This was a rehearsal take - Karen sang it to familiarise the musicians so that a proper backing track could be made, then she’d go in to re-record her vocals. However as the Horizon album had many ballads, this did not go beyond the “demo” stage back then. You can hear her flip the lyric sheet after the first chorus and that itself meant it had to be recorded. Then years later Richard discovered this recording and decided to complete it because Karen honestly nailed it on the first take, and the lyric sheet flipping was something listeners just had to live with!
first time seeing your reaction to this song form the Carpenters. I being a hard core fan just love this song. When I first heard it in mid 90s , I was taken back by the page turning. I rewound it again and again. I then went to the liner notes (this was a CD at the time) and I saw where Richard mentioned this bit, and how he knew the lead vocal would have to be rerecord if it were to be released. Personally as the years go by, we had Karen for such a short time, the page turning exemplifies just how near perfect Karen was when even doing a read through.
You can hear Karen’s page turn at 3:51, just before Chad’s first response. What was put out was the guide vocal, in one take. Didn’t realise until the other day that they recorded this before Barry Manilow. It could possibly be her greatest vocal…
I love that you react to much more than radio hits. This one was a well known song recorded by Barry Manilow, so you can't hear it without thinking of him and his theatrical performance. I'm picturing some sequins right now. LOL And yet, Karen's voice is just so perfect, you have to love it. The Carpenters knew how to incorporate a guitar solo!!! The fuzz guitar solo on their "Goodbye to Love" was outstanding, and caused a bit of a sensation with Carpenters purists.
🥀Amazing Song no doubt amazing lyrics, vocals and music these two were beyond their own time in the music industry. I've always loved the Carpenter's🥀✌🥀
Excellent review. She had a 3 1/2 octave range, but didn't show it off very much, except in Yesterday Once More (my favorite Carpenter song) . Yeah, her voice was very unique, and she had the voice of an angel, on loan to us by God.
Great reaction! Karen Carpenter had such a smooth and beautiful voice. Most people had never heard of anorexia nervosa before Karen brought awareness about it, in such a sad way. So much loss of art in the world
Indeed, this song was first recorded by Carpenters for their Horizon album, but Richard felt that they had enough ballads for the record. Karen's vocal is actually a scratch take meant only to allow the other musicians to get an idea of the song's structure and how Karen might ultimately sing it with her final take. She wasn't all that familiar with the song - and was sight-reading it from sheet music. In fact, you can hear her turn the page over at the end of the first chorus. Barry's version features a rewrite of the song - with the lyrics modified ("Doctor my woman...") and with the bridge removed ("Read every book..."). It's a shame, really - as the bridge is my favorite part of the song.
Such a beautiful song never heard Karen Carpenter's version so so so beautiful. Thank you Chad for introducing me to this beautiful version of this song by Karen Carpenter. Enjoyed your review
My favorite part starts at 5:10 when she eventually sings "like a long lost friend"... and that electric guitar solo! - I like it probably better than the BM version.
I love that you bring back wonderful music from the past. Loved the Carpenters. You are amazing and I know so busy. I remember listening to this back in the 70’s. The Carpenters were so talented.
Karen, and the Carpenters were magic, no one can compare to KC’s hypnotic voice. For most of their songs (the hits) Richard composed and arranged the music, and John Bettis was the lyricist. They wrote songs for Karen’s voice and the rest, as they say, is history . And yes, some were released after Karen’s death ❤️
Beautiful song. Always loved it. It has been covered by the Carpenters and many others including Barry Manilow. David Pomeranz wrote it. very good rhythm and lyrics. Great reaction.
Hello Chad, it's me, Olga Fernández, you've just reacted to my request, thank you very much and let me recomend another gem song sang by them, the name is: *"EVE"* You will love this too !!!! Best regards from Mexico. 😍🇲🇽
Richard in 1994 added his background harmonies and in the chorus part, doubled or tripled her lead vocal as she did not record any background vocals....he had "LOST" this song for all those years and thought it had been lost for good...until he was working on the Japanese Karaoke album and found this song....so he decided to release it....she did have a 4 octave range.....she was a beautiful contralto singer!!
Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice, so melodic, smooth and strong when it was required. It was said that she had perfect pitch. I hadn't heard her sing this song before. It's absolutely beautiful. Must go listen to Barry now. Lovely reaction Chad thanks.
Karen has a fabulous voice but I know Barry's version so much that it will always be the definitive version for me, probably because we have a tendency to like the one we hear first. I think the slow start and build up (getting up from the stool or piano!) suits his style best. The song is really original focussing on the person wanting to walk away rather than the one left devastated.
Pretty song. I don't know which I like better Karen or Barry Manilow. They both sang it great. The Carpenters were so talented with any song they sang. Good reaction.
