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# 1 American Female Singer of All Time - Karen Carpenter

protectionist

protectionist

Governor
When Karen Carpenter was alive, Paul McCartney, then at the height of his fame, referring to her, said that she has “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive.” That was a massive compliment back in the day, but it remains solid to this day, by music critics and other professional singer-musicians, of which I am one. John Lennon also praised her as having a beautiful voice. Elton John also gave her the highest praise, as did Rolling Stone magazine.

Here we are in that time of the year again, and supermarkets and department stores play Christmas songs through their PA speakers, giving us that Christmas feeling while we shop. And whose songs do we hear all over America, every year in the stores ? Karen Carpenter. I have lived in 4 states of the US in my life, and I sometimes visit friends there (New York, Tennessee, California). In all of these, plus my home state of Florida, it is a longtime ritual for Karen Carpenter songs to be heard along with our Christmas shopping - and this has been going on for 50 years.

Looks like Paul McCartney has plenty of company for his music appreciation. Notably, Karen sang in a contralto range (ie. The lowest female voice or voice part, higher than tenor and lower than soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor.

Quite remarkable Karen was one of the very few singers ever, who sang across 3 different octaves, and she did it consistently and effortlessly. As you walk around in the stores this Christmas season, undoubtably you'll hear that wide ranging contralto voice, and if you have an ear for music, you can feel fortunate to have such a marvelous voice there while you shop.

1669566956607.png


Karen Carpenter with Olivia Newton-John in 1981.
 
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protectionist

protectionist

Governor
Just spent 2 hours listening to Karen Carpenter songs. One of the most worthwhile 2 hours I've spent in a long time. Because Karen's voice was so incredibly beautiful and perfect in pitch, timing, and harmony with the rest of the group, that group is sometime overlooked.

They were terrific as well, and one of the most IMPORTANT and stunning facts about the Carpenters is that they produced the most top 10 singles in a row, ever, without missing. NOBODY has ever done that, except the Carpenters (not Elvis, not the Beatles,)

When you are the best of the best, it won't remain hidden. The public, worldwide, reacts.
 
J

Jack4freedom

Governor
protectionist said:
When Karen Carpenter was alive, Paul McCartney, then at the height of his fame, referring to her, said that she has “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive.” That was a massive compliment back in the day, but it remains solid to this day, by music critics and other professional singer-musicians, of which I am one. John Lennon also praised her as having a beautiful voice. Elton John also gave her the highest praise, as did Rolling Stone magazine.

Here we are in that time of the year again, and supermarkets and department stores play Christmas songs through their PA speakers, giving us that Christmas feeling while we shop. And whose songs do we hear all over America, every year in the stores ? Karen Carpenter. I have lived in 4 states of the US in my life, and I sometimes visit friends there (New York, Tennessee, California). In all of these, plus my home state of Florida, it is a longtime ritual for Karen Carpenter songs to be heard along with our Christmas shopping - and this has been going on for 50 years.

Looks like Paul McCartney has plenty of company for his music appreciation. Notably, Karen sang in a contralto range (ie. The lowest female voice or voice part, higher than tenor and lower than soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor.

Quite remarkable Karen was one of the very few singers ever, who sang across 3 different octaves, and she did it consistently and effortlessly. As you walk around in the stores this Christmas season, undoubtably you'll hear that wide ranging contralto voice, and if you have an ear for music, you can feel fortunate to have such a marvelous voice there while you shop.

