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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 2, 2006 23:24:04 GMT -5
Thank you friends for the very kind comments.
I really don't pursue the music thing anymore - as I retired from the biz around 1994. But, I still dabble on a regular basis.
With "The 18 Moons Of Saturn" I drew heavily on my interest in Pink Floyd, Brian Eno, Beatles and a bit of Coldplay - and of course there's always some sort of Carpenters influence in the mix - even if only remotely.
As for writing process - I really don't have one. Each song I've ever written (which now totals around 110) is done differently. Some songs I will start with humming a melody and it grows from there. Some start of with a lyric - the lyrics generally will change a bit when the music is added. Other songs are collaborations. I've worked with about a dozen other songwriters in my lifetime. In collaborating some of the songs I composed the music and someone else would write the lyrics to my melody. Others I'll write lyrics to someone else's music and vice versa and any combination of. Definitely no set pattern. I do this to keep things fresh and so that every song I write does not sound like the last.
In working with a broad range of different types of songwriters my songs are varied in style. I have songs from all across the board. My songs include ballads, smooth jazz, advant-garde jazz, punk, hard rock, country, blue grass, R&B, pop, power pop, classic rock, ska, experimental rock, alternative rock, folk, blues, Gospel, contemporary Christian - I even have a rap-rock song (which is surprising as I am not a fan of rap). My latest interest is what I call "Scientific Rock".
On the song "The 18 Moons Of Saturn"... This song is a collaboration with my friend and super musician George. George is 25 years and is quite talented. He's very meek and easy going and does not push the music biz thing. He's not interested in being a star - he just wants to be able to make music. He's a multi-instrumentalist and can play about a dozen instruments with great creativity. On this song he came up with the intial music. I took it and shaped a melody out of his ideas and then wrote the scientific lyric. The opening is a slight take on the theme from "Jaws". By the way George is playing all the instruments on this track and also programmed the synthesizer parts - he is a master on the synthesizer - though the synth is only an embellishment as it's real instruments which drives this song.
Thank you again Tim for the nice comments.
Here is the link to the snippet again: h1.ripway.com/RickH/TrackNo03.wma
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 3, 2006 18:04:34 GMT -5
Continuing in my works with George - he and I have done three songs together in the past year. On all three George performs all the instrumentation - he's a truly gifted musician. The three songs we've written and recorded are named "The 18 Moons Of Saturn", "Albert" - this is a somewhat novelty song about a skunk named Albert who's just trying to find a peaceful place to live where people aren't always shooing him away. The third is a funk-filled rock song titled "Super Soul Sister".
Just wanted to share a little more on my unusual musical alliance.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 3, 2006 19:29:48 GMT -5
O.E., wj7, thanks...yes, it has been an inspiring place to visit - glad to hear the good news about your dad, wj7....one step, one day at a time....and it'll get better and better. SO glad about that. O.E., I ALWAYS seem to get inspiration from YOU when I visit Tim's Corner. Thanks for knowing just the right things to say, and for not being hesitant to say them. I appreciate your profound insights very, very much. I'm excited about the new possibilities of recording, etc. I'm not nearly as "far advanced" as our other talented musicians that post here, nevertheless, like I just said about your dad wj7, I'll say about myself and this new process...one step, one day at a time. I've ALWAYS wanted to do my own recording, so now's my chance. And who knows, perhaps I'll be inspired to actually start writing music again. What a nice segue I provided myself to talk about YOUR music, Rick. I have to say, this tune caught my ear, for certain. I'm happy to learn about George and your collaboration, and would like to know even more. How did the two of you meet? How did you decide to attempt (and now we know the attempt was successful) to write songs together? How long has this been going on? The three songs you mentioned in the last thread are certainly completely different one from another, so it begs the question, how do you arrive at the "type" of song you want to write, or is this