Carpenters, Touch Me When We're Dancing, 1981 Live, Dutch TV

[WYBIMLA]

I'm glad we have this.

 

[jaysee]

I just watched the first video, and it was really nice, plus I like how Karen did that 80's style out, but all throughout I found Karen seemed to be having fun with the song.

Of course one thing that was nice with the video was that it appeared to be recorded at the SP speed on VHS, and with it being from the Netherlands, I would assume the original recording was made on either a PAL or SECAM VCR. One thing with PAL/SECAM VCR was that they only had two speeds prior to 1998, so most recordings were recorded in the higher quality SP mode as that was the more common speed and the one that was guaranteed to playback on all VCR's, unlike here in North America were we had 3 speeds, and most people chose the worst speed for recording, SLP/EP. Of course, with that being said, it would've been nice if the person who transferred the video of the Carpenters performance, had cleaned the VCR first, as I noticed all the white specks throughout, so that probably means the VCR heads haven't been cleaned in years.

'White Specks' Gone...


Happy Birthday, Karen!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z7mbg256f8hx13k/TMWWD 720p 29.97 Framed.mp4?dl=0

('TMWWD 720p 29.97 Framed.mp4', ~23MB)

 

[A&M Retro]

'White Specks' Gone...


Happy Birthday, Karen!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z7mbg256f8hx13k/TMWWD 720p 29.97 Framed.mp4?dl=0

('TMWWD 720p 29.97 Framed.mp4', ~23MB)

Great job! Thank you.

 

[Mark-T]

Beautiful! Thanks!

 

[CraigGA]

It's still hard to listen to the damage done. It is like she has the flu and doing her best to sing.

 

[craptastic80s]

I just watched the first video, and it was really nice, plus I like how Karen did that 80's style out, but all throughout I found Karen seemed to be having fun with the song.

Of course one thing that was nice with the video was that it appeared to be recorded at the SP speed on VHS, and with it being from the Netherlands, I would assume the original recording was made on either a PAL or SECAM VCR. One thing with PAL/SECAM VCR was that they only had two speeds prior to 1998, so most recordings were recorded in the higher quality SP mode as that was the more common speed and the one that was guaranteed to playback on all VCR's, unlike here in North America were we had 3 speeds, and most people chose the worst speed for recording, SLP/EP. Of course, with that being said, it would've been nice if the person who transferred the video of the Carpenters performance, had cleaned the VCR first, as I noticed all the white specks throughout, so that probably means the VCR heads haven't been cleaned in years.

Actually. The recorder was (is) a video 2000 recorder. Those recorders (as well as tapes) did not stand the test of time. So working with a recorder that is over 35 years old and a tape that is also over 35 years and was left in a storage unit for years and years before i bought it second hand, I think I did quite well with the recording!! lol!!! The video head was as clean as it could be but hey.....Glad many people do seem to like it. Sometimes, beggers cant be choosers (especially as Mies holds all the rights to the recordings and she is NOT willing to share!!)

 

[newvillefan]

Actually. The recorder was (is) a video 2000 recorder. Those recorders (as well as tapes) did not stand the test of time. So working with a recorder that is over 35 years old and a tape that is also over 35 years and was left in a storage unit for years and years before i bought it second hand, I think I did quite well with the recording!! lol!!! The video head was as clean as it could be but hey.....Glad many people do seem to like it. Sometimes, beggers cant be choosers (especially as Mies holds all the rights to the recordings and she is NOT willing to share!!)

Welcome to the forum and great to see your post! Finding your video online was one of the highlights of my 25 year obsession with Carpenters!

 

[tomswift2002]

Actually. The recorder was (is) a video 2000 recorder. Those recorders (as well as tapes) did not stand the test of time. So working with a recorder that is over 35 years old and a tape that is also over 35 years and was left in a storage unit for years and years before i bought it second hand, I think I did quite well with the recording!! lol!!! The video head was as clean as it could be but hey.....Glad many people do seem to like it. Sometimes, beggers cant be choosers (especially as Mies holds all the rights to the recordings and she is NOT willing to share!!)

I've heard of the Video2000, but I've never seen video from the machine. Of course there never was a NTSC version of the Video2000 released, so over here in North America, unless someone imported either a PAL or SECAM model and connected it via a converter, there was no demand for the machine. But I know that video99.co.uk handles the Video2000 format, and he actually has a number of different machines, since apparently some machines use a format called Dynamic Track Following, and apparently on some DTF machines, some tapes won't play correctly, but he has other machines without DTF, and he tries the tapes on different machines to get the best result. Plus all his Video2000 machines have had their video heads not just cleaned, but replaced.

