WYBIMLA
Well-Known Member
This is a fun thought exercise since it was mentioned in another thread.
I’ll need some help to compare to other songs from 1980-81 (within the genre of adult contemporary). I didn’t have the time to look much at competing songs from then.
Make your own list that you think encapsulates songs from that period and/or what you would do differently.
To start, let’s take into account what was working for them and acknowledge how they wanted to go at a slower pace. Once the marriage overshadowed the project assume the event would have to take up a track on there because it had meaning to Karen.
I would opt for use of minimal synthesizers, vocals done by them mostly and likely at some point say something to the effect that “production is taking too long and by adding more instruments we’re drowning out the vocals.” Which is counterintuitive considering the brand. Number one would be about keeping the lead front and center, knowing we’re likely going to do an oldie, wedding song, Bacharach tune and likely use a selection from years prior.
So, let’s determine what the songs from 1978-79 are and make sure sweetening, additional instrumentation or mastering is being finished on one of those.
I believe you
Ordinary fool
Look to your dreams
Honolulu City Lights
Where do I go from here
You’re the one
Slow dance
Make believe it’s your first time
I’m basing this on the fact that these were released in the 1980s later (excluding songs like "little girl blue," "from this moment on" made for Television shows). It would be a no brainer to choose “I believe you” since it was already out and updated. However, we would look at songs that Karen selected such as “Make believe it’s your first time” and “Look to your dreams.”
Once we’ve gotten out of the sink hole of past selections let’s look at original song titles:
Those good old dreams
At the end of a song
Because we are in love
I would want more titles here! But, that’s what we’re looking at.
As for adult contemporary covers and oldies we would review publisher submissions and records KC and RC felt suitable:
Strength of a woman
Want you Back in my life again
When you’ve got what it takes
Somebody’s been lyin
Touch me when we’re dancing
When it’s gone (it’s just gone)
Two Lives
Prime Time Love
Uninvited Guest
Kiss me the way you did last night
You’re Baby doesn’t love you anymore
Rainbow Connection
Beechwood 4-5789
There was a lot there to play with! We could mix-match with some other jazz standards:
“Sentimental Journey,” “I love you for sentimental reasons,” “The very thought of you,"
"The moon is a harsh mistress" Or some other Broadway selections or pop songs of the time.
Going into it this album, it already has a shape of its own. They aren’t travelling anywhere like New York, Nashville or New Orleans… so, they're in their comfort-zone and some limits as to what sounds are available and fits after “passage” and “hush.” Plus they have their band, so bulk of these should be able to be played live too.
As we’d move into the visual components of the project I would say we should see about making an animated promotional video--at least for one of them.
My list/new playlist would be as follows:
1) Those good old dreams (it’s a great original can’t not have this one)
2) Touch me when we’re dancing (it’s great, I’d tweak it to be more concentrated on the lead)
3) Your baby doesn’t love you anymore (replacement for Beechwood)
4) Want you Back in my life again (this would have a promo video, the “fun Karen” track, no doubled lead/amplify it)
5) When you’ve got what it takes (for it’s wistfulness and very KC and RC vocal arrangement)
6) Because we are in love (The Wedding song)
7) At the end of a song (kind of has a Honolulu feel, but make those chorus KC and RC vocals)
8) Somebody’s been lyin' (cause you can’t say no Bacharach)
9) When it’s gone (it's good because KC had a hand in percussion)
10) Look to your dreams (I kinda like this to book end it)
I’ll need some help to compare to other songs from 1980-81 (within the genre of adult contemporary). I didn’t have the time to look much at competing songs from then.
Make your own list that you think encapsulates songs from that period and/or what you would do differently.
To start, let’s take into account what was working for them and acknowledge how they wanted to go at a slower pace. Once the marriage overshadowed the project assume the event would have to take up a track on there because it had meaning to Karen.
I would opt for use of minimal synthesizers, vocals done by them mostly and likely at some point say something to the effect that “production is taking too long and by adding more instruments we’re drowning out the vocals.” Which is counterintuitive considering the brand. Number one would be about keeping the lead front and center, knowing we’re likely going to do an oldie, wedding song, Bacharach tune and likely use a selection from years prior.
So, let’s determine what the songs from 1978-79 are and make sure sweetening, additional instrumentation or mastering is being finished on one of those.
I believe you
Ordinary fool
Look to your dreams
Honolulu City Lights
Where do I go from here
You’re the one
Slow dance
Make believe it’s your first time
I’m basing this on the fact that these were released in the 1980s later (excluding songs like "little girl blue," "from this moment on" made for Television shows). It would be a no brainer to choose “I believe you” since it was already out and updated. However, we would look at songs that Karen selected such as “Make believe it’s your first time” and “Look to your dreams.”
Once we’ve gotten out of the sink hole of past selections let’s look at original song titles:
Those good old dreams
At the end of a song
Because we are in love
I would want more titles here! But, that’s what we’re looking at.
As for adult contemporary covers and oldies we would review publisher submissions and records KC and RC felt suitable:
Strength of a woman
Want you Back in my life again
When you’ve got what it takes
Somebody’s been lyin
Touch me when we’re dancing
When it’s gone (it’s just gone)
Two Lives
Prime Time Love
Uninvited Guest
Kiss me the way you did last night
You’re Baby doesn’t love you anymore
Rainbow Connection
Beechwood 4-5789
There was a lot there to play with! We could mix-match with some other jazz standards:
“Sentimental Journey,” “I love you for sentimental reasons,” “The very thought of you,"
"The moon is a harsh mistress" Or some other Broadway selections or pop songs of the time.
Going into it this album, it already has a shape of its own. They aren’t travelling anywhere like New York, Nashville or New Orleans… so, they're in their comfort-zone and some limits as to what sounds are available and fits after “passage” and “hush.” Plus they have their band, so bulk of these should be able to be played live too.
As we’d move into the visual components of the project I would say we should see about making an animated promotional video--at least for one of them.
My list/new playlist would be as follows:
1) Those good old dreams (it’s a great original can’t not have this one)
2) Touch me when we’re dancing (it’s great, I’d tweak it to be more concentrated on the lead)
3) Your baby doesn’t love you anymore (replacement for Beechwood)
4) Want you Back in my life again (this would have a promo video, the “fun Karen” track, no doubled lead/amplify it)
5) When you’ve got what it takes (for it’s wistfulness and very KC and RC vocal arrangement)
6) Because we are in love (The Wedding song)
7) At the end of a song (kind of has a Honolulu feel, but make those chorus KC and RC vocals)
8) Somebody’s been lyin' (cause you can’t say no Bacharach)
9) When it’s gone (it's good because KC had a hand in percussion)
10) Look to your dreams (I kinda like this to book end it)
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