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Post by cam83 on Sept 29, 2004 20:57:48 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
I am listening to Karen's solo songs tonight. They are AWESOME...Karen, if you can hear this...YOU ARE FANTASTIC!!
I never was a fan of this song, but I am giving it a listen. Here are my thoughts, based on that.
Good beginning. I like her unique phrasing, as if she is singing a bit differently than what we are used to. I love the background harmonies, and it's neat to hear all the layers of her harmonies, all stacked upon one another. She was great and very versatile. A very different type of song, but rewarding to hear her attempt it and do nice things with this song. A groovy type of song.
Cameron
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 29, 2004 21:11:47 GMT -5
Hi Guys, I am listening to Karen's solo songs tonight. They are AWESOME...Karen, if you can hear this...YOU ARE FANTASTIC!! I never was a fan of this song, but I am giving it a listen. Here are my thoughts, based on that. Good beginning. I like her unique phrasing, as if she is singing a bit differently than what we are used to. I love the background harmonies, and it's neat to hear all the layers of her harmonies, all stacked upon one another. She was great and very versatile. A very different type of song, but rewarding to hear her attempt it and do nice things with this song. A groovy type of song. Cameron "Guess I Just Lost My Head" is one of my ultimate favorites from the solo album. It has that cool jazz sound to it, and this song is perfectly suited to Karen's vocal range. I always felt "Guess" would have been a great choice for single release. It has that uptown sort of attitude to it. |
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Post by enigma on Sept 30, 2004 8:00:49 GMT -5
I have to admit this is not a favorite off this album there are others I like better. I do like what Karen is doing with this song going in a different direction. It does have a cool beat and a jazzy feel to it and Karens voice is first class on this one. I like the line "I don't know whats going down you're gonna ruin this poor girl from out of town" really cooool! The background vocals are also really good. I enjoy all of Karens solo work it is so awsome! Karen you are indeed the best I can't get enough of you!!!!   |
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Post by JIM on Sept 30, 2004 11:02:57 GMT -5
I must agree, Guess is such a cool
song! Im not sure what Key it was
recorded in, maybe someone else has
that awnser. lIKE so many of the
cuts from lovelines, Guess has
so many interesting harmonies and
counter melodies with so much
room in the top and bottom for
Karens phenominal harmonies.
My favorite counter is at the end
"Cause you've been makin me crazy,
you've got me feelin alright."
JIM
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Post by Rob813 on Sept 30, 2004 21:27:45 GMT -5
Thanks Cam. Whenever you describe a song, I always go back and give it a fresh listen. Once again, you're right. This song has a great/cool jazz feel to it. Karen was certainly experimenting with new sounds on her solo album. This was a deliberate choice that she and Phil Ramone made. Perhaps that's why the execs and Richard didn't really care for it. It was fresh and new and different. The solo album should have been released a long time ago; perhaps in the mid-80's. Guess is not my favorite song on the solo album, but it is wonderful nontheless. By the way, Karen's harmonies on the solo tracks are amazing. To think she did all of that herself is astounding.
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Mariah Andrews
CERTIFIED GOLD MEMBER
I'm 29/Transsexual M2F/Lesbian from Southern NV. Now a first-time author on the market!
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Post by Mariah Andrews on Oct 3, 2004 0:36:38 GMT -5
Only once did I hear the Karen solo album, when it was first released in 1997. I admit that I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it at the time, but if I gave it a second listen, perhaps I would not stop listening to it. I do remember that some songs were really good and out of the Richard realm.
But imagine how much of a hit it would have been had the album was released in 1980 or so. Do you think it would have made it?
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 3, 2004 1:28:06 GMT -5
Only once did I hear the Karen solo album, when it was first released in 1997. I admit that I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it at the time, but if I gave it a second listen, perhaps I would not stop listening to it. I do remember that some songs were really good and out of the Richard realm. But imagine how much of a hit it would have been had the album was released in 1980 or so. Do you think it would have made it? Certainly by all means I think Karen Carpenter solo would have been a huge hit had it been released in 1980. I think it would have reached the top 5 maybe even #1. It is such a solid album and very much in tune with what was happening in 1980. |
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Post by JIM on Oct 3, 2004 2:05:02 GMT -5
Hey Rick. It really is a shame that
Karens Solo album did not get a
shot at a release back in 80.
