Info on The Carpenters in the studio

[Recording David]

I have a student at the high school where I teach doing a covers project of some Carpenters songs. I'd be interested to find out about the gear, studios etc. they worked in. I've done a cursory Google search but couldn't find much info - does anyone know about this stuff or where I could find out more info?

Thanks thumbsup

[joelpatterson]

Given the situation as you've described it, I would give this student a failing grade, just out of principle.

[Bobalou]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Given the situation as you've described it, I would give this student a failing grade, just out of principle.

lets see: great songwriters, great singer, and recording and creating records during one of the most influential times in music history. from both a musical standpoint and a creative technical standpoint.

yeah, nothing to learn there! especially for a youngster these days!

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by Bobalou

lets see: great songwriters, great singer, and recording and creating records during one of the most influential times in music history. from both a musical standpoint and a creative technical standpoint.

yeah, nothing to learn there! especially for a youngster these days!

No, lots to learn, about mindless status-quo reactionary pandering to a meaningless, vapid "standard" with every last drop of authentic human feeling squeezed out.

You're right, it's perfectly in tune with these times.

[max cooper]

Carpenters. One of my favorite artists ever. Amazing stuff.

[severe]

Originally Posted by Bobalou

lets see: great songwriters, great singer, and recording and creating records during one of the most influential times in music history. from both a musical standpoint and a creative technical standpoint.

Agreed.


My town has embraced them so much that they built The Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Hey...who wants to go to the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, Nov. 18th!?

[Benjy King]

One of the biggest musical influences in my life. Incredible writing and arranging, especially arranging.

".....with every last drop of authentic human feeling squeezed out."

That's just plain funny!

[joelpatterson]

But you got to admit--they can't hold a candle to the Partridge Family.

[zarembo]

has anyone been able to find the Carpenters' tune:

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft?

my favorite and I haven't heard it forever.

[brian.tester]

i think you are referring to the Klaatu track.

[seanmw]

Originally Posted by zarembo

has anyone been able to find the Carpenters' tune:

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft?

my favorite and I haven't heard it forever.

Speaking of this tune, "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" it is a song written by a band called Klaatu. The Carpenters covered it from them. Look them up and buy that CD on Amazon! AMAZING STUFF!!!!!!!

Speaking of the Carpenters though, glad this has been brought up. Who has info on technique for tracking vocals with them, etc??? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I KNOW THEY ARE AMAZING SINGERS, ARRANGERS, etc......

But how did they do vocals? Obviouslly there was much double, tripple tracking, etc.... Check out the vocal ONLY "Intermission" from the A Song For You album. WOW!!! Such inspiring harmony work *yet cheesy words*.... The arrangement is great, BUT there is so much double, tripple tracking of the SAME line, its hard to tell things apart.

Good stuff....

[Acoustic Cloud]

KC had one of the most amazing voices ever...I have a documentary on DVD of theirs, but you can only catch glimpses of studio paraphenelia (sp?) it doesnt go into those specs.

I dont know what it is about her voice... wasnt real acrobatic, not alot of vibrato, actually really nothing!! But to hear her sing a few words was just amazing...all of thaT out of a tiny coathanger of a body.

I dont know why anyone would say they stunk... that voice could (and DID) make TV commercials sound incredible!

[The dman]

But how did they do vocals? Obviouslly there was much double, tripple tracking, etc.... Check out the vocal ONLY "Intermission" from the A Song For You album. WOW!!! Such inspiring harmony work *yet cheesy words*.... The arrangement is great, BUT there is so much double, tripple tracking of the SAME line, its hard to tell things apart.

Good stuff....

I grew up in the 70's zepplin,floyd era and the Carpenters were like the antichrist. But my wife listens to them from time to time and I gotta say, they were f&*@%$^ awsome. Corny but awsome

[seanmw]

Originally Posted by dsd

I grew up in the 70's zepplin,floyd era and the Carpenters were like the antichrist. But my wife listens to them from time to time and I gotta say, they were f&*@%$^ awsome. Corny but awsome

Oh yeah, corny but awesome, no doubt. Strange that one of my favorite vocal arrangements EVER is sung with the words "WELL BE RIGHT BACK, AFTER WE GO TO THE BATHROOM".....30 seconds long, but soo goood!

