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Post by mrbillis4u on May 23, 2007 18:47:51 GMT -5
Hello to all,
Quite a few years ago at the time a+m was being sold. I was always looking for carpenters cd's, videos,etc. You name it I was after it. To this day I still find interesting things. Anyway, I had a few friends on line and over the years had some friends at a+m studio's. I was very lucky to get my hands on the master recordings of karen's solo work that was never released. Of course it was not ready for release by any means.The purity and sound was amazing. My two favorite tracks from those recordings are,"Love making love to you" and "Somethings missing". Both of these songs could have been huge hits I believe. Both songs stay within Karen's chest voice that Richard has said was her appeal. I can not figure out why these two songs have not been mixed and released. Do any of you who have heard these feel the way I do? Sorry for the long post but I am still blown away at these two songs. Thx for reading. Mr Bill
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Post by Rick Henry on May 23, 2007 21:55:49 GMT -5
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Post by Ming on May 26, 2007 11:38:36 GMT -5
I hope one day Richard will release them.  Ming |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 5, 2007 9:35:10 GMT -5
I hope one day Richard will release them. Ming |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 21, 2007 21:25:00 GMT -5
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Post by enigma on Jun 22, 2007 7:11:50 GMT -5
Absolutely I have them in their raw state and they sound fine and someone on the net has "cleaned up" versions of the songs so if he can clean them up Richard certainly can. I feel its more to do with Richards lack of enthusiasm for the solo rercord (I am not sure he ever has or ever will fully embrace it) also the solo record did not sell great so Richard may not feel its worthwhile to release them when he can make more money releasing Carpenters Hits Packages. Personally I would rather Phil Ramone finish the songs because after all he was the producer of the solo record not Richard Carpenter. Either way between the two of them I hope these song do get finished and released. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 22, 2007 10:57:02 GMT -5
Absolutely I have them in their raw state and they sound fine and someone on the net has "cleaned up" versions of the songs so if he can clean them up Richard certainly can. I feel its more to do with Richards lack of enthusiasm for the solo rercord (I am not sure he ever has or ever will fully embrace it) also the solo record did not sell great so Richard may not feel its worthwhile to release them when he can make more money releasing Carpenters Hits Packages. Personally I would rather Phil Ramone finish the songs because after all he was the producer of the solo record not Richard Carpenter. Either way between the two of them I hope these song do get finished and released. |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jun 22, 2007 21:16:40 GMT -5
 I have these tracks, and I like them. Do I think they would sell? Yes. There are too many people out there just like us who would love to be able to have them, no matter if they were finished or not. Of course, since Richard Carpenter, the man who is quite detail oriented and likes everything to be pretty much perfect, is the one with the ability to either say yes or no, my guess is he will stick by his word and not ever let them be cleaned up and released, or certainly not released in their current state. I do think Ramone could clean them up, polish them with his own musicians, and make a killing, because there is some great material. It's Karen Carpenter....what else needs to be said?
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Post by wisejester7 on Jun 22, 2007 22:40:05 GMT -5
I have these tracks, and I like them. Do I think they would sell? Yes. There are too many people out there just like us who would love to be able to have them, no matter if they were finished or not. Of course, since Richard Carpenter, the man who is quite detail oriented and likes everything to be pretty much perfect, is the one with the ability to either say yes or no, my guess is he will stick by his word and not ever let them be cleaned up and released, or certainly not released in their current state. I do think Ramone could clean them up, polish them with his own musicians, and make a killing, because there is some great material. It's Karen Carpenter....what else needs to be said? I can think of 2 things to be said right off the bat ... 1. I want them. 2. It's Karen Carpenter!!!! P. Ramone, I think, would do 'right' by Karen. He was there and saw her efforts, he heard the day to day give and take and the creative process it took to put this stuff on tracks. In other words, He carries the memories of the 'spirit' of the recording sessions. Richard might know Karen best, but he was not there for these solo efforts. Phil was. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 23, 2007 1:56:51 GMT -5
I have these tracks, and I like them. Do I think they would sell? Yes. There are too many people out there just like us who would love to be able to have them, no matter if they were finished or not. Of course, since Richard Carpenter, the man who is quite detail oriented and likes everything to be pretty much perfect, is the one with the ability to either say yes or no, my guess is he will stick by his word and not ever let them be cleaned up and released, or certainly not released in their current state. I do think Ramone could clean them up, polish them with his own musicians, and make a killing, because there is some great material. It's Karen Carpenter....what else needs to be said? I can think of 2 things to be said right off the bat ... 1. I want them. 2. It's Karen Carpenter!!!! P. Ramone, I think, would do 'right' by Karen. He was there and saw her efforts, he heard the day to day give and take and the creative process it took to put this stuff on tracks. In other words, He carries the memories of the 'spirit' of the recording sessions. Richard might know Karen best, but he was not there for these solo efforts. Phil was. I agree with you totally WJ7... if anybody it should be Phil Ramone mixing and mastering these unreleased tunes. Phil along with Rod Temperton, Bob James and maybe Russell Javors should head this project. The unreleased songs are quality in the state they're in. These tracks would most likely sell close to a million copies worldwide - as Karen's album itself has done. There would certainly be a profit made for the record company and all involved. I don't know why but I really feel these songs will eventually be released - regardless of what Richard has said. I don't think it's only Richard's call as to whether or not the songs are released - as I believe Phil Ramone actually has ownership over these recordings. It may be wishful thinking on my part - but I really do feel these songs will be released. I also think there will be yet one more compilation of previously unreleased Carpenters music - there is enough finished music to be able to release one last collection - and I think, one even better and more consistent than "As Time Goes By". There are so many full length studio recordings such as "Box Office Movie King", "Dancing In The Street", "Thank You For The Music" and more. It would be great to see some of those early instrumental recordings for RCA released such as "The Girl From Ipanema" - but that may not happen as RCA is distributed by BMG and not Universal Music Group. There's also songs from TV Specials which haven't been released like "Make Me Laugh" and some early pre-Carpenters tunes like "Can't Buy Me Love".  |
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Post by enigma on Jun 23, 2007 9:38:03 GMT -5
just to throw yall a bone at one time Richard swore up and down he would never release Karens solo record and after alot of fan nagging he gave in and we got the solo record so anything is possible dispite what Richard may say now. Hope its happens someday.
