The "sound" of the Carpenters

mountainstorm · 11th July 2008

Me and my wife are watching a program of a live performance by the Carpenters from 1971 ... amazing! Anyway, we got to wondering, how was their sound achieved. Whilst I'm sure a large part is due to Richard Carpenters arrangement, what's the secret?

They manage to achieve an almost "pipe organ"/"fake"/"syrupy" sound on the harmonies. Yet when Karen sings solo she has a clarity whilst still with the same sound (perhaps subtle distortion?).

Its great, and I quite fancy trying to reproduce it ... any ideas?

Help me GearSlutz, your my only hope!

Rich and Jak (the Wife)

moon_unit · 12th July 2008

I think it's a bunch of elves in a tree.

Either that, or magic fairy dust.

(actually, it sounds like some Mutt-Lange style tracking, with like 10 or so overdubs of both of their voices; singing deliberately breathy ... along with a very prominent and obvious "whisper track")

Heartfelt · 12th July 2008

LOL,
you had me... I was really believing the magic fairy dust for a moment.

spons · 12th July 2008

whisper track? Is that just whispering the vocal take?

mountainstorm · 12th July 2008

Well with the help of a friend, Mr Johnny Parry, we've come to conclusion that your right. Magic Pixie dust!

We also think that for the live performances they had all four members sing very closely with vibrato, which gives them a very wide, thick sound.

Rich

Heartfelt · 12th July 2008

wait... there were more than 2 carpenters?

gward · 12th July 2008

Carpenter ants...

mountainstorm · 12th July 2008

Have a look at YouTube - Carpenters - Bacharach / David Medley - Live at the BBC 1971 you can (hopefully) hear the 'sound' Im talking about and you can clearly see that (when live) there are an extra two carpenters.

I believe these two extra members hold the secret to the sound. Normally hidden from view, shy creatures, they provide body to the Carpenters sound. What other reason would there be. I cant believe the 'Bez' bloke with the percussion rattle thing would be there if it wasn't for the almost magical effect he could impart on the vocals.

Rich

narcoman · 12th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstorm

Have a look at YouTube - Carpenters - Bacharach / David Medley - Live at the BBC 1971 you can (hopefully) hear the 'sound' Im talking about and you can clearly see that (when live) there are an extra two carpenters.

I believe these two extra members hold the secret to the sound. Normally hidden from view, shy creatures, they provide body to the Carpenters sound. What other reason would there be. I cant believe the 'Bez' bloke with the percussion rattle thing would be there if it wasn't for the almost magical effect he could impart on the vocals.

Rich

Love that - seen it before. Not really live though.

narcoman · 13th July 2008

here IS the Carpenters live - in 1976.

BBC iPlayer - The Carpenters: World of Music

Only up until the 20th of July - so check it out.

The Karen drum solo is great fun....

axisdreamer · 13th July 2008

Wow, I never heard that before! The first few minutes are a really cool song and they pulled it off well.Who wrote the music for the first part of this medley clip?

It sounds like three and four part cluster type harmonies that are double tracked when they all sing?! It's like having Queen back you up...ha ha..

Pretty cool stuff!!!!

oceantracks · 13th July 2008

Sometimes simple is better.

That's all it was with them.

Brother and sister....makes for a great blend....in the beginning the tripled their backing harmonies, then started just doubling them because it sounded fine. I once marveled at how well they blended and Richard said....."Well, family will do that"

Richard is a premier arranger, though most of the harmonies were very straightforward and were just 3 part. Richard has an airy sound to his voice, that adds to the "air" in the harmonies. Karen is Karen, perfect...period.

Helps when you have great songs to work with, great musicians, and a few trademark things like the oboe. They all together to make the Carpenters sound.

Simple is better

TH

chasman · 13th July 2008

just wanted to throw in a thought...................

dem carpenteris were de bomb man.....................just watched and listened to a couple videos......................you know, to me the greatest male singer ever was sinatra.............I am now convinced that (my opinion) karen was the greatest female singer ever...........the sinatra of girl singers..................the whole of the musical accompaniment....instruments......harmonies.......background vox.....arranging.........right straight from heaven man.............bliss inducing....................and she was soooooooooooooooooo pretty......................God have mercy.................what a tragedy to die like she did and so young....................

11th July 2008	#1
mountainstorm Gear Head Joined: May 2007 Posts: 35 Thread Starter	The "sound" of the Carpenters Me and my wife are watching a program of a live performance by the Carpenters from 1971 ... amazing! Anyway, we got to wondering, how was their sound achieved. Whilst I'm sure a large part is due to Richard Carpenters arrangement, what's the secret? They manage to achieve an almost "pipe organ"/"fake"/"syrupy" sound on the harmonies. Yet when Karen sings solo she has a clarity whilst still with the same sound (perhaps subtle distortion?). Its great, and I quite fancy trying to reproduce it ... any ideas? Help me GearSlutz, your my only hope! Rich and Jak (the Wife)

12th July 2008	#3
Heartfelt Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,443	LOL, you had me... I was really believing the magic fairy dust for a moment. __________________ Robert Smith Houston, TX www.RobertSmithMusic.com

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12th July 2008	#2
moon_unit Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Bucktown. Chicago, IL Posts: 926	I think it's a bunch of elves in a tree. Either that, or magic fairy dust. (actually, it sounds like some Mutt-Lange style tracking, with like 10 or so overdubs of both of their voices; singing deliberately breathy ... along with a very prominent and obvious "whisper track")

12th July 2008	#4
spons Gear nut Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 106	whisper track? Is that just whispering the vocal take?

12th July 2008	#7
gward Gear nut Joined: Jun 2006 Location: St Paul, MN Posts: 140 8 Reviews written	Carpenter ants...

13th July 2008	#10
narcoman Lives for gear Joined: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 9,574	here IS the Carpenters live - in 1976. BBC iPlayer - The Carpenters: World of Music Only up until the 20th of July - so check it out. The Karen drum solo is great fun....

13th July 2008	#11
axisdreamer Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 812	Wow, I never heard that before! The first few minutes are a really cool song and they pulled it off well.Who wrote the music for the first part of this medley clip? It sounds like three and four part cluster type harmonies that are double tracked when they all sing?! It's like having Queen back you up...ha ha.. Pretty cool stuff!!!!

13th July 2008	#12
oceantracks Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Boca Raton FL Posts: 3,955	Sometimes simple is better. That's all it was with them. Brother and sister....makes for a great blend....in the beginning the tripled their backing harmonies, then started just doubling them because it sounded fine. I once marveled at how well they blended and Richard said....."Well, family will do that" Richard is a premier arranger, though most of the harmonies were very straightforward and were just 3 part. Richard has an airy sound to his voice, that adds to the "air" in the harmonies. Karen is Karen, perfect...period. Helps when you have great songs to work with, great musicians, and a few trademark things like the oboe. They all together to make the Carpenters sound. Simple is better TH

13th July 2008	#13
chasman Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 299 1 Review written	just wanted to throw in a thought................... dem carpenteris were de bomb man.....................just watched and listened to a couple videos......................you know, to me the greatest male singer ever was sinatra.............I am now convinced that (my opinion) karen was the greatest female singer ever...........the sinatra of girl singers..................the whole of the musical accompaniment....instruments......harmonies.......background vox.....arranging.........right straight from heaven man.............bliss inducing....................and she was soooooooooooooooooo pretty......................God have mercy.................what a tragedy to die like she did and so young....................