Kyle Thomas
Well-Known Member
One of the striking elements often mentioned regarding Karen Carpenter's voice is the clarity and intimacy -- her "presence." It's something that is showcased in a number of their top hits and album cuts. The 'closeness' of her vocal performance, with reverb stripped away and her voice front and center, is what made the RPO project stand out to me.
For a long time now, I've had a playlist on my phone full of Carpenters songs that I call "Karen in the Lounge." It's my imagination of what a concept album would look like if Karen's vocals were taken from a number of well-suited songs and reimagined as if she were in a lounge, with a microphone, singing with just a jazz band backing her up.
No background vocals. No strings. Just a jazz band. Her voice front and center, with a band behind her, and everything else stripped away.
I know it's unlikely we'd ever see a release like that, but here's the playlist of songs that I think would fit that atmosphere well.
1. A Song for You
2. This Masquerade
3. Make Believe It's Your First Time (solo version)
4. From This Moment On
5. Ordinary Fool
6. Our Day Will Come
7. Yesterday Once More (TV version of Karen, with Richard on the piano) / segue into the "Make Your Own Kind of Music" medley of songs with Karen and piano only
8. I Can Dream, Can't I?
9. Something's Missing
10. One More Time
11. Last One Singin' the Blues
12. Sometimes
For a long time now, I've had a playlist on my phone full of Carpenters songs that I call "Karen in the Lounge." It's my imagination of what a concept album would look like if Karen's vocals were taken from a number of well-suited songs and reimagined as if she were in a lounge, with a microphone, singing with just a jazz band backing her up.
No background vocals. No strings. Just a jazz band. Her voice front and center, with a band behind her, and everything else stripped away.
I know it's unlikely we'd ever see a release like that, but here's the playlist of songs that I think would fit that atmosphere well.
1. A Song for You
2. This Masquerade
3. Make Believe It's Your First Time (solo version)
4. From This Moment On
5. Ordinary Fool
6. Our Day Will Come
7. Yesterday Once More (TV version of Karen, with Richard on the piano) / segue into the "Make Your Own Kind of Music" medley of songs with Karen and piano only
8. I Can Dream, Can't I?
9. Something's Missing
10. One More Time
11. Last One Singin' the Blues
12. Sometimes