Oh yeah, had this one on one of their Albums I had, I loved the Carpenters, loved Karen’s voice. Oh and she played the drums too, first girl I had seen so that & I wanted to play them too, never did tho. Another bright amazing star we lost too soon , so sad. Thanks Chad for reacting to The Carpenters & this Song. I’m loving your channel, just found you about a month ago so I’m playing catch up. LOL Please react to more Carpenters Music, there is quite a bit. 😊👏🏼👍🏻
May be wrong, but Wikipedia says written by David Pomeranz. Recorded first by Carpenters in 1975 but not released until 1994 on their album Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration. Barry M recorded and released in 1976. That was the only version I knew and actually thought he wrote it. Karen’s voice can go from soft and sweet to strong and powerful in a heartbeat. But that first crescendo of the orchestra when you mentioned the tempo, I think she was actually overpowered by the orchestra. I’m not sure the tempo really increased as much as the orchestra jumped in.
BTW, the lyric and melody are different between this and Barry Manilow’s. Maybe that’s why their album was called Interpretations. But if theirs came first? I see the confusion.
Neither the Carpenters nor Barry Manilow wrote this song. Barry Manilow did it first. They both did a great job, but I love Karen’s voice. Thanks for reacting to something other than their hits…. I like that.
I have no idea who wrote it. Never liked Manilow.He did a Steinmann song. Of course Meat blew him out of the room. Read Em And Weep. Karen was the best.
Barry Manilow made this one famous, but Karen surely did am amazing job. She could do no wrong with her voice.
the guitar solo reminds me of the solo bit in GoodBye to Love.
Yes, that was Tony Peluso. He did both songs as well as others for them.
This was a rehearsal take - Karen sang it to familiarise the musicians so that a proper backing track could be made, then she’d go in to re-record her vocals. However as the Horizon album had many ballads, this did not go beyond the “demo” stage back then. You can hear her flip the lyric sheet after the first chorus and that itself meant it had to be recorded. Then years later Richard discovered this recording and decided to complete it because Karen honestly nailed it on the first take, and the lyric sheet flipping was something listeners just had to live with!
first time seeing your reaction to this song form the Carpenters. I being a hard core fan just love this song. When I first heard it in mid 90s , I was taken back by the page turning. I rewound it again and again. I then went to the liner notes (this was a CD at the time) and I saw where Richard mentioned this bit, and how he knew the lead vocal would have to be rerecord if it were to be released. Personally as the years go by, we had Karen for such a short time, the page turning exemplifies just how near perfect Karen was when even doing a read through.
Nailed it on the first take…..how unlike her..
You can hear Karen’s page turn at 3:51, just before Chad’s first response. What was put out was the guide vocal, in one take. Didn’t realise until the other day that they recorded this before Barry Manilow. It could possibly be her greatest vocal…
beautiful cerebral intimate reading
This brought me to tears! The Carpenters had the most emotion-provoking music ever!
Me too
Beautiful song written by David Pomeranz. Karen's voice was and is outstanding.....
This was a Work-Lead, Karen's first take through the song. Not rehearsed & absolutely incredible. After Richard listened back, it was set and done 😎
Karen will never be forgotten as she did a duo with my neighbor, Perry Como from Canonsburg Pa. Both singers are gone but never forgotten!
Richard was so great as well and had so much talent!
This was a hit for Barry Manilow in 1976. The Carpenter’s version was recorded in 1975, but not released until 1994.
I love that you react to much more than radio hits. This one was a well known song recorded by Barry Manilow, so you can't hear it without thinking of him and his theatrical performance. I'm picturing some sequins right now. LOL And yet, Karen's voice is just so perfect, you have to love it. The Carpenters knew how to incorporate a guitar solo!!! The fuzz guitar solo on their "Goodbye to Love" was outstanding, and caused a bit of a sensation with Carpenters purists.
I love the Carpenters, but this will always be a Barry Manilow song for me!
🥀Amazing Song no doubt amazing lyrics, vocals and music these two were beyond their own time in the music industry. I've always loved the Carpenter's🥀✌🥀
Excellent review. She had a 3 1/2 octave range, but didn't show it off very much, except in Yesterday Once More (my favorite Carpenter song) . Yeah, her voice was very unique, and she had the voice of an angel, on loan to us by God.
Great reaction! Karen Carpenter had such a smooth and beautiful voice. Most people had never heard of anorexia nervosa before Karen brought awareness about it, in such a sad way. So much loss of art in the world
Indeed, this song was first recorded by Carpenters for their Horizon album, but Richard felt that they had enough ballads for the record. Karen's vocal is actually a scratch take meant only to allow the other musicians to get an idea of the song's structure and how Karen might ultimately sing it with her final take. She wasn't all that familiar with the song - and was sight-reading it from sheet music. In fact, you can hear her turn the page over at the end of the first chorus. Barry's version features a rewrite of the song - with the lyrics modified ("Doctor my woman...") and with the bridge removed ("Read every book..."). It's a shame, really - as the bridge is my favorite part of the song.
