Carpenters - A Song For You (The Bob Hope Special) Part 2

[Dewryadv]

The Best Female Singer!!!

[jackie6382]

awwwwww beautiful could cry bless you karen xxx

[rjwestDesign]

The Best Album. #4 "Song For You" + Everything Else The Best Too. Carpenters Eternal Best Beauty. Love Carpenters.

[JP5466]

Karen was much more relaxed here... Richard was so stiff. If she had lived, I have a feeling that Karen would have done so much more than just singing.

[T0MMY1969]

When was this TV broadcast？

[NedNickerson2010]

@T0MMY1969 It's right there on the opening screen - October 5, 1972...

[T0MMY1969]

@NedNickerson2010

Thank you very very much ありがとうございます(＝＾◇＾＝)

[TOPOFFMAN]

Of course Karen was lip syncing! Back then, they knew the broadcast quality would be perfect, Too bad about the sax part.

[TOPOFFMAN]

This must have been a special time for them!

[ruedydude]

This is vocal perfection. All covers of this song can't hold a candle to Karen's.

[konedog55]

Karen was such a natural comedian! She is great in her banter with Bob Hope

[orangewizard]

@DasGrausam haha ha...but agree more...haheeehuhuhuhooh00ha...­.but agree less....hoohoo hu ha hee hee hee HAR!!!

[channelonesuite]

Oh darn! No tenor solo? They must have cut it from the track just for the show. You could tell it wasn't totally live, no organ and the strings were exactly like the studio recording.

[sheenaw215]

nakedbison69 you took my comment a bit personal didnt you? lol. as invalid as your point may be, it's still your opinion which you are entitled to.

[sheenaw215]

in my opinion, this song can't just be sung. you can be the greatest technical singer, but if you lack the soul, you just can't pull this song off. donny sung it with soul. whitney sung it with soul. even christina put soul into it. this just didn't do it for me. she's still a great singer. she just didn't do this song justice. she gave you soulless version. if thats what you prefer, you'll love this version.

[nakedBison69]

sheenaw215 has no soul

[BBBYpsi]

@sheenaw215 She the one who made this a hit first. All others were copy cats.

[coolroy34]

Gotta give Love to Bob Hope, grew up watching his shows in the 70's

[themadaboutmusic]

This song definitely belongs to the one and only ....Karen.

[ahfaxthis]

so i viewed it upclose, the voice is real. she is not lip singing. she is singing live. OMG. so freak'n beautiful. WOW !

[infinera06]

@ahfaxthis Karen was an expert lip syncher. Fooled me for many years.

[arfies]

@ahfaxthis The backing track is, at least, definitely the studio version, as you can hear Karen's voice on it (and Richard, who isn't miked, nor are any of the instruments). Karen was indeed perfect in every concert, and the Carpenters prided themselves on sounding EXACTLY like the records, so that's no issue. What she'd often do is sing along (not just lip-synch) to recordings on TV shows, so it is "authentic" in that sense. I think that's what happened here. But it is an edited studio version.

[infinera06]

@arfies Karen's live singing did NOT sound exactly as the studio recordings, especially in later years. She sounded very good early on. I saw her live in 73, and she was very good. But she did not sound exactly like the recordings, which would be practically impossible to do. You can absolutely hear the difference on her REAL live performances. Even though she may be singing along here, it is not the voice you hear. It's a recording.

[arfies]

@infinera06 She definitely had more freedom of voice and expression in her live performances, which is why I enjoy them even more than the studio versions. And yes, I know this is a recording. The "singing along to a recording" (rather than just lip synching) is most evident in the Karen/Ella medley of "Music Music Music", where Karen's live voice (singing to her recording) gets picked up by Ella's mic (who WAS live) in parts, so there's a slight echo effect, especially in "As Time Goes By."

[ahfaxthis]

i've been to over 300 concerts in my lifetime and this is the one concert I never got to attend. DAMN IT !

