R&B Artists...

[Rick Henry]

yesterdayoncemore said:

admin said:

Hi Tim... of course I have heard "Unforgettable" and it is a fine album... I enjoy all her music, although, I am most partial to her earliest albums which were very original and had some gutsy and slightly funk elements in the music and vocals. My favorite albums by her are her first two... "Inseparable" from 1975 with the hits "Inseparable" and my favorite "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)"... boy she really sang that song with all her soul. I also love her album "Natalie" from 1976 with the hits "Sophisticated Lady (She's A different Lady)" and "Mr. Melody"... she really went to town on "Mr. Melody".... scatting and all.

But of course, I knew you'd undoubtedly listened to Unforgetable - I'm thinking, what HAVEN'T you listened to...you're quite well versed my friend. I have learned a lot from your knowledge, and no, I have NOT heard the two you mention, but it sounds like I'd like them a lot. I have heard Natalie do Pink Cadillac, and believe me, did not know it was her for a very long time. Nor was I aware that Bruce Springsteen actually wrote the song. Go figure. But I know I like the way Natalie sings it better than anyone else.

Thanks for the info, as always - scatting, huh? I KNOW I'd like THAT. She does a bit of scatting, as you know, on the Unforgetable CD, and she has a very easy ability for it. Not forced whatsoever. The way scatting was meant to be done.

Yes, "Pink Cadillac" is also a favorite... Natalie was big in the dance clubs with that song. Bruce Springsteen's own recording of the song is pretty good also. Karen Carpenter could have done a fine recording of "Pink Cadillac"... with some of that disco funk feel as we hear from her solo album.

Another artist not mentioned yet is Ray Charles... he did a fantastic recording of "A Song For You" in the early 90's which was very popular.

goodolddreams said:

Songwriter/arranger/producer/musician Rod Temperton, of the group Heatwave, contributed to Karen's solo album, writing and arranging "Lovelines" and "If We Try," and also did the arrangements for "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind."

Rod Temperton also did the vocal arrangements for most of the songs on Karen's solo album. Including the stellar arrangement for "If I Had You".

[Rick Henry]

admin said:

As for the Motown songs Carpenters have covered the same applies for the most part. I prefer the Carpenters' remakes of most of these Motwn songs, which I believe totals four. There's "Please Mr. Postman", "Dancing In The Street", "Jimmy Mack" and "Beechwood 4-5789".

"Postman" is easily my favorite of the four Motown songs. "Postman" has such a strong groove to it. Tony Peluso's guitar work is outstanding all throughout the song. I also love the fact that Karen plays the drums on this song.

As for "Beechwood 4-5789" I do tend to like Martha and the Vandellas' raw and soulful original quite a bit more. Carpenters' version is just too lightweight and cutsie. I'm not convinced that Carpenters really put their all into this song. The music video for "Beechwood 4-5789" does even less to give the song credibility, it's just too overly cutsie. It pales to the energy they put into "Please Mr. Postman".

Speaking of Motown, I would have loved to hear Carpenters or atleast Karen solo do a few more songs from this genre.

Songs such as "I Second That Emotion" (Smokey robinson & The Miracles), "My guy" (Mary Wells), "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" (Stevie Wonder), "Don't Mess With Bill" (Marvelettes), "Nowhere To Run" (Martha & The Vandellas), "You're All I Need To Get By" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell).

Had Karen lived I would have loved to see her do a Karen solo Motown album... much like the two very successful Motown albums Michael McDonald recently recorded and released.