Something positive

[bugbear]

Karen Carpenter, with most of backing track removed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccl2lCNtpDo

X-factor, eat your heart out!

BugBear

 

[JohnPW]

I think I prefer "Superstar":
Carpenters - Superstar - Acapella (near)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9wqJJi87yA


The Ronettes - Baby I Love You (Isolated Vocals)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM4wLjD6Clg

 

[bugbear]

I think I prefer "Superstar":
Carpenters - Superstar - Acapella (near)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9wqJJi87yA

Yeah, the guy posted a load! The one I linked was just an example...

BugBear

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Reminded me of how awful the carpenters were.

 

[SammyQ]

Smaltzy and vibrato Phil?
Yes, but in tune and with warmth. I'm with B.B. in liking it....brings back good memories of the time and the people.

Sam

 

[bugbear]

Smaltzy and vibrato Phil?
Yes, but in tune and with warmth. I'm with B.B. in liking it....brings back good memories of the time and the people.

Sam

It's interesting (to me....) to hear the voice, with all the lush arrangement (strings, choirs etc) stripped out.

BugBear

 

[SammyQ]

Yes, agreed, Paul; for my money, she was best when going into a crescendo or holding a sustained strong note. I've never been a fan of vibrato and in slow passages Karen's tremulous style - the warmth(harmonics?) of which was fascinating - I couldn't help but compare with stronger, purer(?) voices.

Sam

PS Stronger voices: Helen Reddy/Angie Baby? Barbara Dickson/Another Suitcase in another hall?

 

[Eric The Viking]

That's really, really interesting.

It was the Carpenters' stuff that first really got me interested in recording and then a career as a BBC sound engineer. This 'clean vocal' isn't the usual "drop out the backing then invert" approach - it looks like they went back to the multitracks to do it.

It's particularly interesting for two reasons: she's miked-up far too close (to my ear), and the track seems to be distorted on the crescendos. It sounds a bit as if she overloaded the compressor, but as I'm not running Linux I can't put my favourite digital meter on it to measure. It's probably from the remix though, rather than the session track, as I'm morally certain the distortion isn't on "A Song For You" (I still have my original vinyl copy) and I'm assuming the 'bleed' of drums and bass also come from the remix.

But, much as I love Karen's voice, that track isn't anything without Tony Peluso's contribution...

E.

PS: I know it's the era of the 3min single, but Goodbye To Love isn't very long, and that must be one of the most misjudged fade-out endings ever!