[ahfaxthis]

OMG it appears to actually be sung live. WOW.. OMG OMG OMG. KAREN IS THE BEST EVER ! wow We lost so much in 1983.

[jamesrobbison]

Ahh...back when you actually had to have singing TALENT to make it in the music industry! Man I miss those days, and Karen too....

[Dthunderchicken]

Listening to The Carpenters is like a glass of brandy by a fire on a cold winter day. It just melts away everything and makes you feel so content.

[orangewizard]

KC looks fantastic......great colour,and BANGIN' body!!! :-0

[MegaELECTRICEYE]

Out of sight and timeless.

[maleficentdiva]

Karen looks so healthy here, if only she would have stayed like she is here. poor girl, is makes me sad that she isn't here anymore. She was/is the best female singer who ever lived!

[kyteddy1]

Karen is like an angel singing a song JUST for YOU and giving you that feeling of being blessed to have that special lady serenading you....then she is gone...never to return:-(I have never heard a voice to match hers and probably never will,but i DO know one thing for sure......she sang like an angel and i am sure that she has made a spot in heaven that is keeping all the other angels smiling :-)Thanks for this wonderful post :-)

[silverstartrucker]

What a fabulous voice Karen had...why did you have to leave us so early Karen...

[indyvic]

Great song. Just fits life.

Bob Hope and the Carpenters together. One of those memories we take with us, thankfully.. Nice post.

[eXtremeMohaz]

she looks so healthy here....and she has a humor to make the audience laugh....she is really a legend....no one can imitate or duplicate her voice..they can try but way,way way, way,way, farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....to be close to here.....

[Abel3M]

Lip sync...you´re kidding. Why would a voice like Karen´s need that?

Don´t write like morons....

[enok45]

Never in my life will I forget when I saw them in like 1974. I was only 12 years old but was the best concert I have everb seen.

[cd72]

This is a lip sync. For television. A lot of times it was common back then to do lip syncing...but in concert, they never lip synced...

[supercuda340]

Just to clear something up. this is not a lip-synching Richard Carpenter was very sure to make sure all show sounded like the album. Guys in the band at the time were to get in big trouble if anything was out of sort or improv. it was to be identical to the studio version at all live shows.

[BelovedJohn77]

I thought so. There are very subtle differences to the studio version. At least in my opinion. thank you.

[paulhurley88]

to anyone who knew karen was a perfecioes and that was one thing she could do sing the same live all her songs were fab its a pitty shes not around to day but her music still lives on i love the carpenters may she rest in peace

[jalanis1980]

they get made fun of all the time, but they are certainly from a by-gone era. There is noway a duo would fly like this today. So we should respect and give props to them for what they were. If they were today, they would be totally different and wouldnt be so 'wholesome' - they were huge in the only era that could substain them. You listen to the carpenters for pureness and the voice, not for all the other 'distractions' that are in other music. And for that, they are classic.

[kyteddy1]

If i ever hear an angel singing i am sure it would be Karen Carpenter :-)

[MikeHudson65]

IS she singing live? Because it is identical to the studio version I really cannot tell? Doesn't anyone know. Usually I can tell live from studio. If this is her live version it is perfection.

[NedNickerson2010]

@MikeHudson65 She's lip-synching to an edited version of the song (the sax solo has been omitted). I uploaded the same clip with an clean wav file (also minus the sax solo). Look for "Carpenters - A Song For You (new audio)" to listen to it.

[arfies]

@NedNickerson2010 It's also usually easy to tell when something is a studio version when YouTube "recognizes" the audio track and posts the title of it under the video. Quite useful.

[calilammy]

@NedNickerson2010 Hi Ned...who is at the piano in the background??? Is it Tony Peluso? Just wondering...I counted everyone in the band it was like 7 guys, and Richard...then I saw the background with another piano...thought it was Tony?? Thanks!

