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Post by Ming on Jan 6, 2004 5:06:56 GMT -5
I am not asking your favourite. I think the best is Yesterday once more.
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Post by Alan on Jan 6, 2004 6:46:29 GMT -5
I may have to agree with you. Then, I tend to think my particular favorites are the best, so it’s hard for me to delineate! And, there are so many. But, this is one I can still listen to repeatedly and never tire of. So, to me that’s a mark of a good song. Some of you are very young so the history isn’t there. This was a huge hit during a very impressionable time of my life, so such can’t help but figure in as well in my decision. Think I saw something on this web site that said Please, Mr. Postman was their biggest international hit. I thought I read somewhere other than this web site where Yesterday Once More was owing to the international language of the phonetic hooks. Maybe it was previous to Please Mr. P. I definitely don’t think that was even one of their best, and certainly not one of my favorites. I know I offend some but I was stunned it made it to number one compared to other releases that didn’t. Has a lot to do with other songs at the top of the charts at the particular time as well, I guess.
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 6, 2004 13:15:09 GMT -5
My favorite Carpenters songs are generally album cuts and probably my favorite of all their songs is "Only Yesterday", but their best song I would have to say is either "Rainy Days And Mondays" or "Superstar", but than there's also "A Song For You", "Road Ode" and "This Masquerade" - they can all vie for best Carpenters songs.
As for "Postman" being their best selling worldwide. Richard has said for a while he thought it was "Yesterday Once More" , but now says it's "Postman". By the time "Postman" came out The Carpenters were the #1 selling group in the world. They could have come out with "Goofus" at that time and it would have been #1 around the world as "Postman" was.
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Post by Alan on Jan 6, 2004 19:21:13 GMT -5
They could have come out with "Goofus" at that time and it would have been #1 around the world as "Postman" was. I respectfully give you the benefit of the doubt on your Goofus critique. It was an amusing and interesting enough album cut, but I still see any hit potential anywhere in the world pretty much on par with the US results. Except maybe in Japan. But I could be wrong and have been before. Case in point, I was/am also a very devoted Elton John fan, and purchased everything he did as soon as released. One of my favorites was Yellow Brick Road. I love almost all of the cuts on this disc, but hated Bennie and the Jets as soon as I heard it and still do! Then it went all the way to number one in the US and I'm sure in other countries as well. So don’t mind me!! Out of all of my favorite pop acts and hit predictions, Bennie and Please Mr. P going all the way are my biggest all time surprises. However, as I was such a big fan of both, I was just glad they had another huge success, no matter what my personal opinion of the song was! |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 7, 2004 1:25:35 GMT -5
Hi Alan, my comment about "Goofus" being #1 was an analogy. Basically I was saying that no matter what The Carpenters released in November 1974, it was going to be a worldwide #1 hit, they were that popular during that time period.
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Post by smoothie2 on Jan 8, 2004 1:03:47 GMT -5
:)with the Carps., they have so many great ones...I guess like the potato chips commercial.."I can't eat just one" well, I can't pinpoint one that's my very best, but I have to say that Only Yesterday and Rainy days come very close. I love the Road Ode though too...Never cared for Goofus that much...
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Post by Moe on Jan 8, 2004 3:57:52 GMT -5
I think "Rainy days and Mondays," "Superstar," and "Goodbye to love" are the best songs of the Carpenters.
my 2 cents...
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Post by cam83 on Jan 9, 2004 1:49:46 GMT -5
Hey All,
Well, for me, if I chose SUPERSTAR, I would have to choose RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS. The fact that they were released as singles not too far from each other, and that in most compilations, they are joined together(started on the SINGLES 1969-1973). Both have such adult themes, and Karen just sings the heck out of them. I love the fact that Karen plays a groupie...not that risque, when you consider Karen was "Living" with a boyfriend on the Ticket to Ride song(He said that living with me, was bringing him down...yeah). Superstar is just wonderful! And Rainy Days and Mondays...the way she quietly enters the song, and then tears right thru it and by the end...you really feel the dissillusionment and despair she feels.
My thoughts,
Cameron
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Post by John in Phoeniz on Jan 9, 2004 2:20:25 GMT -5
Hi all
I love the topics brought up in this forum because they are things that I have thought about myself while listening to the Carpenter's music and as a fan of the C's, I have a tendency to really look very closely at the music and the people that created it. Karen and Richard gave the songs that they sang a life. Thank god for that.
The one song that Karen and Richard performed that to me is a beautiful representation and presentation of their music is the song "Sometimes". Pure, simple and yet a very complex reading by Karen. She works her singing so tightly in harmony with Richards playing. Just pure Gold to my ears. Another song worthy of single status would be "Road Ode". Excellent arranging and presentation by Karen. Wow. The Carpenters had so many album cuts that could have gone Gold. So many. But - the choices were made by Richard, Karen and the label as to which songs were to be released as singles. What a terrible decision to have to make - which one of your 'babies" ie; the songs you just recorded, are to be released as the anchor for your album. Almost all of the songs that the Carpenters recorded were very good, to outstanding, but there were a few that I don't really care for, like "Jambalaya". For some reason that song justs grates on me. It's production value is great, but it just sounds like crummy filler material to me. Just my opinion mind you. Thanks for letting me post my thoughts.
