Artistically Speaking...

[Rick Henry]

Carpenters often went above and beyond in creating their music. They ventured into many areas. They put so much into their music. their level of artistry was far above the average.

Artistically speaking which songs seem to capture the artist side of your mind (your ears).

There are many for me such as the earliest songs like "All I Can Do", "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing", "Help" and "Another Song"... and several others from those first two albums.

One of my favorites which I feel has a heightened sense of artistic value is "Boat To Sail" which I have chosen as my Carpenters song of the day... My feelings on this are as follows (I copied and pasted this from the SOTD thread):

"Boat To Sail"... I just can not get past those ethereal stacked vocals... Richard did an outstanding job in arranging the vocals in this song... I feel this is one is his very best vocal arrangements... highly creative and unique... one of those songs that puts Carpenters above the rest... than again pretty much all their songs put them above the rest.

I'm also entranced by the fantastic electric vibe sounds in "Boat To Sail"... the vibes enhance that otherworldly sound in the song... giving it ringing and chiming sounds throughout... one of the Carpenters most artistically creative songs... I can sit and listen to this one four or five times over.


Of course almost every song Carpenters recorded has a heightened sense of artistic value... it pretty lies within which songs you enjoy best... because there is something in every one of those songs (including Karen's solo songs) which sparks the artsy side of our brains.

[enigma]

heres a few I would add to this catagory

Sweet Sweet Smile This is an artistic achievement because of the amount of instruments and new ground covered the addition of the fiddle and the piano style as well as the layering of guitars make this an ambitions effort that goes beyond what we normally heard at that time

Good Old Dreams like Sweet Sweet Smile but even more instrumentation and inovation from Karens finger against the cheek sound to the banjo and countless guitars its like Richard put a whole symphany in there and the listener is bombarded with countless sound and instruments yet you do not feel overwhelmed because they are place so well in the arrangement.

Calling Occupants we can't leave out this song the addition of Peter Knight and an entire Orchastra make this one of the largest sounding songs in the Carpenters catalogue it was also the most ambitious effort Richard has put forward its a long song its larger than life and artistically speaking it is brilliant even if you dislike this song the shear scope of its production and the inovation that went into it have to impress the listener.

I must give mention to the whole record of Passage because it is the most ambitious and on the grandest scale of any Carpenters record every song has some inovation and went above and beyond on the artistic level. Though I don't really like the album as a whole I and the listener have to be impressed with the ambitious and artistic achievement this record accomplished.

[Rick Henry]

Well said enigma... can always count on you for some insightful thoughts. Sounds like you're really listening to the instrumentation in Carpenters music lately.

Mu kudos to "Sweet Sweet Smile"... I really love the fiddles and team of guitars in this and I love the way Karen sings this one with her semi-southern drawl. The song has a good upbeat pace and Karen's quick paced scat is ever so impressive.

[smoothie2]

interesting thread...well put Rick and Enigma...
I think of the whole album of Horizon. Just the name itself puts the image of a horizon in my mind.Much like Boat to Sail.
With the beginning and ending songs, Aurora and Eventide, especially.
I've seen a few sunrises and a few sunsets and that's what I think of with Horizon.The harp is used and that's such a unique instrument and has a calming effect.
Crescent Noon is also one of the most artistic songs that comes to mind too. Even though to me the song itself is the saddest song I know of, the descriptions of the seasons and the music to match, is beautiful.
"Green September led to October brown,
Then November led to December's frozen ground..."
I think I have those lyrics right.



>>>>><<<<<<<<
Yesterday Once More is Classic Carpenters.... "a coming-of-age" song perhaps? Those sha-la-la-la-la..s.. are perfect .

[Rick Henry]

Thanks, Kathy, for mentioning the harp. Gayle Levant played harp for the Carpenters... and she was truly a wonderful addition to the band. she id some fantastically swirling work on "Horizon" and complimented Richard's keyboard work beautifully. On "Those Good Old Dreams" again Levant was featured on the harp... gave the song a wonderful "walking on ice" effect. The steel guitar in "Those Good Old Dreams" was also fantastic - and the imagery of the lyrics rounded out this wonderfully creative song.

[smoothie2]

oh I love Those G. Old Dreams...I'll have to listen to it again after while and listen in particular for s the harp. Yes, I have high praise for Gayle Levant.
I'm glad to know her name. wonderfully talented. I also think of the beginning of I Know I Need to be in Love ....that's the key element in that song for me. That's never been one of my fave songs, but to hear the harp and other instruments blend is Nice.

[Rick Henry]

It can be hard to differentiate between the harp and piano as both are string instruments with a similar sound.

Gayle Levant is a very talented lady.

Another song I find quite artistically complete is "Another Song". This song is one of the most musically complete songs Carpenters have ever recorded. It crosses genres ranging from free jazz to pop to rock and back again to progressive jazz. Musically speaking "Another Song" is a triumph... the song is intricately focused and comes to a sweeping and dramatic close.

