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Remixes
Sept 24, 2003 8:13:52 GMT -5
Post by Christian on Sept 24, 2003 8:13:52 GMT -5
Hi Ever since I got the From The Top set 10years ago one thing has really annoyed me about it. The remixes of Superstar and Hurting Each Other are horrible!! What was Richard thinking?? The music completely drowns out Karens vocals as it is way higher than usually and it also have to much drum and base. It may not be like this on all From The Top records but on mine it is really bad. I would call it a fiasco to be honest. Check them out and see what you think, maybe it`s just me?
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Remixes
Sept 27, 2003 23:15:53 GMT -5
Post by Chris on Sept 27, 2003 23:15:53 GMT -5
I was rather disappointed with "From The Top" as a whole. I bought the set when I ran across it some years ago, listened to it once then never again. I think the reason is simply that the duo of Karen and Richard was "magical" and Richard for some reason tried to improve on it, but instead merely changed it.
I have noticed that, in general, I do not care for remixes. I think that the artist(s) put so much into the original recording that the original release is almost always going to be the best. Another well-known example of this is "Layla" by Eric Clapton/Derek and the Dominos - although a critic may say that in the original mix the vocals are not "present" enough, the remix seems to not have nearly the same "drive" to it.
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Remixes
Sept 27, 2003 23:34:48 GMT -5
Post by cam83 on Sept 27, 2003 23:34:48 GMT -5
Hi All, I have to disagree...I love remixes. The reason being, that Richard has the advantage of tinkering around, and changing things a bit. I have no problem with him redoing, or re-adding instrument parts. I think it is his right, and his perogative. Also, the remixes sound marvelous. Some songs, when worked over by Richard, can almost sound better...and Karen's vocal seems more alive, and more presence to it. What I wish Richard would do, is take Karen's lead off of all the hits, and start from scratch with adding fewer instruments, and or, cutting some of the overdubbing...making it more like a LIVE, UNPLUGGED...feel to it...and you would hear Karen's gorgeous voice in a different setting...or placing the bkgd vocals at different parts to give it a newer feel, if that is possible... I loved FROM THE TOP. I remember when I got it...and listening to it. I was so pleased, to hear the crisp, fresh songs on CD...and mixed. Of course I was pleased also to hear Karen's solo songs. I loved MY BODY KEEPS CHANGING MY MIND...and thought she was out of this world!!! What a gorgeous song!! So danceable and disco...too bad they don't play this song at the club I go to...they play Cher, Madonna, J-Lo, and the dj is a fan of Karen...but there are no good dance songs by the Carpenters out there...(well I heard of Only Yesterday which was cool)
My jumbled thoughts, Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com
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Remixes
Sept 28, 2003 1:59:36 GMT -5
Post by Rick Henry on Sept 28, 2003 1:59:36 GMT -5
if someone were to come up with a great remix of "Making Love In The Afternoon" or "Don't Try To Win Me Back Again" and if someone were to distribute it Karen just could possibly have a night club hit on her hands.
Has anybody heard donna summer's current club hit called "You're so beautiful". It hasn't even been released yet. but somebody got a hold of it did a remix of it and distributed it to clubs around the world and the song has been #1 in many many clubs now. it's been on the scene for about six months now. I beleive it's going to be released very soon.
Anyway about "From the Top", I agree about the instrumentation being mixed a bit too loud, it drowns Karen's voice out in several songs.
Just out of curiousity Chris, is the remixed version of "Layla" you are talking about the unplugged version? I think the unplugged version is really good, also "Tears In Heaven".
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Remixes
Jun 27, 2004 23:58:04 GMT -5
Post by Boat2Sail on Jun 27, 2004 23:58:04 GMT -5
I really like the most recent remixes on GOLD: 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. I also liked the remix of "Love Is Surrender" on the Millenium Collection. But I do agree on FROM THE TOP some of the mixes do drown out karen's voice.