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Post by Alan on Jan 9, 2004 2:53:49 GMT -5
Hi all The one song that Karen and Richard performed that to me is a beautiful representation and presentation of their music is the song "Sometimes". Pure, simple and yet a very complex reading by Karen. She works her singing so tightly in harmony with Richards playing. Just pure Gold to my ears. Another song worthy of single status would be "Road Ode". Excellent arranging and presentation by Karen. Wow. but there were a few that I don't really care for, like "Jambalaya". For some reason that song justs grates on me. It's production value is great, but it just sounds like crummy filler material to me. Hi John in Phoenix – I’ve had some time off recently as you can probably tell, so I have the following comments about your thoughtful post. I’ve always thought Road Ode was so classy and a perfect example of the stellar material they produced and never released as a single ... a rather complex pop song. And what a gem Sometimes is too! There are many as we album fans know. Now, my input on Jambalaya. I’m not nearly as down on it as you, and I’ll tell you why. At the same time, I wouldn’t feel like I’d missed out on a great thing if they had never covered this song. Don’t know if you saw another one my recent many posts, but I attended two concerts during their 1973 tour. This was one of the tunes in the act, and it was quite a big deal. I guess they chose this to have an additional up beat selection to pep up the concert. You know good concerts need to have an ebb and flow of the upbeat to offset the softer selections to make the show more interesting. Most acts do this if they have a combination to offer in the first place. This was a very up beat part of the show. And, as I said, their introduction said they were having great fun performing it on the tour. I can honestly say they really did have great fun!! You could just tell. Lots of hootin’ and hollerin’ … much more so than on the album. You obviously are no fan of Cajun music. I just say this so you won’t think this piece was something like just last minute filler. These concerts were a year or more before Now and Then was released (oops no I see where N&T was released just months afterwards, but doesn't change the sentiment!). I certainly think they could have found another song to include if they weren’t genuinely committed to it. BTW, I'm no huge fan of Cajun music either! But I can also honestly say it was quite a crowd pleaser! But we in Texas do so love a good foot stompin', hand clappin' tune!! I know this song and this type of music isn’t for everyone! Jambalaya is something of a country, southern standard I would say. That's all! |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 9, 2004 9:30:19 GMT -5
I agree that "Jambalaya" isn't one of their premiere efforts, but I still like it. I can always enjoy an upbeat good time tune.
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Post by Will on Jan 10, 2004 1:10:37 GMT -5
I always have a tough time voting for 'Best in Show', but ...
I vote for 'I Can Dream Can't I' because it demonstrates so many things that the Carpenters did right with music. For example:
Karen's voice, especially those low notes, is at it's best. Listen to her vibrato on the lowest notes at that slow tempo. Her voice sounds as close to a finely tuned musical instrument as I've ever heard.
Richard's piano work is amazing. I've never heard him play this type of music before or since.
Their wonderful blending of 'orchestral' backup with her singing and his piano -- all taking different but mutually supporting paths.
Their remarkable ability to 'shift gears' for a song written years before they were born and for a different time and generation.
This was a one of a kind song for them.
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Post by Alan on Jan 10, 2004 2:52:17 GMT -5
I always have a tough time voting for 'Best in Show', but ... I vote for 'I Can Dream Can't I' because it demonstrates so many things that the Carpenters did right with music. For example: Karen's voice, especially those low notes, is at it's best. Listen to her vibrato on the lowest notes at that slow tempo. Her voice sounds as close to a finely tuned musical instrument as I've ever heard. Richard's piano work is amazing. I've never heard him play this type of music before or since. Their wonderful blending of 'orchestral' backup with her singing and his piano -- all taking different but mutually supporting paths. Their remarkable ability to 'shift gears' for a song written years before they were born and for a different time and generation. This was a one of a kind song for them. This song certainly highlights Karen's vocal ability more than any other performance I can think of. It stands out in my mind as it is quite different from anything they recorded previously. Know the C's were always eager to have another huge hit, but admire their desire to also include some "stretch pieces" on all of their LPs as well. I think this as a fine example of that. I remember my parents in the 70's were not particurlarly fond of much of the music I listened to, but the C's passed the sniff test. My mother especially liked this song! |
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Post by Sammy on Jun 13, 2004 12:54:40 GMT -5
The Carpenters best song is SUPERSTAR. The lyrics, music and Karen voice awesome.
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rob
NEW TO THE FAMILY
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Post by rob on Jun 13, 2004 16:44:17 GMT -5
the best carpenters song ... Superstar.: voice, artistry, melody, arrangement, evocation were masterful.
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Post by Song4You on Jun 13, 2004 19:06:53 GMT -5
I'd have to say that "Only Yesterday," "Rainy Days and Mondays," and "Superstar" would be the C's best songs...just everything about them...Richard's arrangements, Karen's vocals and interpretations of the songs just ooze greatness.
Laura
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