Carpenters Songs done by other artists

[DJLOVETRAIN]

Which Carpenters songs would you have LOVED other 70s Artists to cover?

[ps11932]

Doc, I'm sure there will be many excellent ideas and selections posted. To be honest with you, for me, the sound of the Carpenters is so unique and "unto itself" that when I hear even a singer like Johnny Mathis (in my mind about as good a male vocalist as I've heard, though I don't know if he was primarily in the 70's) on a C's song, it just doesn't ring well with me.

[GoodOldDreams]

ps11932 said:

Doc, I'm sure there will be many excellent ideas and selections posted. To be honest with you, for me, the sound of the Carpenters is so unique and "unto itself" that when I hear even a singer like Johnny Mathis (in my mind about as good a male vocalist as I've heard, though I don't know if he was primarily in the 70's) on a C's song, it just doesn't ring well with me.

I am with you! I have a recording of Johnny Mathis doing "Close to You" and two or three different versions by Dionne Warwick, but none of them captured the magic that the Carpenters were able to spark on theirs vocally and instrumentally. With the exception of Neil Sedaka's slower remake of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," I am hard pressed to think of a song that the Carpenters performed that has been done as well or better by other artists.

As to which Carpenters songs other 1970s artists MIGHT do a great job covering: Rita Coolidge doing "Rainy Days and Mondays," if her rendition of Boz Scaggs' "We're All Alone" is any indication; Linda Ronstadt doing "Ordinary Fool," using her impassioned torch song voice as in "Blue Bayou."

[wisejester7]

Whether a Carpenters original song or not, part of what we expect to hear is what we FIRST heard. For example, I first heard 'Reason To Believe' by the Carpenters and my son heard "Reason To Believe' by Rod Stewart first. We each think the best performance/cover was done by the artist we heard first.

[wisejester7]

Do you mean Carpenters original songs...songs penned by them or do you mean songs we heard Carpenters cover?

[DJLOVETRAIN]

wisejester 7,I mean 70s songs that the Carpenters should have covered! I hope you saw the synopsis too

[wisejester7]

djlovetrain said:

wisejester 7,I mean 70s songs that the Carpenters should have covered! I hope you saw the synopsis too

Okay...and Yes, I saw your shows run down. Thank you.

[ps11932]

You all are right- reading these posts has made me think... I got used to the Barry Manilow version of "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again", and then heard The C's version on the "Interpretations" C.D. I have to admit that just this once, I think someone did what I consider a better version of a number than C's did.

[Rick Henry]

goodolddreams said:

With the exception of Neil Sedaka's slower remake of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," I am hard pressed to think of a song that the Carpenters performed that has been done as well or better by other artists.

I have to agree with this comment here. Look at songs like "Please Mr. Postman". I knew this song primarily by the marvellette's before Carpenter released it in late 1974. I never cared much for the Marvelettes version - but I liked it marginally. But Carpenters' recording took me by surprise. I loved this one instantly.



Another one is "I Just Fall In Love Again". Where Anne Murray does a nice job with the song. Carpenters (who recorded the song two years before Anne Murray) took it and turned it into a masterpiece (the real thing). Again Karen's vocal is rich and delicately silky smooth, she does a beautiful job with the song. Next there's the outstanding arragement and orchestration. The song was arranged and orchestrated by the master Peter Knight. Peter Knight (for those of you who don't know) orchestrated the fabulous classic album "Days Of The Future Passed" recorded in 1967 by Moody Blues. Knight brought some of that futuristic orchestral sound into "I Just Fall In Love Again". And then as to turn things around a bit and add the unexpected Tony Peluso shows up again with another stellar guitar solo. I think that's what made so many Carpenters songs stand above the rest. They didn't just give nice performances. Their performances were, many times, ethereal with hints of the unexpected around each corner. Maybe that's what has made them such a great band.



In my own view I feel Carpenters' recording of "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" far exceeds Manilow's version. Firstly because of Karen's vocal - she turns in a deep, intricate and dark reading. Respectfully, though, I may be biased as I've never been much for Manilow's voice.

I also like the fact that Carpenters kept the original "bloodhound" lyric in the song. This seems to add a bit of an edge to this already dramatic tune. Tony Peluso's remarkable guitar work also gives this song an added drive which propels in into a class of it's own.

Although, Carpenters' release of this song happened near 20 years after Manilow's, it's Carpenters who actually recorded the song first.

...just my own thoughts on these songs...