Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
In fairness though (and I'm no fan of the TV specials), these type of shows were fairly popular at the time. Weintraub was obviously looking for a way to keep them visible without them having to tour so much, so this was one way of doing so (although of course they didn't stop touring at this time, with the postponed international tour in 1976 and then a number of dates in Vegas thereafter).
What's more, although Richard clearly regrets his involvement in the specials now, if Ray Coleman's book is to be believed, both he and Karen were keen to secure some sort of TV deal at the time.
Yes, the schtick was common at the time. And perhaps having Victor Borge and Charlie Callas was an effort to appeal to older viewers who would tune in to hear their music. I grew up hearing them. I think they were perhaps grasping at straws to kick start their popularity. Donny and Marie were very popular at the time too.In fairness though (and I'm no fan of the TV specials), these type of shows were fairly popular at the time. Weintraub was obviously looking for a way to keep them visible without them having to tour so much, so this was one way of doing so (although of course they didn't stop touring at this time, with the postponed international tour in 1976 and then a number of dates in Vegas thereafter).
What's more, although Richard clearly regrets his involvement in the specials now, if Ray Coleman's book is to be believed, both he and Karen were keen to secure some sort of TV deal at the time.
Each song has Karen singing on each shoulder into each ear. The sound in 1975 was crystal clear and still today I can get that same feeling from a project that was created with extra care. When it came out on CD it was if that great sound was reborn. As I mentioned before, this is always my go to CD. I'm Caught Between Goodbye And I Love You and Love Me For What I Am along with Aurora and Eventide are 4 songs from Karen that settle my soul. Then I listen to it all over from beginning to end.Gave "Passage" a break and listened to "Horizon" today. Once again, completely blown-away by Karen's vocal performance on this album. Temporarily obsessing about Desperado...always thought Linda Ronstadt had the "definitive version" of this song. But the more I hear Karen's reading, I am starting to question my conclusion. The entire work (album) is just a tour de force of KC. Absolutely love it!
Each song has Karen singing on each shoulder into each ear. The sound in 1975 was crystal clear and still today I can get that same feeling from a project that was created with extra care. When it came out on CD it was if that great sound was reborn. As I mentioned before, this is always my go to CD. I'm Caught Between Goodbye And I Love You and Love Me For What I Am along with Aurora and Eventide are 4 songs from Karen that settle my soul. Then I listen to it all over from beginning to end.
A Song For You MFSL has remixed tracks that were first introduced? The edits were described in the liner notes. It is the best version of the album. And, if you prefer the originals the Remastered Classics is my favorite for those. It has the best vocal clarity for I Won't Last A Day Without You, but it's missing Tony Peluso's guitar."Horizon" would have been the CD for MFSL to do rather than "Song for You". It's the best-sounding album in Carpenters' catalog by far.
Ed
One thing which has forever disturbed me:
Postman's video shows a Karen very much healthier than
Only Yesterday's video.
Q:
Do we have the actual dates when these videos were filmed ?
Do we have any idea why Horizon seems to have fallen into the Public Domain in certain areas (resulting in "Radio Years" and "Only Yesterday Deluxe"? that sound like they were mastered from a worn out cassette tape).
Karen's performance on 'Solitaire' is out of this world. Of all the recordings that I've ever heard by any artist, that is one of a handful that has blown me away and continues to astound me. It's probably the performance that's had the biggest impact on me, ever. It seems only right that the writer should recognise the magnificence of Karen's mastery.Speaking of Solitaire, came across an interview that has been around for awhile with lyricist Phil Cody. Philip: When I heard Karen Carpenter, I had chills down my spine. As a lyricist, you want that thing where an artist owns your lyric. You can measure success by the amount of money you make off a song, but I measure the success of that song by that particular moment, when she made it totally her own. And it's still great. I sat down one day and I listened to all 90 versions of "Solitaire" that people have done, and of all the ones that are out there, Karen Carpenter's is still the one that is the benchmark for all the covers on that song.
full interview here:
Philip Cody : Songwriter Interviews
Having said the above, check out Aussie Simon Gallaher's version of 'Solitaire'. I believe he has one of the most beautiful male recorded voices. This is especially apparent on his album, 'Unforgettable'. True, the arrangements and production on his version of 'Solitaire' are uninspiring and his vocals are nowhere near as impressive as Karen's, (he doesn't invest the emotion), but you get a hint of how nice his voice is. His version, I agree, has nowhere near the atmosphere of Carpenters' recording. For full effect or to get an idea of his talents, listen to the 'Unforgettable' album.Karen's performance on 'Solitaire' is out of this world. I think that even if she was singing the words of a menu on that one, her performance would still outdo that of everyone else.
I think this is the one issue I have with it, too. Lyrically, it never quite rolled for me-- even though she enunciates and sings the words beautifully. All other aspects are brilliant. A "benchmark" indeed!Interestingly, the one element of Carpenters' 'Solitaire' that I do not think is brilliant is the lyrics. The vocals, the harmonies, the melody, the instrumentation, the arrangement and the production are all outstanding.
It would certainly have been card game lyric overload if they'd included that stanza, what with Desperado and Happy also containing card game references.Karen's performance on 'Solitaire' is out of this world. Of all the recordings that I've ever heard by any artist, that is one of a handful that has blown me away and continues to astound me. It's probably the performance that's had the biggest impact on me, ever. It seems only right that the writer should recognise the magnificence of Karen's mastery.
Interestingly, the one element of Carpenters' 'Solitaire' that I do not think is brilliant is the lyrics. The vocals, the harmonies, the melody, the instrumentation, the arrangement and the production are all outstanding. The idea of comparing the game of love to a card game..... It's never bothered me in the 42 years sine I fell in love with Carpenters' recording, until just recently, but it's other people's version, about the queen of hearts being well concealed and the character 'dealing them out again' that is jarring. I'm glad that Carpenters left that stanza out. This is one thing that makes their version so much better than others. But I think that even if Karen was singing the words of a menu on that one, her performance would still outdo that of everyone else.
It would certainly have been card game lyric overload if they'd included that stanza, what with Desperado and Happy also containing card game references.