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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 29, 2005 21:17:19 GMT -5
I've been thinking lately how much I would have liked to have heard Karen and Richard do some covers of Manhattan Transfer hits. As I mentioned in my demographic post, I was really fortunate to get to meet Janis, Cheryl, Alan and Tim at a work conference, of all things. They were the entertainment for the evening. I'd just found out the morning I left, and grabbed an old album, Mecca for Moderns, because it has each face sort of in "mask" form on the cover. I had hoped to get them to autograph it, each under their "mask", which they all generously did. I got sort of bold, and decided about 3 in the afternoon of this conference to go to the place where they would be performing to see if they were doing a sound check. Sure enough, they were - Tim and Janis weren't too happy with the harmony blend, nor the sound overall, but after a while, they had a lull in the reheardal, so here I was with my album and sharpie, and I marched right up to the stage. They were all very kind, and signed my album. End of story, or so I thought. I'd met up with some friends from MetLife Resources, who happened to be vendors for me, and were sponsoring the MT event. They asked me to sit with them, and their table was just to the left of center stage. Wow, what a show. Here's a shot from my vantage point. [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/RickHenry/Manhattan_Trasfer_VII.jpg] Afterwards, I was invited backstage to get to talk with them. It was a lot of fun. Here's another shot: [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/RickHenry/Manhattan_Trasfer_I.jpg] Now, to the topic.. How many of you like the Transfer, and what do you think Karen and Rich could have done with songs like "Birdland", "A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square", "Mystery" (I think Karen would have done well to have done this one solo - all the parts - like she did on her solo CD). There are many others I can hear KC and RC do in my head - Route 66 - Tuxedo Junction, and I can really hear them tearing up Ray's Rock House, and Soul Food To Go. What are your thoughts? [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/RickHenry/Manhattan_Trasfer_VI.jpg]   Tim |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 29, 2005 21:20:12 GMT -5
Yikes! Rick - as you can see, the photos didn't come through on the post. (sorry everyone - I'm not a tech-ie). If you can make them appear for me, I'm eternally grateful. Thanks, man.  |
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 29, 2005 22:19:42 GMT -5
I've been thinking lately how much I would have liked to have heard Karen and Richard do some covers of Manhattan Transfer hits. As I mentioned in my demographic post, I was really fortunate to get to meet Janis, Cheryl, Alan and Tim at a work conference, of all things. They were the entertainment for the evening. I'd just found out the morning I left, and grabbed an old album, Mecca for Moderns, because it has each face sort of in "mask" form on the cover. I had hoped to get them to autograph it, each under their "mask", which they all generously did. I got sort of bold, and decided about 3 in the afternoon of this conference to go to the place where they would be performing to see if they were doing a sound check. Sure enough, they were - Tim and Janis weren't too happy with the harmony blend, nor the sound overall, but after a while, they had a lull in the reheardal, so here I was with my album and sharpie, and I marched right up to the stage. They were all very kind, and signed my album. End of story, or so I thought. I'd met up with some friends from MetLife Resources, who happened to be vendors for me, and were sponsoring the MT event. They asked me to sit with them, and their table was just to the left of center stage. Wow, what a show. Here's a shot from my vantage point.  Afterwards, I was invited backstage to get to talk with them. It was a lot of fun. Here's another shot:  Now, to the topic.. How many of you like the Transfer, and what do you think Karen and Rich could have done with songs like "Birdland", "A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square", "Mystery" (I think Karen would have done well to have done this one solo - all the parts - like she did on her solo CD). There are many others I can hear KC and RC do in my head - Route 66 - Tuxedo Junction, and I can really hear them tearing up Ray's Rock House, and Soul Food To Go. What are your thoughts?  Tim Hi Tim, I took your post and quoted it and fixed the code for the images to appear. I think Carpenters covering Manhattan Transfer would have been great. Even better would have been for Karen to do it solo. With those fabulous complex vocal arrangements as can only be done by Rod Temperton. Could you imagine "Twilight Tone/Twilight Zone" on Karen's solo album done in a a style similar to "Lovelines"? That would be amazing. What would be even more fascinating is to hear karen sing a duet with Janis Siegel with the Manhattan Transfer band behind them.  |
