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if I’m honest I’d never listen to them if they were released.
^This.
I trust that Richard knows what's release-worthy and what isn't. How many of you have played the AS TIME GOES BY album today or even just a portion? This week? This month? Any time in the last year?
I've had several box sets and CDs with studio outtakes that were *maybe* interesting to hear once - but not really ever again. When the Beatles released they ANTHOLOGY set of CDs, it was chock full of alternate takes of both familiar and unfamiliar songs, excerpts, rehearsals, etc. And as much of a Beatles fan that I am, I really looked forward to those three sets. I think I listened through them once - maybe twice - and they've been sitting on the shelf ever since. Truth is, if I want to hear the Beatles, I'll play one of their regular albums, not go digging through alternate takes on ANTHOLOGY.
And I feel the same way about most any artist. And I'll bet with regards to Carpenters recordings, Richard feels the same way. Suppose he has in his archives a thousand different concert tapes. A wealth of material one might say? But in reality, listen to any live performance of say "Superstar" and Karen performs it exactly the same way in every one of them. "La-OOO-NG ago, and oh so far away".
I don't need to hear some live concert from Timbuktu in 1974 to know that it sounds exactly like LIVE IN JAPAN or BUDOKAN or even my own Valley Forge recording. They all sound the same.
Richard's released the best of the best, and he wants his and Karen's legacy to be those great recordings, not some scraps of tape where someone fouls up, or the song or recording just isn't good enough.
Those of you who want something new - I suggest that you go back and listen to some song that you didn't like, and learn to appreciate it a little bit more.
Go on - get out "Druscilla Penny" and revel in Karen's "aah-aah-waah" backing vocals. Or check out "Crescent Noon" and let the goosebumps flow in that "fairy-tale forest".
Or, go play AS TIME GOES BY - you just said it's been a long time...
Harry, you're funny! I listened to As Time Goes By Last week. But I respect your opinion.
^^Me, too ! I listened to the entirety of
As Time Goes By
just last week. Here is why: I can't get enough of California Dreaming and Nowhere Man !
The Como Medley is one that I love, especially for my not being a fan of Medleys generally.
And When He Smiles, that's another favorite of mine.
Do I hear a "any time in the last DECADE"? I'm serious, I don't think I've played the "As Time Goes By" album in the last ten years. I nearly forgot that I even own the CD.How many of you have played the AS TIME GOES BY album today or even just a portion? This week? This month? Any time in the last year?
Challenge accepted! Now, if I could only remember which box it's packed away in...Or, go play AS TIME GOES BY - you just said it's been a long time...
The other thing different about the EJ release is, what material IS previously released is songs that are fan favorites, not necessarily hits.
Barbra Streisand's "Release Me" album is another knock-out album that includes only unreleased songs. And I listen to it often as well.
Wow, that Elton boxed set sounds incredible! I'm a huge fan and I'd love to hear it.
As for Carpenters, I can't imagine any true fan NOT wanting to hear their songs stripped down into demo form. Just imagine Karen's vocals only with Richard's piano on songs we know and love. That 'unplugged' concept would definitely be well-received by Carpenters fans and casual fans alike.
Harry insisted elsewhere recently that it would never happen, i.e., Richard would never make it happen - but it isn't necessary to go completely "unplugged" or even to "strip off the production" (well, maybe some of it like some of the excess orchestration and several layers of the stacked background vocals) - the only change that's needed to create an incredibly exciting new release is the strategic, surgical removal from all recordings where it was inexplicably used (mostly to sell records to teenagers with skulls full of mush in the early 70s) the overdubbing or double-tracking of Karen's gorgeous voice by Karen herself - this practice, which sounds so bush league today 50 odd years later, was an abomination that everyone who says they love Karen's voice above all else should be ranting about incessantly - like me! It's that simple, and yet that complicated...So much this. Karen was always the calling card of Carpenters. Stripping off the production revealing Karen, the melodies, and changes themselves would be amazing...and it'll never happen.
Ed
Harry insisted elsewhere recently that it would never happen, i.e., Richard would never make it happen - but it isn't necessary to go completely "unplugged" or even to "strip off the production" (well, maybe some of it like some of the excess orchestration and several layers of the stacked background vocals) - the only change that's needed to create an incredibly exciting new release is the strategic, surgical removal from all recordings where it was inexplicably used (mostly to sell records to teenagers with skulls full of mush in the early 70s) the overdubbing or double-tracking of Karen's gorgeous voice by Karen herself - this practice, which sounds so bush league today 50 odd years later, was an abomination that everyone who says they love Karen's voice above all else should be ranting about incessantly - like me! It's that simple, and yet that complicated...
Sorry about that - I apologize - I got carried away with my passion - hell, I was a teenager in the 60s and didn't "have a skull full of mush" so I guess I can allow for the possibility that you personally didn't in the 70s - but there sure were a lot of them around then, and in fact, there still are...i realize everyone is entitled to an opinion. i was a teenager in the early '70s and i find your remarks to be offensive.