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Post by wisejester7 on Dec 8, 2006 17:28:48 GMT -5
Here is the link for 'Something In Your Eyes'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQc0di9zxVgThe song is from Richard's solo "Time" album. The song is performed by Dusty Springfield with backup vocals by Richard Carpenter. Tony Peluso is also on the clip. Happy viewing! ;-)
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Dec 8, 2006 19:57:33 GMT -5
Thanks wj7! It sounds like Richard still had Karen's lower vocal registers in mind when he wrote this song. The choral harmonies definitely have the Carpenters trademark sound. I wonder who the other musicians are besides Tony Peluso.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Dec 11, 2006 9:33:40 GMT -5
Thanks wj7 - enjoyed watching that. I had no clue what Dusty looked like even, during that time period - and she looked good - so did Richard, actually - I'm sure the smiles were genuine, and there were many. What is the significance of Richard in his T-Bird? I mean, yes, it's a love song - and I suppose his drive to the top spot there where he's looking out over the city is what people do just to "contemplate" a situation, but I wonder if it has a greater significance than that?! It's a nice way to show off the car that was on the front cover....I'm just not sure I fully get it why this little trip of his is in this particular song. Am I missing something? It's a great video, though. This made me think that Scott Grimes also did a great song with Richard on the album Time,, and so I looked for a video of Scott, but no such luck - at least, not working with Richard on the song they did on "Time." Does anyone know - is there a video of this that exists? Thanks, wj7 - fun viewing here. Tim
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Dec 11, 2006 21:20:32 GMT -5
...What is the significance of Richard in his T-Bird? I mean, yes, it's a love song - and I suppose his drive to the top spot there where he's looking out over the city is what people do just to "contemplate" a situation, but I wonder if it has a greater significance than that?! It's a nice way to show off the car that was on the front cover....I'm just not sure I fully get it why this little trip of his is in this particular song. Am I missing something?... One of my all-time favorite music videos is A-ha's "Take on Me" for its creative and effective use of graphics and photography to enhance the impact of the song, although the video does not have a direct connection with the lyrics or music. My take on Richard and Dusty's "Something in Your Eyes" music video is that its primary aim was simply to re-introduce Dusty and Richard to new and long-time audiences alike, and not necessarily to make any direct references to the song itself. Glamorous and dressed elegantly, Dusty was a popular British singer whose most notable success occurred during the 1960's, with a successful comeback in the late 1980's, around the time of release of this song. Never presented as the front man in any of the Carpenters' videos or naturally comfortable in front of the camera, Richard had an opportunity in this video to let fans to see and know more about him in action through his avid interest in collectible autos, and his T-bird is a proud symbol of that. It is also a direct reference to his picture on the album cover for "Time," which helps to promote it by visual association. The brief shots on top of the vista points suggest contemplation and reflection on some big issues in life — perhaps his career, future and relationships with loved ones. The footage of the musicians art work provides us with interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse of who and what was involved in making this music. Just my thoughts. Any other interpretations out there?
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Post by wisejester7 on Dec 12, 2006 0:26:43 GMT -5
Thanks wj7! It sounds like Richard still had Karen's lower vocal registers in mind when he wrote this song. The choral harmonies definitely have the Carpenters trademark sound. I wonder who the other musicians are besides Tony Peluso. I agree with you. It DOES sound as if Richard wrote this for Karen to sing. It is SO easy to 'hear' Karen sing this. Working together with Dusty was a nice touch ... both ways. For Dusty ... it was an acknowledgement of Karen and RICH and all the Carpenters music. For Richard ... well this was a closing of the circle that started way back with K and R's singing of Dustys hits on their Make Your Own Kind Of Music tv show.
