Comments on: But You're Not Really Here... It's Just The Radio...

But You're Not Really Here... It's Just The Radio...

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:54:55 -0800

Karen Carpenter's isolated vocal tracks.

By: sklero

sklero — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:56:56 -0800

GRAAHHHHHH It's all blocked in Germany.

By: griphus

griphus — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:59:02 -0800

Wow, that really sparse vocal/bass/drums arrangement makes it sound sort of like Portishead '72.

By: Beardman

Beardman — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:00:46 -0800

I smell a Music Challenge.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:01:05 -0800

Whoa. Chills from Ticket to Ride. I never expected to type all those words in that order.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:01:56 -0800

It's all blocked in Germany. --- We can't let you have our Advanced Carpentry technology.

By: Keith Talent

Keith Talent — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:02:52 -0800

Portishead 72 is awesome. And the Carpenters was what constituted bleeding edge alternative on my parents hifi in the early 70's. And it's still pretty great.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:05:04 -0800

John Carpenter is an underrated musician - I want to make that clear right now. That said, The Carpenters without John would have still been The Carpenters. The Carpenters without Karen would have been Bread. She's been gone nearly 30 years, if you can believe that, and every time I hear her voice again I get choked up about it all over again.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:06:12 -0800

Great post. Is it only in retrospect that this singing sounds so chilling? Almost macabre?

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:06:34 -0800

That sparse mix on Superstar is, in many ways, far better than the release. It really highlights the desperation in the lyrics.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:06:48 -0800

Also, it was the "Yesterday Once More" link that made me feel I had to share this, breaking my "don't post two FPPs in one week" self-imposed rule for the first time in years.

By: dirtdirt

dirtdirt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:06:54 -0800

John Carpenter is a good musician, but I think you mean Richard.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:08:30 -0800

Oh shoot, of course. *face palm*

By: tempythethird

tempythethird — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:09:35 -0800

That's it, I'm leaving. (Germany)

By: El Sabor Asiatico

El Sabor Asiatico — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:11:58 -0800

Whoa, when she sings about "talking to myself and feeling old" on this version, it really does sound like she's singing to herself. Eerie!

By: maudlin

maudlin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:14:37 -0800

Trurl, chills, yes (see above) but not macabre at all. Just achingly lovely. The Carpenters were no more than pleasant background noise on Top 40 when I was a kid, and once I got into punk, I turned my nose up at them. I came around some time in the 90s when I actually listened to them, but ... Jesus ... I don't know what it is about the harmonics in her naked voice that I'm hearing today, even on my shitty computer speakers, but this is actually getting me teary. Carpenter has a pretty set emotional range -- she does sweetness, sorrow, regret, and pain, but not anger, playfulness or wit -- but what she does in that range makes her immortal. Best alto ever (and I don't care much for sopranos.)

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:19:01 -0800

Karen Carpenter's portamento is the single most awful sound in the universe.

By: LN

LN — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:23:33 -0800

These are really nice. I grew up listening to the Carpenters when I was a kid, and the lush arrangements tended to blur some of the details of Karen's performance. These bring them into stark detail, like the slight roughness at the edges of some notes. I used to try to sing like her, except I thought she had a perfectly clear, clean voice with no edges. Now I know differently!

By: chimaera

chimaera — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:28:40 -0800

What's interesting is that if you listen closely to the Superstar track, the bass isn't *entirely* in the pocket. A fair number of the player's pick strikes tend to be a little late. In a modern non-linear studio they'd nudge those notes.

By: neroli

neroli — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:49:15 -0800

Wow, listening to "Goodbye to Love," I found myself automatically singing the fuzz guitar solo note-for-note. I never realized I had listed to the song that many times.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:50:52 -0800

The voice of an angel!

By: randomkeystrike

randomkeystrike — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:54:29 -0800

She was really, really good, and like a lot of you I couldn't hear it until I got older and sophisticated enough about music to just listen to it instead of pigeonholing it. It's a shame that '70s style in pop music was to make it so fuzzy and lush, as LN mentioned - she'd have been dynamite in a simple singer/songwriter "unplugged" sort of format. She was so much better than her material. What a loss.

By: briank

briank — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:02:48 -0800

Between this and Davy Jones, I just feel really old and really sad.

By: Segundus

Segundus — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:08:34 -0800

So good, so sad - these bring tears to my eyes.

By: smartyboots

smartyboots — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:34:06 -0800

That version of Ticket To Ride just needs a some reverb and it will sound exactly like This Mortal Coil.

By: mdrosen

mdrosen — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:38:46 -0800

Thank you. Nice post.