Also, who or what is "Mies"?

 

[newvillefan]

Also, who or what is "Mies"?

Mies Bouwman was a Dutch TV presenter, she did interviews with lots of famous bands and singers who also sometimes performed on the show, including one interview with Agnetha and Frida of ABBA in late 1981 about their latest album The Visitors. During the interview, Mies asked Agnetha what their plans were for 1982 and she almost let the cat out of the bag that they were both planning on releasing solo albums in the New Year, effectively heralding the end of ABBA.

 

[tomswift2002]

So was the show made by a production company that she owned, and was able to control the copyright, or did she produce the show for a network?

 

[newvillefan]

So was the show made by a production company that she owned, and was able to control the copyright, or did she produce the show for a network?

As far as I was aware she was purely a TV presenter and not a producer or copyright holder of material from her shows but there's not a lot of information available about her online (well not in English anyway!). Wikipedia lists her only as a TV presenter. Our new member @craptastic80s might be able to shed more light though

 

[craptastic80s]

As far as I was aware she was purely a TV presenter and not a producer or copyright holder of material from her shows but there's not a lot of information available about her online (well not in English anyway!). Wikipedia lists her only as a TV presenter. Our new member @craptastic80s might be able to shed more light though

Actually. She IS the sole copyrightholder of all her own tv shows. She was really BIG on Dutch tv for many many years and was able to negotiate really good deals for herself.She had the biggest stars on her shows. She also is the only one who still has all (or at least most of) her programs on (master)tape. But she asks a LOT(!!!) of money if anyone wants to use anything from her programs for things like dvd's.

 

[craptastic80s]

I've heard of the Video2000, but I've never seen video from the machine. Of course there never was a NTSC version of the Video2000 released, so over here in North America, unless someone imported either a PAL or SECAM model and connected it via a converter, there was no demand for the machine. But I know that video99.co.uk handles the Video2000 format, and he actually has a number of different machines, since apparently some machines use a format called Dynamic Track Following, and apparently on some DTF machines, some tapes won't play correctly, but he has other machines without DTF, and he tries the tapes on different machines to get the best result. Plus all his Video2000 machines have had their video heads not just cleaned, but replaced.

Also, who or what is "Mies"?

Wow , I wonder where he got those new heads from as they stopped making video2000 recorders in around 1988. I'm not a specialist and not a professional. I just like trying to find old tv on old video's as a hobby. And since I know how it is to long to see old unknown videos from the artist you love I post them on youtube. Oh , and also because i always wanted to own a tv station as a child and this way I sort of do lol!!! I do actually have Dynamic Track Following though. Without it the picture would have been even worse!

 

[GaryAlan]

But...so does Richard Carpenter (ask for a lot of money--of course that depends on your definition of "a lot")
.....Top Of The World...Shrek Movie....half-million dollars to use, there.

Thanks for the additional information, craptastic80s !

 

[craptastic80s]

But...so does Richard Carpenter (ask for a lot of money--of course that depends on your definition of "a lot")
.....Top Of The World...Shrek Movie....half-million dollars to use, there.

Thanks for the additional information, craptastic80s !

Well, lets just say that she is holding on a performance of ABBA doing 4 songs on her show. The record company wanted it for a DVD but decided not to when hearing how much she wanted. ABBA fans have been begging for it but until this year nothing. Then I found someone else who shared my enthousiasm of collectiong old tv material and he actually has it in his collection. He has since shared a bit of it after i asked (read: begged! lol) him to

 

[newvillefan]

Well, lets just say that she is holding on a performance of ABBA doing 4 songs on her show. The record company wanted it for a DVD but decided not to when hearing how much she wanted. ABBA fans have been begging for it but until this year nothing. Then I found someone else who shared my enthousiasm of collectiong old tv material and he actually has it in his collection. He has since shared a bit of it after i asked (read: begged! lol) him to

Was it this show?