[NedNickerson2010]

@calilammy Yes, that is Tony Peluso. He joined the band when he performed the guitar solo on Goodbye to Love, which was included on the "Song For You" album. From left to right, the band members are Tony Peluso, Gary Sims, Jim Squeglia, Bob Messenger, Doug Strawn, and Danny Woodhams. Jim was the relief drummer for Karen. Jim left the group after Richard insisted that he perform the drumming exactly as recorded on the albums, but who did not “wanna be doing the same break every night."

[JP5466]

@NedNickerson2010 Jim also had a "thing" going with Karen for a very brief period.

[chyman]

@NedNickerson2010 it sounds live. i dont understand why she would lip-synch when she had serious vocal abilities.

[Dravenswraith]

@MikeHudson65 its hard to tell for me cuz karen had perfect pitch and i believe could sing it pretty identical to the recorded version, so its hard to get a bead on live perf with her

[shielae7]

@MikeHudson65

Karen is even better in live.

[rematpac]

I remember this being released as a single when they 1st put the album out,but incredibly it didn't chart very far or long.There were at least 4 other singles from this album that were huge hits anyway.

[NedNickerson2010]

@rematpac "A Song For You" was never released as a single in the United States. Singles from the "Song For You" album were "Hurting Each Other," "It's Going To Take Some Time," "Goodbye To Love," and a remastered "I Won't Last A Day Without You" featuring Tony Peluso on electric guitar. "Top of the World" was on the album. A completely new recording was released as a single. "Bless the Beasts & Children" was on the flip-side of the "Superstar" single and received some airplay on the radio.

[rematpac]

@NedNickerson2010 The song was played quite frequently on my local Top 40 when the album came out and the station never played anything thing but singles .And I also own some rare to find 45 singles from supergroups who omit the fact that these songs were released as singles from their discography history because they did so poorly on the charts(COMMON PRACTICE).Unless you were alive at the time like I was I think my version holds more weight desp[ite how many times you've read to the contrary.

[NedNickerson2010]

@rematpac If they had released A Song For You as a single, there's no way on earth it would have ever been considered a "poorly charting single." But again, I repeat: There is no 45 rpm single of the song. It does not exist.

[rematpac]

@NedNickerson2010 When the Carpenters get a chance to sing on Bob Hope,THEY ARE going to promote their latest single(s) like always.That's how they sold their records,that was the only strategy for Top 40 groups.This clip just proves my point.I can remember thinking about adding this single to my collection and was dissappointed but not totally surprised that it didn't become a hit.It seemed just a little too mellow at the time,which was the reason I didn't buy it and it never became a hit.Facts

[rematpac]

@rematpac Additional facts ;A TOP 40 gpoup would NEVER name their album after a song that they didn't intend to promote as a hit single,ESPECIALLY in 1972!

[rematpac]

@NedNickerson2010 Do you want me to name a few singles that I either found or remember that you're not going to find confromation probably mostly anywhere on the internet that they ever existed as singles?Why would the Carpenters be any different?Karen went to her grave denying the music she recorded from 1966-68.I know it's hard to believe that perhaps the Carpenter's greatest song bombed in the middle of their popularity.This song was too mature for us 13 yr. old 45 record buyers,fickle teens!

[jeffohnj]

@NedNickerson2010 True. A Song for You was never released as a single. Despite my fervent wishes.

[msinno1969]

is this what you hear when you go to heven rip kaz x

[MrChingobling69]

beautiful......her vocal octave is unreal.

[beentheredonethatb4]

The voice of an angel. I miss her presence, but still have all her great songs.

[iempsa]

I THINK THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE A VIDEO WITH THE LONG HAIR'S KAREN'S LOOK

[roscoegino]

If I listen I get sad because I know she's dead. But If I don't I know I'll never hear a voice like it.

[singsoulfulscott]

Karen makes me smile :)

[LazzariJ]

Had to look this classic song up as Leon Russell has now got together with Elton John - not sure if they do this one?