just like the process in that it sort of comes to you, and you can hear the genre you're going for at the time the writing process begins. You stated the lyrics might change, which is certainly a natural part of the process many more times than not with a good number of songwriters who write this way, if we were to all be perfectly honest, so I'm not surprised about that. But, have you written something you initially thought was going to be, say, a cool jazz number, and it turned out to be a latin-inspired power ballad or something like that? My curiousity is getting the better of me, can you tell? ;D You said there were like 110 of them. How many years does this span? I loved your explanation about how the writing comes about. Thanks for filling us in on it. I think that's very cool that sometimes it takes one form, and other times, another. And finally, how in the world do you find the time to write music along with everything else you do? Geezzzzz....you must be a walking ball of nothing but energy!!!! Thanks for your reply...looking forward to HEARING more of your music, too. I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 4, 2006 22:10:33 GMT -5
What a nice segue I provided myself to talk about YOUR music, Rick. I have to say, this tune caught my ear, for certain. I'm happy to learn about George and your collaboration, and would like to know even more. How did the two of you meet? How did you decide to attempt (and now we know the attempt was successful) to write songs together? How long has this been going on? The three songs you mentioned in the last thread are certainly completely different one from another, so it begs the question, how do you arrive at the "type" of song you want to write, or is this just like the process in that it sort of comes to you, and you can hear the genre you're going for at the time the writing process begins. You stated the lyrics might change, which is certainly a natural part of the process many more times than not with a good number of songwriters who write this way, if we were to all be perfectly honest, so I'm not surprised about that. But, have you written something you initially thought was going to be, say, a cool jazz number, and it turned out to be a latin-inspired power ballad or something like that? My curiousity is getting the better of me, can you tell? ;D You said there were like 110 of them. How many years does this span? I loved your explanation about how the writing comes about. Thanks for filling us in on it. I think that's very cool that sometimes it takes one form, and other times, another. And finally, how in the world do you find the time to write music along with everything else you do? Geezzzzz....you must be a walking ball of nothing but energy!!!! Thanks for your reply...looking forward to HEARING more of your music, too. I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim Wow, there's so much going on in this thread - that I can't keep up with it all.
Just to catch up here...
Ming... like you I keep close relations with my family. Tomorrow (Sunday) I will be seeing my mom, dad, nephew and brother. Most likely we'll go out for lunch and then go play miniature golf or something fun like that.
I am so happy to see that Palma's web site is up and running. I will make a point of adding her site to the Carpenters Online Links page. I took a look at her site - it looks nice.
Prayers to you WJ7 and your dad. I was reading some of your background as posted in this thread - sounds like you have a great deal of education and knowledge. I look forward to hearing more.
Now to answer your questions Tim...
I met George about three years ago... he was a doors and windows salesperson. I did some work with him - quite a bit actually. After knowing him for two years we finally got on to the subject of music and one thing lead to another.
As for finding time to do all that I do... let's see... currently I work full-time coordinating and supervising home remodels and installs, I am working on a new portrait of my friend named Grant, writing the next part of my Karen Carpenter story, edit and maintain the Carpenters Online web site, forum and myspace, I have two other internet businesses, workout five days a week and maintain a bit of a family and friends social life. How do I do it? I portion out the amount of time I spend on each project each week. I'm very good at scheduling out my time and keeping to it. I will admit I do spend more than my share of time on Carpenters Online - but this is more than a job for me - it's part entertainment, part cyber social life and part relaxation and creativity. I love being here on Carpenters Online and that's because of the people here. This is my emotional outlet.
