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Post by wisejester7 on Jun 11, 2007 18:36:57 GMT -5
My AOTD is Carpenters (the tan album). I believe the album was released in 1971.
This album gets the spotlight today for it's content and order of songs.
First up is "Rainy Days and Mondays", a song that sizzles. Karen is almost conversational at the start of the song, but by the end of the song Karen is quite intense as she lays it all out ... rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Next up is Richard with the up beat "Saturday". It almost brings back the joy of those free Saturdays of my youth when having fun was the number one priority of the day.
"Let Me Be The One" finds Karen in a loving mood. Her gentle read of the bridge passage puts this song high on the list, even though the piece is short.
"(A Place To ) Hideaway" shows a side of life where (the singer) just needs a break from the chaos of life ... for just a little while perhaps. The childlike music that backs the starting portion of the song suggests that "it was more fun to be children".
"For All We Know" is a beautiful song of love and hope. And, of course, Karen conveys these feelings with expertise.
Dark "Superstar" follows. A hit in it's day and today the sentiments are not lost on the listener.
Richard is back with "Druscilla Penny". This is sort of the other genders point of view from "Superstar". The guy sings of the girl fans obsession to hang out with rock and rollers ... they are back stage after every show waiting for the offer to be with someone.
"One Love" is a beautiful, soulful ballad and is perhaps more in the style of "Carpenters" with it's lush arrangement and perfect singing.
The album lineup follows with a Bacharach/David medley that makes me wish I had been able to see the Carpenters live in concert. Their skills as musicians and singers and Richards arranging are clearly stamping these songs as the Carpenters own.
As the final statement of the album comes to a close, in the form of "Sometimes", we are treated to a deceptively simple sounding song. It is anything but simple. From Mancini to Carpenters was a wise move. Richard had (still has) the finesse to musically pull this off while Karen super packs the emotional heart and soul into "Sometimes". The presentation is PURE. There are no fancy tricks or gimmicks ... just two kids who are exceptional in their musical field. The song is strategically placed at the end of the album as a 'thanks' from the Carpenters, too, for their many blessings ... professionally, their fans, and to their friends and family who believed in them. "And I count the times I have forgotten to say 'Thank you' and just how much I love them."
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makapipi
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Post by makapipi on Jun 11, 2007 18:46:52 GMT -5
and "Carpenters" album was certified gold in 1971, and according to Rick posting as of June 2007 triple platinum.
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 11, 2007 22:38:14 GMT -5
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Post by wisejester7 on Jun 12, 2007 7:04:05 GMT -5
Yikes! Sorry about that! I went back and modified my post so it now includes "Sometimes". I agree "Rainy Days And Mondays" and "Superstar" could both come out today and be big hits.
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Post by ps11932 on Jun 12, 2007 16:34:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the preview information- I have just acquired this album about a week ago and haven't listened yet. And congrats., WJ, to you & Chris on return to Indiana. Nothing against Ks., but Hoosier is where the heart is- we hope to one day settle there ourselves, perhaps.
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Post by wisejester7 on Jun 12, 2007 22:08:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the preview information- I have just acquired this album about a week ago and haven't listened yet. And congrats., WJ, to you & Chris on return to Indiana. Nothing against Ks., but Hoosier is where the heart is- we hope to one day settle there ourselves, perhaps. I hope my 'review' is helpful ... or at least doesn't detract from your own enjoyment of the album. Early Carpenters are hard to beat! Happy to be home again. You can be a Hoosier along with me! Welcome! if/when you decide to come on down.
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 12, 2007 22:17:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the preview information- I have just acquired this album about a week ago and haven't listened yet. And congrats., WJ, to you & Chris on return to Indiana. Nothing against Ks., but Hoosier is where the heart is- we hope to one day settle there ourselves, perhaps. I hope my 'review' is helpful ... or at least doesn't detract from your own enjoyment of the album. Early Carpenters are hard to beat! Happy to be home again. You can be a Hoosier along with me! Welcome! if/when you decide to come on down.
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Post by wisejester7 on Jun 13, 2007 8:03:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind and wise words, Rick.
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makapipi
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Post by makapipi on Dec 29, 2007 1:56:09 GMT -5
I just heard on youtube an A&M "foreplay Promotion " 7 inch record for 1977 Passage album. I never knew about this, it has some songs from that album and a narrator explaining the songs and Richard and Karen. Bwana is pretty good song.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 29, 2007 10:36:47 GMT -5
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Post by wisejester7 on Dec 29, 2007 13:41:26 GMT -5
I just heard on youtube an A&M "foreplay Promotion " 7 inch record for 1977 Passage album. I never knew about this, it has some songs from that album and a narrator explaining the songs and Richard and Karen. Bwana is pretty good song. There is still so much more to learn about the Carpenters. Thanks for the information about the 7 inch foreplay promotion record of Passage. Does anyone know how many foreplay promotional records the Carpenters have?