Lots of detailed carpenter info here, mics, signal chain. Sounds like one of these posters worked on it. Still, not much about the double, tripple tracking sounds.
Looking for info regarding Carpenters recordings

[Ruudman]

I grew up in the 70's zepplin,floyd era and the Carpenters were like the antichrist.

Heck, I love Zeppelin and Carpenters.

Zeppelin for my car, and Carpenters for lawn moving.



ruudman

[joelpatterson]

Everyone knows that Donny Osmond is the one who really scaled the heights--an irresistable, overpowering, musical force. A legend.

[James Guitar]

i particularly like the sound that they got out of the wrecking crew guys on those carpenters tunes. hal blaine, larry knechtel, etc. - there's another thread somewhere else on gearslutz discussing 70's drum sounds. the sounds of hal blaine's kit on some of those carpenter's tunes are textbook 70's - nice and softly played as well. what feel... sorry i don't have any info on the sessions and i didn't mean to hijack the thread. just putting out some more carpenters support.
-J

[theblue1]

My natural inclination is normally toward the Joel Patterson end of the spectrum vis a vis cynicism and pop music -- except that when I hear Superstar or Rainy Days and Mondays, I just come unglued.

Those songs slay me.

Even back then when I was a knee-jerk ultra-cynic hipster... I dealt with the whole issue by saying I was gonna (let's just say) "take out" Richard (who I thought was her HUSBAND I was so out of the pop loop) and steal Karen for myself and remake her, somehow, to be hip.

[ozraves]

To me, the Carpenters are all about Karen's voice and Richard's arranging.

Compare Richard's arrangement of Superstar to the previously recorded Joe Cocker version.

My fave song is "Bless the Beasts and the Children."

[Steve G]

I got to spend a lot of time with Richard Carpenter when Al Schmitt and I remixed the "greatest hits" CD for surround a couple years ago. The original 16 track tapes are amazing to hear. Absolutely pristine recordings. Richard remembers everything about those songs and sessions. He was able to tell us who played every part on every song. He even remembered parts that didn't make the final mixes, some are in the surround mixes. As far as the vocal chain, it was a U87, through the desk pre's. I think he mentioned an 1176, but I don't remember, nothing was compressed hard at all if any. Everything was done at A&M studios, mastering included. You could release the vocal tracks alone and have a hit record. Al and I still talk about mixing those songs, and hanging with Richard. A great two weeks.

Steve

[Naren]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

KC had one of the most amazing voices ever...I have a documentary on DVD of theirs, but you can only catch glimpses of studio paraphenelia (sp?) it doesnt go into those specs.

I dont know what it is about her voice... wasnt real acrobatic, not alot of vibrato, actually really nothing!! But to hear her sing a few words was just amazing...all of thaT out of a tiny coathanger of a body.

I dont know why anyone would say they stunk... that voice could (and DID) make TV commercials sound incredible!

Karen Carpenter had a full and consistent voice - not as shrill or thin as many other female vocalists. She had a friendly, accessible sound, and, I think, a non-sexual, innocent voice/charisma that was not threatening to those women who are threatened by female sexuality. The ultimate girl-next-door voice. And she had excellent intonation.

She had some very good, wisely-chosen songs as well.

Question: was she really the drummer on those records?

-Naren

[Naren]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

KC had one of the most amazing voices ever...I have a documentary on DVD of theirs, but you can only catch glimpses of studio paraphenelia (sp?) it doesnt go into those specs.

I dont know what it is about her voice... wasnt real acrobatic, not alot of vibrato, actually really nothing!! But to hear her sing a few words was just amazing...all of thaT out of a tiny coathanger of a body.

I dont know why anyone would say they stunk... that voice could (and DID) make TV commercials sound incredible!

Karen Carpenter had a full and consistent voice - not as shrill or thin as many other female vocalists. She had a friendly, accessible sound, and, I think, a non-sexual, innocent voice/charisma that was not threatening to those women who are threatened by female sexuality. The ultimate girl-next-door voice. And she had excellent intonation.

She had some very good, wisely-chosen songs as well.

Question: was she really the drummer on those records?

-Naren

[Naren]

Originally Posted by James Guitar

...hal blaine....

-J

Well, I guess that answers my previous question. I should have known.