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Remixes
Jun 28, 2004 11:38:15 GMT -5
Post by enigma on Jun 28, 2004 11:38:15 GMT -5
I have to agree with Christian on this one 100%... almost I did not find From The Top that bad and use the remixes as well as the countless others Richard has and no doubtedly will release as supplemental listening. Personally I DO NOT LIKE RICHARDS CONSTANT REMIXING AND REMIXING AND REMIXING!! I say if Close To You was done on 8 tracks leave it alone. This is why I got the 35th anerversary box set because besides some tracks on A Song For You ALL ALBUMS ARE ORIGINAL VINAL MASTERS... NO REMIXES!! Karen probably would support the remixing because she did rerecord Ticket To Ride and Top Of The World when she was alive but I like the originals flaws and all.
As far as Cams unplugged suggestion I have mixed feelings on that one. One the one hand it would be interestring to hear a stripped down Karen and enjoy her voice free of distractions on the other hand this goes beyond remixing and further takes away from the original intention of the songs (Its like colorising a black and white films its prettier but the original meaning of the work gets lost in the translation).
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Remixes
Jun 28, 2004 21:33:41 GMT -5
Post by cam83 on Jun 28, 2004 21:33:41 GMT -5
Howdy, I don't know. I mean I love the CARPENTERS sound and all, but I would just love to hear it in a new setting. To fully appreciate Karen's voice. I mean you would really be able to hear it more intimately. It would be there, and for you.
Cam
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Remixes
Jun 28, 2004 23:23:32 GMT -5
Post by Rick Henry on Jun 28, 2004 23:23:32 GMT -5
Howdy, I don't know. I mean I love the CARPENTERS sound and all, but I would just love to hear it in a new setting. To fully appreciate Karen's voice. I mean you would really be able to hear it more intimately. It would be there, and for you. Cam I'm with you here Cam. The originals will always be cherished. But since our songbird is not here to give us new music it would be nice to hear her voice in a different setting. Could you imagine "Yesterday Once More" with just Karen's lead vocal and Richard's piano. That would be absolutely beautiful. I'd wouldn't mind hearing a radical reworking of "Please Mr. Postman". There are so many possiblities.
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Remixes
Jun 29, 2004 10:41:23 GMT -5
Post by enigma on Jun 29, 2004 10:41:23 GMT -5
Rick and Cam you really got me thinking on this subject. I agree there are so many things a producer (Richard) can do with the original master and there will be more and more things that can be done in the future. I am sure there will be a point where Karens voice can be reproduced to perfectly match her original voice and new songs can be released or the unfinished songs that are in existance can be finished but this is not new Karen/Carpenters this is created or generated Karen/Carpenters. While its interesting and comforting to hear new Karen/Carpenters material it is not genuine and the same goes for stripped down tracks and remixes the voice is there but the recording has been changed even if only slightly. I have heard versions of Carpenters songs done with dance or hard rock beat or style in the background and they sound interesting, Karens lovely voice isn't altered but the whole musical style of the song is changed and not as good. I guess I just like the originals and don't like people trying to rewrite history just because technology allows you to do so and once this happens I find it hard to get the original recordings for the few people who are sticklers for real authentic material.
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Remixes
Jun 29, 2004 11:06:13 GMT -5
Post by Rick Henry on Jun 29, 2004 11:06:13 GMT -5
My idea on remixes or alternate arrangements for the songs is not to take away the originals. I think the originals whould always be available to the public. The originals are cherished and my favorite recordings of the songs. But a disc full of maybe 15-20 reworked songs would be an interesting thing to have. Richard could bring in the best remixers to with him on this project such as; Jellybean, Hex Hector and Junior Velasquez.
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Remixes
Jun 30, 2004 23:41:29 GMT -5
Post by Moe on Jun 30, 2004 23:41:29 GMT -5
I really like the remixes, too. I think it is a fuller sound and love when I hear things a little differently. It seems that Karen's voice is enhanced as well as the music. I think it helps the music sound fresh and new. I have the original CD's, when they were first released, and can tell the difference with the remixed disks, and I like both ways a lot.
I also prefer the way Richard mixed Karen's solo tracks on From the Top and Lovelines to Karen's own solo CD. I think with the remixes is that Richard takes a wonderful thing (their songs) and makes it even better.
my thoughts...
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Post by JIM on Jul 2, 2004 1:15:54 GMT -5
Tom I really love the remix of Love Is Surender also. It is the best remix Richard produced in my opinion. I can't wait to hear RC Capitol Records 5.1 suround remix album JIM.
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