As for the music - I've only written and recorded three songs in the last year - so I really don't spend much time on music these days. In my most prolific period I wrote something like 40 songs in one year. I went back and began collecting all the titles of my songs and I actually have something more like 130 original tunes and still counting.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 5, 2006 23:08:17 GMT -5
Hi All: Thanks, Rick, for answering all my questions....very cool. It's quite interesting how you and George met, and worked for three years together before you even touched on the music subject, and now, you're writing songs together. Quite fun to know the back story. Yes, I understand completely about having to make a schedule, and sticking to it. I do that at work, using a Franklin Planner that has a day-by-day calendar. I've used one of these, in conjunction with either a blackberry, or a palm pilot, and my microsoft calendar, for many years, now. I do enjoy the technology that I understand, and I like using two calendars. As you can imagine, I like to write stuff down on my own, and typing it into my office calendar is fine, but I like to make additional notes in my Franklin/palm. But, I don't schedule my time off work - I don't only because there are too many variables. I can't schedule time to work on my music, because that just has to "come." I have to be in the mood to work on the music...if I'm not, it just doesn't work. Usually, I'll just look at what the weather is like on a Sat morning and what needs to be done in the yard vs. the house, etc. THEN I try to schedule the day, at least, based on how I'm feelin' about things, and go from there. I actually worked on music a lot this weekend. It just was "right" to do, and I was feeling creative. So I took advantage of that. By the way, in the event any of you would like to send cards or letters, Palma will be going to have her surgery in Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola New York. I spoke with her this evening, and she will find out tomorrow, for sure, WHEN she will go into the hospital and have surgery. I will let you know, but thought you might want to know WHERE she is going. Again, she sends her love and says "not to worry - she knows we love her and are thinking of her, and she's ready to face whatever comes", so she can get back to the studio and make more records. That's it from here tonight. Thanks again, Rick for your answers. Fascinating info. I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 6, 2006 10:25:10 GMT -5
But, I don't schedule my time off work - I don't only because there are too many variables. I can't schedule time to work on my music, because that just has to "come." I have to be in the mood to work on the music...if I'm not, it just doesn't work. Usually, I'll just look at what the weather is like on a Sat morning and what needs to be done in the yard vs. the house, etc. THEN I try to schedule the day, at least, based on how I'm feelin' about things, and go from there. I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim Day off... gee what is a day off. Some days I'm not so rigid about scheduling things. But, I will still wake up in the morning and make a list of things I want to/ need to do for the day. If I don't do that then things like web site updates, interviews, portraits and so forth would not get done.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 6, 2006 10:44:43 GMT -5
But, I don't schedule my time off work - I don't only because there are too many variables. I can't schedule time to work on my music, because that just has to "come." I have to be in the mood to work on the music...if I'm not, it just doesn't work. Usually, I'll just look at what the weather is like on a Sat morning and what needs to be done in the yard vs. the house, etc. THEN I try to schedule the day, at least, based on how I'm feelin' about things, and go from there. I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim Day off... gee what is a day off. Some days I'm not so rigid about scheduling things. But, I will still wake up in the morning and make a list of things I want to/ need to do for the day. If I don't do that then things like web site updates, interviews, portraits and so forth would not get done. Yes, Rick - that's what I tried to say - I keep a running list of all the things I WANT, and all the things I NEED to get done, and then schedule them in, depending on the weather, whether or not my back is functioning that morning when I get up, etc. You get the general idea. I know what you mean, and if I didn't keep a running list, nothing would ever, ever get done. Thanks. Interesting stuff, isn't it? Tim
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Post by ps11932 on Nov 6, 2006 14:56:41 GMT -5
You guys are very disciplined in setting goals and keeping track of what needs to be done, not only at work but in all of life endeavors, it seems. Certainly a lot to be said for keeping active and pressing on- in fact, not having goals (be they long term or for a day) seems to lead to lethargy and a loss of joy and energy. I guess we are made to work and be active. I have however come to this point: though it's a fine line to draw, even a needful project, like reorganizing a bookshelf or shampooing a carpet, will sometimes take a back seat to a long (and sometimes, on the surface, rather insignificant) convesation with someone.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 6, 2006 16:24:24 GMT -5
O.E., now that's one thing I have to agree 100% on...if someone needs me, be that a good conversation, a favor, a shoulder to lean on, etc., then I'm there, and that's that. People are, as you know, much more important than any list I have made. All too often, this actually seems to happen, and it's okay by me. Thanks for pointing this out....I'm sure Rick is the same way as he is definitely a people person... I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 6, 2006 22:52:08 GMT -5
You guys are very disciplined in setting goals and keeping track of what needs to be done, not only at work but in all of life endeavors, it seems. Certainly a lot to be said for keeping active and pressing on- in fact, not having goals (be they long term or for a day) seems to lead to lethargy and a loss of joy and energy. I guess we are made to work and be active. I have however come to this point: though it's a fine line to draw, even a needful project, like reorganizing a bookshelf or shampooing a carpet, will sometimes take a back seat to a long (and sometimes, on the surface, rather insignificant) convesation with someone. O.E., now that's one thing I have to agree 100% on...if someone needs me, be that a good conversation, a favor, a shoulder to lean on, etc., then I'm there, and that's that. People are, as you know, much more important than any list I have made. All too often, this actually seems to happen, and it's okay by me. Thanks for pointing this out....I'm sure Rick is the same way as he is definitely a people person... I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim Oh, certainly by all means. The opportunity to spend time in conversation with a good friend and/or family member generally always takes priority or changes priority. As much as I rely on God (well not as much - but somewhere in there), I rely on kinship and fellowship with those I love and am close to. It's an important part of life to love and and let other love you.
