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Does anyone know what happen to the Carpenters performance of "Those Good Old Dreams" that the Carpenters performed on The Merv Griffin Show in 1981?
The fan club newsletter Spring/Summer 1994 says they
performed this song.
reminds me of the shortest story ever written by Hemmingway. For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.I love love love this song, the lyrics are timeless and love the way Karen sings this...."where's the face in the locket"...where's the method to this madness....where's the color on the stain where the tears have fallen" Wow, I always loved these lyrics, it's like a storybook of heartbreak....perfect for Karen's vocal bringing the listener into her world.
I saw it once a LONG time ago. You tube I think.
I had put together a compilation about 6 weeks ago. Never listened to it until today, and I forgot what was on it. It was a mix from all the albums.
Solitaire was followed by Back in My Life Again then Road Ode. What a shock! BIMLA sounded like a whole different group. Thin high vocals, airy arrangements, muffled sound over all. No comparison with the power and elegance of either of the songs that sandwiched it.
I always liked "Back in My Life Again".
Now, to bring home Karen and Richard's genius on this song,
one only has to listen to Chris Christian's performance.
He is a co-writer of the song, his 'take' is on Youtube, thus, for all to compare/contrast.
You're right...even though it's in need of a remix, their version is still loads better than the writer's. Ironically, the plinky-plonk synths on the Carpenters' version got them compared to the Doobie Brothers by one reviewer, but this is even more Doobie-esque! I can definitely hear Michael McDonald singing this song
Karen couldn't be bothered and, thanks to her vocal and Richard's arrangement, I can't either.
If you love Carpenters' version of this dearly, don't read my post...LOL!
This is far better. Richard's arrangement is a trendy, synth-y, trend-chasing grab at radio play and "doubled" Karen sounds unengaged and just lousy on it. This is the only time in their catalog where both Karen and Richard blow it in their respective departments. The vocal arrangement is, in spite of Richard, somewhat interesting but that's all it has going for it. Carpenters' recording of this is one of their very worst. Christian's recording, while not amazing, at least reveals that there's an actual song there and he sounds involved with it. Karen couldn't be bothered and, thanks to her vocal and Richard's arrangement, I can't either.
Ed
Ed, while I do not 'love the song dearly'--either version,but preference to the duo--
I still enjoyed reading your insight on the tune !
It is another instance, in Carpenters' catalog, where I enjoy listening to
the differences between how Karen and Richard approached a song--as
compared to an original version, or a song's composers' version.
I do wonder why Karen's lead vocal is buried so far down in the mix.
I also noticed that day that Karen was no longer credited as 'Associate Producer'....for the first time since 1973! I don't think it's a coincidence.
No,no and no.I wonder if Karen had lived if the next Christmas album would have been titled "A Karen Carpenter Christmas" it sorta has a nice ring, huh? Surely A&M would have approved of that....how about a disco jingle bell rock??