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Post by wisejester7 on Nov 7, 2006 23:33:35 GMT -5
I've heard similar descriptions ... about the same song. I DO like Karen's vocals here, but I've never thought of her voice as you describe. So ... back I go to listen to it again. Darn ! ;-)
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Post by wisejester7 on Dec 8, 2006 18:48:48 GMT -5
My AOTD is the timely and seasonal 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'.
On it are the following gems ...
* the ballad version of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' * 'Little Altar Boy' * 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve' * and the darkly wonderful 'I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day'
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 10, 2006 13:29:18 GMT -5
My AOTD is the timely and seasonal 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'. On it are the following gems ... * the ballad version of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' * 'Little Altar Boy' * 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve' * and the darkly wonderful 'I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day' Another standout track on "An Old Fashioned Christmas" is the sunshiny and upbeat "Home For The Holidays" - this song has always reminded me somewhat of "Those Good Old Dreams" with it's optimistic feel - just the right feel for a beautiful Christmas season. "He Came Here For Me" is another beautiful gem from the album this inspiring hymn is my favorite of all Carpenters Christmas songs.
My album of the day is actually not an album but a compilation - "The Singles 1969-1981 (SACD Edition)". This collection is outstanding - if you don't have it - it is a must - but to reap the full benefit of this collection you must have a 5.1 Surround Sound System to play it on. Each song is remastered for 5.1 Surrround and sounds greats. Each intrument and vocal shines and stands out like never before. Breathtakingly beautiful. I am currently stuck on the songs "This Masquerade" and "Only Yesterday".
"Masquerade" is spacious and each sound is wonderfully crisp and clear in this SACD edition. "Only Yesterday" is the Carpenters' technical masterpiece - their best of the best and sounds amazing on 5.1 Sorround Sound. The "wall of music" on "Only Yestertday" is even more enhanced with the new technology and the vocals seem to cross through each other from speaker to speaker.
What a true listening experience.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 23, 2006 13:58:02 GMT -5
My Carpenters album of the day is "As Time Goes By".
I took this one along with me for a short ride yesterday. I started off with the fantastic "I Got Rhythm" - I just love the Carpenters' recording of this song - and especially love Karen's drumwork. Next went to the fun and upbeat "Dancing In The Street" and ended with the awesome keyboard performance of "Dizzy Fingers" - an outstanding listen.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 26, 2006 1:06:27 GMT -5
Excellent choice Rick...As T. Goes By is one of my all time faves....Absolutely love all of it and especially the medleys with Como and Fitzgerald. ;D I listened to some of the "Old-Fashion Christmas" tape....and of course it's just over the top wonderful.... Santa Clause is Coming to Town seemed to catch my attention the most today. The kind of jazzy stuff with the sax and piano makes it unique. HEY I ATE TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!it was sOOOOOOOOO WORTH IT!!!! HAM, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, homemade bread, out of this world every bit of it !
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Post by ps11932 on Dec 26, 2006 17:19:12 GMT -5
I agree, The Carpenters Chrtistmas collections are great. Twelve Christmas selections got at least some air time (as reported for our log). I listen occasionally all year round, and am eager to resort most of C listening time to regulr slections now. I agree also that "As Time Goes By" is a favorite. (It took a few hearings for me to appreciate.) Some outstanding instrumental pieces, as well as the superb vocals. One that stands out is "Leave Yesterday Behind"- I plan to spend more time thinking about that number this coming year.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 26, 2006 23:31:55 GMT -5
Today my album of the day is back to Karen's solo. I just love this album and listen to it on a regular basis.
This has been my most played Carpenters related disc in the past ten years. It's just so great listening to Karen spread her wings and soar. And her vocals on this album are fantastic - she put all her soul and energy into each song on the album.
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Post by wisejester7 on Feb 14, 2007 12:00:05 GMT -5
The Winter's weather has been a challenge for so long that I am longing for the warmth and freshness of Spring. My AOTD is a reflection of freshness ... OFFERING. The Carpenters had a fresh new sound and they were on the cusp of taking the world by storm.
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Post by wisejester7 on Feb 19, 2007 23:32:56 GMT -5
My AOTD is 'Carpenters Perform Carpenter'. This is a tribute album to Richard. It is meant to recognize his song writing - that creative aspect he brought to the Carpenters mix.