Crazy me, though, after a long conversation on the phone I'll end up getting right onto my computer or picking up that easel or design a picture arrangmenet for my living room wall and start working into the wee hours of the morning.
I try and spend some quiet time each day - very important for keeping the soul and spirit in tune. Sometimes I'm not always good at that - but I always find my way back (or should I say I'm always guided back).
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 14, 2006 22:09:44 GMT -5
Wow, it's amazing to me what a little time gone by can do, eh? Hello everyone. Sorry I've not been around for a while. Many things going on in my life. I'm thinking to myself, and when AREN'T there many things going on with me? I suppose I'm supposed to lead this hectic existence....as I certainly seem to almost non-stop. Whew! Time for a little breather. Let's see, where, exactly do I start, here? How about some GOOD NEWS. Yes. I like that idea. Okay - Gee, I've had some great conversations of late with our own Prisoner_Walking. Leo is a fascinating individiual. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and I enjoy chatting with him a great deal. I went looking for pictures of London, and, in particular the town in which Leo lives, and it is amazingly beautiful there. All around there are unbelievable sights, and much history. I must visit there someday - the sooner, the better. Leo continues his work in the studio, and with Antony Edwards, his lyricist. Good stuff. I told you he sent me a couple of his tracks, and I have recorded them, and they will be on their way back to him soon. I have had a ball "singing with Leo." Two great tracks, too. I spoke with Palma a bit ago. She sounds absolutely wonderful, and is full of life. She was a bit spunky tonight, actually, and we laughed a great deal. . As I promised, cards etc., can be mailed to: Palma Pascale/Winthrop University Hospital/ 259 First Street | Mineola NY 11501 I was joking earlier, but it seems that there must be something "in the water" so they say. So many people I know are truly very ill right now. My minister from USC is back in the hospital with a pneumonia that she cannot shake; my daughter had quite a bad reading on her latest MRI (she has MS), and the doc wasn't happy about that, plus they have discovered another problem which will require a relatively immediate surgery - my best buddy, KCmusician had a close call with his daughter this weekend when, out of the blue, she had a full-blown seizure, right in his arms, basically. He was quite thankful he was helping her with her homework when that happened....and she is doing fine, now. The doctors have told him this could happen again, but chancs are, that it NEVER will. It was scary enough having to enterain it once, he doesn't want it to ever come back again, that's for sure. And the list is seemingly endless and goes on and on....What in the world is happening to everyone? Plus, this was the weekend that we made the big move for my quite elderly mom - she is now in her room at a wonderful nursing home. The odd thing...she seems to be having the time of her life, here. She just thinks everything is wonderful, and you could knock me over with a feather....I'd have never thought it. NOt in a million years. So - all of this is truly good, good news. wj7 I'm anxious to know about your father, and hoping he is doing much better....time does heal all wounds, though slowly and patiently. I'm sure he's going to be better than new soon. I think of him in my daily prayers. Rick, let us hear more of your music. I think that's a great thing. I'm enjoying the versatility of this Carpenters online family a great deal. Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Who will catch a bit of the famous Macy's parade on TV? I enjoy watching a bit of it to look at the Upper West Side....always a fun little watch for me. And how about Christmas right around the corner from that?! Wow - who's ready for Christmas? How do you go about shopping? All at once? Do you shop bit by bit throughout the year? Do you exchange gifts, or cookie recipies or something with your extended families? Who travels for the holidays, and how far? I hope to hear from you all, and until my next bit of musing, I wish you all the best from here in my corner, Tim
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Nov 15, 2006 1:45:12 GMT -5
....I was joking earlier, but it seems that there must be something "in the water" so they say. So many people I know are truly very ill right now ... What in the world is happening to everyone?... Hi Tim, As I mentoned in my posting yesterday, many thanks for your contribution to the write-up on "Christmas Portrait." In regards to the topic you have posted above, I have been wondering a lot about it lately, too. I think it is a bit of a shock to realize that as we all grow older, our parents, siblings, friends and other loved ones will not be always be there as vibrant and healthy as we have known them to be. As as caregivers to those in need and those going through transitions in different stages of their lives, we may reflect on our own frailty and mortality. I went to visit my father just last weekend and can feel the frustrations he now encounters with the rapid decline in his mobilty and vision, among other things. In many ways I do not feel well equipped to handle the impact of these changes also...