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Post by wisejester7 on Dec 12, 2006 0:30:00 GMT -5
Thanks wj7 - enjoyed watching that. I had no clue what Dusty looked like even, during that time period - and she looked good - so did Richard, actually - I'm sure the smiles were genuine, and there were many. What is the significance of Richard in his T-Bird? I mean, yes, it's a love song - and I suppose his drive to the top spot there where he's looking out over the city is what people do just to "contemplate" a situation, but I wonder if it has a greater significance than that?! It's a nice way to show off the car that was on the front cover....I'm just not sure I fully get it why this little trip of his is in this particular song. Am I missing something? It's a great video, though. This made me think that Scott Grimes also did a great song with Richard on the album Time,, and so I looked for a video of Scott, but no such luck - at least, not working with Richard on the song they did on "Time." Does anyone know - is there a video of this that exists? Thanks, wj7 - fun viewing here. Tim Like you, I didn't see the 'connect' between the song and the car (other than R's love of cars and the album cover). It seemed to me to be a disjointed music clip all the way around. Still, I'm happy to have seen it! ;-)
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Post by Prisoner_Walking on Dec 14, 2006 10:28:53 GMT -5
I read ages ago in a biography of Dusty Springfield that she wasn't happy with the song OR Richard Carpenter. I can't remember the exact reason why, but I vaguely recall that she'd either felt the emphasis was too heavily placed on Richard when promoting the record, or that she'd been overlooked in the creative process.
Dusty's career had stalled long before 1987 and Richard had almost 'discovered' her again by asking her to sing on his album...however, I think she'd expected it to be billed as 'Dusty Springfield's new song' rather than 'Dusty Springfield singing on a Carpenters album because Karen was no longer around to do it herself'.
I actually really LOVE this song - and am a big fan of Dusty's voice, but to me, because the song is so typically "Carpenters" it just highlights the fact that it's not Karen singing it which makes for bittersweet listening.
I have never heard any other recording from Richard's "Time" album...are any of the other songs any good? Would this have been the direction Rich and Karen would have gone in had Karen survived? Just some thoughts.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Dec 14, 2006 10:57:17 GMT -5
I read ages ago in a biography of Dusty Springfield that she wasn't happy with the song OR Richard Carpenter. I can't remember the exact reason why, but I vaguely recall that she'd either felt the emphasis was too heavily placed on Richard when promoting the record, or that she'd been overlooked in the creative process.
Dusty's career had stalled long before 1987 and Richard had almost 'discovered' her again by asking her to sing on his album...however, I think she'd expected it to be billed as 'Dusty Springfield's new song' rather than 'Dusty Springfield singing on a Carpenters album because Karen was no longer around to do it herself'.
I actually really LOVE this song - and am a big fan of Dusty's voice, but to me, because the song is so typically "Carpenters" it just highlights the fact that it's not Karen singing it which makes for bittersweet listening.
I have never heard any other recording from Richard's "Time" album...are any of the other songs any good? Would this have been the direction Rich and Karen would have gone in had Karen survived? Just some thoughts. Leo, that's interesting information about Dusty and Richard's relationship that you read. I wondered about it myself, seeing that I had not heard anything from Dusty in a long long time, prior to her teaming up with Richard for his Time album. You asked if there were any other good songs on the album, and my answer will be yes, although with a caveat or two. I, personally, found Something In Your Eyes disturbing, because, as you said, it was so absolutely Carpenteresque, and Dusty was singing "instead of" Karen. It should have been Karen, and I'm sure the song was written with her in mind. The same is true of the song (and the title escapes me at the mo) that Dione Warwick sang with Richard. So, I had a hard time with those two songs, even though they are both quite lovely songs. Having said that - I further had sort of a difficult time with the songs Richard sang. Some of them are really GREAT, in my estimation, now. However, at first, I wasn't sure. I mean...there are some I really like the beat on - others I enjoy the harmony on, and still others I like because of the melody line or the lyric. There is one that is a ballad, but it's a fast ballad, and I think, if it were slowed some, it would be a better song. Most of them are sung totally by Richard, and though he is a good vocalist in my opinion, his lisp, frankly, gets in the way of the song. Scott Grimes did a song on this album, and I think it's a fantastic song. Scott is quite talented, and was young when this album was done. His intonation is impeccable, and he sings strongly and surely. I just don't care for his baby voice, which, as I listen to the only other album that I know of that he did, which was produced by Richard Carpenter, and recorded when Scott was much older - his voice, frankly, sounds very similar to what it sounded like when he was younger....very high. Very clear, and very right-on, but very "childlike" and very high - higher than Michael Jackson, for example. I don't fancy that, much. I like a much lower/stronger timbre than Scotts - though he is, truly, an excellent vocalist. So, I put up with the high voice because I like the songs. Give you any insight? I'd be happy to burn you a copy of this, but it's on vinyl, and I don't have the ability to do anything but make a tape. Let me know if you'd like one. Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 14, 2006 23:23:39 GMT -5
Hi Leo... to answer your question on Richard's solo album "Time" - yes there are a few other songs worth listening to. It's not quite the fantastic work that's Karen's solo is - but it is still a decent listen.