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Post by Carps1000 on Mar 30, 2005 1:50:29 GMT -5
Now Im VERY jealous. How dare you meet The Man Tran!!! You lucky devil!!!! Yesterday Once More. I have all their stuff..well most... I think they are terrific...Dont think that covering the songs they did woould b a good idea tho for the Cs as The Man Tran were a sound (Jazz/blues/20s/30s/40s/& BopDooWop completely on their own (unworkable by any other band) as is The Cs (beautiful love song ballards/pop/easy listening sound which is also unworkable by any one else) Im sure people will disagree with me ...well see you in the "two hot to handle room then" ....well when I get me password sorted anyway.. Ken (The Only TRUE CARPS 1000)
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 30, 2005 2:30:34 GMT -5
I think they are terrific...Dont think that covering the songs they did woould b a good idea tho for the Cs as The Man Tran were a sound (Jazz/blues/20s/30s/40s/& BopDooWop completely on their own (unworkable by any other band) as is The Cs (beautiful love song ballards/pop/easy listening sound which is also unworkable by any one else) If Carpenters were to have ever covered Manhattan Transfer it wouldn't be imitating the MT. It would be more Carpenters or Karen solo recreating these songs but in their own style. Such as when they did "Please Mr. Postman". I mean who in the world would have thought the Carpenters could take such a raw Motown song as this and make it their own. I think Manhattan Transfer is closer to what Carpenters have done musically than Marvelettes were. After all the Carpenters have their roots in jazz. Beginning in 1965 with the Richard Carpenter Trio. Then in 1967(?) with spectrum. Many song by of Spectrum have the same type of vocal harmonies as several of Manhattan Transfer's songs. Also once you get into Carpenters music there is so much they've done which can correlate with MT. There is "All I Can Do" which is nothing like any MT song, but it contains similar timing MT has used in some of their songs. Then there's "Mr. Guder" again nothing like a Manhattan Transfer song, but it's that vocal trade-off at the end of the song which is like something you may have heard on a Manhattan Transfer album. Then you have several Karen Carpenter solo songs which have certain elements which are similar. One being the complex vocal arrangement at the end of "If I Had You" very much like a vocal arrangement you may have heard from MT in the 80's. I don't think it's such a far stretch. And to hear Karen Carpenter and Janis Siegel duet would be fantastic. They are each one of the finest in their own right.  |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 30, 2005 9:28:24 GMT -5
$&?
Rick, I have to agree - I think of Mr. Guder and know that MT could have easiliy covered this one, but in their own right. Not an imitation - but sort of a "flattery" of Guder in their own style - much like those who made the "If I were a Carpenter" compilation.
The close, dark harmonies in Mystery remind me of KC, and her solo work. I think it could easiliy have been something she could have taken on - and yes, a duet with Janis would have been just great..with Janis' unbelievable high range, and Karen's "basement" range, they could have done some great tunes together. I think the same would be true of Cheryl Bentyne. I certainly gained a new respect for her after hearing her live - I mean, I had already thought she was pretty great, but hearing that voice live was revealing, as it was sweet and full - sometimes when she's doing jazz riffs, she got sort of "thin" in the voice, to me.
Ken, I think there were many things where a cover would not be a good idea, but I do think there were a bunch that could have been done - and a collaboration would have been really fun. As Rick has said, we need to remember that Carpenters began as a jazz trio - so jazz was not foreign to them, whatsoever!
Does anyone know, could Karen scat? I'm thinking yes, but don't know for sure.
%?? %??
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Post by Carps1000 on Mar 30, 2005 10:00:42 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 30, 2005 11:29:14 GMT -5
 Im shocked! In the UK that word you used( The 6th one ) is a revolting swear word TSK TSK TSK. Could Karen XXXX!!!! How funny Ken! Scat in the U.S. is a style of vocal interpretation. I am certain Karen was able to scat. Just looking at some of the backing and harmony vocals on certain songs like "All I Can Do", "Mr. Guder", "Turn Away" and other songs these are somehow based on a scat form. In her performance of "Man smart, Woman Smarter" with Suzanne Somers on the 'Space Encounters" TV special. Karen's interpretation at parts almost has a scat-like quality. |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 30, 2005 15:40:51 GMT -5
#??
