Week #26: "An Old Fashioned Christmas", SIDE 2

[Chris May]

This week's "album-of-the-week" is: "An Old Fashioned Christmas", Side 2. Please vote for your favorite song from the second side of this album and tell us why you picked it. -Chris

All images provided by http://www.grantguerrero.com/carpenters/carindex.html

 

[andywithaz]

Chris, this was a real hard one. I had to pick Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Second choice would be Do You Hear WHat I hear? Well, do you?

 

[Chris May]

I couldn't agree with you more Andrew....

This side is loaded with all of the best tunes. My pick is "Do You Hear What I Hear?". I just love the way Rich sets it up, and then Karen makes her entry. It makes for a real "chill factor". -Chris

 

[Murray]

My choice is "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". What an amazing, and unusual arrangement - taking what is essentially a children's song, and turning it into a lush, jazzy (dare I even say, romantic-sounding) ballad!

My second choice is "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day". The last line is a major "chill-factor" moment.

Murray

 

[JohnnyAngel]

I really love "Santa Claus is coming..." I agree with Murray and very unusual arrangement for this wonderful song, made it a classic. "Do you hear what I hear" is another of my favorites, this song is simply amazing and Karen vocals add this special spice that make it unique.
"I heard the bells on Christmas day" is a masterpiece too. "Selections from the Nutcracker" demonstrates Richard's talents so well.

But my vote went to "What are you doing New Year's Eve?" I LOVE Karen's vocals in this kind of songs!!!


Regards

Jorge

 

[Jeff]

Gotta Be Santa Claus for me. When this tune hit the airwaves I was caught off guard and frozen at first verse. Karen sounds sultry and smoky. The adult spin on this puts it in a new light. Then like many of you Do You Hear is my 2nd. I love the RC intro and the moment KC breaks in with that lower register literally booming with rich fullness was one of OLD FASHIONED'S greatest treats.

Jeff

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

This was easy...SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN for me. Love it!!! Original Single Version all the way!!!!

2nd is Do You Hear What I Hear.


Today on my way to work I was listening to the Time Life Christmas Set and have you noticed how Karen sings forrreeevvveeerrrr before taking a BREATH on I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. For some reason I was just blown away in my car listening to this, so holds her notes soooo long...when you think she might run out of breath she adds a little extra punch on the end right before her next breath. Simply amazing chest control she had. Wow. ~~(Listen to this with headphones and you'll be so amazed) ~~

 

[PJ]

Side 2 is more difficult ....there are several great Karen lead vocals ....plus Richard's excellent My Favourite Things instrumental ....

While I love Carpenters original single release for Santa Claus ....you never know ...Richard could include this as a bonus track on his forthcoming Solo Christmas album .... ....album version is less successful with re-recorded parts ....

Finally choose He Came Here For Me ....superb Billy May arrangement ...a moving , beautiful song ....akin in parts to Little Altar Boy from side 1 ....definite Carpenters Christmas classic ....

Peter

 

[Daniel Perales]

WOW! This part is probably the hardest to choose for me. I mean just about every song hits it right on. Anyway, these are the 3 that stands out for me:

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" - Really love Richard's intro to this song.

"He Came Here For Me" - What can I say? A timeless classic!

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" - I have to choose this one because, it's the one that actually moved me to tears when I first heard it on my LP (which I still have). I was still grieving over Karen's death and this song made me realized that this world really lost such a beautiful spirit.

And even now, over 20 years after the first release of this album, I can still feel it, and I also say that this song was a fitting close to this wonderful album.


Danny