The making of "Only Yesterday"

[timo]

So glad you're feeling better, Rick!
It must be the castanets that keep on playing in my mind from both songs. There is hardly anything else in common I could think of. They're probably there to pronounce the "difference" between the verse and chorus. Should we say Spectoresque or Nitzschesque. Oh, I'm just guessing...

[ps11932]

Hi timo, CG, Rick and everyone- This is an instructive duscussion of "Only Yesterday." I always liked it ever since it came out but it wasn't (and in truth I guess still isn't) one of my favorite Carpenter songs but I have come (thanks in part to the lessons taught by our moderators) to appreciate and admire the technical expertise of the song; perhaps it is as close to perfectly done as anything recorded by The Carpenters, or any other group. A great blending of art and science.

[Rick Henry]

Jun 11, 2008 11:11:53 GMT -5 timo said:

So glad you're feeling better, Rick!
It must be the castanets that keep on playing in my mind from both songs. There is hardly anything else in common I could think of. They're probably there to pronounce the "difference" between the verse and chorus. Should we say Spectoresque or Nitzschesque. Oh, I'm just guessing...

Interesting that you say Spectoresque... as "Only Yesterday" does have that "wall of sound" technique which was a trademark in Phil Spector's productions.

I have heard Richard Carpenter refer to "Only Yesterday" as containing that "wall of sound"... so the Spector comparison is not too far off.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

;D

First, hello Timo....and welcome to The Avenue. Your posts have been informative, and we enjoy good conversation here.

About Only Yesterday - I read through this thread yesterday, and then I put on the song - sparkling, comes to mind. Brilliant. There is so much going on in this song - there are so many vocal parts - all done expertly - there are wonderful instruments used, and that "wall of sound" you referenced, Rick. It's an exercise in symetry. So nicely done, and a true pleasure to listen to, time, and time again.

;D

[Rick Henry]

Jun 13, 2008 19:58:17 GMT -5 YesterdayOnceMore said:

;D

First, hello Timo....and welcome to The Avenue. Your posts have been informative, and we enjoy good conversation here.

About Only Yesterday - I read through this thread yesterday, and then I put on the song - sparkling, comes to mind. Brilliant. There is so much going on in this song - there are so many vocal parts - all done expertly - there are wonderful instruments used, and that "wall of sound" you referenced, Rick. It's an exercise in symetry. So nicely done, and a true pleasure to listen to, time, and time again.

;D

Yes, there is certainly a montage of vocals used in this song... and they're all Karen's and richard's voices expertly dubbed, layered and seamlessly fused to create an unbelievable sonic sound. The vocals alone make this song stand above the rest... but of course we know there is much much more to this song than just the vocals.

I find the fact that the tedious task of putting a microphone on every single separate instrument which really helps in making each instrument and every sound really pop out and become defined.

The song... as you put it Tim really is an exercise in symmetry... and as O.E. put it... a blending of art and science.

[Rick Henry]

I took the level of listening one step further.

This afternoon, I listened to the SACD edition of "Only Yesterday" on my 5.1 surround Sound Home Theater. Each sound that came out of the speakers was precise, crisp and clear. I was floored with the outstanding musicianship which surrounded me as I listened. The drums and guitar seemed to really stand out in the SACD version. The song is really scorching hot.

[timo]

Wow, sounds great just reading that, Rick!
Without better knowledge of the circumstances when or where they recorded Only Yesterday, I'd guess that they had more (studio recording) tracks available than before? 48 or 64 tracks, maybe somebody has the information?

[Rick Henry]

Jun 18, 2008 13:46:24 GMT -5 timo said:

Wow, sounds great just reading that, Rick!
Without better knowledge of the circumstances when or where they recorded Only Yesterday, I'd guess that they had more (studio recording) tracks available than before? 48 or 64 tracks, maybe somebody has the information?

Timo... you are absolutely correct. Carpenters recorded most of the album "Horizon" (including "Only Yesterday" and the excellent rerecording of "Please Mr. Postman") in Studio D at A&M Records. Studio was a brand new studio (at that time) with all the most up to date state of the art equipment, including 24-track recording technology, 30 Dolby, which means the tape recorded at 30 inches per second to create the cleanest and clearest sound possible. My feeling is that being in this brand new studio gave both Karen and Richard (and the entire band) a needed verve for what they were doing and that's why they put in extra time and efforts in producing "Horizon". Musically, the entire album goes above and beyond anything else they did (before and after - with the exceptions of "Passage" and Karen's solo album).

[enigma]

OY is amazing on SACD too bad they could not have released all of Horizon on SACD that would have been so great to hear the record that way. Obviously with SACDs death that will never happen but it would have been nice in the what could have been category.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Jun 18, 2008 15:05:28 GMT -5 enigma said:

OY is amazing on SACD too bad they could not have released all of Horizon on SACD that would have been so great to hear the record that way. Obviously with SACDs death that will never happen but it would have been nice in the what could have been category.

