CraigGA
Well-Known Member
The "D&M" single was "On The Shelf", a disco track from 1978.
This is almost a piece of trash and the dog a bone words compare to a children’s song about a dog and bone and a man rolling home.
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The "D&M" single was "On The Shelf", a disco track from 1978.
The primary reason I brought forth a compare/contrast
between Solitaire and This Masquerade,
is due that they are sequenced one after the other on the Interpretations cd,
which has been my play-for-the-day cd.
Then, the more I listened to the two songs, the more I compared them.
They are both ballads, they are both over four-minutes in length, both slower tempo,
one is late 1973, the other early 1975.
As I have said previously, the vocals on both are incredible.
Subjectively, I add, the arrangement for Solitaire impresses me more than This Masquerade.
Now, if only the flute solo were replaced with a 'heavier' instrument in This Masquerade !
I love them both, it's simply that Solitaire moves me more emotionally.
I guess a few more minutes more of vocalizations (skat) would have wore out the listener.It’s interesting that their version of This Masquerade comes in at almost five minutes but George Benson managed to do it in 3:17.
I guess a few more minutes more of vocalizations (skat) would have wore out the listener.
The flute solo provides a perfect break in the track and creates the space to hear those lovely background harmonies.
Much edited. The album version is much longer.It’s interesting that their version of This Masquerade comes in at almost five minutes but George Benson managed to do it in 3:17.
Solitaire...the strings....the guitars....the "high-hat" crashes, the drums, adding to the gravitas....
No flute solo....these are the parts of the arrangement which I love.
Concluding with piano and oboe, followed by the strings and pipe organ,
How is this arrangement not anything but heart-wrenching ?
You like the oboe. To me, it always screamed elevator. I know Richard held that out as being unique and it was...for good reason. To my ears, it cheesed out all it touched and instantly made the tune sound older than it is. That's why no one else was using it on Pop records. I'm listening to it again right now and I totally hear why you like it. Her vocal is just stunning - even though it's clear to me it's not really her thing. She went in for all she was worth. It also builds really well. I just plods for me and doesn't go anywhere interesting from a chordal perspective.
Ed
You like the oboe. To me, it always screamed elevator. I know Richard held that out as being unique and it was...for good reason. To my ears, it cheesed out all it touched and instantly made the tune sound older than it is. That's why no one else was using it on Pop records. I'm listening to it again right now and I totally hear why you like it. Her vocal is just stunning - even though it's clear to me it's not really her thing. She went in for all she was worth. It also builds really well. I just plods for me and doesn't go anywhere interesting from a chordal perspective.
"This Masquerade", for me, is just a far more interesting song. The lyrics are little clunky at times but the melody they convey is fantastic and the chord changes are perfection. The flute solos are as close to jazz fusion as Carpenters ever got. I absolutely love that. We also can't forget Richard's amazing piano solo. I won't even go into that incredible vocal arrangement or Karen's incredible vocal. Between the two tunes, I find this to be the most interesting vocal. Better yet, he avoided the oboe... LOL!!
Ed
October 30th, 1978 Interview:
Richard: "I heard Solitaire on a Neil Sedaka album. It caught my ear and then I forgot about it.
Then Andy Williams had a hit with it in England, and then, of course, I remembered it again.
We did it on the Horizon album. It's not one of Karen's favorites, but she sings the hell out of it."
Karen: It was a good record but never did....For some strange reason he loves it.
I liked it too, but somehow it drags for me. I don't know."