1669566956607.png


Karen Carpenter with Olivia Newton-John in 1981.
Click to expand...
She was truly an angel with a great voice. Herb Alpert recognized that immediately and signed her. Her brother was also a genius who created his own sound and harmonies. Too bad she died in the prime of her life. RIP……Alpert also recognized the Angelic voice of Lani Hall who was picked up in Chicago by Brazilian musician and band leader Sergio Mendez. Brazil 66 was also a unique sound with Lani’s voice up front and a smooth Latin beat in the background. I remember the soundtrack of LA back in those days coming out of A&M Studios and across the airwaves. Karen and Lani are two of the greatest female vocalists of our times….
 
protectionist

protectionist

Governor
Jack4freedom said:
She was truly an angel with a great voice. Herb Alpert recognized that immediately and signed her. Her brother was also a genius who created his own sound and harmonies. Too bad she died in the prime of her life. RIP……Alpert also recognized the Angelic voice of Lani Hall who was picked up in Chicago by Brazilian musician and band leader Sergio Mendez. Brazil 66 was also a unique sound with Lani’s voice up front and a smooth Latin beat in the background. I remember the soundtrack of LA back in those days coming out of A&M Studios and across the airwaves. Karen and Lani are two of the greatest female vocalists of our times….
Click to expand...
:) Perhaps the finest thing that California has ever produced, was the Carpenters. Huge accolade to California for that.
 
J

Jack4freedom

Governor
protectionist said:
:) Perhaps the finest thing that California has ever produced, was the Carpenters. Huge accolade to California for that.
Click to expand...
The Doors, The Beach Boys, The Grateful Dead, The Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, War, Sublime, Guns and Roses, Hampton Hawes, Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Van Halen, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dave Breubeck, Tom Waits, Snoop Dog, Etta James……..and many many more..Merle Haggard…maybe the greatest male singer..
 
W

write on

Senator
I remember back in the early 90's in Dallas. I was with a rock and roll friend of mine and we were at Tom Thumb or Alberston's grocery store and he happened to have a cd of the Carpenters. He put it in the player and cranked up the song 'There's a Kind of Hush' as we drove through the parking lot.

You should have seen all the smiles. :)
 
J

Jack4freedom

Governor
protectionist said:
When Karen Carpenter was alive, Paul McCartney, then at the height of his fame, referring to her, said that she has “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive.” That was a massive compliment back in the day, but it remains solid to this day, by music critics and other professional singer-musicians, of which I am one. John Lennon also praised her as having a beautiful voice. Elton John also gave her the highest praise, as did Rolling Stone magazine.

Here we are in that time of the year again, and supermarkets and department stores play Christmas songs through their PA speakers, giving us that Christmas feeling while we shop. And whose songs do we hear all over America, every year in the stores ? Karen Carpenter. I have lived in 4 states of the US in my life, and I sometimes visit friends there (New York, Tennessee, California). In all of these, plus my home state of Florida, it is a longtime ritual for Karen Carpenter songs to be heard along with our Christmas shopping - and this has been going on for 50 years.

Looks like Paul McCartney has plenty of company for his music appreciation. Notably, Karen sang in a contralto range (ie. The lowest female voice or voice part, higher than tenor and lower than soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor.

Quite remarkable Karen was one of the very few singers ever, who sang across 3 different octaves, and she did it consistently and effortlessly. As you walk around in the stores this Christmas season, undoubtably you'll hear that wide ranging contralto voice, and if you have an ear for music, you can feel fortunate to have such a marvelous voice there while you shop.

1669566956607.png


Karen Carpenter with Olivia Newton-John in 1981.
Click to expand...
Karen had a really sweet voice but the GREATEST AMERICAN FEMALE SINGER was the great ELLA FITZGERALD. She transcended so many musical genera‘s of American song from the 1930’s through the Bebop era and then covered the Songbooks of Coke Porter, George Gershwin, Bert Bacharach and Lennon McCartney brilliantly. She is in a class by herself!
 
protectionist

protectionist

Governor
Jack4freedom said:
Karen had a really sweet voice but the GREATEST AMERICAN FEMALE SINGER was the great ELLA FITZGERALD. She transcended so many musical genera‘s of American song from the 1930’s through the Bebop era and then covered the Songbooks of Coke Porter, George Gershwin, Bert Bacharach and Lennon McCartney brilliantly. She is in a class by herself!
Click to expand...
She may be in a class by herself, but not she (or anyone else) has ever been in the class of Karen Carpenter, as the ONLY singer to ever be able to ALWAYS record in a single take. Having been in recording studios myself, I know how difficult and unusual that is. Other than the Carpenters, it is un-heard of.

