And the worst part is that the kids were having a hard time keeping in tune ... so much so, that Karen had to overdub her voice along with the choir in order to bring it together!
Image aside, I personally think it's a brilliant arrangement.
⭐ Official Review [Single]: 11. "SING"/"DRUSCILLA PENNY" (1413-S)
- Thread starter Chris May
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Image aside, I personally think it's a brilliant arrangement.
David A
Well-Known Member
@Mark-T - thanks for the link - after reviewing your well-written piece I remembered that I had read it before. Indeed, it may have been that article that in part made me feel like releasing SING might have been a career mistake.
However, my view has changed. Quoting you here from your article:
" It only reinforced what harsher critics thought about the duo. Totally white bread America, playing to an older, gentler, conservative audience."
This, in my view, eloquently makes my point about the "already-decided" and "Pablum" comment I made previously. No doubt SING added cement to perceptions held about Carpenters by those already predisposed to that view. Your article goes on to express how you personally were affected by the song release, and your view that it made it "more difficult" to be open in social circles (not a direct quote but I interpreted your words as meaning this) about being a Carpenters fan. I have little doubt there were others who felt the same.
BUT - how many NEW fans did the release of SING bring to Carpenters? Who knows - but I'm willing to guess that a smash hit - ANY smash hit - brings many new listeners to the table.
Whether that fact ultimately offsets the argument that the song damaged their credibility with some, is doubtless impossible to really answer. In my opinion, the upside of the release outweighed the downside.
Thanks for the interesting exchange of thoughts.
Vinylalbumcovers
Ah am so steel een luv weeth yoo
Bad choice of song made potentially worse by the inclusion of the kids and an incredibly uncool move from a group that specialized in uncool moves. This is another one Karen made work all by herself. Her vocal is just transcendent here. The way she sings "make it simple to last your whole life long." is just masterful. The only other momentarily interesting thing is the way the Carpenters' harmonies and the kids cross each other at the "to last your whole life long" part. Nice bit of arranging trickery from Richard.
Still, not the right move from a group that was mercilessly branded square and uncool. "Sing" solidified it and while Carpenters hit hard and fast, by the end of "Horizon," it was all basically over in terms of meaningful chart success.
Ed
For those unaware, "Sing" was put together by Richard for a rather uncool television special called ROBERT YOUNG WITH THE YOUNG. Robert Young had found a bit of fame for playing MARCUS WELBY, M.D. on ABC-TV, so I suppose as part of his deal with the network he was given an hour special. The show featured the Carpenters, Arte Johnson, Sandy Duncan, and a bunch of kids. I don't know what the ratings were, but I suspect they weren't all that good.
Parts of the special are in this video. ("Sing" and "Saturday" were edited out for copyright reasons.)
Parts of the special are in this video. ("Sing" and "Saturday" were edited out for copyright reasons.)
Another Son
Well-Known Member
rockdoctor
Well-Known Member
I liked "Sing" when I first heard it and I did not care for the flipside when I heard it on the album. Sing should have been on a children's album and maybe held off as s single release. If it had been released from a children's album, maybe the critics would not have been so harsh about their image.
JohnFB
She was born to belong to the lines of a song...
Well, it could have been on a kid's album too - but it belonged on an "adult's album" first and foremost because (1) it's a delightful piece of music, well arranged and performed and (2) I think the vast majority of adults buying the album liked it and were happy it was there...
Beyond that (and as I've stated before) why the hell was everyone so damn intimidated by what a small gaggle of drugged out, cynical, arrogant, no- nothing critics ever had to say? If millions like your stuff and a few jerks don't why dies anyone care? It was always "time to make your own kind of music" and the critics be damned, while they're pounding sand. Where was the courage and the artistic integrity?
Ha! It seems good old Lawrence Welk had something to teach us about taking hits and yet carrying on...look at how long he was so popular with so many in the face of constant berating and mockery. Hey, I watched him faithfully for years!
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David A
Well-Known Member
In my view, had SING never been released, it would have had zero impact on the future of their career arc. There were much bigger issues, including a fundamental change in the music scene writ large, as well as personal issues we all know about, that made their descent almost inevitable.
At least they made the bucks from a smash hit
Matthew S
Well-Known Member
This could have played out well for them though, if their management had scored a guest spot for them (or at least Karen) on Sesame Street. I think she would have loved it, and would have been great in it! Lots of actors and musicians have done Sesame Street and that would have been a smart move for them, in my opinion.
David A
Well-Known Member
Hah! I'll always like posts that berate "critics". My own feelings about them are clear in many threads here.
I'd add the visual that I'd rather watch critics pound snot (from a distance).
The history books are full of songs, albums and artists that millions of people like, but the critics dump all over. Rolling Stone famously hated the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Santana, and Led Zeppelin until they all became iconic and the magazine had to get on board. So the Carpenters are in good company.
