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Post by enigma on Sept 30, 2004 7:25:58 GMT -5
My next pick for song of the day continues in the trend of the MMM special and was one of Beths earlier picks. This would be the 1980 medley on the From The Top CD and the MMM special. Karen sings this medley so beautifully and when she starts into the verse for Make It Easy On Yourself in the Medley I just get chills. This is proof that it is not just Karens early vocals that can affect me on a deeper level. This expanded version of the original part of the Bacharach Medley on CTY is a real treat for me and her rendition of Someday almost equals the original. This is a great medley sung so well by Karen and of couse the "live" version is so cool! I also agree with what Beth said about it as well. ;D/me
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 30, 2004 20:52:43 GMT -5
Song of the Day:
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". This isn't necessarily Carpenters' best effort, but I really love the upbeat happy feel about it, even if the lyrics are somewhat downbeat. This song always makes me wonder if a ballad recording of this song exists somewhere in the Carpenters vault.
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Post by Rob813 on Sept 30, 2004 21:37:30 GMT -5
I wonder if Karen and Richard recorded "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" before or after the firing of Neil Sedaka from their concerts. Anyway BUIHTD is a nice uptempo song. I too wonder about a ballad version. Perhaps it was never recorded. They were so busy during those years.
Anyway, my song of the day is....I Can Dream Can't I. I just love this song. It's the only big band type song they ever recorded. I'm glad they did because it further proves their agility with pop, jazz, country, yes even disco (sorry Richard) and big bands. ICDCI is such a dreamy song with poetic lyrics. The intro is very short and Karen begins with all the majesty and power of any female singer from the 40's era. What an incredible talent she possessed. We love you Karen.
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Post by enigma on Oct 1, 2004 6:44:24 GMT -5
Rob Richard and Karen recorded BUIHTD after they had fired Neil Sedaka they fired him during thier 1975 tour and this song appeared in 1976 on AKOH album as you already know. It was also said that this was a peace offering between the two artists. Neil Sedaka was interviewed after he was fired and said that he understood that it was a business decision and did not take it personally or harbor bad feelings towards Richard for firing him so this fued was blown out of proportion anyway. Now my song for the day is the Bacharach Medley on their Carpenters record Karens voice sounds so sweet on this recording I especially love her singing on this one and Richards leads are among his best. In also love the style of keyboard playing Richard does on this song when he plays on the Walk On By part of the Medley it reminds me of the keyboard work from The Zombies records like She's Not There kind of bluesy. A fun listen this song has a happy feel to it and in the 1971 BBC concert as well as the MMM special Karen seemed to light up when she sang this Medley she really seemed to be enjoying singing it which makes me enjoy it all the more.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 1, 2004 18:38:58 GMT -5
"Love Me For What I Am" is my song of the day.
Today I took a short trip to visit a friend of mine and took along "Horizon". I listened to the entire disc from beginning to end. What a wonderful wonderful album. It has such a polished and mature sound to it. Karen was absolutely at her vocal peak on this album. The musicianship is solid, it's outstanding. Every song is strong, not one song on it is a filler cut. "Love Me For What I Am" is such a great way to start winding down to album, it's a highlight on the album. I love the bold lyrics, I feel this is a very personal song for both K&R, same with "Goodbye and I Love You" and "Only Yesterday". In my mind "Horizon" is the Carpenters' most personal album. I especially love Tony Peluso's guitar solo in "Love Me...". What an awesome song.
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Post by enigma on Oct 2, 2004 1:05:41 GMT -5
I totally agree with this one Rick just today I played Horizon again after putting it on the shelf to listen to some of my later Carpenters albums and it really stands head and shoulders above all the other releases vocally, technically, musicianship wise just in every way. It does seem more personal than the others as well. I do not consider Love Me a highlight of Horizon simply because there are a few other songs that I like better however it is a great song and I do love it! I especially like the line "And if you’re only using me to feed your fantasy, you’re really not in love, so let me go. I must free." wow what a great line. Tony Peluso's guitar solo reminds me of the Goodbye To Love solo another great solo from Tony! What can I say Horizon is great beyond words I see no flaws in this record. Now for my song of the day it is Where Do I Go From Here this song is not all that different from LMFWIA off Horizon yet another great Tony Peluso solo on this one as well. Karens soft beautiful vocal on this song does it for me I love it! Most of my songs of the day are songs I just can't get out of my head, songs I can't get enough of for that day, songs that I just got to listen to. I had not played Lovelines in a while but this amazing song just got in my head and stayed thats a good thing because I love this song! ;D
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Post by Rob813 on Oct 2, 2004 11:54:11 GMT -5
Great choices recently everybody. My song of the day is actually two songs the bookends to Horizon, Aurora and Eventide. Just like the two from Ticket To Ride, Invocation and Benediction, these two from Horizon provide the opening and closing themes of the album. They let us know just how personal the album is meant to be. And, they are very personal indeed. And all my sadness gone charade/ Begins to fade/ How long it stayed.....Weary to be home again Among the faces Of my Friends/ The day is done/ Candles burning by the sea Are waiting me Patiently/ I wish the same For you. These two songs were written by Richard and John Bettis and reflect their growing maturity as men and artists. The use of these two gems to open and close Horizon was a brilliant idea. I'm grateful to K and R for blessing us with them!
