The Singles... That never were

It wouldn't have worked releasing another Beatles' cover so soon after 'Ticket to Ride' though. If anything it would have given them less identity rather than more at this stage.

Good point. Then needed to establish their own identity.
 
It's just a shame that there are unscrupulous people out there looking to take advantage of others' gullibility. We've seen members here who are perfectly willing to squander their funds away on crap like this just because of an unhealthy addiction to all-things Carpenter - and Karen in particular.

That auction above wanted $24.99 for a vinyl 45 on a fake label, made from the same digital file you can find out there anywhere on the web. It just really grates on me when these thieves put this stuff out there to make a quick buck, profiting off of someone else's work. It's a shame that they can't use their talents on something honest.
 
Why would that eBay sale show Canada but the seller shows Las Vegas? No Returns is a red flag and no mention this is not official. It’s obvious a digital file transferred to vinyl but the difference is these are unreleased songs. What’s surprising to me is there are places that make this stuff which I didn’t know existed.

We know official studios do release vinyl that are basically the same digital files just transferred onto vinyl. I have some of those from Music on Vinyl but there official releases from official studio albums from the artist yet sound wise it’s just a digital sound pressed on vinyl.
 
Not all addictions are unhealthy. An addiction to Carpenters and Karen is one of the best you can have :)

By "unhealthy" I'm referring to those who will spend huge amounts of money that they may not have on supposedly rare items, just to say that have it. There's nothing wrong with responsibly collecting that which interests you.
 
I still think they should have recorded a longer version of One Fine Day, my favorite track in the medley. Classic amazing Karen having a blast singing on that track. Similar to her vocal on Only Yesterday. Makes me very emotional when I hear it. Especially the quad mix. Also my non favorite album cut You. Not sure if it would have been a hit, but leagues than the silly fan club favorite,Goofus. Also her version on Make It Easy On Yourself would have been a smash hit in the early years 70-72. It always makes my heart flutter. I can see her singing it with eyes closed from the Music Music Music Special to this day. I just melt...... it doesn’t get any sexier or better for me. Pure Karen heaven.
 
You are correct! It was the movie soundtrack version of "Beasts".
Okay that’s got to be a special single. A mix that has never appeared elsewhere but the movie’s LP and the 2006 Japan set, and a song that was almost an ‘A-side’!.
 
Good lord their version is eons better than the Beatles! I hate when people believe that they could do nothing less than brilliant genius because they’re THE BEATLES. I can’t stand that mindset. They didn’t really hit their stride until the later 60s and even then it’s not as if every song was perfect.

I wish Karen’s lead wasn’t so muffled but other than that it’s an amazing example of the variety of textures and tones they could handle before ennui kicked in.
I 100% agree ! The Carpenters "Ticket To Ride" is miles better than the Beatles. Don't get me wrong, I think Lennon/McCartney were fantastic song writers, wrote brilliant songs.... I just prefer their songs being performed by other artists like all the Carpenters versions, even Nancy Sinatra did some versions better IMO like "Day Tripper," "Run For Your Life" and "Something". I Just really don't like the Beatles delivery of their own songs, I think they're very overrated, I don't find them particularly good singers .... Now I'm going to run and take cover !

But I don't feel "Help" would have been a good single choice, definitely a good album track, a B-side is also a good place for it.

TTR is my favorite on the Royal Philharmonic album. I love that Richard re-recorded the piano and how he incorporated the RPO. For me it is mind boggling that parts of this latest version were recorded in 1969. With Karen's 1973 vocal and Richard's 2019 updates, it transforms an already excellent performance into something definitive and timeless.
 
I 100% agree ! The Carpenters "Ticket To Ride" is miles better than the Beatles. Don't get me wrong, I think Lennon/McCartney were fantastic song writers, wrote brilliant songs.... I just prefer their songs being performed by other artists like all the Carpenters versions, even Nancy Sinatra did some versions better IMO like "Day Tripper," "Run For Your Life" and "Something". I Just really don't like the Beatles delivery of their own songs, I think they're very overrated, I don't find them particularly good singers .... Now I'm going to run and take cover !

But I don't feel "Help" would have been a good single choice, definitely a good album track, a B-side is also a good place for it.

Isn't it a crime to say anything negative about "The Fab Four" in the UK? Don't you known they were knighted by Her Majesty?!:tsk:

I never thought John was a very good vocalist but he was an outstanding songwriter and stage performer. Paul had the voice. George was underrated and was given limited tidbits to write/sing on their albums. And Ringo. well...

PS: I'm amazed Ringo is still performing with his band. The are advertising on radio his upcoming appearance at a casino up here in the Sierra foothills. Back in 1971 at The Concert For Bangladesh, he forgot the words for his own hit song It Don't Come Easy.
 
Isn't it a crime to say anything negative about "The Fab Four" in the UK? Don't you known they were knighted by Her Majesty?!:tsk:

I never thought John was a very good vocalist but he was an outstanding songwriter and stage performer. Paul had the voice. George was underrated and was given limited tidbits to write/sing on their albums. And Ringo. well...

PS: I'm amazed Ringo is still performing with his band. The are advertising on radio his upcoming appearance at a casino up here in the Sierra foothills. Back in 1971 at The Concert For Bangladesh, he forgot the words for his own hit song It Don't Come Easy.

Wasn’t Ringo the most popular in terms of female youth idolization in some country? Which is pretty funny to me. But musically he’s always been seen as the least important member musically and that’s justified, I suppose.
 
Here it is with the group Badfinger & singers on back up vocals!! Matt Clark Sanford, MI


That looks like Pete Ham to the right of George on the video. Is the rest of Badfinger involved? I did not know this. Loved Badfinger. Another tragic music business tale...
 
YEP, Badfinger sang back up on Ringo's "It Don't Come Easy" & also sang the first lines of that song!! Matt Clark Sanford, MI
 
Not sure if anyone mentioned this previously, but regarding singles that never were: after Ticket to Ride, the next single was scheduled to be Help, but then Close to You came along - I am positive I read that somewhere, in one of the liner notes that Richard wrote for one of the compilation albums
 
I didn't see it...maybe I missed it
But I always thought "All Of My Life" and "Maybe It's You" had strong potential.
 
Hello! Just to let everyone know...I just joined the forum to contribute specifically to this thread. Also, I searched Google for "singles Carpenters never released but should have" and it brought me here.
 
I have read through many of the posts and agree with the love for "Let Me Be the One," "A Song for You," "You," and "I Just Fall in Love Again." I agree, too, that not releasing "Help" as a single was the right choice...and that "Ticket to Ride" is gorgeous, spectacular. I do recall "Reason to Believe" getting a lot of airplay as the de facto third "Close to You" single that never was, but I'd like to throw another contender in the ring...their remake of "Baby It's You." That song, also on CTY, was for me the first real indication (with the possible exception of "All My Life") that Karen could break my heart with her voice. Love it! If you've forgotten it, go back and give a listen...love to hear others' thoughts on it.
 
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