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I know many people consider Horizon their collective peak, but I still maintain that her voice was at its richest, purest and best in 1973. The resonance is better than in any other year and this is best heard on tracks like Our Day Will Come and One Fine Day. It’s also very prevalent on the track we’re all discussing, Sing.
Returning to Goofus:
CashBox, September 25, 1976:
Carpenters' Goofus was #91 after one week, then , #87 after three weeks.
Captain & Tennille, Muskrat Love was #60 (after one week), then, #21 after three weeks.
Draw your own conclusion.
I totally here that richness peak theoughout 1973. Did you think those qualities weren't in equal measure by 1975, that her vocal style was already changing?
Was listening to 'Boat to Sail' again this morining and I have to say it's really quite a nice track. It's a bit like a pretty precious stone set in an ugly ring on the A Kind of Hush album - had it have been the sole mellow track on a more dynamic album tracklisting, it may well have stood out better.
That's a very apt - albeit controversial - description of the track . It's my favourite from the whole album, I've always loved it. It's so relaxing to sit and listen to it on a balmy summer's day. Karen's backing vocals in the instrumental section are just sublime, I remember the first time I heard that part, I replayed it over and over again.
This period on the American charts was also very easy listening. Most of the big songs had a definite soft pop sound, even if some of the hits were more repetitive and insistent in their hooks than ‘I Need to Be In Love’ and ‘A Kind of Hush’. Some of the huge smashes of the year were Wings - Silly Love Songs,Could there be a more apt title for the album than
A Kind of Hush ?
That is why I feel the album is exactly where it needs to be: full of mellow songs !
They are all representative of different "...kinds of hushes...."
One More Time is simply incredibly moving. Boat To Sail is awesome in other ways.
You and I Have You are always favorites with me.
I Need To Be In Love is a softer ballad, too.
Sandy and Can't Smile Without You, softer songs, too.
That is 70 % of the album.
The title track, Goofus and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
are the pattern-breakers (not as 'hushed.'), comprising the remainder.
Obviously, the duo were aiming for a rather
hushed
album.
And, they succeeded.
An interesting interview with Richard Carpenter (2006):
(14:52) "we never should have done Goofus...it's a cute, old tune...never should have done Beechwood...."
"I regret doing Sing...."
An interesting interview with Richard Carpenter (2006):
(14:52) "we never should have done Goofus...it's a cute, old tune...never should have done Beechwood...."
"I regret doing Sing...."