By: i_have_a_computer

i_have_a_computer — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:43:37 -0800

These are great. If we're going to grant copyright to music recordings, we should stipulate that the multitrack masters be made available for public consumption after, say, 30 years of the original recording.

By: squalor

squalor — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:09:44 -0800

It was the quality of the songwriting too. They chose/commissioned/interpreted some amazing material. One of the few CDs I have saved through all the purges is a 1994 Carpenters tribute album - covers that could have been jokey, but instead executed with great reverence by notable alternative artists of that era.

By: MarvinTheCat

MarvinTheCat — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:17:07 -0800

I think all my exposure to Karen Carpenter as a kid is what makes me love Aimee Mann as an adult.

By: Lanark

Lanark — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:44:56 -0800

It's interesting to compare this with Maude Maggart singing Superstar, I think Maude really nails that song, but I always wonder how Karen would sound singing a slower version.

By: ThatCanadianGirl

ThatCanadianGirl — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:54:28 -0800

What's a portamento?

By: honestcoyote

honestcoyote — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:54:31 -0800

Sorry "Close to You" wasn't in the list of songs. That is the first song I can actually remember, a very early memory of my father still being alive, sitting on the couch with him, his arm around me, listening to this song from his prized possession: a big hi-fi system with the late 60's dark wood frame. And I thought this song was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Just some lush dream of a song. Probably inspired a lifetime of love for slow and lush dreamy music. So I will always have a purely uncritical soft spot for the Carpenters. Thanks for posting the links. Even if it didn't have the song I wanted, still takes me back to a delightfully warm time.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:02:23 -0800

honestcoyote, ask and ye shall receive.

By: Decimask

Decimask — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:12:54 -0800

ThatCanadianGirl: What's a portamento? Portamento is a vocal slide between 2 notes.

By: Catch

Catch — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:19:41 -0800

Thank you for posting this - it was just what I needed today, I am curled up indoors waiting out what our media is calling a "weather bomb", with a plate of homemade fudge and now, Karen.

By: honestcoyote

honestcoyote — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:25:11 -0800

Joey Michaels: thank you very much.

By: deadmessenger

deadmessenger — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:36:52 -0800

Superstar was just absolutely breathtaking. Her voice really was extraordinary, although something that struck me listening in this way is how much k.d. lang sounds like her.

By: Len

Len — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:51:29 -0800

That version of Ticket To Ride is fucking amazing. First off there's the weird, dissonant notes she hits when she sings the line "he don't care" at about 1:00 which manage to be both totally fucked up and wrong and so right. Then there's the amazing breaks, fills and rolls she throws in; they're the kind of weird-but-brilliant things that Ringo Starr* did on later Beatles tracks. As for the other tracks, Christ, she had such a great voice; the vibrato on Rainy Days and Mondays really gives me shivers. And the version of Superstar – particularly that globular bass sound – is, yes, totally Portishead '72. *Ringo, whether he was the best drummer in The Beatles or not, is vastly underrated as a drummer who completely filled the role he was meant to fill. People like to mock him because he sang with all the grace of a foghorn, but shit, he knew what he needed to do.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:01:02 -0800

People like to mock him because he sang with all the grace of a foghorn, but shit, he knew what he needed to do. And it must be said, by all accounts, he almost never screwed up and caused a recording session to break down, where all three of the other broke down all the time.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:21:22 -0800

Joy. I forgot, she could do joy as well. Joey, thanks so much. Not only do I get to hear Yo La Tengo murderize music later tonight, I've finally heard Karen Carpenter properly for the first time.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:46:57 -0800

where all three of the other broke down all the time. All the time? Nah. Just in the middle of negotiation, investigation, or celebration.

By: Samuel Farrow

Samuel Farrow — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:53:38 -0800

There's only ever been three drummers - Keith, Karen and Stuart.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:03:26 -0800

All the time? Nah. Just in the middle of negotiation, investigation, or celebration. That comment makes me want to give you my money.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:03:54 -0800

And I never do that.

By: oozy rat in a sanitary zoo

oozy rat in a sanitary zoo — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:09:54 -0800

My parents were really into The Carpenters in the early to mid 70's. At the time, I thought they were one step above elevator music (I believe my tastes ran more toward Elton John). Still, there was something about them that was compelling. That something was Karen Carpenter's voice. "Yesterday Once More" has always sent chills down my spine. Even at eight years old, I knew she had a great voice. Now that I'm older, I realize how perfect and rich and lush and rare it was.

