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I'd venture to say that "Only Yesterday" is a return to the C's early peak, putting all of their strengths into one glorious four-minute package.
Me too!It's an interesting coincidence that my two favorite drum tracks in the entire Carpenters catalog ended up on the same single.
My favorite drum track ever is Jim Gordon on "Only Yesterday".If ever I get the opportunity I would like to know how the drums/drumbeat
for Only Yesterday were conceived. Did Jim Gordon originate that ? Richard Carpenter ?
Anyone know ? It, and Goodbye To Love remain my top two Carpenter/Bettis compositions.
Exactly!I used to think of the drumming as a heartbeat.
Even more amazing when you consider how few songs materialized on the album.I look at the two songs on this single and I’m simply amazed. What a 45!!!! The only time in the duo’s history where we got TWO new songs on one single prior to the album’s release. Both superb songs, vocals and arrangements.
Is Has always fascinated me to the way they looked during this era. It seems around 1974 they started to look a little more like human beings. I know the designs of the early 1970s were certainly a sign of the times, but it seems like from the mid to late 70s they finally got their looks right. Unfortunately in 1981 Karen’s poodle hairdo never really did much for me.I like Karen’s hairstyle in this period too, it really suits her. Carpenters manage to look cool at this point.
Worth noting that Happy was one of two b-sides (the other being the single version of Can’t Smile Without You) to make it onto Singles 1974-1978 (both chosen presumably as they loosely met the interpretation of “singles”).
Only Yesterday has to win out. It’s Carpenters’ ultimate pop single. Karen explores her lower register in the verses and then there’s that uplifting chorus, with more hooks than you could shake a stick at.
The video also has everything, with Karen and Richard in the recording studio and then at the sunny Huntington Library Gardens. Reassuringly, it doesn’t seem to have changed that much if the Wikipedia photos are anything to go by, the Japanese bridge still being intact.
Even the single cover had longevity, inspiring the artwork of the later Yesterday Once More compilations.
I like Karen’s hairstyle in this period too, it really suits her. Carpenters manage to look cool at this point.
It did very little for Agnetha from ABBA either, it seemed to age her by about 10 years (also 1980-81). It must have looked good on some, but not Karen or Agnetha.Unfortunately in 1981 Karen’s poodle hairdo never really did much for me.
It did very little for Agnetha from ABBA either, it seemed to age her by about 10 years (also 1980-81). It must have looked good on some, but not Karen or Agnetha.
Agreed. The "Horizon" album cover is their very best.
Ed
I had put that part about Be My Baby in my new and upcoming review of Horizon revisited! Great minds!So, how is it I have managed to go all these many years not realizing that the
opening drum beat for Only Yesterday strongly resembles the opening drums for
Be My Baby by The Ronettes ?
Oh well, that is where the similarity in drums between the two songs ends.