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Post by smoothie2 on Jun 23, 2007 12:55:04 GMT -5
8-)Whomever has the final word on these unreleased songs, sure hope they will be released. Those of you who have them, truly are blessed to have them. A true collector's dream...!
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 23, 2007 14:09:20 GMT -5
I have these tracks, and I like them. Do I think they would sell? Yes. There are too many people out there just like us who would love to be able to have them, no matter if they were finished or not. Of course, since Richard Carpenter, the man who is quite detail oriented and likes everything to be pretty much perfect, is the one with the ability to either say yes or no, my guess is he will stick by his word and not ever let them be cleaned up and released, or certainly not released in their current state. I do think Ramone could clean them up, polish them with his own musicians, and make a killing, because there is some great material. It's Karen Carpenter....what else needs to be said? I can think of 2 things to be said right off the bat ... 1. I want them. 2. It's Karen Carpenter!!!! P. Ramone, I think, would do 'right' by Karen. He was there and saw her efforts, he heard the day to day give and take and the creative process it took to put this stuff on tracks. In other words, He carries the memories of the 'spirit' of the recording sessions. Richard might know Karen best, but he was not there for these solo efforts. Phil was. |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jun 23, 2007 17:46:42 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 23, 2007 20:36:13 GMT -5
I agree with you totally WJ7... if anybody it should be Phil Ramone mixing and mastering these unreleased tunes. Phil along with Rod Temperton, Bob James and maybe Russell Javors should head this project. The unreleased songs are quality in the state they're in. These tracks would most likely sell close to a million copies worldwide - as Karen's album itself has done. There would certainly be a profit made for the record company and all involved. I don't know why but I really feel these songs will eventually be released - regardless of what Richard has said. I don't think it's only Richard's call as to whether or not the songs are released - as I believe Phil Ramone actually has ownership over these recordings. It may be wishful thinking on my part - but I really do feel these songs will be released. I also think there will be yet one more compilation of previously unreleased Carpenters music - there is enough finished music to be able to release one last collection - and I think, one even better and more consistent than "As Time Goes By". There are so many full length studio recordings such as "Box Office Movie King", "Dancing In The Street", "Thank You For The Music" and more. It would be great to see some of those early instrumental recordings for RCA released such as "The Girl From Ipanema" - but that may not happen as RCA is distributed by BMG and not Universal Music Group. There's also songs from TV Specials which haven't been released like "Make Me Laugh" and some early pre-Carpenters tunes like "Can't Buy Me Love". My mistake... I thought "Box Office Movie King" had been recorded... but as I go back in my archives the song was actually only considered for recording. As it stands there are still enough Carpenters songs out there to make one last full length CD of songs. Of Karen's unreleased songs I think some of them sound good enough to make it on today's radio. "Midnight" is a wonderfully rich song which would fit in well on any smooth jazz station. Originally Karen's solo album was intended to be released as a double album. I wonder if any of the nine unreleased songs were intended for the original release of the double album - or if there were others recorded which we haven't heard. I've heard several times that Karen did a recording of Clint Ballard Jr.'s "You're No Good" (a song best remembered as recorded by Linda Ronstadt - and later Van Halen). |
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Jun 26, 2007 14:51:34 GMT -5
It's a great idea to have Phil Ramone put the finishing touches on Karen's still unreleased solo songs for the reasons given so eloquently in the aforementioned. After all, a significant part of the original concept was to put a fresh new spin on Karen's voice by having her work with other musicians and another producer at the time. Further, not to diminish Richard's efforts, I happen to like some of the original takes better than the re-done versions, such as "Make Believe It's Your First Time." I have not heard the songs beyond those officially released in the self-titled solo album, but, to my pleasant surprise, I just ran across "Love Makin' Love to You" here: youtube.com/watch?v=ptCK2Rz28Ik |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jun 27, 2007 1:34:17 GMT -5
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jun 28, 2007 12:46:21 GMT -5
I have recently gone back to give listen to this wonderful work of Karen with Liberty, Russell, and others. I do hope they get "released" for all to hear someday. Wonderful I have a copy of them, but how many MORE people want them? So many don't know about them...I didn't for a very long time - in fact, until a discussion on this very forum. And they are really outstanding. Jimmy Mack is a lot of fun - Karen sounds like she's definitely having a grand time singing this old 50's tune. And, like you, Rick - I'm very fond of Midnight - with it's smoky jazz influence - and Karen's "vocal fry" is quite predominant in these songs. I am a huge fan of Karen's vocal fry. Drives me nuts, in a great way. Love Makin Love To You is awesome. I think it would have definitely been a hit. Imagine had it been on the solo album and IT had been released for the world to hear how Karen had "grown up." Yes, its lyrics are MILD compared to todays standards, and I'll have to say, it still reeks "suggestive" more than anything else, but for KAREN CARPENTER to have sung these lyrics, and had it been released, the backlash they may have received over THIS one. Whew! I shudder to think. Some fans would have been automatically SO outraged. And why? It's a great song, and a wonderful lyric. But...well, you know! These tunes are super. Like you, Enigma....maybe someday, yes? Tim  |
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