Post by Peter on Jan 6, 2005 12:05:11 GMT -5
Certainly see the attraction of recording a very upbeat , uptempo song ....just why Goofus with cornball lyrics....Karen loved this song & pestered Richard to arrange / produce for Carpenters album from 1972 onwards ....unfortunately Richard agreed .....
Rick -the songs you mention Bananas & Ritz are fine ....Goofus is not of this quality ...another 1920's / 1930's uptempo track would have been better ....but left as an album track ! Goofus may have received some USA fans support ...but think Karen backed Goofus as a single & Richard ignored limited appeal of this song for Radio ....hence lowest chart placing to that point ....
Good points for this 3 least played tracks ....well Karen's vocals are fine on Goofus & Man Smart plus Carpenters sound / style shines out ....just lacked the magic of most Carpenters recordings ....
Man Smart has great energy during a difficult health period for Karen & Richard ....
Casa Rosada .....choral backing is good ....just needer lighter lead vocals .....that lead into Argentina opus
Carpenters were incapable of bad recordings ....just these are disappointing outcomes ....that could & should have been replaced by stronger songs & vault tracks ....
Another track during this period that suffered was Breaking Up from 1976 ....this was again an aimless uptempo track whereas Richard's arrangement on Neil Sedaka's Ballad re-recording was brilliant , moving & beautiful ....just imagine Karen in full Ballad mode ....compared to 1976 released version ....great song ....weaker execution than expected ....
Richard concurred with these tracks ....that during 1976 & 1977 his arrangements were poorer than during first amazing 6 years of Carpenters music ....and he regrets certain choices & final released versions .....!
Peter..Trying To Be Positive .....