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Post by BethMosior on Oct 24, 2004 17:09:31 GMT -5
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Post by Rob813 on Oct 24, 2004 17:54:07 GMT -5
Amen, Beth. Karen and Richard would be awed, humbled and astounded to know about your devotion to them.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 25, 2004 0:34:17 GMT -5
Yes Karen would have been great with the standards, she certainly had the voice for it. She was also excellent with mellow jazz ie; Diana Krall, Norah Jones style. Though as the 80's came around Karen really wanted to shed that goody two shoes image and she really wanted to record music with a bit of an edge to it, which is evident with her solo album. I can't help but to think that as the 80's progressed Karen would have done more new wave dance type stuff. Maybe something similar to Berlin's "riding on THE METRO" or possibly joined the ranks of something like Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" - now that would have been way too much fun. I really would enjoyed hearing Karen let loose and be a part of what was happening in the 80's - and she really wanted to be part of that current trend.
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Post by Rob813 on Oct 26, 2004 20:53:22 GMT -5
Rick, you bring up some interesting points about Karen's wanting to be current. I agree with you, but considering what she did with Richard on MIA, it seemed like more of the same. Perhaps that's not a good barometer of what was to come. Richard's solo album "Time" showed that he was capable of doing something non-Carpenter sounding. With the Carpenters, Richard seemed stuck in a desire to please the tried and true fans and not offend anybody. I think that they're taking a break from each other would have helped Karen and Richard to grow as artists. When they re-teamed they would have brought a new energy and excitement to the mix. Just my thoughts. You guys know that I love Karen and Richard so don't take this the wrong way.
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Post by smoothie2 on Oct 26, 2004 21:59:35 GMT -5
;D hey everybody...it's been sometime since I read through this thread and I see that it's very popular...that goes to show there were so many many songs and artists out there from the past and present which Karen and Richard could have done well with. Dave, I haven't heard the song you mentioned, but it sounds like a great one. It reminds me, as far as lyrically, something J. Denver would have liked since so many of his songs dealt with his love for flying. The words also remind me of how Karen must have felt about things in her own short life (only 32 at her passing?)...aw...my... Anyway, Cam, I haven't heard S. Patti singing Fairest Lord Jesus...but that's one of my favorite hymns. Billy Joel was mentioned as one who might have been a good candidate to sing with Karen...and I thought of , of course "Piano Man" and "River of Dreams". As far as Anne Murray...I know she recorded "Take this Heart"...."take this heart and give it to the Salvation Army, take this heart, and give it to the poor, 'cause I don't think I'm gonna need it anymore"and I think this one would have also been a good one for Karen to have done. I didn't know that "You Won't See Me" was a Beatles tune either.
Rob, I understand what you're saying as far as how Richard did want to stick with the classic sounds and songs that made them Superstars...but I do know that after the disco came about, and Karen and Richard were facing some serious health problems...things definitely changed for them...and they needed to branch out to remain popular. Karen especially and she did so. It was a natural turn of events I think. Doesn't mean they would have broken away completely musically...but they may have. :(Welcome Yest.OnceMore...(that happens to really be one of my very very fave songs of the C's)s
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 27, 2004 8:44:22 GMT -5
Many, many ideas shared, here. Thanks everyone for the welcome to this forum. I'm enjoying reading everyone's point of view on this topic. I really think that Rich and Karen did depart, somewhat, from their style in the songs they chose on their solo efforts - Time for Rich, and of course KC's solo album with Phil Ramone. The thing is, even though we may have some tempo changes, and we may have some variation on lyrics, the 'style' is so carpenteresque in many of the songs - take for example If I Had You - Lovelines - My Body Keeps Changin My Mind - Still Crazy - YES, YES, YES - the tempo, the "disco" sound, etc., were all departures from the Carpenters, per se - but listen to the stacks of harmonies - the wonderful stacked harmonies - I guess what I'm saying here is that it didn't matter if it was Richard creating the stacks, or Karen doing them all herself - it DOES sound a great deal like a lot of things I think the two of them recorded together. So, even though there was a departure from their "normal" sound, or however we want to phrase that - there was also a great similarity, which, by the way, is one of the reasons I, personally, love KC's solo effort (one of my faves), and I really like Time, as well - though it took me a while to really grasp that one - I mean - I'd much rather hear Richard "play" than sing, and to have had KC singing would have been great on some of those tunes. But, even the song that Scott Grimes did on Time is so reminescent of the way Karen might have phrased that tune had she done it ! I think perhaps I got off the subject....but for better or worse, here's my thoughts. I love it that everyone feels so free to speak their minds here - in a positive way - I thank you, Rick, for that opportunity. Take care everyone, and remember "....I don't really wanna be the last one singin the blues....." Tim
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Post by beaner on Oct 27, 2004 10:27:20 GMT -5
I'm sure these two songs have been mentioned but I would have loved to hear her sing "Fever" and "Sentimental Journey".