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 15, 2006 22:29:20 GMT -5
Two nights in a row....Hmm....what's up??? Well. I've been "thinking" today - so look out! First, I'm so, so glad to hear about your dad, wj7! Excellent news! I will continue to pray that his path is well lit with health and wholeness. He sounds like he's on his way to a full recovery. Great news. And Dreams, I know what you mean about the difficulty of being able to understand all of the changes you see happening with those around you - i.e., your father. I feel the same way. Each day I find it's something new with my mom...she IS trying desperately to adjust to her new surroundings, and she's doing far better than I EVER thought possible. But there are things her body does that she has no control over. That's the tough part. It doesn't help when one's own body won't allow one to adjust to anything, much less a whole new way of life at 87! We have to trust, and believe, yes? And here is what I've been musing about today. About it all - all of this - this Carpenters site (I can't seem to type fast enough, it all just wants to flow out) the fact that I am sharing information and receiving information back from people all over the world. I know it's crossed my mind from time to time how cool this whole idea of the internet is. Yet, in reality, I have not really felt the true impact of it until I was "musing" about it today. I mean, with the touch of a button, I've communicated with Ming in Hong Kong, Leo in the UK, Enigma in Canada, and others from Long Island to San Francisco. HOW unbelievable IS that? As I sat thinking today about the fact that I recently heard from Dave who told me that he'd gotten a personal e-mail message from Richard Carpenter, thanking Dave for sending him birthday wishes, and then thinking about the fact that Richard just sent Palma a get well card...it hit me like a ton of bricks. Who would have ever thought.....who? Certainly, not me. I know some of you have read my experience of that first listen I had to Carpenters, in my buddy's car as we were on our way to our part-time busboy job in high school, and I made him turn up the radio as these heavenly voices were singing "...waaaah aaa aaa aaaah.....Close To You..." WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE??? I HAD to know. What else had they done? What planet had I been on that I'd missed them? So many questions. I immediately called the radio station when I got to work, and asked who the group was singing about birds in the sky. I remember the DJ laughing, and telling me the group was called the Carpenters. I'd never heard of them. Who were they? Well, I would soon find out. I listened intently on the way home and throughout the next day (Saturday) until I heard the song again. It was as wonderful as I thought it had been, and I couldn't believe there was a POP group who was singing this wonderful kind of choral harmony - this tight, perfect sounding harmony. Okay, the story continues, but the fact is, I was captured right from the start - from the first hear. Now, picture this, and you all will undoubtedly remember your own scenarios, which I REALLY HOPE you'll share with us. So, I'm a kid in a small town USA, LOVING this group called the Carpenters. The only way to get information was either by television, or what we heard about someone on the radio, or to purchase magazines, which I did not have the funds to do, especially if I were going to purchase the music. So, I had to be content to "dream" about someday getting to meet these wonderful people who made this magnificent music. And the music kept coming. THANK GOD FOR television. I got to see them on some show or another. Watch them! How cool - I think it was Ed Sullivan - usually I got to see all the good artists on his show, cause my folks watched it. WE ONLY HAD ONE TV IN THOSE DAYS - there weren't sets all over the house - one didn't get a CHOICE, for goodness sakes. And, I'll never, ever forget when I found out that Carpenters were actually going to come close enough to Springfield that I could drive to see them. I mean, if my girlfriend would go, and we could use her car, as I didn't have one at the time. Fortunately for me, she was a huge fan, too - so we got another couple to go, and we headed off to the State Fair some 3 hours away. We were 17! Of course, we had to drive on to someone's home that we knew to stay the night, another two hours after the show, but we didn't care. WE WERE GOING TO A CARPENTERS CONCERT. And I was on fire about getting autographs as I'd just read in People magazing how mom Carpenter gave the kids what-for for NOT signing autographs at some other place recently.....though, did I think to take something like an album cover or piece of sheet music for them to sign? NO! Duh! But I did get my autographs, on the inside of a popcorn box that someone had discarded, and those hang in my music room to this day, thank you very much. I'm getting lost in the detail here. The idea was - I never in my wildest imagination ever thought I'd really get to see the Carpenters, MY FAVORITE GROUP in the whole world, in concert. Never thought it would