Classic '70's!! First time hearing | Carpenters "This Masquerade"

[@loveloochay]

🍰🍰🍰 .. this was a wonderful surprise , thank you Mrs. Realistic. I have not heard this song in a long time. There is no mistaking Karen's clear and magical voice. The piano playing in this song is superb by her brother. My mood has changed for the better .. TY ... 🍰🍰🍰

[@MrsRealistic]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@justafreethinker]

Once again, thank you for reacting to the greatest female vocalist of all time (IMHO) the late and legendary Karen Carpenter. I am glad to hear that you haven't heard this one so you could have a first time reaction. I will always maintain that if there is a heaven and there are angels there, they all must sound like her. RIP Karen "Angel" Carpenter.

[@MrsRealistic]

She was only 32 years old when she lost her battle. I bet she's singing with the angels now 😇

[@daleenengelbrecht4861]

Stunning thank you. Brings back memories. Greetings from South Africa

[@helokopter924]

Thanks for keepin' it 'real'. Im 69 and remember Carpenters well. Herb Alpert heard Karen's voice on a demo in 1969 and signed her brother, Richard, and her to A&M records. Karen received 3 or 4 Grammys in the 70s and sold over 80 million records by 1982. She was 1975 rock drummer of the year according to Playboy. KC had the most beautiful voice-ever, and perhaps THE best female vocalist-ever, because she compels you to listen as she sings in perfect pitch to you, not at you, with emotion and enunciation. No auto-tune or gimmicks. No professional voice or drum instruction. She was known by the studios as 'one take'. She rarely, if ever, sang more than one take of any song. She was also the ONLY female harmony/background voice in all her songs. She was truly born with an incredible singing talent. Documentaries point out the accolades to her voice, such as, Paul McCartney said she had the most angelic voice after hearing her sing 'Ticket To Ride'. John Lennon ran into her at an LA restaurant and told her "you have a fabulous voice, luv". Supposedly Frank Sinatra stated that Karen was the only singer he'd pay to hear. I recommend songs such as, Yesterday Once More, Solitaire, Goodbye To Love, Need To Be In Love, Hurting Each Other, Only Yesterday, I Can Dream Cant I, Crescent Noon, Ordinary Fool, Close To You, We've Only Just Begun, A Place To Hideaway, A Song For You, etc.. KC never knew true love. One of her few friends included Dionne Warwick. 5'3" KC really lost weight, due to anorexia, in earnest beginning in 1975. She died in Feb 1983 at age 32 due to heart complications from anorexia.

[@deborahscalise3215]

Richard on piano. Karen on drums and both on harmony. Cannot get better than that.

[@MrsRealistic]

How cool that she played the drums!

[@deborahscalise3215]

@@MrsRealistic There are videos out there of her drumming skills. Look for her drum solo videos . She was an excellent drummer and she could sing flawlessly while drumming. She was a drummer before a singer.

[@MrsRealistic]

@@deborahscalise3215 Thanks for the heads up! 😁👍

[@philharris5848]

Everything about this recording is utter Perfection. Karen's haunting voice, Richard's wonderful arrangement and his stunning piano solo. Not forgetting the amazing Leon Russell song and all the other studio musicians involved especially the superb flutist. Today's music is a pale comparison to this work of art.

[@MrsRealistic]

Most new music is trash these days. I'm lucky that I get to find artists through this channel who are still making good music!

[@williamsimmons152]

I'm seriously impressed by the piano in this and the arrangement of the whole piece. Just superb.

[@MamawT65]

Another amazing song written by Leon Russell!

[@jukeboxdave6026]

Great reaction love and respect from the UK 👍👍😃😃 amazing channel 👍

[@jukeboxdave6026]

Hi my friend don't forget my nightwish song when you get time love and respect from the UK 👍👍😃😃🌟😀😀 amazing channel 👍

[@cliffordlowerre1381]

This song is such a great example of Richard and Karen's marvelous talents. Richard on piano and his arrangements abilities. Karen's ANGELIC voice. Her unique three level octave range with seemingly effortless transition. Beautiful song written by Leon Russell and performed so wonderfully by the Carpenters. Karen has the most heartwarming voice. You should check out the medley with Karen and Ella Fitzgerald that starts with this song.

[@shilohauraable]

You were born the year I graduated from college! I was privileged to see The Carpenters live while in college. They were amazing! 💕 And their drummer at that time was Cubby from the original Disney Mickey Mouse Club! Karen was the singer of the group. Richard was background, piano, writer & arranger. And Karen was a really mean drummer! A great talent lost too soon. 😢 Her death was the 1st to bring attention to how serious eating disorders can be.

[@seth1455]

I was a teenager in the 1970's and if the Carpenters came on the radio I would run a mile, now 100 years later, if I want to listen to new headphones or earbuds I'll turn to the Carpenters and really enjoy it Agree about the flute, it was popular in the 70's, the Bottle by Gil Scott Heron has a great flute solo in the middle

[@shilohauraable]

Moody Blues were also big on flutes! They were basically the Classical group of our time! 😊

[@MichaelAndrews-uy1gl]

The flute player was Bob Messenger...he was one of the best. Fantastic tenor sax player also.

[@helokopter924]

Richard was the arranger. She was THE vocalist.

[@StephenBrown-l9u]

Those Pisces ladies will get you every single time

[@christopheryochum3602]

Yep, that was Richard on the keyboard solo. The flute was probably Bob Messenger, who was their woodwinds guy. Don't know if you've ever heard this, but Messenger plays an epic, melodic (not whaling, but an actual melody) sax solo in "A Song for You." Almost every reactor uses this video of the Carpenters on a variety show doing this one, and the sax solo is totally left out for timing reasons. If you've never heard this one, it's really beautiful (the AUDIO version).