Hey E, good to hear from you....you're right - too bad the entire Horizon contents aren't on SACD. I'm so happy I ordered the SACD disc. Awesome.....and HOW!

Thanks for the idea to listen to it, Rick....I listened last evening on my surround sound too, and Oi vay! Outstanding!!!!!

[Rick Henry]

Another fact about "Only Yesterday" / "Horizon" which makes it especially attractive on 5.1 Surround sound is that along with the 24-track recording technology and 30 Dolby sound, "Horizon" was Carpenters' only album in which they used a multitude of separate microphones. Every single instrument and voice has it's own microphone.This helped to create a crisp, clear and full sound. The drums were recorded on four separate tracks, one for the kick, one for the snare and one each for the left and right tom-toms.

On the song "Only Yesterday" a tape delay is used on the saxophone, this effect accents the instrument and lifts it above the canvas and gives it an extra dimension, almost as if the instrument is glowing.

[BethMosior]

Only Yesterday is my top of the top favorite songs of the C's ( I love every song they have ever done solo or together, yes I'm a Carpenters nut ) ever time this song starts I get chills listening to Karen's 1 st few notes woooooow soooooo cooooool just so beautiful, really the whole song is just beyond beautiful Rick for all the coooooooool info too

[Rick Henry]

Jul 3, 2008 23:48:20 GMT -5 BethMosior said:

Only Yesterday is my top of the top favorite songs of the C's ( I love every song they have ever done solo or together, yes I'm a Carpenters nut ) ever time this song starts I get chills listening to Karen's 1 st few notes woooooow soooooo cooooool just so beautiful, really the whole song is just beyond beautiful Rick for all the coooooooool info too

I agree with you Beth... Karen's first few notes in "Only Yesterday" are absolutely mesmerizing. I'm always caught by the opening drum pattern played at the very beginning just before Karen sings... it's a great intro to the song... and very recognizable.

[goodjeans]

this is my favorite song of all time...It is so perfectly produced and arranged and all has been said ahead of me...

[Rick Henry]

Sept 18, 2008 13:11:49 GMT -5 goodjeans said:

this is my favorite song of all time...It is so perfectly produced and arranged and all has been said ahead of me...

ditto, ditto, ditto...

I love "Only Yesterday"... I have often called this the perfect pop tune. In my mind it rates right up there with Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" for sheer catchiness and pure pop power.

[smoothie2]

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I do indeed LOVE Only Yesterday!!! Best song all the way around by anyone ever!! This is a very interesting thread Rick and I love all the info. I listened to it twice just now. I never really tried to listen to any song trying to hear one specific instrument, and I see what you mean about how you hear something different each time you hear it.
It also is a little hard to do on this one Because of how complex all the vocal and instrumental parts are!
Wow!
CASTANETS...didn't have a clue what that sound was but they must be a little like moroccas (don't know the spelling) only not as big.
and can you explain about what a snare is referring to drums...?
Excellent in every way...made painstakingly clear and bright!
I love the video on youtube with them singing it...it matches the whole song...I mean the wonderful setting with the fountain and gorgeous
flowers and greenery.
ALSO it seems that the last time they sing the chorus....seems like even more vocals are added as a last signature of that wall of sound!

[timo]

Ahh..castanets - another percussive element in a C's recording that I personally just love is the vibraslap in This Masquerade right before Karen starts singing. It's funny but I always wait with excitement for that sound! Just the little details... and what a wonderful version it is. I like to think it's some sort of a milestone (in arrangement) for bands that play - even today - in restaurants, boats etc.

[Rick Henry]

Sept 24, 2008 13:46:52 GMT -5 smoothie2 said:

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I do indeed LOVE Only Yesterday!!! Best song all the way around by anyone ever!! This is a very interesting thread Rick and I love all the info. I listened to it twice just now. I never really tried to listen to any song trying to hear one specific instrument, and I see what you mean about how you hear something different each time you hear it.
It also is a little hard to do on this one Because of how complex all the vocal and instrumental parts are!
Wow!
CASTANETS...didn't have a clue what that sound was but they must be a little like moroccas (don't know the spelling) only not as big.
and can you explain about what a snare is referring to drums...?
Excellent in every way...made painstakingly clear and bright!
I love the video on youtube with them singing it...it matches the whole song...I mean the wonderful setting with the fountain and gorgeous
flowers and greenery.
ALSO it seems that the last time they sing the chorus....seems like even more vocals are added as a last signature of that wall of sound!

HeyKathy... yes castanets in "Only Yesterday"... it's one of my favorite parts of the song.

Both castanets and moraccas are percussion instruments... but make very different sounds. Marraccas are an instrument that is shaken and makes a shaking sound. Castanets are snapped together and make a fun sort of clicking sound.

I will come back and talk about the different drum parts in "Only Yesterday". It is quite fascinating all the rhythmic texture in this song. I will also touch on snare drums for you.

I'm glad you took the time to listen to this mini masterpiece through headphone. The musicianship and technology used in this song is absolutely fascinating and that seamless blending of vocals is outstanding!