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That's awesome that you got to tell her in person! I so wish I could have done that.I'm a Solitaire fan- and I unknowing of the difficulties- told Karen so in 1976 when I met her. She smiled politely, and said she was glad I enjoyed it.
Oh, the irony ... since he was Bette Midler's pianist.Wonder what the chances if it were Manilow instead of Sedaka touring w/ them, instead?
As for "Solitaire", it could have easily been left as something Neil recorded on one of his attempted comebacks, recorded w/ a then-new 10cc, left as filler, insignificant AOR radio balladry, or perhaps just something I think Andy Williams did well enough that no one else could even try to top, as his version was one of the first covers, if it made an almost impressive impact when Johnny Mathis did it (though rendered as an also-ran as would go for someone like Jerry Vale)...
But, depending on my mood, Karen tackles the song well, and a female perspective is as easily welcome, in a mainly-male dominated field, where the only other name attempted I could think of would be the likes of Cleo Laine...
Again, "Solitaire" is what I can take or leave, and I think I had to have had The Ray Conniff Singers' version as my intro to it, before any of my other MOR-phase in my listening completely took over & anything like that one, just to name one song/artist, would be further explored in this genre...
-- Dave
Oh, the irony ... since he was Bette Midler's pianist
let him finish out the run at that venue, and cut him lose afterward. Not that very night. and have the manager do it. (covering for the artist) That's one of the reasons that get paid the big bucks.If you were Sherwin Bash back then, what would you have done to resolve the conflict? The opening act is introducing celebs in the audience and by doing so is infuriating the headliner. What do you do?
I always wondered why Richard didn't include "Solitaire" on the "Yesterday Once More" set in 1985. It's one of their finest recordings-and was a top-20 hit.
I find the New York Daily News headline "Sedaka Steals Show from Carpenters" horrifying. Freedom of the press is one thing, but with that freedom comes an obligation to conform to a set of unwritten rules, expected of those who are in such position of influence. Yet that blunt headline is a professional putdown not even worthy of the local rag.
Such a legendary artist and seasoned performer as Neil Sedaka should never have been billed as the 'opening' act - both acts needed to be given equal status. This would have given Sedaka - most importantly in Richard's mind - permission to do and say whatever he wanted, without any cause for embarrassment. Blame that on inexperienced management.
I've seen many shows over the years where the opening act was better than the headliner.
It doesn't help that some writers never liked the Carpenters anyway! Another fact is that Neil Sedaka is the home town boy, so from that perspective alone it does make the New York Daily News headline perhaps a little more understandable."Rubbing it in" is what the press does.
As much as they screwed up in Vegas, ultimately, Carpenters got the last laugh. Karen's talent alone eclipses anything he ever attempted. Carpenters have outsold him drastically and their songs are played far more than his handful of hits on satellite radio. Then there's Christmastime. Where's Neil's Christmas classic again? Oh, wait....he never recorded one.