What's fantastic about "Another Song" is Carpenters created this complex musical masterpiece all with genuine musicianship... no synthesizers... I have nothing against synthesizers... as some of my favorite groups such as Pink Floyd and King Crimson capitalize on and have made an art of using synthesizer in their music along with real instruments. Even Carpenters came to use synthesizer (to great effect) in many of their songs from 1975 onward.

Even without Karen's voice "Another Song" is truly a musician's masterpiece. Though, Karen's voice makes the song even better. She sings this one with great verve (energy) and robust expression.

[smoothie2]

I agree on Another Song....that really is a masterpiece. I love it.
......................................................
I did listen to G. Old Dreams once again....and I guess with the similar instrumentals, such as the piano and the steel guitar, as you mentioned Rick, I never knew that the harp was in there!
All those sounds come together so very well, that it is a bit hard to distinguish what's what at times at least for me.
I also know what you mean by the "walking on ice" effect that the harp brings to the whole song.
What a very distintive (sp?) ear you have Rick!
Altogether, this is the one thing I learned today!
I love that song. Easy breezy, like Boat to Sail, Sailing on the Tide , and others like that....wow....

[Rick Henry]

smoothie2 said:

I agree on Another Song....that really is a masterpiece. I love it.
......................................................

I did listen to G. Old Dreams once again....and I guess with the similar instrumentals, such as the piano and the steel guitar, as you mentioned Rick, I never knew that the harp was in there!
All those sounds come together so very well, that it is a bit hard to distinguish what's what at times at least for me.

I also know what you mean by the "walking on ice" effect that the harp brings to the whole song.
What a very distintive (sp?) ear you have Rick!

Why, thank you very much for the compliment Kathy... you seem to be developing an ear for the different sounds in the music these days yourself.

Either way you hear it Carpenters' music is fantastic!

[smoothie2]

hadn't really even thought about it...so maybe I am developing better ears for music...hmm
And of course we Totally agree....Carpenters music will always live on....
They always get to me....

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Interesting topic.

First, I have to agree with Katt in that the Horizon songs, especially the "bookends" paint an immediate picture in my mind.....barren skies - day is done - weary to be home again - phrases like that lend that artistic flair to the piece easily for me.

Jambalaya is another that sets the stage for a wonderful picture in my mind. Images of New Orleans and the Bayou. Nice, this.

I have to agree with all of you in your choices, as well, and I would add Sailin' on the Tide....which always created an instant pic for me, though it's funny - I pictured the Karen who was photographed for the "Ticket To Ride" cover - Karen on the boat - a very YOUNG Karen, who is "Sailin on the tide in the mornin..."

Interesting topic - thanks for bringing this up, Rick.

[Rick Henry]

admin said:

It can be hard to differentiate between the harp and piano as both are string instruments with a similar sound.

Gayle Levant is a very talented lady.

Another song I find quite artistically complete is "Another Song". This song is one of the most musically complete songs Carpenters have ever recorded. It crosses genres ranging from free jazz to pop to rock and back again to progressive jazz. Musically speaking "Another Song" is a triumph... the song is intricately focused and comes to a sweeping and dramatic close.

What's fantastic about "Another Song" is Carpenters created this complex musical masterpiece all with genuine musicianship... no synthesizers... I have nothing against synthesizers... as some of my favorite groups such as Pink Floyd and King Crimson capitalize on and have made an art of using synthesizer in their music along with real instruments. Even Carpenters came to use synthesizer (to great effect) in many of their songs from 1975 onward.

Even without Karen's voice "Another Song" is truly a musician's masterpiece. Though, Karen's voice makes the song even better. She sings this one with great verve (energy) and robust expression.

I just wanted to touch again about the use of synthesizer along with real instruments. Another group which really did well in this area (musically speaking) is Weather Report. They fused keyboard, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass and drums with synthesizers and made sounds which were trend setting and to this day have become very influential amongst many rock and jazz musicians throughout the world. I make mention of Weather Report as one of the founding members Joe Zawinul passed away on Tuesday morning. Joe was the group's keyboardist (he specialized in electric keyboard and also synthesized keyboards). Before Weather Report Joe recorded with the legendary Miles Davis. I can't help but to think that somewhere along the line Joe Zawinul's work had some influence on Richard - as in many instances I hear some of that jazz fusion style in Richard performances.

Speaking of jazz fusion I think of the song "All I Can Do"... this is another I add to the list of Carpenters' "artistic" ventures. It's a wonderfully colorful tune with a unique time signature (similar to what you may find in an early Dave Brubeck composition). I love the quirky yet rhythmic bass line which adds to the overall musical character of the song. Richard's electric keyboard gives the song an extra bit of zip... on top of all this fine musicianship comes Karen's lively drum work... she keeps the quirky pace with personality in her drum beats and brings an extra dimension to the song. But, there's more... those stacked vocals give the song a bit of a choral effect - but also make the song a unique slice of musicality.