happen.....and not only did it, but I was but inches away from Karen and Richard for an hour backstage. And Karen's hand brushed mine when she took the popcorn box out of my hand. Well, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Truly, I was "complete" at that moment. I had just watched them play and sing for two solid hours (even in the nosebleed section, Karen looked wonderful as she sang Close To You and We've Only Just Begun, plus all the others." What a dream come true. And not only did THAT happen, but I got to see them AGAIN! Who'd have thought these little midwest towns would be where Carpenters would play to - but sure enough, two years later, they were right here in Springfield, and I was waiting for them at the hotel where I knew they'd be staying - the Holiday Inn. Of course! I recall that Karen almost shattered the image I had of her on that afternoon - she was in a HORRIBLE mood....mad at someone, and in NO MOOD for "visitors" shall we say. She was wearing a long black trench-style raincoat and carrying her boombox. She was agitated, and no one was able to get her into her room. Again, details aside, (and no, I didn't go up and say something to her, though I was only 4-5 yards away from her)! If only..... But I got to see another wonderful show. Again, I just never dreamed it would happen. And (here we go - see, told you I'd get there) now, at the flick of a button, I'm in touch on a regular basis with Richard Carpenter. As I was reading through the Christmas Portrait thread that Rick, and I contributed to, but that was penned mostly by Good Old Dreams, it stuck me that everyday I can push a few buttons and find out more about the Carpenters than I ever, ever imagined I would know. I find it almost erie that I've learned so much about this dynamic duo in the past 3 years because of this website. I have shared with you and learned from you, and have read about and gotten to know the some of the musicians responsible for music Carpenters performed - specifically Liberty and Russell and Palma and who would have ever thought it? Who knew.... I just am more and more amazed as I think about it. I wanted to know everything there was to know about these people when I was 17, 18, 19, years of age, and there was so precious little information available about them. I wanted so to hear more about the "hows" and "whys" of their music. I wanted to learn more about them as people. I wanted to know what life was like for two kids living in Downey. I wanted to know what their home looked like. I wanted to know how they decided where they would go on tour, how they chose the music they performed, who they were friends with, all those things that now, at the touch of one button or another, the information is handed to us. Who knew.... Who knew what Dave would learn from his dreams that included Karen, and how those dreams would end up having an impact on the NASA program....but it happened. And now, Dave is writing a book about it. I'm so proud of him, too. He sent me two chapters of it this evening, and I have to tell you I had tears in my eyes when I was finished reading the chapter called "Karen's Theme." Well done, Dave. Can't wait for the whole book to get finished. All in good time. Who knew..... I never had any idea this would be possible. I so wanted to know, and now, I do. More than I could have ever imagined. How awesome is this, really? How often do we stop to think about what we have now in terms of the wonderful information available to us, and how it links us all together? If you'd have told me on the day I shot photographs of the Carpenters after a hot August night show in Sedalia Missouri that one day, Richard Carpenter would ask me for "copies" of them, which I was able to deliver to him in the blink of an eye, I would have told you you were absolutely crazy. But that's just exactly what happened....Who knew....? And if you'd have told me when the chord suspension in "We've Only Just Begun" started to bother me and I wondered why, why why did he write a suspension in the vocals but not the chord under the word "grow" in the phrase "we'll find a place where there's room to grow", and that one day, I would actually get an answer to that question, really explaining it in some sort of detail, I would have again told you you were off your nutt! But it happened. Who knew....? Thanks to Rick, I found Carpenters Online. I'd found other sites before and had no interest in them because they were trite and seemingly "cutsie" and "contrived" but not this one. I actually came back to this one after registering for it, because I could tell it was a good site that was run well, and boy, have I learned more than a thing or two here. Who knew.....? Not me. I had not clue one. But it was hammering me as I read that post today....look at what we have here. How incredible is this communication tool? How vast is the knowledge, yet how incredibly short the distances we span, now. Heck, when I'm conversing online with L, it's instantenous...and we're thousands of miles away from each other. Who knew....? Again, I must say thanks, Rick. Thanks for this avenue. I always wanted to know these things and