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 29, 2007 22:45:09 GMT -5
I'm not sure but I believe the A&M Foreplay series was started around 1977. Most of them would contain one song from various artists on the A&M and related labels rooster (includes the labels Horizon, IRS, Virgin and others). For some of the bigger names like Carpenters, Styx, Janet Jackson and The Police they would dedicate an entire Foreplay disc (record) with all their songs from the album they were promoting. I have several of the various artists Foreplay records. Some of them include narration (sounds like Herb Alpert)... others contain the entire song of each featured artist. Most of them feature between five to seven artists. I would venture to say Foreplay discs were made for the albums "Passage" and "Christmas Portrait". I was working in a record store during the releases of both "Made In America" and "Voice Of The Heart" and know that there weren't any Foreplay releases for these albums as we would get all that promotional stuff... I would love very much to acquire some of these Carpenters Foreplay promotional records.
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makapipi
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Post by makapipi on Dec 30, 2007 2:20:32 GMT -5
I just heard another promo on YouTube, this one was for Record Town store and Richard and Karen were promoting their 1981 Made in America album. they would talk about each song, before it played. Beechwood 45678 by the Marvelettes is a great upbeat song.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 30, 2007 10:58:26 GMT -5
Another good find Makapipi... on the promotion of "Made In America". You're pretty good at searching and finding things the rest of us wouldn't find. Thanks for keeping us informed. I'm not sure but I believe the A&M Foreplay series was started around 1977. Most of them would contain one song from various artists on the A&M and related labels rooster (includes the labels Horizon, IRS, Virgin and others). For some of the bigger names like Carpenters, Styx, Janet Jackson and The Police they would dedicate an entire Foreplay disc (record) with all their songs from the album they were promoting. I have several of the various artists Foreplay records. Some of them include narration (sounds like Herb Alpert)... others contain the entire song of each featured artist. Most of them feature between five to seven artists. I would venture to say Foreplay discs were made for the albums "Passage" and "Christmas Portrait". I was working in a record store during the releases of both "Made In America" and "Voice Of The Heart" and know that there weren't any Foreplay releases for these albums as we would get all that promotional stuff... I would love very much to acquire some of these Carpenters Foreplay promotional records. I did a few internet searches on A&M promotional items (not on YouTube). A&M has been releasing promo records from almost the beginning... of course several contain songs by Carpenters. One of these records from 1972 called the album sampler contains "Don't Be Afraid". I found this interesting that this song from 1969 would be on a 1972 sampler. Makes me think that maybe A&M was trying to promote the song for some reason. Also in 1977 they had a sampler series called Hit Kit ( a collection of samples from various artists). Two of these Hit Kits contain songs from "Passage"... "All You Get From Love Is A Love Song" and "Calling Occupants"... both of these Hit Kit samplers are very rare. Here is the track listing for Hit Kit SP 8430: Whatcha Gonna Do? - Pablo Cruise/Give a Little Bit - Supertramp/(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher - Rita Coolidge/Girl - Billy Preston/All You Get From Love Is a Love Song - Carpenters/This Flight Tonight - Nazareth //Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson/Come In From the Rain - Captain & Tennille/(Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard - Cat Stevens/I'm In You - Peter Frampton/Wild In the Streets - Garland Jeffreys/Sunshine After the Rain - Elkie Brooks And the track listing for Hit Kit SP 8444: Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours - Peter Frampton/(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again - L.T.D./Circles - Captain & Tennille/Dreamer - Supertramp/Runnin' For Your Lovin' - Brothers Johnson/We're All Alone - Rita Coolidge/Smooth Sailin' - Dingoes//Come Sail Away - Styx/Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft - Carpenters/(I've Been Lookin' For) A New Way To Say I Love You - Driver/Sweet Jamaica - Cat Stevens/Oh Lori - Alessi/A Place In The Sun - Pablo Cruise/Can't Wait - Piper My album of the day remains the inimitable "Passage"... this album made waves for Carpenters. It may not have been their biggest selling album... but it did get a good amount of "good" attention for them. Critics really liked this album... where as "A Kind Of Hush" was totally dogged by critics "Passage" was embraced. "Passage" also accomplished a few other things for Carpenters that noe of their other albums were able to do... they were finally being played on FM Radio... which back in 1977 FM Radio was mostly known as being an Album Oriented place for music. Generally "hit single" type artists were only played on AM Radio. passage" was able to break that barrier... but it was only with "Passage" as with the release of 1981's tepid "Made In America" Carpenters somewhat lost touch with what the public wanted musically. "Passage" also saw Carpenters reach the Top Ten on the Country Music Chart with the hit single "Sweet Sweet Smile"... this was a first and only for Carpenters. "Passage" was an album with appeal in different areas. AM Radio p[layed it, FM Radio played, Country Radio played it and critics were positive on the album... Oh and one more kudo for "Passage"... Richard Carpenter received a Grammy Award nomination for his arrangement of "Calling Occupants..." this was Richard's fifth and final nomination in this category... he never won... but to get five nominations is quite prestigious. Here's a great remix of "Calling Occupants" done by a friend named Jandy: Click Here to listen to "Calling Occupants Remix
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