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CD reviews

A Song for You

Carpenters - A Song for You Audio CD

A fair review of the Carpenters "A Song for You" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Carpenters reviews here, or go back to the Carpenters tabs.

Band: Carpenters
Title: A Song for You
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-01-12
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Song for You 2: Top of the World 3: Hurting Each Other 4: It's Going to Take Some Time 5: Goodbye to Love 6: Intermission 7: Bless the Beasts and Children 8: Flat Baroque 9: Piano Picker 10: I Won't Last a Day Without You 11: Crystal Lullaby 12: Road Ode 13: Song for You (Reprise)

One of their best albums

Tony Peluso plays the incredible guitar solo on Goodbye to love. Containing four of their classic songs, this album served to further enhance the already considerable reputation of the Carpenters. He subsequently worked with the Carpenters for several years, acting as DJ on the oldies medley on Now and then, the follow-up album to this one and again on the intro to Calling occupants of interplanetary craft, on Passage.

The Carpenters never planned to release Top of the world as a single but Lynn Anderson (who had a worldwide hit with Rose garden the year before) recorded a version for the country market and it was a huge success in the country charts. Meanwhile, the original Carpenters version was released as a single in Japan, where it went gold. The Carpenters finally got the message and released their version as a single elsewhere.

Two other world-famous classics (Hurting each other, I won't last a day without you) helped to ensure the success of the album. Other highlights here include the title track, It's going to take some time and Bless the beasts and children.

Richard Carpenter says that this is one of his two favorite Carpenters albums. It's not difficult to see why. .

Carpenters-A Song for You
With classics like Top of the World, A Song for You, Bless the Beasts and the Children it is a classic album. This is one of the Carpenters best albums. These are songs that warm the heart. I would recommend this album to anyone of all ages no matter what kind of music you enjoy.

SUPER-STARDOM
The Carpenters performed music for all people of all ages in the early 1970s and their music was fundamental to a scheme of learning about new sounds and new harmony techniques which led to overnight success. The Carpenter's musical success was not 'only' due to the effects of style and tempo.

Super-stardom is a rigorous definition that informs us that a small group of people can earn fame and fortune in a relatively short time frame. This is very true for the Carpenters, where the small differences in the Carpenter's music ability were magnified to disproportionate levels of success in a relatively short period in the 1970s. Consumers knew they were listening to superstars before they could become superstars - - and this is seemingly reflected in the Carpenter's 1971 album 'Carpenters' with the song "Superstar". The 1972 album 'A Song For You' is somewhat of a perfect sequel to the 1971 album 'Carpenters'.

'A Song for You' is easy listening pop - being a preferred genre by many consumers in the 1970s. The recording is lined with melody, harmony, rhythm, pitch and tempo which is developed with an affective character. It is then very much a personality album, with Karen's voice relating intelligence to character along with the characteristics determining the listening pleasure of this recording. The opening and closing track, "A Song for You" was penned by the rock legend, Leon Russell, and this more than hints that the album is a concept album - and the CD packaging also seems complete.

So the Carpenters have crafted a rich structural sound experience - giving them the rise they needed from humble beginnings to a richness of sound blended intelligently with music and technical know-how. At 38 minutes this album is then considered to be a representation of the Carpenter's finest recording moments. One only has to consider that a total of six singles were lifted from the album and charted well. Richard penned two of these hits and handled the musical arrangements well - these of course were 'Top of the World' and 'Goodbye to Love'. Nevertheless, have a listen to 'Crystal Lullaby'(one of Richard's song which he penned in the college of '67 with John Bettis - it is superb, and the flawless bass work by Jo Osborne is really special). Not a bad effort for Richard the pianist prodigy.

All of the remaining songs are covers which did not gain much success as covers, beyond the Carpenter's covering these songs. It could be said that the songs could easily have been written for Karen. Karen was voted as the Best Rock Drummer for 1975 in a Playboy poll - - and is fondly referred to as the drummer who could sing. Karen shares the drumming on this album with Hal Blaine. The album has a definitive smooth classical New Haven jazz influence.

My favorite songs on this album are 'Bless the Beasts and the Children', 'Crystal Lullaby' and the opening and closing theme 'A Song for You'- - and yet the entire album is a winner. Just remember that Karen was the drummer who could sing. . . she liked to play softball and baseball. . . and she is sadly missed!.

Karen and Richard could never fail us--BRAVO, CARPENTERS !!!
Karen and Richard performed so very well together that is was practically heavenly; and I am not trying to be effusive-it's just the simple truth. A Song For You is a strong album from Karen and Richard Carpenter that showcases yet again their singularly beautiful artistry. When Karen sang it was as if she was singing to you and only you; and Richard's musical arrangements and backup vocals always enhanced the beauty of their ballads. The artwork is very nicely done and the quality of this sound on this CD is excellent.

The album begins with the title track, "A Song For You. " "A Song For You" has a gorgeous melody that fits perfectly with the vocals Karen sings. Karen's voice is not only beautiful; it also conveys a certain innocence and even a touch of vulnerability that made so many people love her singing. Great! "Top Of The World" is a very joyful song that celebrates life, love and everything god. Karen sings this with all her heart and soul; and the sound of Karen and Richard singing together is absolutely wonderful. I rarely enjoy any music that quite so well done. "Top Of The World" is certainly a major highlight of this album; and it was a huge hit for Karen and Richard Carpenter as well.

"Hurting Each Other" is a touching, moving song about a couple who can't seem to stop hurting each other's feelings; their love is in jeopardy and they apparently just don't know how to stop the cycle of abuse. "Hurting Each Other" was another major hit for Karen and Richard and this was very well deserved; the arrangement is lush without being overdone or silly. In addition, there's also "It's Going To Take Some Time;" now Karen sings of a couple who needs time to heal their wounds or decide if they are going to stay together. Karen and Richard sing this with panache and I'm very impressed. "It's Going To Take Some Time" was a huge hit--again!--for Karen and Richard; and just one listen tells you why.

"Goodbye To Love" has a very pretty melody that belies the seriousness of the lyrics; a couple is breaking up and Karen sings this sad song with lots of feeling. Karen really delves into this ballad to flesh it out and give it a true appeal to the listener; and it all holds its own very well. "Flat Baroque" has a great musical arrangement that does indeed have baroque qualities; and there's also the timeless ballad "I Won't Last A Day Without You. " Karen sings this flawlessly; and I like the special effect of it sounding as if there were TWO Karen Carpenters singing some of the lyrics! This effect works wonders for this ballad.

"Road Ode" is a number I actually didn't remember from all those years ago; but when I hear it I really do enjoy it. The melody is classic Carpenters--lush without being excessive; and the vocals lack nothing--it's all THAT good. The album also ends nicely with Karen and Richard Carpenter performing a stunning, haunting reprise of "A Song For You. " Wowzer!

Karen and Richard Carpenter turned out one of their very best albums with A Song For You. Kudos to the reviewer who so insightfully points out that the first five songs on this album reflect the moods of a cycle of a love affair beginning, lasting and then ending. I highly recommend this as a must-have for Carpenters fans; and anyone who enjoys contemporary pop vocals will love this album, too.
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One Of The best Carpenters albums
And, what do I think of this album? I can say it in one word: AWESOMENESS!!!!!!! This album is their best album of all time. I recently purchased the album A Song For You by The Carpenters, and, have had many opportunities to listen to it. It has a few of the songs that actually became hits for them, and, the arrangements are superb in all the sense of the word.

You can see a complete list of all Carpenters discography, or go back to the Carpenters tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.