The Carpenters astoundingly did this for years, because whether in recording studios or live performances, they were always PERFECT, always on pitch, perfect timing, magnificent harmonies.

There's a reason why the stores' Christmas PA systems broadcast the Carpenters, year after year, decade after decade,all across the country - they simply were the best ever.
 
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J

Jack4freedom

Governor
protectionist said:
She may be in a class by herself, but not she (or anyone else) has ever been in the class of Karen Carpenter, as the ONLY singer to ever be able to ALWAYS record in a single take. Having been in recording studios myself, I know how difficult and unusual that is. Other than the Carpenters, it is un-heard of.

The Carpenters astoundingly did this for years, because whether in recording studios or live performances, they were always PERFECT, always on pitch, perfect timing, magnificent harmonies.

There's a reason what the stores' Christmas PA systems broadcast the Carpenters, year after year, decade after decade - they simply were the best ever.
Click to expand...
Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Billy’ Holliday, Aretha Franklin,, Dione Warwick, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Peggy Lee, Loretta Lynne, Patsy Cline, Carrie Underwood, …..Let’s face it sir, we have been blessed with so many great, talented, unique female voices here in America over the past 100 years. We all have our favorites. Karen was a great and unique talent also. However Ella and many of the others named above would rate above her in a list of all time great American Female singers. The important thing is that ALL of this great talent has been recorded extensively and their music will live forever.
 
protectionist

protectionist

Governor
Jack4freedom said:
Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Billy’ Holliday, Aretha Franklin,, Dione Warwick, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Peggy Lee, Loretta Lynne, Patsy Cline, Carrie Underwood, …..Let’s face it sir, we have been blessed with so many great, talented, unique female voices here in America over the past 100 years. We all have our favorites. Karen was a great and unique talent also. However Ella and many of the others named above would rate above her in a list of all time great American Female singers. The important thing is that ALL of this great talent has been recorded extensively and their music will live forever.
Click to expand...
Karen was # 1. Probably always will be.
 
J

Jack4freedom

Governor
protectionist said:
Karen was # 1. Probably always will be.
Click to expand...
Only in your mind and a few others. Even though you claim to be a musician and music expert, you are once again wrong and your opinion is just that, an opinion. You obviously prefer her style and her choice of music, fine, but that certainly does not make her the greatest of all time.

If a poll were taken among 1000 real music officianados (like myself) and the question was:

Q) Who was the greater American female vocalist?

A) Karen Carpenter

or

B) Ella Firzferald

B would resoundingly win about 975 to 25…..I’d bet on it….Along with 15-20 other American Female Vocalists Bs
 
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protectionist

protectionist

Governor
Jack4freedom said:
Only in your mind and a few others. Even though you claim to be a musician and music expert, you are once again wrong and your opinion is just that, an opinion. You obviously prefer her style and her choice of music, fine, but that certainly does not make her the greatest of all time.

If a poll were taken among 1000 real music officianados (like myself) and the question was:

Q) Who was the greater American female vocalist?

A) Karen Carpenter

or

B) Ella Firzferald

B would resoundingly win about 975 to 25…..I’d bet on it….Along with 15-20 other American Female Vocalists Bs
Click to expand...
Maybe you missed the part of this thread where there WAS a poll and Karen Carpenter won, with the 2nd place contestant a very DISTANT second (and it wasn't your Ella Fitzgerald)

And by your ignorance of what I said in Post # 16, it is clear that you are not a music afficianado (ha ha) - you may now go back to playing your tambourine.

Karen was # 1. Probably always will be. You're welcome.
 
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