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Post by ps11932 on Apr 13, 2007 18:00:28 GMT -5
Of the 14 Carpenters CD's I have (not including "From The Top" collection), they are falling into 2 rough categories of preference: group 1, which is truly outstanding, and group 2, which is quite a lot better than group 1. One collection that becomes more favored each time I hear it is "Karen Carpenter" and has been discussed at some length on various posts here. There is a good style variety, the instrumentation and technological work great (as always)- what stands out though is the edge of the vocals; there is a freedom of expression and a new sense of authority that is manifest throughout. Power and attitude (subject matter sometimes a good distance away from "Top Of The World") but all that being said, there is still a sense of goodness and compassionate presence that always shows it self in all the work; probably a reflection of life character. I hereby line up with those recommending this work.
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Post by ps11932 on May 25, 2007 18:22:28 GMT -5
I am just getting into "A Song For You" and am hearing some of the songs for the first times- very impressive music, and a lot of lyrics that will be getting much thought. I am intrigued by the drawings in the cover jacket, especially the one appearing (perhaps randomly?) near the lyrics of "I Won't Last A Day Without You" & "Crystal Lullaby." It shows a bird with a rose in mouth flying away, with a broken heart on the date of June 11. Is there some particular significance to this date?
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Post by Rick Henry on May 25, 2007 22:18:41 GMT -5
I am just getting into "A Song For You" and am hearing some of the songs for the first times- very impressive music, and a lot of lyrics that will be getting much thought. I am intrigued by the drawings in the cover jacket, especially the one appearing (perhaps randomly?) near the lyrics of "I Won't Last A Day Without You" & "Crystal Lullaby." It shows a bird with a rose in mouth flying away, with a broken heart on the date of June 11. Is there some particular significance to this date?
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Post by wisejester7 on May 29, 2007 9:59:40 GMT -5
Another way I looked at the torn apart 11 is as if two lives were torn apart by a break in love. June is one of the traditional wedding months ... so June 11 was symbolic of a wedding/love that wasn't to be. The 2 people involved are back to individual components ... 1 and 1.
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Post by ps11932 on May 29, 2007 16:08:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the theories on the June 11 date. I can see either as a strong possibility.
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Post by wisejester7 on May 29, 2007 23:16:03 GMT -5
My AOTD is "Voice Of The Heart".
Although this is considered Karen's swan song of sorts, the album has many beautiful pieces on it. Many fans don't like to listen to "Voice Of The Heart" because it reminds them of Karen's untimely death and all the sadness that it entails.
Even though the sadness may come it would be a bigger loss if we didn't have this 'final' work of Karen's to brighten our days.
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Post by Rick Henry on May 31, 2007 0:42:43 GMT -5
Of course as always my view on this is different. In reference to "Voice Of The Heart" for me it's not the sadness connected to the album, but more so in that I find it to be a work of moderate merit. Keeping in mind that this isn't a true studio album (as at least half the songs are outtakes from previous recording sessions) puts the album's minor inconsistencies into perspective.
All in all "Voice Of The Heart" is fine - but I feel Carpenters have several others which are far more solid on the whole.
I do however find "Ordinary Fool" to be above average... this is one outstanding track. My favorite track is probably the least liked song on the album "Prime Time Love" - I really like the song's upbeat nature - although it is an unimpressive tune overall - I still like it quite a bit.
My album of the day is "Now And Then"... It starts off with "Sing"... which I generally skip over but goes right into the classic "This Masquerade" - which alone is enough to make "Now And Then" a great album. Next is "Heather" another which I skip over but then comes "Jambalaya" - a fun and upbeat tune - I really enjoy Tony Peluso's guitar work on this one. Then there's the classic "I Can't Make Music" - I love this tune. After that is "Yesterday Once More" (and I know I'm going to get some slack for this) but I generally skip past that one to go right into the Oldies medley - this is one of the best works by Carpenters. I love every song in the medley - especially "Our Day Will Come", "Johnny Angel" and "One Fine Day".
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Post by Rick Henry on May 31, 2007 9:34:47 GMT -5
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Post by ps11932 on May 31, 2007 16:31:12 GMT -5
With thanks as always for the thought provoking insights from the "Ticket To Ride" & "Now & Then" recommendations, I was especially pleased with the good reference to "Jambalaya"- indeed, outstanding work on guitar and other instrumentation. I've found it a challenge to understand some of the lyrics, but over time, with concentration and contextualazation, an interesting story line appears too. And I love the sound of the guy laughing, toward the end- I find it very contagious.
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