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Not to be a party pooper, but can we at least give a little credit to Richard for tweaking "If I Had You" into the mix that became a middling hit on the Adult Contemporary charts? Most here have agreed that Richard's adjustments to the song made it more favorable than the Phil Ramone mix.
"Lovelines...a potpourri...Richard prepared four songs from the aborted album...these inferior tracks proved the wisdom
of the earlier decision to stop the album.The songs served only to underscore her real magic and the value of Richard's
stewardship."
You could fertilize a lot of crops with that much BS! ... "Carpenters: The Untold Story" by Ray Coleman... as dictated by Richard Carpenter. Published by the Ministry of Propaganda.The Authorized Biography:
Coleman, Page 329:
"Lovelines...a potpourri...Richard prepared four songs from the aborted album...these inferior tracks proved the wisdom
of the earlier decision to stop the album.The songs served only to underscore her real magic and the value of Richard's
stewardship."
I too am glad we got Randy's book. It reveals a good deal more about particular aspects of Karen's personality, and also about particular events in her life that were missing from the Coleman bio (the Neil Sedaka firing and her brief marriage to Tom Burris being among the most striking). But I wouldn't say it's more objective. Randy's book certainly relies quite heavily on a different point of view, that of Karen's closest friends. I've always believed that when there are two widely divergent views presented of the same person or event, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. My feeling is that if we combine the two biographies, we get a fairly complete picture. Yet I still think we don't know all there is to know. And, as people who were there at the time pass away, I think our chances of getting that complete picture grow less and less likely.When I read that in the Coleman book, I knew straight away it was heavily influenced by Richard's editorial control of the manuscript. That's why, in so many ways, I'm glad we got Randy's book all those years later. It offered a more objective view.
Richard did alot more than "tweaking"-he refurbished the entire track,and used a superior alternate vocal take.Not to be a party pooper, but can we at least give a little credit to Richard for tweaking "If I Had You" into the mix that became a middling hit on the Adult Contemporary charts? Most here have agreed that Richard's adjustments to the song made it more favorable than the Phil Ramone mix.
Harry
It only sounded as "fresh" as it did because of Richard's major renovations on the track-which removed much of the "dated" production quality on the original.How ironic is it that the powers that be said it contained no hits, yet a) it was pulled as a single in the US and charted on Billboard, b) featured on a national TV ad campaign and c) was the only track from the album to be played when Richard was interviewed on radio in 1989 to promote the album. The link escapes me to the interview but the presenter commented how fresh the track was and sounded as if it had been recorded that year, not a decade earlier. As GaryAlan said, not a hit on the album? B.S.
Mr. J.,
Thanks for the authoritative information,
that the song Richard Carpenter utilized was a " he used a superior alternate vocal take.."
Please provide a reference to document that remark, I have never before read such.
Richard Carpenter re-mixed "I Have You", that is well-documented--
that this is an alternate vocal take--I have never come across supporting evidence.
Not Anywhere.
But, again, I'm not saying "You are wrong", I am requesting supporting documentation.
Why? Because it is very interesting from an historical, musical , outlook.
That is the sort of remark which cries out for supportive evidence.
You don't need documentation-just listen to the original version on the solo album,then listen to the 1989 version on Lovelines.The 1989 version features a totally different vocal take.Mr. J.,
Thanks for the authoritative information,
that the song Richard Carpenter utilized was a " he used a superior alternate vocal take.."
Please provide a reference to document that remark, I have never before read such.
Richard Carpenter re-mixed "I Have You", that is well-documented--
that this is an alternate vocal take--I have never come across supporting evidence.
Not Anywhere.
But, again, I'm not saying "You are wrong", I am requesting supporting documentation.
Why? Because it is very interesting from an historical, musical , outlook.
That is the sort of remark which cries out for supportive evidence.
A long time ago, as a history major in university, I spent countless hours in libraries and archives, pouring over microfilm and musty documents, to make sure that any thesis I presented was as firmly backed up as possible by the facts. That is why I especially appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail Gary. You sir, have the mind of a historian!Yes, One source proves nothing.
This is why I request other sources to authenticate as much as possible.
I do not ordinarily make a 'blanket statement' without something as back-up,
My opinion on the matter is not the issue, I am interested in your source for
that 'alternate vocal take'.