Nemily
"I'm goin' way down south to Baton Rouge, tonight"
Like many, I find “Sing” to be a pleasantly contagious tune with a charming arrangement and a strong vocal performance, which we all seem to agree on. As has been said, It also doesn’t occur to me really that any one single song had adversely affected Karen and Richard’s career or image any more than any other one song (well maybe one for me, but not this particular one )
The “Sing” story I remember is that they walked out of the TV studio that the Robert Young Special was taped in, they looked at each other when they got to the parking lot with a smile and couldn’t run fast enough to A&M to record it. Just another likeable story from their timeline, one of many stories that are always endearing.
In every interview I’ve ever heard, for Karen and Richard it was always about looking for the next hit record, and for an astounding stretch of time, they were pretty darn good at it. They were just so hard on themselves creatively that I think that perhaps, the path forward was not always easy or evident. But when is it.
I always wonder though how things would have been if they stayed the course with “Another Song”
(jk but not)
)The “Sing” story I remember is that they walked out of the TV studio that the Robert Young Special was taped in, they looked at each other when they got to the parking lot with a smile and couldn’t run fast enough to A&M to record it. Just another likeable story from their timeline, one of many stories that are always endearing.
In every interview I’ve ever heard, for Karen and Richard it was always about looking for the next hit record, and for an astounding stretch of time, they were pretty darn good at it. They were just so hard on themselves creatively that I think that perhaps, the path forward was not always easy or evident. But when is it.
I always wonder though how things would have been if they stayed the course with “Another Song”
(jk but not)
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rockdoctor
Well-Known Member
Most critics are to be ignored. I would read movie reviews. I never went to a movie based on a review and I have not been to a theater in over 30 years-TOO EXPENSIVE.
I never bought an album based on a review either. I do read some reviews about older albums but most of the time I don't get their thinking.
Back at the time of the debut of Carpenters, James Taylor and a few others, the hard rock genre was taking hold and the critics were giving the hard edge music better reviews. Carpenters, Taylor and others helped soften the edges and then the softer solo rock artists began making their mark (Carole King, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne) and they started getting good reviews so The Carpenters fit right in with this sound and it carried them for a good run. John Denver came onto the scene as well but he was never a favorite of the critics and he still had a huge fan base. Roberta Flack also came in with a very soft edge and even though she had some huge hits, the critics are split on her to this very day.
I had a college professor who once made this comment about a movie critic from this area named Mal Vincent. He said " If Mal likes it, I won't go see it."
ullalume
Well-Known Member
I said it before. Karen could've had a sketch with Animal at the drums and Richard and Rowlf could've had a duelling piano sequence.
Monarch
Well-Known Member
The Muppet Show was produced in the UK. That may have something to do with them never appearing assuming they were "on the list" of potential guests. I agree that it could have been memorable.
Vinylalbumcovers
Ah am so steel een luv weeth yoo
The Muppet Show debuted in 1976. Carpenters were yesterday’s news by then. The big hits had stopped by then. There’d be no boost Carpenters could have offered the show at that point.
Ed
Rick-An Ordinary Fool
Well-Known Member
The same could be said of John Denver and he got a tv special with them in 1979 along with a soundtrack Cd. I don’t think the Muppets needed any boost they were already well known and loved just like John Denver and the Carpenters as well. Karen visited John Denver at the studio in 79 there’s a photo of her back.
Vinylalbumcovers
Ah am so steel een luv weeth yoo
Denver had a number one Country record in 1976 and his success would continue into the next year.
Ed
JohnFB
She was born to belong to the lines of a song...
For some strange reason I'm suddenly reminded of the two of my heros, the cantankerous old guys Statler & Waldorf on the Muppet Show - if Karen would have sung "Rainbow Connection" on there she would have instantly put a stop to their constant heckling and melted their cold, hardened hearts...and probably given the show a little boast to boot.
Rick-An Ordinary Fool
Well-Known Member
But I was referencing 79’ by then JD had fallen into the same trap as Carpenters, radio wouldn’t play their current music. They only wanted to hear their hits from the early 70’s. I was merely suggesting that if they gave him a tv special and a soundtrack with the Muppets in 79. I could easily see the same treatment for Carpenters. Although I’d say Richard probably would never have agreed.
ullalume
Well-Known Member
In the US, maybe, but the Muppet Show was produced in the UK and was watched by millions over here.
The 2 times the Carpenters were in the UK while the show was shooting was Nov '76 and Dec '78 (Karen alone).
In each case the Carpenters were still big in Britain; a No. 3 album A Kind of Hush having just been released in '76 and a greatest hits on the way to No. 2 in Jan '79.
A booking on the show seems fair enough.
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