I feel sure in my heart of hearts she could scat, and likely did - would have been pretty wild to hear she and Ella cut lose and trade scat choruses on something. I have heard the scat-like vocalizing you speak of, Rick, but just don't remember a specific scat-chorus or anything like that. Bet she was great at it - just bet she was. Wish we could have heard it.
??$
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 31, 2005 1:41:46 GMT -5
$% Hi Tim, Karen doesn't actually scat on "Man Smart..." from "Space Encounters". There's a part where the flow of her vocal has a scat like quality while singing lyrics. For some reason when I hear her sing this the term scat comes to my mind. If you should listen to it, it's in the second verse of the song. |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 31, 2005 9:47:34 GMT -5
$&? $&? $&?
Hi Rick - I don't ever remember seeing this particular video, so will have to look for it to see what you mean. Thanks!
?z?
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 3, 2005 21:31:25 GMT -5
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Post by JIM on Apr 4, 2005 8:28:25 GMT -5
!@ I went to MT concert in Pittsburgh way back in 88 and I
was completely transfixed buy there
perfection! Very powerful. Rick
I was suprised to hear you mention
Twilight and yes it would have been
an excellent addition to her solo
album. I listen to that song a lot,
its stronger than coffee! I kinda
wish that Richard would have taken
this direction on his Time album
or even formed a sililar type of
band. At this point I think Rc is
content with the work he has done
with the fine tuning the work done
by the Carpenters which I am grateful for and if were lucky, who
knows maybe just one or two more
albums of unreleased rarities or
a complete album of unreleased songs.
JIM
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 4, 2005 8:42:12 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 5, 2005 0:23:59 GMT -5
I purchased the TV special "Space Encounters" on DVD from Ebay recently. It's a fun special. I also recently purchased "The First special". Next in line is "Music, Music, Music". |
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Post by Boat2Sail on Apr 8, 2005 0:35:05 GMT -5
:)I love the Space Encounters video. I really like Karen on Goofus and Sweet Sweet Smile.  |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jul 13, 2005 21:16:44 GMT -5
Hey everyone, I stumbled onto a website this evening while looking for something about Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer, and found this: But Siegel has been riding a dual career track for nearly two decades. In addition to her stage and studio work with The Manhattan Transfer, she launched her solo career in 1982 with the release of Experiment in White - a rare but favorite album among Siegel's fans. Her followup solo effort, At Home, earned her a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best Female Jazz Vocal.
She collaborated with jazz pianist Fred Hersch on the 1989 effort, Short Stories, which JazzTimes ranked "among the most graceful, thoroughly heartbreaking efforts of the modern era, thanks to her rich, emotive vocals." That same year, the New York Music Awards named her Best Female Jazz Singer. Not one to walk away from a successful formula, Siegel rejoined Hersch in the making of Slow Hot Wind in 1995, and The Tender Trap in 1999. In addition to Hersch, The Tender Trap session roster included high-profile players like Michael Brecker, Hank Crawford, Russell Malone and Victor Lewis.
Through it all, diversity has been a hallmark of Siegel's career. Some of her favorite collaborations over the years have been with Turkish modern classical composer Ilhan Mimaroglu and the Beaux Arts String Quartet in a musical and spoken word project called "Like There's Tomorrow," as well as projects with Richie Cole, Jay McShann, Lew Soloff, Robert Kraft and Leon Ware. She also was a happy participant in A Tribute to the Carpenters on King Records in 1998, sang a duet ("Two For The Blues") with Natalie Cole on Cole's 1996 release, Stardust, and was a featured vocalist on Circlesongs, Bobby McFerrin's multi-layered world/jazz effort of 1997. [/i] [/size] I wasn't surprised that Janis did something as a Tribute to Carpenters - but I have not heard of the Tribute as far as I know. Anyone out there have any information about it? I'd like to know what she recorded and who all was working with her on it.
Well, that's my evening's contribution. Best to you all.
Tim |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jul 13, 2005 21:28:55 GMT -5
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