A KIND OF HUSH album

[cam83]

Hi All,
I always loved the A KIND OF HUSH album. It was the third album that I ever listened to by the Carpenters. (The first was The Singles 1969-1973...and the second was MADE IN AMERICA...the fourth being VOICE OF THE HEART)...
I always loved the cover art for this album...I would just sit and stare at it, and how beautiful she was. The music was out of this world. I love ballads...and felt she nailed them so well!!
THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH...nice song. I remember the Herman and the Hermits version, but I loved Karen and Richard's version. I remember when we would play this on tape in our car(1989 and on from THE SINGLES 1974-1978...our whole family would sing along...we LOVED this song...very much like TOP OF THE WORLD...irresistable melody and catchy tune)...good vocal reading by Karen...on the video, I love that Richard and Karen synchronize their little finger movement and then simultaneously clap...
YOU...oh magestic song!! I love the piano intro followed by Karen's vocal gracing this song. A song that you have to just listen to...almost akin to A SONG FOR YOU. I love when she duets with herself...on the harmony parts. A very good emotional reading. Gentle and understated but lovely like that...another GEM!
SANDY...melancholy kind of song. Well sung by Karen. I would actually like to hear Richard sing this song (don't kill me...but this song was actually about Karen's hairdresser...that Richard kind of liked)...Nice soft reading by Karen. Harmonies luscious.
GOOFUS...at first I disliked this song with a passion. But it's a cute song. It always reminds me of Jambalaya somehow...
I CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU...Love this song! Another family singing along song...I am surprised it wasn't a bigger hit than it was...this song also reminds me of I WON'T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU...(but maybe that's cuz it shares the words I, 'T, WITHOUT and YOU)...nice song...not my favorite but nice enough...
I NEED TO BE IN LOVE...a GEM! Great reading by Karen...As John Bettis, says it was autobiographical, and it shows. This reminds me of SOMETHING'S MISSING (Karen's unreleased solo song...but deal with being alone at night or early morning...and if they are happy)...It's almost painful to listen to...it deals with real emotion. But as painful it was for her to sing it, and let her emotions hang out, it must have been a bit therapeutic for her...
ONE MORE TIME...depressing song. A song of realization and hoping against hope. Wonderful! I can't really say too much about this song.
BOAT TO SAIL...ohhhh!! I love this song and her unique phrasing. She was so skilled at adding her touch. You almost get another side of Karen, that you didn't know that she could really smoulder when it came to certain songs...
I HAVE YOU... superb song! Wonderful arrangements. I love the fact that Richard had a place for all the instruments...surrounding his angelic voiced sister. The double tracking is awesome. I wish though, we could hear the harmony vocal more, and turn her lead down, so we could hear more of her gorgeous voice...but nonetheless great!
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO...catchy upbeat song. I don't think this song was meant to slam Neil Sedaka. I think it was a gesture of goodwill and very much like a handshake...that they may not agree with each other...they still had respect as musicians...I like at the end of the song...Karen laughs and is talking...you can hear the whole gang, "Hey Karen!"...

My jumbled thoughts,
Cameron
[e-mail]

[Christian]

Hi!

I agree with you Cameron, a truly great album!
There`s A kind Of Hush has always been one of my favourite songs, there`s just something about it and as you say it is reminicent of Top Of The World. Another track I love is Boat To Sail. Karen sounds so relaxed and laidback. One more time is as classy as they come while sandy has that warm feeling to it. The entire album is perfect for those windy and rainy autumnnights that we have in Norway now. Just make a fire in the fire place, light some candles, open a bottle of red wine and cuddle up in the sofa under a blanket with the album on. When I think of it, most of their albums are perfect for this. You see, not only am I a big Carpenters fan but also a hopeless romantic.

[Christian]

Hi again!
There is also one thing I find interesting about There`s a Kind Of Hush... I have one version of it where it has different drumming about 1.10 minutes into the song where Karen ends with "forever and ever". It originally has different drumming here and in the end where she sings the same, but in my version it has the drumming in the end also in the beginning(my God, that was not well written but I hope you understand)
Just a little interesting thing that I always remember when hearing the song. Guess I am weird

[ThomB]

A Kind Of Hush is one of my most favorite Carpenters albums. I like the easy going feel of it.
My favorite tracks are of course I Need to Be In Love. This song was the soundtrack to my life in the mid to late 70's. I felt I could identify with it. This is one of Karen's best performances.

One More time is an intimate and dramatic song

Boat to Sail I like Karen's voice, the lyrics and Richard's arrangement.

There's A Kind Of Hush - good fun upbeat pop tune

You and I Have You both wonderful songs. Love the lyrics on both.

[Rick Henry]

"A Kind Of Hush" is very special to me. I was 16 years old when it was released and I had joined the fan club just 3 months earlier. This was the first Carpenters album to be released after considering myself a full fledged fan, eventhough I had been listening to them for four and a half years at this point.

First I want to mention GOOFUS. So many people put this song down, but if you really listen to it in the right context it's actually quite an excellent tune. First off it contains Wes Jacobs tuba. Remember K&R started off way back in the mid sixties with Wes and did jazz music. I really like the sound of Wes' tuba in this song. Along with that there is some very interesting drum progressions which add a certain spice to the song (ex mousketeer cubby O'Brien plays drums here). Once again we are treated to Tony Peluso's recognizeable guitar riffs. I really enjoy Bob Messenger's tenor sax (he also does the cheek pop). And Richard's mix of keyboards gives the song a zing. The vocal mix gives the song an almost avant-garde sound to it. It's almost a comedic tune (ie Spike Jones), but it's really done seriously. It's originally from the 1930's. Really quite an interesting song. There's a lot of little nuances to it.

BOAT TO SAIL - This was a favorite right from the first time I heard.

THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH - One of my most favorite of the singles.

I HAVE YOU - I really like the lyrics and the vocal arrangement.

CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU - As much as I like "Goofus", I think this one would have made a better single. It has that sunshiny type feeling.

Overall I like every song on this album, not one is a loser. They are all quality songs.

[Sammy]

one of my most favorite albums. But then again i love all Carpenters albums.

For the longest time I was stuck on YOU. For about ten years I considered it to be my favorite song from the album. But as time has gone by I think One More Time is my favorite.

[Christian]

As previously mentioned, the album is great. One More Time is really great on the japanese "Treasures" album where it is remixed. Such a clear sound and vocals. This double cd is really worth getting. So many songs are remixed and have great sound!