Of course you know the song with Dusty Springfield - and I agree this is a great tune. but like you (and Tim) said, it's just so Carpenteresque - and though Dusty does a great job on it - she just isn't Karen so I only became lukewarm to it - until recently when I gave the song a chance on it's own merit - and now love it.
Scott Grimes is an excellent singer - but just a tad bit too fluffy for my taste. But certainly I can hear the talent and by all means understand why Richard chose to record him. His song "That's What I Believe" is a pretty good catchy upbeat song - which has that trademark Carpenters background vocal sound.
The Dionne Warwick song "In Love Alone" is fairly good - though for the most part it doesn't really go anywhere. Though, if Karen were singing it - it would have been classic.
The instrumental "Time" is a really nice song which makes me think of Karen quite a bit. This is one of the best instrumentals done on any Carpenters' related album.
"When Time Was All We Had" is a fine almost a capella song - featuring Richard on lead and harmony vocals and on keyboards with a wonderful flugelhorn performance by Herb Alpert. This song is a dedication to Karen and part of the lyric reads; "I never will forget your face in silhouette. Your voice will be the sweetest sound I'll ever hear".
My favorite song on the album by far is the opening number "Say Yeah!" - this is a dynamic upbeat dance-pop tune. This is my favorite of any song which features Richard on lead vocal. His performance is excellent. This song has some muscle behind it with guitarist Tim Mays' meaty power chords and Joe Osborn's rhythmic bass lines. The song sounds like something you'd find on Karen's solo album and if Karen were around to sing "Say Yeah!" - it would have been out of this world. I always felt this would have been a good single - it may have had a chance at cracking the top 40 - but A&M quickly gave up on promoting Richard's solo album and it disappeared into obscurity.
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Post by Prisoner_Walking on Dec 15, 2006 4:27:30 GMT -5
Rick and Tim - you've really whetted my appetite for Richard's album now! I might try and get a copy on ebay - it has long been deleted here in the UK (I assume that's the same in USA??). I love that punchy 80's production of "Something In Your Eyes" (BIGGER DRUMS!!!) which kinda builds on "Touch Me When We're Dancing" - with a more updated sound I am convinced that Karen & Rich would have had some big hits in the 80's.
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Post by Carps1000 on Dec 29, 2006 15:34:10 GMT -5
Time: was long since deleted in the Uk & if i recall correctly the CD was released & deleted in a week ( could B wrong in that assumtion but I do no it wasnt out for very long) B warned Prisoner Walking CD copies on ebay do come on but go for an xtortionate amount of money Last year I saw one get over 30 bids & go for £76. I managed to get one in october but paid £21.50 for it on ebay (ouch) but was worth it as I think its a fab album...watch out for the Japeneese imports as they cost a bomb. Dusty Springfeild was annoyed with R cos she was only given a very small credit for her part on the single & even smaller on the LP...(so I heard at the time) It was in fact The Pet Shop Boys who had a big hand in ressurecting her carreer with "What Have I Done 2 Deserve This" Dusty was an ab Fab woman who was not only a SUPERSTAR but was very gracious to all & sundry..a feat shown when on Juke Box Jury the Reissued Merry Xmas Darling was shown as one of the xmas singles in 91 & Bob Geldorf slagged it off in the reviews & Dusty told him off.....I went out & bought her latest LP for that...the only single I had of Geldof was made into an ashtray. Ken Carps 1000
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