more. I always wanted to talk about the Carpenters, and didn't ever know who I'd talk with about them. I always wanted to somehow get to pick Richard's brain, but never thought it possible. Who knew......? So, tonight, as I contemplate all the stuff going on around me, and the people who are so strongly in my thoughts I am still absolutely amazed that this has all happened. I would have never dreamed it....and couldn't have even in my wildest imagination put it all together that someday this kind of thing could happen. If only Karen could be a part of this in the same way Richard is....but I know she IS a part of it. She was with Dave in his NASA endeavor and helped him. I believe her spirit is truly alive with this forum family. But wow, if it could have been, we may have gotten to know HER on a much closer, up close and personal level too.....If only..... I've gone on enough. I'd like to know what you think about this. I mean, those of you who actually remember what it was like trying to get information you just couldn't quite get for whatever reason. Or just aching to get to find out more information about these people, and hoping someday to see them live, or hoping maybe to meet them, and find out what makes them tick...to be able to tell them thank you for the fantastic music.....Did you want to, or am I alone? I hope you're having a great week, and just think.....who knew??? I wish you all the best from here in my corner.... Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 15, 2006 22:47:05 GMT -5
Wow, Tim, what a wonderful post. Your words brought the "chill factor" to me.
It is amazing. When I started The Carpenters Online on November 16, 2002 I never dreamed it would turn out to be what it has become (Our four year anniversary is tomorrow).
We have so much here. We have a six person committee who works together to bring such wonderful insights such as our "Hall Of Fame" page. Carpenters Online has done numerous original interviews with many musicians who are connected with Carpenters such as Randy Sparks, Russell Javors, Liberty DeVitto, Rob Mounsey, Steve Eaton, Chris Christian and Palma Pascale. many times I looked at the name of Palma Pascale when I would listen to "Horizon" - never did I think I myself would one day have an affiliation with her. Truly truly wonderful experience.
I can go on - but really all this happens with the support of everyone who contributes. I really enjoy maintaining and updating the web site and the forum (and now the MySpace site - which is also pretty popular).
This is certainly a group effort and Carpenters Online belongs to all of us. We all have a little part of our heart invested in this web site.
Thank You Friends!
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Post by Ming on Nov 16, 2006 11:14:00 GMT -5
Thank you Rick. The site and the forum unite many Carpenters fans. Everyone makes new friends here. When I visit here and the site every time, I always think how wonderful the site and the forum are.
Ming
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Dave
Ultra Emissary
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Nov 16, 2006 19:35:18 GMT -5
As Tim has so eloquently pointed out, who could imagine the power of the Internet, and what great things can be accomplished. We now have the ability to actually reach out and touch someone in ways that we sometimes cannot imagine. I came here in June 2004 seeking answers to questions that cannot be answered. What I found instead was compassion and understanding, along with really great and dedicated people who answered as best as they could. Sometimes things in life that defy explanation occur, and we either ignore them and go along our merry way or we stop for a second to see what's going on. I was already immersed in a highly improbable adventure when something special happened, and as a result a long-since-passed (but not forgotten) superstar found her way home. Along the way, she would teach me a valuable lesson: It's not who we are or what we do in this life, it's how we relate to one another. Rick, Tim, and anyone who's ever sent me a message knows how I relate. as Tim mentioned, I have been writing a tome about my "great adventure", more to keep from losing the details due to time. I "borrowed" the song titles from Kavin Hoo's instrumental album "Above The Clouds" for the chapters, but like the special album I have in my truck, it has one additional chapter: "Karen's Theme". I could have left it out, because some might think that I've gone left of the center line, but if I did that then I would be guilty of an egregious error, that of not giving credit where credit is due. I've never been like that in my life, and I'm not about to begin. One life affects another, and that life affects another...you get the picture. And that is why we come back to The Carpenters Online time and again...
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 16, 2006 22:04:45 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 16, 2006 22:18:17 GMT -5
Thank you Tim for sharing this news. I will continue to keep Palma in my prayers and thoughts.
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