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This may be common knowledge, but I didn't know this. Apparently, Neil Sedaka considered the Carpenters version of 'Solitaire' his favorite. Given the rumored tensions between these 2 acts, I didn't think this likely, but what's copied below would seem to confirm it.
Anyone have any more details about this subject? Has Neil stated publicly anything about this?
"Jenny [Sinclair, Karen Carpenter sound-alike] was head hunted and chosen to sing personally for Neil Sedaka his big hit Solitaire at an awards ceremony on 8/10/2010."
Neil has never actually gone as far as naming their version as his favourite, as far as I’m aware. In an official BBC documentary of his life story “King Of Song”, the track was featured and he named Andy Williams’ and Shirley Bassey’s as favoured performances. No mention of Karen by Neil (although a brief snippet of their version was included).
Footage of that Variety Club event can be seen here. She sounds similar to Karen but doesn’t hit the notes with the same laser-like precision as Karen does.
Neil has never actually gone as far as naming their version as his favourite, as far as I’m aware. In an official BBC documentary of his life story “King Of Song”, the track was featured and he named Andy Williams’ and Shirley Bassey’s as favoured performances. No mention of Karen by Neil (although a brief snippet of their version was included).
Footage of that Variety Club event can be seen here. She sounds similar to Karen but doesn’t hit the notes with the same laser-like precision as Karen does.
Did the Carpenters ever perform "Solitaire" live on stage that was captured for us to watch today? I can't recall seeing a video with Karen singing it on stage live in their collection. Maybe I missed it...
Thanks - I knew she is quoted as not liking the tune, and I figured that's why I had never seen her sing it live in the archives.No they never did perform it live in any of their shows, Karen didn’t like the song.
This is a bit off-topic I guess, but speaking of Andy Williams...I adore this video of Andy and Karen singing together. Karen is just too cute; the way she closes her eyes and lifts her shoulders on her high notes, and just that beautiful voice and smile. Young and healthy.
Love it!
Wouldn't it have been great if they had done impromptu versions of songs like Crystal Lullaby, Road Ode, A Song For You, and maybe even something as out of left field as I'll Be Yours with Karen on drums during their concerts. But the content of their concerts were so carefully scripted, they never seemed to deviate at all from show to show. With Karen's sense of humor, natural rhythm (she could be taught to dance well), and personal charisma/likeability, their concerts could've been so much more appealing IMHO. As much as they toured, you would think the band and the duo, would be so bored after a while that they could barely stand it. I mean, how many times can you do Sing with the school children before you want to swat the little brats off stage!No they never did perform it live in any of their shows, Karen didn’t like the song.
^^Sedaka was a jerk for introducing "celebrities" in the audience. His name was at the bottom of the marquee as I recall. He was the "warm-up" act and if the roles were reversed, he would've been just as pissed as Richard was. Sedaka always backed-away from this with a "what did I do?" attitude. Richard has always been labeled the bad guy in this and it shouldn't be that way. He had a legitimate "beef" with Neil. They should've never been playing Vegas at that stage in their careers anyway - huge mistake.
continuing in off-topic mode: Love Andy Williams; but in this particular clip, what bugs me is his pronunciation of "ticket". It distracts from a fine Karen appearance.
Here is link to the review in Billboard Magazine (9/6/1975) regarding Sedaka-Carpenters' Concert billing:
Notice that it is Titled/billed as "Carpenters-Sedaka" but the Review begins--and highlights--Neil Sedaka.
This had to sting for Richard: "Sedaka...proving his professional ease as both pianist and soloist."
See:
Billboard
^^Good points.
All I can add is:
If a duo, in their twenties, is unable to cope with being on tour,
then when in their career trajectory would they be able to handle that ? Never.
There appears to be a strong correlation between those successful early touring years
and the duos greatest Record sales.
If radio stopped playing the records (which happened)
and, if touring stopped (which, also, happened)
then, sales take a huge slide (which happened).