By: Scram

Scram — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:49:44 -0800

I hope the entertainment industry assholes who told Karen she was too fat think about her every single day of their worthless lives. (This is magic. Thanks Joey Michaels.)

By: hippybear

hippybear — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:33:48 -0800

These are most excellent. I'm so very glad you posted this!!! Kind of sad that drums are included. I had visions of finally doing something with all those NIN multi-tracks I've downloaded from their past few albums, merging them with Karen's vocals, coming up with something dark and wonderful... Hard to do that with Karen's drums included, but maybe I'll try anyway.

By: datawrangler

datawrangler — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:59:19 -0800

maudlin, linking isn't working for me, but if you listen to "Sweet, Sweet Smile," you'll get the playfulness.

By: kozad

kozad — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:51:32 -0800

I love Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Karen Carpenter, Charles Mingus...wait...Karen Carpenter? Can't help it. On my monthly brunch solo piano gig I usually play a meandering version of Superstar, keeping in mind the spirits of Karen Carpenter, Luther Vandross, and, of course the author: Leon Russell. 25 + 25 + 25 and 25% of what's going through my mind at the time. Don't know why her voice, so unexperimental and sometimes even sounding like someone who a therapist might wonder if she might come across as someone with "a flat affect" is so enthralling to me. Please don't tell anyone. How can a guy love the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Karen Carpenter? It's weird. March 2nd is also the day PKDick died, thirty years ago.

By: not_that_epiphanius

not_that_epiphanius — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:45:21 -0800

In case anyone missed it, the movie about Karen made with Barbie dolls as actors, is surprisingly watchable and sympathetic. I am surprised at how much I'm enjoying these versions of the songs, much more than the finished tracks.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:53:24 -0800

Thanks. Now I have tears. I adored Karen Carpenter. Aside from a fabulous voice, she was also beautiful. If I wasn't so much more inclined to pork her brother, I'd have been in love with her. LOL!

By: alicesshoe

alicesshoe — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:16:32 -0800

That was great. Thanks for that and for leading me to the StudioMultitracks link from that site. A dear departed friend had that 1994 Carpenters covers CD. I found Sonic Youth's version of Superstar there, which I think does justice to the original. It was great listening to Outcast's Ms. Jackson's separate tracks at the StudioMultitracks, <--there!

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:58:24 -0800

That said, The Carpenters without John would have still been The Carpenters. The Carpenters without Karen would have been Bread. Is that meant to be disparaging? Because Bread/David Gates were pretty good with melody. And they were writing their own stuff. Not angry about it or anything, I just think opinion will come around on these guys too. Here's Everything I Own. Pretty strong melodically. Re: Ms. Carpenter. I've always liked how matter-of-fact she is. Not what you'd call a showy singer. Let's the melody be beautiful.

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:14:15 -0800

Fun Fact: "Superstar" had a working title "The Groupie Song."

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:27:00 -0800

Karen Carpenter's portamento is the single most awful sound in the universe. Hee Hee. She can stretch 'em out, can't she? Can sound positively medicated.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:34:29 -0800

Trochanter - re: Bread I am thinking more in terms of legacy than ability. Bread created songs that could with some justification be called classics, but they've largely dropped off the cultural radar (I would group them with Toto and 70's period Jefferson Starship in this regard - people know the songs but not necessarily the band). Karen was iconic even before her way-too-young death. Bread was a strong band that never quite reached that status.

By: ThatCanadianGirl

ThatCanadianGirl — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:15:44 -0800

Years ago, I had a "Best of Bread" cassette that I loved. Sometimes it was just the right kind of music for my mood. Now I'm off to Youtube them.....

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:26:29 -0800

I did my own little Youtube wander for Bread, and one thing I gotta say. Those lyrics are pretty on the nose. If you were a young singer looking for a song to cover they might turn you off. I'll just quickly share one gem I found while poking around on Youtube. It's an almost otherworldly performance of "I Started a Joke" by Robin Gibb. I remember a behind the music type show where Barry Gibb said Robin had at around that time witnessed a horrible train crash. Like, really bad, with fatalities up close and all. Barry said Robin was totally changed by it, and that his music and his singing went to a whole other place. It seems to me like some of that's evident here.

By: stormpooper

stormpooper — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:35:00 -0800

Beautiful as expected. I remember reading some biography of her and what a complete asshole her ex husband was.

By: hippybear

hippybear — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:52:55 -0800

Been meaning to post this here for a few days now... Karen Carpenter does complete justice to Evita's signature song "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" (featuring the lead-in scene "On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada"). Madonna doesn't hold a candle to this.