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Post by JIM on Oct 27, 2004 12:54:27 GMT -5
HI Tim! I know this is way off topic but due to the fact that this thread has approached the complexity of DNA I think I can risk it.(just kidding) Tim I was wondering what you thought of the Scott Grimes album and also if you have heard Akiko's City of Angels. By the way there are four copies of City of Angels at Amazon for 5.99!! For those of you who might not have a copy. I know how errie this album is but I think it is essential to have in a Carpenters collection.
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Post by BethMosior on Oct 27, 2004 16:32:15 GMT -5
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 27, 2004 18:44:29 GMT -5
Hi Jim - thanks for your reply.
Honestly, I have never heard Scott Grimes album - I'd like to, but have never been able to find one. Nor have I ever heard Akiko at all! Guess I've been left out in the cold on that one....perhaps I'll try to get one of the Akiko albums from e-bay. Is this the Japanese artist that Richard worked with after KC's death? I've heard bits and pieces about her, but don't really know much about it.
I can tell you that I think Scott Grimes "wowed" me on RC's "Time" album. I really liked what he did - his song choice - his harmonies, his phrasing, etc. So, I'd like to hear some other work of his. I think he's talented - what's ever happened to him, and how did Richard find him in the first place.
Yeah, talk about blowing the thread of this topic - maybe I should at least say I would have to have heard Karen sing "Cry Me A River" and "God Bless The Child" - and one final song I think Karen would have sounded so great on would be Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are."
Tim
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Post by JIM on Oct 27, 2004 18:55:32 GMT -5
Hey Tim. If you would like me to fill you in on Scotts album which is still available and Akiko go to search and there is a thread titled Scott Grimes. If you liked the track from Time you will love the album. JIM
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 27, 2004 18:59:30 GMT -5
Jim, I will do just that. Thanks.
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 15, 2004 1:30:20 GMT -5
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I think Karen would have sounded great singing Queen's 1979 hit "Need Your Loving Tonight". It is such an upbeat catchy tune and would have fit in well on her solo album. ;D
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 18, 2004 0:02:19 GMT -5
this one may have already been mentioned but I heard Anne Murray's "Just Another Woman in Love"...and this is a very great song and the lyrics are really sexy. Karen might have liked to have done that one for one of her solos ..since I think that was one of the main objectives of striking out on her own ...was she wanted to sing those upbeat maybe not so innocent songs... Beth, I've long had that Somewhere Out There song as one that Karen would have done so very well with! It fits in so well, with the type of songs she was so great at singing.
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Post by Boat2Sail on Nov 18, 2004 0:49:07 GMT -5
In light of all the solo album talk how about Billy Joel's Honesty, Karen could have done that one really well.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 18, 2004 9:20:59 GMT -5
Boat2Sail, I certainly have to agree with you on that one. Man - the gutsy way Karen would have sung "Honesty"....and with the emotion she always sang with - that would have been a wonderful tune for her. What would have been really fun would be if Billy had walked into the studio as Karen was recording her solo album and they'd done a song TOGETHER. Now, that would be excellent. Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 21, 2004 11:18:44 GMT -5
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I was listening to one of my many Stevie Wonder compilations and two songs made me think gee Karen could have done these perfectly.
The first is "For Once In My Life", a nice funky rhythmed version of this song would have fit nicely on Karen's solo.
The other is "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" this would have been a beautiful ballad for Karen to sing as a Carpenters song and would have fit fine on 1973's "Now & Then" album - not in the oldies medley - but a full length recording.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 21, 2004 14:26:40 GMT -5
^^ Good choices, Rick - you're right, too. Karen sounded very good on those samba/bossa type tunes, and "...Sunshine..." would have been a great one. Best~ Tim
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