[maleficentdiva]

BEST FEMALE SINGER EVER! NOBODY WILL EVER REPLACE HER! SHE IS TIMELESS!

[falldownhard]

I just passed this part in "Little Girl Blue" where it's noted that the only reason this wasn't considered for single release was due to its length. Surely Richard could have culled a radio edit that kept the integrity of the song but fit the single format of the day. Or heck they should have just released it as is - how long was American Pie?? Just wonderful - and doesn't Karen look stunning here!

[vmuto1]

@falldownhard If Randy Schmidt is a true fan like he says he is, he would donate all of the money that he makes from Little girl Blue to eating disorders in Karen's name. He took the name of the book from the song, I want to note that there is alot left out of this book. Karen's friends should have wrote there own books years ago instead of being interviewed years later. The Long & short of it is that Karen was a home type girl, not a party animal. Karen was very Beautiful, an Angel.

[Arwensgal]

How do you know what Randy has or hasn't done with his money? Quit blaming people and saying what they should or shouldn't have done!!! Essh! What have you done for eating disorders?

I'm looking forward to reading the book myself!!!

[steveatl40]

@vmuto1 Really? Why would you post something like that?

[germanbalaguer]

Excelente Ned!!!!!!!...muy emocionante...nunca había visto este video...gracias muchas amigooo!!! Abrazo. Germán.

[oneyelloweric]

this clip so special,i have looked for karen singing this "a song for you" for such a long time,excellent work done as usual ned your are a hero for bringing this gem to us,its a shame it only the short version but still brilliant !!!!!!!!,

[The01Junior]

I love her voice.....she sings like an angel.....R.I.P. <3

[rematpac]

Shortened version,but one of the best pop ballads that could only be made immortal by this one in a billion singer.

[singsoulfulscott]

The more I listen to her the more amazed I am with her. It appears that both Richard and Karen had perfect pitch.

[johnbrowneyes]

Karen was the best.......her voice was the key to their success.....she will never be forgotten.

[mnlght0snt]

Love this video :) thanks for sharing :)

[improvguru]

I love Karen's sense of humor, stage presence, and comic timing. She was a natural for tv.

[coronet72]

Love the Carpenter's sound. Lyrics that mean something and performed beautifully by the whole group. Thanks for posting..

[kyteddy1]

She was like an angel singing....i could even close my eyes and still see her singing!!!!!!Earth lost an angel when Karen left us:( We love and miss you Karen and will ALWAYS remember how special you were and how your voice brought peace to our hearts!!!!!!:)

[JP5466]

Too bad, no sax solo. SFY and "Superstar" are my favs.

Lady Gaga my ass... Karen's voice was incomparable and she was beautiful inside and out.

What an incredible loss the world suffered on Feb 4th 1983. The world lost the greatest female singer in history on that day.

[geoghe10]

My personal favorite. She can go so low, and so in tune. They both had perfect pitch. Their impact on the American pop music is vastly underrated. Album version longer and more dramatic.

[engelcarta390]

Karen was so so beautiful. She was a fantastic singer...her voice was so profound and resonant. It was like nothing else in the world.

[kyteddy1]

Her voice was absolute perfection!!!IWe love and miss you Karen and will forever be in our hearts...

[SWILLY36]

I LOVE this song and the way Karen sings it. She makes you feel as though she's singing to the listener and only the listener. Sadly missed 27 years on. Love you Karen

[falldownhard]

@SWILLY36 I totally agree, this is the ONLY way this song should ever be sung, and since Karen's voice will never be duplicated...Leon Russell ought to retire the song to the Smithsonian with the Carpenters' recording. This is one of her best and most dynamic vocals. I think they should have released this as a single in spite of its length.

[richfincm]

Fantastic!  Her voice melts me...

[thorwaldjorgensen]

Carpenters are COOL!!!

what a talent!