RC's Contribution to "Breaking Up is Hard to Do"

[GoodOldDreams]

I have always preferred Neil Sedaka's slower jazz-lounge remake of his earlier teeny-bopper hit "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," and wondered why the Carpenters didn't use the more expressive later arrangement for their cover in the "A Kind of Hush" album. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Richard actually WROTE the string arrangement for Sedaka's slower version, but promised that the Carpenters would never perform the slower version themselves. I wonder if this was a concession to mend the fences with Sedaka after their concert feud, or was it for some other reason.

Alas, I feel the Carpenters could have had a classy rendition of "Breaking Up is hard to Do," much like "This Masquerade." If only wishes could come true...

[wisejester7]

Your suppositions about the dynamics between N. Sedaka and the Carpenters in relation to "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' sound like solid reasoning to me.
More's the pity that we will never hear the Carpenters give the slow version a 'go'. I'm sure it would have been a delicious version. I know the C's would have really tried to shine all their flavors through the song ... perhaps because of the dynamic between themselves and Neil, but mostly because of their love of music and their flair for playing and performing jazz music.

[Rick Henry]

I suspect that this was a promise (quite possibly by Sedaka's request) so that Sedaka could have the opportunity to have a hit with the song... as we all know back then Carpenters were the consistent hitmakers and would have most likely overshadowed Sedaka's rendition.

I would have enjoyed a ballad rendition of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" by Carpenters quite a bit... although for the most part the song itself is not really a favorite of mine regardless of who's singing it.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I'm with you, Dreams, in that I much prefer the slower, jazz ballad version of Breakin' Up to the faster one; at least, for me personally to perform, and to listen to. However, that is not to say I don't like the upbeat treatment Carpenters did with this song. In fact, in other threads, I've often voiced my enjoyment of the crisp way that Richard arranged it, and that the duo sang it. Richard changed it up in terms of the chord structure in various places, so they could do some of that famous Carpenter harmony...and it's like the hook of a song - gets me every time.

If it's me doing a solo performance, I will always chose the ballad version - lots more "umph" for the vocalist to be able to play with in this one. But, when I had my band Yesterday Once More, we did this one as the upbeat version, Carpenters style. It was often requested in the dance clubs we played for.

Rick, I would guess you're probably correct in that Sedaka needed something badly to propel him back up, and he undoubtedly didn't want to be upstaged again by Carpenters. It makes sense to me.

[smoothie2]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wow didn't know about the slow version, and yes, I can imagine the C's doing it slow in a great way, but I like the faster version ok.
The C's seem to have a lot of fun with it when they sing it.
***** By the way, Rick, I love the current background pic. of Karen with the Native American braids and drum. She looks really cute.