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Post by Christian on Sept 30, 2003 9:02:49 GMT -5
Once again I played my new favourite album, Karens superb solo album and the song Make Believe It`s Your First Time really caught me. It has never been a favourite of mine, I don`t know why. What I am about to say will probably make most of you go mad but... I prefer Karen`s solo version to the Carpenters version. Her solo version sounds more honest and "naked", like it is sung in the setting which the song talks about. Karen`s vocals are more in the center with the music around her. I find the Carpenters version to polished, it doesn`t quite suit the setting it talks about. This is just my humble opinion.
So I set up this poll to hear what you think.
Christian
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Post by cam83 on Sept 30, 2003 15:19:14 GMT -5
Yes, I have to agree that the solo version is just a touch classier, made more so by the fact that Karen is singing by herself...with hardly any instrumentation...just Karen...and you appreciate her voice...It's so gorgeous. I wonder what Richard thought of it when he heard it. On the VOICE OF THE HEART it is beautiful, of course cuz Karen is singing...but her voice just gets covered under all those instruments and background voices/choir. It's a shame to have THAT voice under all that stuff...Although I love her vocal phrase going into that song..."Uh, I have to get into a serious mood here" and the fact that they had another bridge...Both are great songs really...but I prefer the Solo version...it's more Intimate!!
Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com
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Post by Federico Cruz on Sept 30, 2003 17:24:42 GMT -5
I'm with both of you, an "honest, naked and intimate" vocals by Karen. Richard didn't like it and redid it. I love this bluessy song, in the line of Sometimes.
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 30, 2003 17:59:55 GMT -5
The solo version is by far my favorite and for all the same reasons everyone else has mentioned. I think the VOTH version is just way too sugary sounding. The solo recording has more emotion and it seems more real. I really like the piano work behind Karen's lovely voice.
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Post by Christian on Sept 30, 2003 18:09:28 GMT -5
Sounds like most of you agree with me and your comments explain my feelings towards the solosession recording. I cannot quite see why they wanted it rerecorded, and as mentioned by myself and other, the VOTH version is too sweet and it doesn`t sound so genuine and heartfelt.
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Post by smoothie2 on Oct 3, 2003 22:53:08 GMT -5
:)I once heard Karen's solo album but it's been so long ago, that the only version I know of is the one featured on the Love Songs cd and it's a pretty song, but not one of my favorites for some reason.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 3, 2003 23:09:49 GMT -5
Hi smooth, yeah the Carpenters recording of "Make Believe It's Your First time" is not one of my favorite Carps songs. But Karen's solo version is terrific. It's more intimate and has a nice sound to it. you've really got to hear it. Her solo album is really worth buying.
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Post by Christian on Oct 4, 2003 4:42:59 GMT -5
Hi Smoothie!
Yes, you should really get Karens soloalbum, I am really in love with that album, one of my favourites. Her vocals are great and somewhat different than usual, and some of her background singing is really beautiful like on I Guess I Just Lost My Head but also on the rest of them.
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Post by Will on Oct 5, 2003 0:28:00 GMT -5
Yes, I have to agree that the solo version is just a touch classier, made more so by the fact that Karen is singing by herself...with hardly any instrumentation...just Karen...and you appreciate her voice...It's so gorgeous. I wonder what Richard thought of it when he heard it. On the VOICE OF THE HEART it is beautiful, of course cuz Karen is singing...but her voice just gets covered under all those instruments and background voices/choir. It's a shame to have THAT voice under all that stuff...Although I love her vocal phrase going into that song..."Uh, I have to get into a serious mood here" and the fact that they had another bridge...Both are great songs really...but I prefer the Solo version...it's more Intimate!! Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com Karen's solo version is without a doubt the better of the two for all the reason's listed here. However, I've got to disagree with Cameron (for the first time) on the vocal phrase introducing the song. I like to hear Karen speak (around her work) because it lets me learn more about the real person, but I think that it is out of place here because it tells the listener that this is a studio song and nothing else -- she has to force herself to get in the mood to sing this song. I know that may be true, however -- don't tell me about it right before you sing the song. I want to feel that Karen is singing the song from her heart to someone. My point is that I believe the 'intro' is designed to take us out of the simulated mood and is intended to justify the overuse of supporting music and voices in the non-solo version of the song. To end on a lighter note -- I enjoy all of the Carpenters' work, but I much prefer Karen's solo version of this song.