"All I Can Do" is one of those songs that is not common for a pop group to record... it's one of those little unusual gems that Carpenters were always very good at giving us. I think that's why I love them so much - because they would always give us something a bit askew in each album.. a little something out of the ordinary... a little something on the artful side.

[wisejester7]

This is a great topic, Rick. Many good thoughts have been expressed and examined.

I keep thinking I'll post my input, but I seem to be caught in a "Rainy Days and Mondays" sort of funk. Hopefully, it will pass soon.

[Rick Henry]

wisejester7 said:

This is a great topic, Rick. Many good thoughts have been expressed and examined.

I keep thinking I'll post my input, but I seem to be caught in a "Rainy Days and Mondays" sort of funk. Hopefully, it will pass soon.

Thank you WJ7... and I know what you mean about that Rainy Days And Mondays sort of funk... I get that way and then I sit down in front of my computer and the thoughts come pouring out.

Until I read your post I didn't really have anything to add right now - but I must say "Rainy Days And Mondays" is a fantastically creative and musically artistic song. It's all there... the extreme musicianship and the outstanding vocals. This song is a true work of art... it's a masterpiece amongst masterpieces. The smoky saxophone, the fantastic keyboards, the understated bass and rhythm chords. The overall drive and colorful command of the song make it stand out in a forest of beauty. Roger Nichols again scores with an excellent lyric which is the utmost of creativity in word, and Karen's vocal tops it all off with bold finesse and silky smooth perfection.

[wisejester7]

A couple of outstanding songs not mentioned yet :

If I Had You & Mr. Guder

If I Had You is a really busy song. The vocal gymnastics alone would put this song in a stand alone category. I know this is a "Karen" song, but I thought it a crime not to mention it.

Mr. Guder stands out for a few reasons. The first being that it is one of the sweetest sounding protest songs I've ever heard. The next reason is the "ba ba da" that Karen and Ricard sing as a bridge. (I know Richard is not singing "ba ba da" , but he sings the same syllables.) The point counter-point at this point in the song raises it another notch. The musicianship is crisp and precise, as well.

[Rick Henry]

wisejester7 said:

A couple of outstanding songs not mentioned yet :

If I Had You & Mr. Guder

If I Had You is a really busy song. The vocal gymnastics alone would put this song in a stand alone category. I know this is a "Karen" song, but I thought it a crime not to mention it.

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Karen's solo songs are very welcome in this conversation. Her songs are amongst some of the most creative and musically artistic of any thing Karen has recorded.

I, also, put "If I Had You" in this category. I wouldn't necessarily call it "busy", but more so musically adventurous. The song is full of many surprises and outstanding musicianship along with excellent use of synthesizer and ground breaking vocal effects. In this song I would say (and I know I will get some flack for this one) Karen outdid Richard in vocal creativity... actually this vocal arrangement was done by Rod Temperton - but of course we know Karen had a big part in the shaping of that fantastic vocal at the end. I can't help but to think that this song would have at least received a Grammy Award nomination for it's arrangement.

I will come back and elaborate on "If I Had You" along with others from Karen's solo album... even the unreleased stuff.

Kudos also to "Mr. Guder"... a fine song with another great vocal arrangement and some fine instrumentation... along with a compelling and somewhat rebellious type lyric.

[Rick Henry]

"Two Sides" is another song rich in musically artistic value. This in my mind is one of the Carpenters' finest songs ever. And although "calling Occupants..." was actually a fairly big hit throughout the world I feel overall "Two Sides" would have made a much better single.

"Two Sides" artistic value is shown in several different areas. First in the wonderful trio (actually there's four guitars) of guitars used in the song. There's the standard yet classic electric guitar played by Tony Peluso (which is used to great effect in many Carpenters tunes). Then there's the two acoustic guitars played by Jay Graydon and popular jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour. Last but I feel most important is Jay Dee Maness' pedal steel guitar... this is the guitar which gives the song it's slight country twang. You may recall in an earlier post I posted a link to an article about the pedal steel guitar. The four guitars blended together give the song a rich yet somber sound. Richard Carpenter was a big fan of guitar music... this is very evident in the work of the Carpenters.

The next area of artistry in "Two Sides" comes in the fantastic lyric. It's a slight play on words. This is one of the Carpenters' best written lyrics. It was written by Scott E. Davis. "Well there's two sides to every conversation. But with you babe that's no consolation. Silence is golden, let me put you on hold. Danglin' on your love line baby, it's growin' old".

Above and beyond all else is Karen's voice. Her voice alone is a work of art... a masterpiece amongst masterpieces... a God given gift. I just love the way she holds the note on that last "goodbye..."

[makapipi]

"Yesterday Once More" (reprise) 1973 from the Essential Collection 2nd cd is a hardly known
and hardly played song probably because it so short 43 seconds. This song is artsy because
it uses a lot of reverb and i think some kind of loop back device to create a shimmering effect
at the words "so fine so fine", at first i did not hear this but later when using headphones i could
really hear it. This song has a ghostly and haunting sound perfect for Halloween. If Karen were
to make a ghostly appearance i could imagine this song playing.