Karens voice did change a little in later years but it did become finer. I do think that she was amazing in that even with that dreaded disease she still kept at it. If you listen closly at the end all the bacgound vocals are richard and Karen obviously pre recorded with Karen using her "other" voice rarely heard on any of the studio tracks. I dod agree thought that Horizon was totally sublime. Interesting comment on Diana Krall and Karen working together. She would have become a superstar.
If you listen to Karen's voice on a vinyl LP it sounds vastly different and better to how it sounds on the CDs and some of the CDs, even the SACD, have ludicrous electronic reverb that completely spoils the impact of her vocals. Made is America was a shambles although the one really great song is on it Somebody's Been Lyin' is stunning. Karen began to sound anorexic on the last two albums because she was anorexic and it affected her vocal resonance.
@steveatl40 - yes, if you notice (and Richard states this), live in concert she loses some of here recording studio lower register sound quality (lol, as she would say, the money's in the basement). I was at many of there concerts over the years and even though I am probably her #1 fan ever; at times in concerts her voice .... just was not the same as the recordings. And, that made me love her even more! I saw them at Expo '74 in Spokane, and they were amazing.
@ronnie8604 - I have seen all of her live performances on video. Up through 74 (I haven't seen any from 75) she sounds the same as her recordings to me. 76 and later, her live and recording voice becomes more like a little girl's voice, and by 80, she's not hitting the high notes with the same milky/velvety clarity. I really truly think the anorexia took a toll on her voice. She went from stellar to very good, from 75-83. I just can't get into the later stuff. 76-78 is good but beyond that, no.
@steveatl40 - yes, I agree her voice sounded a bit shrill after 75 (live). However, "Now" was the old Karen I felt ... a bit over-produced; and I think it was her last song recorded? Her early years clearly were the best, but Richard lacked good material I felt toward the end. Touch Me While You're Dancing - was good, but not great.
@ronnie8604 - I like "Now," but I really can't stand the arrangements and the reverb on Karen's voice in the 1980s. I also don't like the Solo album stuff except for "Make Believe..." (beautiful!) and 'If we Try" (she sounds like the younger Karen here, healthy, great form). Richard took them into easy listening land and Karen's voice lost that youthful soulful sadness that carried Superstar, etc.
@steveatl40 - yes, Make Believe was stellar. Yes, that is what happened - easy listening land...brilliant. She wanted to redo Darling later (I like both), the original radio version was a bit faster - I have it on 45. Where Do I Go, was a work lead (LOVE that song). Yes, all over the map, I concur.
@ronnie8604 - Also. Listen to both versions of Merry Christmas Darling (1970, 1978). The difference in her vocal sound is startling. I think the tune that really shows the wear on her voice is 1978's "Where do We Go from Here." Yet, in "Leave Yesterday Behind" - she sounds as good as she did in 1975. Post 1975, her vocal quality was all over the map. Before that she sang with constant perfection of sound. I guess I'm being a bit hyper critical, but I'm quite the fan.
@steveatl40 - yes, the perfection thing (he took out her breaths)... but when she did loosen up a bit (as Richard stated she had to be careful going out of Carpenter territory was risky), she lacked the luster - know what I mean? Maybe if Diana Krall produced her now, we would really see it come together!!!??
@steveatl40 Wikipedia: "Karen dieted obsessively and developed the disorder anorexia nervosa, which first manifested itself in 1975 when she collapsed during a show in Las Vegas." Coincidence?
@KnightOneDark Definitely not a coincidence. If Karen had never had this disease, she would have been catapulted into superstardom for sure, especially if she broke away from the Carpenters sound and branched out.
Thanks soooooooooooooo much for posting this it is sooooooooooooooooo great! I really appreciate all the work you do here on Youtube it is brilliant! Keep up! love
I love the Carpenters! :)
lightlivelyliving 3 months ago
As much as I like Richard Carpenter, he doesn't sing well. He spoils the song.
mrshinyshoes 4 months ago
@mrshinyshoes He also has near makes retarded arrangements
JakobVirgil 3 months ago
*SIGH* I miss her more and more. :(
BoDiddley75 6 months ago
:p yuck ... No offence to anyone who likes it. Its just not paul
ladykatemacca 6 months ago
The male vocals ruin the song!!!! Love ya Kc XOX
MRJELLYJ2 8 months ago
What's this from? Is there a video of it??
arfies 1 year ago
Paul McCartney & Carpenters. There's a better combination? (except for Paul McCartney and the other 3 Beatles)
keyblok 1 year ago
Karens voice did change a little in later years but it did become finer. I do think that she was amazing in that even with that dreaded disease she still kept at it. If you listen closly at the end all the bacgound vocals are richard and Karen obviously pre recorded with Karen using her "other" voice rarely heard on any of the studio tracks. I dod agree thought that Horizon was totally sublime. Interesting comment on Diana Krall and Karen working together. She would have become a superstar.
davmar 1 year ago
Whenever I hear Richard Carpenter sing, I cringe. Obviously, singing talent is not a genetic trait! Lol!
mrshinyshoes 1 year ago
If you listen to Karen's voice on a vinyl LP it sounds vastly different and better to how it sounds on the CDs and some of the CDs, even the SACD, have ludicrous electronic reverb that completely spoils the impact of her vocals. Made is America was a shambles although the one really great song is on it Somebody's Been Lyin' is stunning. Karen began to sound anorexic on the last two albums because she was anorexic and it affected her vocal resonance.
paulgarrard501 1 year ago
音もすごい大事だけど、
この変顔コレクションは...KCファン垂涎ものwww
UsukiTomohiro 1 year ago
holy shit!