The arrangements were so innovative
they would have caught the public
by total suprise. I still find the
studio work so amazing. Phil Ramone
has a web site and I have written
to him a couple of times with no
response. I would just love to
hear about how the harmonies were
put together! They are so complex!
Maybe you would have better luck.
JIM
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Post by enigma on Oct 3, 2004 4:00:37 GMT -5
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Post by JIM on Oct 3, 2004 7:24:12 GMT -5
Enigma is right Mariah the reamaining unreleased material
is just fantastic! I hope these
songs are officially released in
the future. Has anyone ever herd
Chuch Choir Wild or Basket Case?
I always see them mentioned but
It seems like these two songs
have remained a mystery.
JIM
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Post by enigma on Oct 3, 2004 8:53:25 GMT -5
Hi Jim
I posted this question on another forum and was told that these songs either were never recorded or were just backing tracks with no lead vocals ever recorded for them. I do not know how accurate that info is but thats all I could get maybe someone here can shed some light on this.
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Post by Federico Cruz on Oct 3, 2004 9:22:19 GMT -5
I posted this question on another forum and was told that these songs either were never recorded or were just backing tracks with no lead vocals ever recorded for them. I do not know how accurate that info is but thats all I could get maybe someone here can shed some light on this. Yes: Richard should find a singer with similar voice to Karen, like Jenny Sinclair or Akiko Kobayashi, finish them and release them... |
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Post by JIM on Oct 3, 2004 14:16:06 GMT -5
You know Enigma, because so much
time has passed with no word of
any kind about these two songs,
you make a valid point in that
they might not exsist at all!!
As much as as the solo project
was a departure from the norm as
far as material for Karen to sing,
those titles are very bizzare.
I think Karen and Phil wanted to
try new styles but its hard to
imagine Karen choosing a title
like Basket Case to record.
JIM
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Post by JIM on Oct 3, 2004 17:44:04 GMT -5
Well, I may have jumped to the
wrong conclusion on Basket Case
and Church Choir. I was searching
the net and to my suprise they
are in our archives. Also Grant
Gurrero site has them listed but
access to the page containing
the information has been restricted. So the mystery continues.
JIM
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 3, 2004 23:55:00 GMT -5
Yes: Richard should find a singer with similar voice to Karen, like Jenny Sinclair or Akiko Kobayashi, finish them and release them... No way, nobody can ever sit in for Karen and finish any song that was meant for her. Just knowing how much Karen wanted to step out and be adventurous and sing something more on the edge makes me think it's not too far fetched for her to record songs named "Church Chior (Wild)" or "Basket Case". I think by the time 1979-80 rolled around Karen wanted to distance herself from recording classic ballads and do more dance type power pop like "Making Love In The Afternoon" and Love Making Love To You". Karen wanted to be young, fun and exciting. I believe both songs "Church" and "Basket" do exist and I also believe they are basically complete, just like the other 9 unreleased songs, but for some reason these were not leaked. |
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Post by enigma on Oct 4, 2004 7:02:15 GMT -5
I agree Rick it is out of the question to even try to replace a monumental talent like Karen. It would have been like the Beatles replacing John Lennon and continueing up to George Harrisons death. Both artists realised they could not replace these people and wisely chose not to even try.
I also heard this Rick and apparently they were even given a catalogue number by A&M indicating they were completed tracks vocals and all. I would so love to get my hand on these songs if they are anything like the other unreleased tracks they should be great. Wake up universal give us Karen fans a second solo record even in its unfinished state!
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 4, 2004 18:34:29 GMT -5
I agree Rick it is out of the question to even try to replace a monumental talent like Karen. It would have been like the Beatles replacing John Lennon and continueing up to George Harrisons death. Both artists realised they could not replace these people and wisely chose not to even try. Hi enigma, I remember hearing a rumor about 15 years ago that there may be a Beatles reunion with Julian Lennon sitting in for John. I thought this was ridiculous. Because eventhough Julian is John's son and he has a similar voice. He just isn't John, he doesn't have the same soul or conviction that John had. Without John, George, Ringo or Paul the Beatles just do not exist. |
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Post by beaner on Oct 4, 2004 19:17:55 GMT -5
I agree, he just isn't his father. However, if there should ever be a movie and he wanted to star in it as his father he would be a deadringer.
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