Such a beautiful song never heard Karen Carpenter's version so so so beautiful. Thank you Chad for introducing me to this beautiful version of this song by Karen Carpenter. Enjoyed your review
Chad. I Love your energy and respect for Carpenters music
My favorite part starts at 5:10 when she eventually sings "like a long lost friend"... and that electric guitar solo! - I like it probably better than the BM version.
My favorite of the Carpenters is "Top of the World". A happy song.
Love the Carpenters...sad how she was gone so young. ❤
I love that you bring back wonderful music from the past. Loved the Carpenters. You are amazing and I know so busy. I remember listening to this back in the 70’s. The Carpenters were so talented.
Karen, and the Carpenters were magic, no one can compare to KC’s hypnotic voice. For most of their songs (the hits) Richard composed and arranged the music, and John Bettis was the lyricist. They wrote songs for Karen’s voice and the rest, as they say, is history . And yes, some were released after Karen’s death ❤️
Karen is the best female vocalist!
Beautiful song. Always loved it. It has been covered by the Carpenters and many others including Barry Manilow. David Pomeranz wrote it. very good rhythm and lyrics. Great reaction.
Hello Chad, it's me, Olga Fernández, you've just reacted to my request, thank you very much and let me recomend another gem song sang by them, the name is: *"EVE"* You will love this too !!!!
Best regards from Mexico. 😍🇲🇽
Wonderful song. Thanks. Karen had a great vocal range. (Check out - - The Vocal Range of Karen Carpenter video.)
Beautifull voice.
Amen,. Nice title. Nice song🎶🎶🎶🤔. Thanks Chad 😍
Richard in 1994 added his background harmonies and in the chorus part, doubled or tripled her lead vocal as she did not record any background vocals....he had "LOST" this song for all those years and thought it had been lost for good...until he was working on the Japanese Karaoke album and found this song....so he decided to release it....she did have a 4 octave range.....she was a beautiful contralto singer!!
Love everything I've ever heard by the Carpenters Never heard this one before. Beautiful... !!! 💞
Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice, so melodic, smooth and strong when it was required. It was said that she had perfect pitch. I hadn't heard her sing this song before. It's absolutely beautiful. Must go listen to Barry now. Lovely reaction Chad thanks.
Song is structured like Phil Spector 's Wall of Sound .
Karen has a fabulous voice but I know Barry's version so much that it will always be the definitive version for me, probably because we have a tendency to like the one we hear first. I think the slow start and build up (getting up from the stool or piano!) suits his style best. The song is really original focussing on the person wanting to walk away rather than the one left devastated.
I saw Barry sing this song at the Kennedy Center back in the 70s.
Pretty song. I don't know which I like better Karen or Barry Manilow. They both sang it great. The Carpenters were so talented with any song they sang. Good reaction.
Oh yeah, had this one on one of their Albums I had, I loved the Carpenters, loved Karen’s voice. Oh and she played the drums too, first girl I had seen so that & I wanted to play them too, never did tho. Another bright amazing star we lost too soon , so sad. Thanks Chad for reacting to The Carpenters & this Song. I’m loving your channel, just found you about a month ago so I’m playing catch up. LOL Please react to more Carpenters Music, there is quite a bit. 😊👏🏼👍🏻
If Karen were with us today, she would be popular unlike any other!
You should have a listen to Carpenters B’wanna She No Home, fun song.
May be wrong, but Wikipedia says written by David Pomeranz. Recorded first by Carpenters in 1975 but not released until 1994 on their album Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration. Barry M recorded and released in 1976. That was the only version I knew and actually thought he wrote it. Karen’s voice can go from soft and sweet to strong and powerful in a heartbeat. But that first crescendo of the orchestra when you mentioned the tempo, I think she was actually overpowered by the orchestra. I’m not sure the tempo really increased as much as the orchestra jumped in.
BTW, the lyric and melody are different between this and Barry Manilow’s. Maybe that’s why their album was called Interpretations. But if theirs came first? I see the confusion.
Check out A PLace to Hideaway --great little known song .
Barry Manilow is the man for this song my friend, I love her but forget it!, Barry is the one so check it out!!
Try love me for what I am
Neither the Carpenters nor Barry Manilow wrote this song.
Barry Manilow did it first. They both did a great job, but I love Karen’s voice.
Thanks for reacting to something other than their hits…. I like that.
Barry Manilow recorded the best version of this song
I have no idea who wrote it. Never liked Manilow.He did a Steinmann song. Of course Meat blew him out of the room. Read Em And Weep. Karen was the best.