-Naren

[Steve G]

She played drums on a few songs, but not the majority. She wasn't a bad drummer, good time.

Steve

[Benjy King]

This record (on vinyl) is stunning. That same year Gino Vannelli released 'Pauper In Paradise' which utilized the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Vastly different material...similar effect.

Don’t Cry For Me Argentina - This song was submitted to us by the publisher, and I immediately felt it was perfect for Karen, though now I feel differently, as I believe the song doesn’t linger long enough in a lower register, a great area for Karen’s voice. We contacted England’s late, great Peter Knight to orchestrate the song, and two others on "Passage". Peter flew to Los Angeles to conduct the L.A. Philharmonic for the recording. (Due to a contractual agreement their name was not allowed in the credits, hence the credit of the "Overbudget Philharmonic".) Between the 100 plus member "Phil" and the 50 voice Gregg Smith Singers, the recording session had to take place on the A&M Sound Stage, and was wired into Studio D. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

I heard this song on the debut album of Klaatu, a talented group of Canadian studio musicians who were heavily inspired by The Beatles, and named after the purposeful alien in the sci-fi thriller, The Day The Earth Stood Still. Always looking for something novel, we decided on it for Passage and ended up immersing ourselves – and 160 musicians and singers – in the biggest "single" recording we ever attempted. Initially I did not think of this track as a single, but coincidentally, Star Wars had been released, and was all the rage, not long after we recorded "Occupants." As a result, I allowed myself to be persuaded into releasing an edited version as a single. It did moderately well in the U.S., but, to our pleasant surprise, went Top 10 in the U.K., and stayed there for two months. Incidentally, there was no actual "World Contact Day" – as we’ve answered many times. Maybe in the future…

Magentalane Music (SOCAN)

Produced and Arranged by Richard Carpenter

Orchestrated by Peter Knight

Lead Vocals: Karen and Richard Carpenter

Backing Vocals: Karen and Richard Carpenter and The Gregg Smith Singers

Keyboards: Richard Carpenter

Bass: Joe Osborn

Drums: Ron Tutt

Guitar and D.J.: Tony Peluso

Oboe: Earle Dumler

Engineers: Ray Gerhardt and Roger Young

From the album Passage (1977)

Remixed in 1989 by Richard Carpenter and Robert De La Garza

Engineer: Robert De La Garza

[thenoodle]

......" or where I could find out more info?......"


Ask Richard. He yaks a lot about the sessions at A&M & building the tracks, submixes etc etc

[Benjy King]

Ron Tutt played on a lot of the records and Cubby O'Brien from The Mouseketeers was their touring drummer. Karen was a really good drummer. You could see and hear her play often on their television specials. On one.....they had a stage full of a zillion drums, various sizes of all kinds of toms, etc., that she made her way around doing lots of 'chops' stuff. Kind of a lift from the famous Fred Astaire movie where he plays a few kits with his feet and hands.

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by ozraves

To me, the Carpenters are all about Karen's voice and Richard's arranging.

Compare Richard's arrangement of Superstar to the previously recorded Joe Cocker version.

My fave song is "Bless the Beasts and the Children."

Yeah, I heard some remixes of Carpenters stuff and decided I liked the originals better, of course, both sets were by Richard. But, you know, you fall in love with one sound. There are clearly lots of technical issues with the Derek and the Dominos mixes but don't touch one damn fader... and PUHLEEEEZ don't even think about running it through some damn remastering process. Leave it the way I love it. (That said, I never mind alternate mixes or mastering. As long as I can get more or less the original, I'm cool.)

___________________________

Those Leon Russell arrangements for Joe Cocker were pretty cool, though, you gotta admit. Leon was one of the first megastar artist-producers, I think. (Although I'm sure someone's gonna say, Hey, didn't Bing Crosby [or someone] produce a bunch of... )

[Recording David]

Hey everyone - thanks for the info and the link to the other GS thread. I didn't even think about a GS search as I've been reading this board for ages and never noticed the thread first time round.

I think The Carpenters were amazing. The level of attention that went into those arrangements is just insane and sonically they are just beautiful.

Steve G - thanks for the valuable personal insight. The breadth of experience on this board never ceases to amaze.

thumbsup

[Acoustic Cloud]

I even loved the Carpenters when I was a shred-head in the 80's!!!

(I just never told anyone) ee