DungeonSF 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Ick. The seventies at its worst.
chthonic19 2 years ago
Lol, what you know about the seventies? You're 29.
BonelessSausage 2 years ago
never knew they did this one...awesome!! short but sweet!!
jennadyann 2 years ago
Is it me or does Karen's voice sound a tad shrill here?? I love her voice but some of the later recordings of her sound odd to me.
steveatl40 2 years ago
It's just you.
pawoon 2 years ago
I've listened to every single piece of recordings out there from the Carpenters and her solo work and I'm sorry, she sounds different here.
steveatl40 2 years ago
@steveatl40 - yes, if you notice (and Richard states this), live in concert she loses some of here recording studio lower register sound quality (lol, as she would say, the money's in the basement). I was at many of there concerts over the years and even though I am probably her #1 fan ever; at times in concerts her voice .... just was not the same as the recordings. And, that made me love her even more! I saw them at Expo '74 in Spokane, and they were amazing.
ronnie8604 1 year ago
@ronnie8604 - I have seen all of her live performances on video. Up through 74 (I haven't seen any from 75) she sounds the same as her recordings to me. 76 and later, her live and recording voice becomes more like a little girl's voice, and by 80, she's not hitting the high notes with the same milky/velvety clarity. I really truly think the anorexia took a toll on her voice. She went from stellar to very good, from 75-83. I just can't get into the later stuff. 76-78 is good but beyond that, no.
steveatl40 1 year ago
@steveatl40 - yes, I agree her voice sounded a bit shrill after 75 (live). However, "Now" was the old Karen I felt ... a bit over-produced; and I think it was her last song recorded? Her early years clearly were the best, but Richard lacked good material I felt toward the end. Touch Me While You're Dancing - was good, but not great.
ronnie8604 1 year ago
@ronnie8604 - I like "Now," but I really can't stand the arrangements and the reverb on Karen's voice in the 1980s. I also don't like the Solo album stuff except for "Make Believe..." (beautiful!) and 'If we Try" (she sounds like the younger Karen here, healthy, great form). Richard took them into easy listening land and Karen's voice lost that youthful soulful sadness that carried Superstar, etc.
steveatl40 1 year ago
@steveatl40 - yes, Make Believe was stellar. Yes, that is what happened - easy listening land...brilliant. She wanted to redo Darling later (I like both), the original radio version was a bit faster - I have it on 45. Where Do I Go, was a work lead (LOVE that song). Yes, all over the map, I concur.
ronnie8604 1 year ago
@ronnie8604 - Also. Listen to both versions of Merry Christmas Darling (1970, 1978). The difference in her vocal sound is startling. I think the tune that really shows the wear on her voice is 1978's "Where do We Go from Here." Yet, in "Leave Yesterday Behind" - she sounds as good as she did in 1975. Post 1975, her vocal quality was all over the map. Before that she sang with constant perfection of sound. I guess I'm being a bit hyper critical, but I'm quite the fan.
steveatl40 1 year ago
@steveatl40 - yes, the perfection thing (he took out her breaths)... but when she did loosen up a bit (as Richard stated she had to be careful going out of Carpenter territory was risky), she lacked the luster - know what I mean? Maybe if Diana Krall produced her now, we would really see it come together!!!??
ronnie8604 1 year ago
@steveatl40 - 1975 was her peak vocally. She never sounded better than she did on "Horizon" - flawless vocals.
Alvin4NY 1 year ago
@steveatl40 Wikipedia: "Karen dieted obsessively and developed the disorder anorexia nervosa, which first manifested itself in 1975 when she collapsed during a show in Las Vegas." Coincidence?
KnightOneDark 1 year ago
@KnightOneDark Definitely not a coincidence. If Karen had never had this disease, she would have been catapulted into superstardom for sure, especially if she broke away from the Carpenters sound and branched out.
steveatl40 1 year ago
@ronnie8604 i'm just curious. why would it make you love her even more?
No1KCfan6 1 year ago
I think it might just be the quality of the recording. :)
TheBritishGothic 2 years ago
yes I realize that too. I think its because later on she was so thin that she couldn't handle singing at the low voice that she was accustomed to.
noren03 2 years ago
It is probably the recording we are hearing. This sounds wonderful on CD.
MonaHere28 2 years ago
What a great combination!!!!!!
Robbyjean 2 years ago
Thank you for uploading this!! This is so great...Karen does it so well...soul soothing ^_^
I guessed its arranged by Richard, as well...i can hear the aaaah part of I wont last a day without you...sounds really nice
dahon300 2 years ago
Karen's voice shines. John Davidson's...not so much.
earcandy2008 2 years ago
SO GOOD !
wengilee 3 years ago
Im karen spirit
nakluts 3 years ago
WINGS AT THE SPEED OF SOUND! I want to know Linda and Paul McCartney's reaction to heared their song on Karen's voice!! = D
BeatlesSuperstars 3 years ago
Thanks for ur sharing, I really enjoy it!
BTW, besides Karen and Richard, there is another singer in this song. Who is she?
clivehsukimo 3 years ago
Captain and Tenille.
sisterlead02 3 years ago
I love Karen and her voice so much. I miss her sorely. 0:27 - very funny.I miss her so much. Karen, you will be our favorite one forever!
mhar17 3 years ago 2
So cool! Karen's voice is the best out of all of them!
imalittlemidget 3 years ago 2
Thanks soooooooooooooo much for posting this it is sooooooooooooooooo great! I really appreciate all the work you do here on Youtube it is brilliant! Keep up! love
abbakc 4 years ago
Thank you so much!! =)
sisterlead02 4 years ago
Love it!!
LoveHowardBanister 4 years ago
I'm glad you like it! =)
sisterlead02 4 years ago