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Post by beaner on Oct 2, 2004 20:00:36 GMT -5
Today, while out on a day shopping, I popped in one of my self-burned cd's of Carpenter tunes I was listening to "Karen's Theme" once a again. Although I have heard this arrangement many times, this time it actually brought tears to my eyes. It is a beautifully arranged piece and is truly a wonderful dedication from Richard to his sister.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 2, 2004 20:59:36 GMT -5
Today my song of the day is "From This Moment On" from the "Interpretations" album. I love this song. I first heard it on the "Live At The palladium" album from 1976, and it was great, but the studio recording for the "Music, Music, Music" television special is just awesome. It's simplistic yet very effetive at gaining your attention and keeping you interested. I really like Karen's phrasing.
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Post by enigma on Oct 2, 2004 23:01:24 GMT -5
Well for my song of the day an assist can be given to Rob because his album topic has got me back hooked on early Karen again so expect a string of early Carpenter songs to be on the way (I love early Karen so really I do not mind). My song of the day is All I Can Do This fast paced jazz influenced number has been screaming to be played over and over like I said in the other topic I love Karens drumming on this one and the keyboard acrobatics by Richard. ;D
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Post by Rob813 on Oct 3, 2004 21:26:02 GMT -5
Alright Enigma - I too love going back to the early songs. So, I choose "Eve" as my song of the day. This song was inspired by an episode of a 60's television suspense series. An early collaboration by Richard and John Bettis, this song is dramatic, dark rich and soulful. Karen's vocal is astounding when you consider she was only 19 years old at the time. In addition to her superior singing, she also plays her beloved drums AND the bass guitar. This is a song that I can always command to "come back" into my head even after not having listened to it for a long time.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 4, 2004 0:05:07 GMT -5
"I'll Never Fall In Love Again" is my SOTD. I just love the multi-layered vocal effect and Karen's somewhat gutsy vocal.
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Post by enigma on Oct 4, 2004 7:18:19 GMT -5
Great choice Rob this song really is awsome I love Karens vocals on that one. Rick I also love INFILA its only a matter of time before that becomes my SOTD As for now the nod goes to Yesterday Once More I am a little younger than Rick and others so did not really know of the 4 great efforts that preceded Now and Then until after I heard N&T so YOM was my first real exposure to the Carpenters and I must say first love never runs dry. There was a post on another forum discussing a comparison between the YOM version with the guitar and without I even got my beat up vinal record and listened to YOM (Surprisingly it still sounded good on vinal) and compared. After a few listens it was like I was back in 1974 falling in love with this song all over again so this is a longer story of how YOM became my SOTD. ;D
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 4, 2004 18:37:32 GMT -5
"Sometimes" from the tan album. I love this song. It's simplistic yet ever so powerful. Karen really puts all her love into the one. I especially love this song for it's meaningful lyrics.
Enigma - "Yesterday Once More" is such a classic tune, everytime I hear this one it brings back so many wonderful memories. I remember in 1973 my sister and I singing along to the song in the car when we were on the way home from a family vacation.
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Post by enigma on Oct 5, 2004 7:07:18 GMT -5
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Post by Rob813 on Oct 5, 2004 18:10:39 GMT -5
OK Enigma I'm right with you on this one My SOTD is Superstar. Karen is exquisite in every way on this song. Even Luther Vangross, who's himself an extraordinary song man, tips his hat to Carpenters on this song. That's a big compliment coming from him. I really like his version of this song. It's a bit too long coming in at over 7 minutes, but no body makes love to a song like he does.
Anyway, Karen's soulful performance on Superstar is my pick for today. I could listen to this song every day and not tire of it.
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Post by BethMosior on Oct 5, 2004 20:17:05 GMT -5
The song for today is ' I Just Fall In Love Again' this song is such a beautiful song Richard really does GREAT on this song very dream like, awesome BRAVO and the way Karen sings it WOW its just so beautiful that this song brings tears to my eyes then when Tony comes in with the fuzz guitar, just brilliant and whats really WOW is near the end of Tonys guitar solo you can hear Karens voice in the back round holding one note and singing the word " ah " way, big time chill factor, where is my sweater
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 5, 2004 21:22:08 GMT -5
Hi all, my SOTD is "Only Yesterday". I love this wonderful wall of sound. It's one of the Carpenters' very best song and my favorite of their entire catalog. I especially love Karen's deep rich vocal in the first few lines she sings. She is totally amazing. Richard's arrangement is absolutely fabulous and John Bettis' lyrics are great.
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