing talent as a drummer....plus I am aware that she excelled in sport too, as she did in many other things I'm sure.
But as you mentioned Rick, Karen often said herself within the context of music and referring to Richard's destined professional musical career...(paraphrasing here) "he always knew what he wanted to do, but I didn't know I was good at anything" [until she started taking an interest in music too].
I was really just commenting that sometimes we forget how hard it must have been for Richard to accept Karen's massive popularity...I wasn't trying take anything away from Karen...
All the best guys
Leo
|
|
Dave
Ultra Emissary 
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
|
Post by Dave on Aug 5, 2006 7:17:55 GMT -5
Hiya, Leo;
You've stepped into a very emotional subject, namely the family dynamics.
It is well known that Richard was the prodigy, and that they moved to California because of that, and that Karen was like many adolescent girls as far as self-esteem issues and finding her place in the world. So, what happened?
Think of it like this: you're a senior in high school, and you're struggling with calculus. Your four-year younger sibling comes in and easily solves an equation that you've been struggling with. Your folks see this, and take your sibling for a pre-SAT test, where he/she ranks in the top 1% in math.
That was what happened, in my opinion. If you listen to "California Dreamin' ", to me there is something missing, they sound like a garage band. But when they recorded "We've Only Just Begun", the duo had made a quantum leap in many areas.
To my ears, here's what changed:
Karen had learned to soften her vocals. On "CD", it sounds to me like she's shouting, or "pushing" her vocals. She never had to do that, but it was just inexperience. On "WOJB", she had found the natural range for her voice, and she never strayed from it.
Richard's abilities had improved as well, perhaps because he now had an orchestra to provide the correct foundation for the song.
I have wondered if they were both like cats on a hot tin roof, playing with a full orchestra which cost thousands of dollars.
But they got through the jitters, and the rest is history.
But basically, Richard had to work at his end, while Karen was a natural.
|
|
|
|
Post by enigma on Aug 5, 2006 9:54:03 GMT -5
Hi Leo I guess I was playing "Capitain Obvious" when I relayed the info I did. Most fans of Karens as you said already know of Karens abilities before she got into music (the drumming the softball etc) I have found that alot of Karens fans do not know certain things so I share the info I know for the benifit of those who may want to know. I did understand you were referring to Karen musically speaking early in her career. I deliberately avoided getting to into the family dynamics of the Carpenter because it can be cotroversial but Leo you did bring up an interesting point when you referred to the dynamics between Richard and Karen that was the main thing that interested me in your post. Like all of you the dynamic between Richard and Karen is what made them great no matter who got the attention or how this attention Karen got affected the duo (it affected Karen as well as Richard) this team produced some great results thats what is most important and why we are here in this forum today. I agree Leo that sometimes we overlook the fact that Richard was often underappreciated or overshadowed by the popularity of Karen even though he had so much to do with what we hear in Carpenters music. Its all in the perception. |
|