ABBA on TV - "Een van de acht" »

"This family entertainment programme was hosted by Mies Bouwman (the same person that interviewed Agnetha and Frida in 1981 and who interviewed Frida in 1982). The show broke viewing figures in the Netherlands and was broadcast once a month on Saturday nights around 8pm or 8.30pm from 1970. The format of the show was four family pairs of different generations competing in various games with eventually one couple in the finale and the winner sitting behind a conveyer belt where objects passed in front for one minute. The winner would then have to remember as many of those objects as possible.

Mies Bouwman apparently owns all the rights to these broadcasts. So if someone wants to show a part of her shows, they have to directly address (and pay) her. She apparently asks for a huge amount of money for any footage which is why it's never been shown since - TV companies will obviously then source cheaper footage. Note: I was told several years ago that Mies has a copy of all shows herself. This is because the programme was LIVE and she wanted to review her performances afterwards. She apparently regularly gets bugged by not only ABBA fans but fans of The Osmonds, Bay City Rollers etc. So it's probably a case of if you have to supply it for one, you'd have to do it for all so it's easier/better to say no to all-comers. So the footage *probably* exists over at Mies' house but it's her personal property.

December 2006: I wrote to Mies Bouwman about this programme and got this reply. "It is true that I own the rights of the programme "Een van de 8". Regretfully for you it was live television so nothing is left. Sorry but I can't help you."

 

[craptastic80s]

Was it this show?

ABBA on TV - "Een van de acht" »

"This family entertainment programme was hosted by Mies Bouwman (the same person that interviewed Agnetha and Frida in 1981 and who interviewed Frida in 1982). The show broke viewing figures in the Netherlands and was broadcast once a month on Saturday nights around 8pm or 8.30pm from 1970. The format of the show was four family pairs of different generations competing in various games with eventually one couple in the finale and the winner sitting behind a conveyer belt where objects passed in front for one minute. The winner would then have to remember as many of those objects as possible.

Mies Bouwman apparently owns all the rights to these broadcasts. So if someone wants to show a part of her shows, they have to directly address (and pay) her. She apparently asks for a huge amount of money for any footage which is why it's never been shown since - TV companies will obviously then source cheaper footage. Note: I was told several years ago that Mies has a copy of all shows herself. This is because the programme was LIVE and she wanted to review her performances afterwards. She apparently regularly gets bugged by not only ABBA fans but fans of The Osmonds, Bay City Rollers etc. So it's probably a case of if you have to supply it for one, you'd have to do it for all so it's easier/better to say no to all-comers. So the footage *probably* exists over at Mies' house but it's her personal property.

December 2006: I wrote to Mies Bouwman about this programme and got this reply. "It is true that I own the rights of the programme "Een van de 8". Regretfully for you it was live television so nothing is left. Sorry but I can't help you."

It is that show yes. BUT sources close to Mies know she DOES still have the show on tape and only wants to negotiate with record companies. And I seem to remember ABBA's company negotiated with her but thought she was mad asking for the prices she's asking. That is the reason you can't see and won't see any performances made on Mies's shows on dvd's. I'm just happy I was able to beg this uploader into uploading some of it

 

[tomswift2002]

Wow , I wonder where he got those new heads from as they stopped making video2000 recorders in around 1988. I'm not a specialist and not a professional. I just like trying to find old tv on old video's as a hobby. And since I know how it is to long to see old unknown videos from the artist you love I post them on youtube. Oh , and also because i always wanted to own a tv station as a child and this way I sort of do lol!!! I do actually have Dynamic Track Following though. Without it the picture would have been even worse!

I don't really know for certain, but from what I get from his site, he had someone manufacture the heads, which sounds plausible since I've heard of other older VTR's that are held by NASA and the various networks for dubbing old material from the old formats, like 2-inch Quad, to newer formats, such as Mini-DV and Digital Betacam, having to have had certain parts made from scratch because the older parts wore out and replacement parts either do not exist or are extremely expensive to acquire due to scarcity.

As for the Dynamic Tracking, I guess that it's like modern automatic tracking on a VHS VCR, where sometimes the auto tracking will work, but other times you need to switch it off and just manually tune the tracking (like if you are playing an EP/SLP tape). But I guess with the Video2000 machines the Dynamic Tracking is permanently on on some machines, while other machines had no Dynamic Tracking.

 

[John Tkacik]

Last night, I came across an interesting discussion of this video on Facebook. It compared Karen in her 1974 Holland performance to this one. It can be found on MagicLamp83.Blogspot.com. I think that the author makes some very good points about how one's perception of self can be distorted.