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Post by cam83 on Oct 5, 2003 4:48:24 GMT -5
Howdy, The reason I love her vocal phrase..."Uh, I have to get into a serious mood here" I think is because, this may have been a work lead...and you catch a little bit of what Karen was like. Her spontaniety, her charm, her humor. I think it makes the song extra special. You just get that EXTRA bit of her. Much like the bonus track on her solo album KAREN CARPENTER for the last song LAST ONE SINGIN THE BLUES...you get that part of Karen being in control of the song both vocally, and how she wanted the tempo and sound to be. This was no woman who just sang at this present time in her career. She was trying out new things and doing it her way, and not just Richard's way. This was HER album! Plus a great song!!
Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com
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Post by Will on Oct 5, 2003 9:36:26 GMT -5
Howdy, The reason I love her vocal phrase..."Uh, I have to get into a serious mood here" I think is because, this may have been a work lead...and you catch a little bit of what Karen was like. Her spontaniety, her charm, her humor. I think it makes the song extra special. You just get that EXTRA bit of her. Much like the bonus track on her solo album KAREN CARPENTER for the last song LAST ONE SINGIN THE BLUES...you get that part of Karen being in control of the song both vocally, and how she wanted the tempo and sound to be. This was no woman who just sang at this present time in her career. She was trying out new things and doing it her way, and not just Richard's way. This was HER album! Plus a great song!! Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com Excellent points Cameron. LAST ONE SINGIN THE BLUES is one of my favorites and I look forward to hearing her direction toward the end of the song. I think I actually prefer hearing the Carpenters in concert over studio work just because of the extra dialog. If Richard would sell a CD full of practice material and recording studio dialog, I would happily buy it.
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Post by Boat2Sail on Oct 5, 2003 20:39:29 GMT -5
I would also buy a Carpenters album of practice material and outtake versions of songs that were released. It might be interesting to hear the first or second alternate recording of songs like Close To You, Hurting Each Other, Please Mr. Postman, etc. I would love to hear them practicing in the studio or rehearsing for a concert.
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Post by Boat2Sail on Oct 5, 2003 20:40:41 GMT -5
Oh yes... I also voted for Karen's solo recording of Make Believe...
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 5, 2003 22:30:16 GMT -5
I would also buy a Carpenters album of practice material and outtake versions of songs that were released. It might be interesting to hear the first or second alternate recording of songs like Close To You, Hurting Each Other, Please Mr. Postman, etc. I would love to hear them practicing in the studio or rehearsing for a concert. I'd be in that line also to purchase such an album. So far I believe the only alternate version of a previously released song is "Let Me Be The One". I really enjoyed it and hearing Karen forget her words at the end. That always puts a smille on my face.
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Post by Christian on Oct 7, 2003 3:30:07 GMT -5
Everytime I hear the alternate version of Let Me Be The One I Always think that the song should have ended that way(minus the part where Karen speaks inthe end) When she sings Let me be the one and just stops, it sounds amazing. So longing and yearning in a way and far better than when the song fades out. It has a much bigger impact, sort of like a last cry for love.
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Post by cam83 on Oct 7, 2003 3:38:50 GMT -5
I Love the song LET ME BE THE ONE...and the alternate ending is cute... But I think with their music at the ending of that particular song, the music would go on and on...so that at that particular ending...she knew it wouldn't be on the released version...but insteat it would be edited out. Plus, I like to turn the volume up full blast to hear the fade out...it's neat to do that cuz you can hear more stuff...more vocals etc. I don't know...I am tired...and sick. I might not be making any sense...
Cam
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Post by ThomB on Oct 8, 2003 18:55:31 GMT -5
I guess I need to register as a member so I can vote on these polls. I come by here often enough I guess I should. anyway my vote also goes to Karen's solo.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 10, 2003 3:45:19 GMT -5
Tonight I listened to Karen's solo version of "Make Believe..." This is my response: Karen's voice moves beautifully with grace. She really projects that unexplainable something in her voice with soul and elegance. it's honest, it's truthful. Karen pours all the love that's in her heart into this beautiful ballad. A Triumph.
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