[@Nighthawk-mc6zd]

Nice reaction....yes that was Richard Carpenter on the piano.....the great Bob Messenger was playing the flute....he was a member of their travel band...he also played a great saxophone and on occasion the base guitar...sadly he passed away about two years ago at age 81

[@MrsRealistic]

His flute playing was gorgeous! RIP Bob!

[@Nighthawk-mc6zd]

@MrsRealistic Bob Messenger was a very humble man...in an interview years after Karen Carpenter passed...he said he did know why he was in their travel band...stating that he didn't play that good...I think most thar heard his play thought he was great. You should treat yourself to his saxophone solo in the studio version of Carpenters...recording of "A Song For You"...the saxophone solo is not in the YT videos, probably because of time constraints...enjoy!

[@johnpegues5701]

Carpenters...high school...don't look back often...

[@tonyscupham-bilton7523]

You do know that Richard and Karen did all their own backing vocals, don't you? They didn't have backing singers. They rarely used a backing group except for choirs (e.g their Christmas albums, "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft", and "Sing"). They pioneered the multi-track vocals used by artists such as Queen and Abba.

[@MrsRealistic]

I know now! 😁👍

[@jbs256]

Also; All You Get From Love Is A Love Song had 3 backup singers. There were a few and of course after Kacie passed and some songs needed to be finished.

[@michaelasay8587]

Keep going with Karen!

[@philcortor7886]

You should also check out George Benson's version of "The Masquerade"! Both are classics.

[@Greg_D99]

I’m surprised no one else mentioned George Benson. Thanks for your comment. George’s version is incredible. I didn’t realize the Carpenters recorded this.

[@alexarmendariz7763]

Her voice was HD before there was HD rip Karen Carpenter

[@brucemorrow5271]

The pic when she looks like your sister in law when she's wearing the hat is the photo shoot for Rolling Stone magazine.

[@MrsRealistic]

Thanks for the info! How cool!

[@jbs256]

Hi Mrs. Realistic! I’m finding you for the first time and it’s because of Carpenters. I love this song. Yes that’s Richard on keyboards and the backing vocal. For 95% of their songs it was just Karen and Richard on backing vocals. Bob Messenger was the triple threat; Bass Guitar, Saxophone and Flute. I didn’t check the notes but the odds are good it was Bob. Leon Russell was responsible for three songs for Carpenters. This Masquerade, A Song For You and Superstar, that last one co-written by Bonnie Bramlett. I want to make a request for an actual Carpenters cover. I don’t know if there’s a set amount to donate so I’m going to take a shot and hope for the best. First I’ll see if KZbin lets me post with a link. This is a new cover but IMHO as an OG Carpenters fan it’s the finest of its type I’ve ever seen. It was released 3/2/24 Karen’s birthday in heaven, in her honor. One warning the video is full and dynamic. If you are in the image you will cover a musician, singer somebody. So if you can float the rectangle and position yourself to a side, that’d be best. I’ve had the image covered as people go in blind and don’t know. I’m telling you this first. The man at the helm is Jim Wilkas and has produced many videos of this type. He loves Carpenters but never had a voice. There are a lot of OK voices but none he wanted to ask. Then he saw a video by Tori Holub (hawluhb soft vowels) and he actually modified her video adding himself as he felt it needed “more Richard.” He showed Tori what he did, she loved it. He released it and a collaboration was born. The first full effort together is We’ve Only Just Begun. Which is what I’d like you to react to. I feel from what you said you have a knowledge of their work and will appreciate if this cover is of good quality. I’m here offering money, what do you think? LOL Just enjoy the experience! I have it on good authority that the vocals are clean and natural. No autotune, no pitch correction. Yup, Wings of Pegasus analyzed this song. So here we go. I’m going to post this with the link and go donate referring to this post. Joe kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGqYnZmAptRsjLssi=ZSzreL_76BCawl-v .

[@MrsRealistic]

Thank you for the donation! You're very kind! I'll see what I can do with the video... but as I have things set up, I do green screen behind me because I don't have a designated studio, so I have to cover up the background (which is my husband's office 🤣) I look forward to hearing this one! Thanks for the request! 😁

[@jbs256]

@@MrsRealistic you do what you can, just warning singers or musicians are all over the video. If you see the thumbnail you’ll get the idea. I look forward to your review/reaction. I’m going to link a Carpenters under your reply to a comment. I was concentrating on getting this correct but saw that comment. It’s not a reaction as much as a FYI, Looky at this type thing. Thanks! Joe

[@thomastimlin1724]

They had a touring band, but it was the Los Angeles "Wrecking Crew" studio musicians who played on the records except Richard on Keys. Karen did not play drums on the recording s due to touring responsibilities and producers felt she was very good but not a studio musician who could tolerate long hours in the studio. She didn't care...why add more responsibility when she was already overwhelmed.

[@irmaoksanen6830]

Yeah, Jethro Tull is a trip. Wish they had more pictures of Karen on the drums. She was a great drummer.

[@MrsRealistic]

Oh wow! I didn't know that! Thanks!

[@Nighthawk-mc6zd]

There are many videos on YT showing her drumming skills...nice reaction​@@MrsRealistic

[@jbs256]

@@MrsRealistic here’s the video I mentioned but now I thought of a second one. First Carpenters on The Tonight Show in 1973. This is a restored video. It went from unwatchable to looking like it aired yesterday (once more. LOL) Karen on drums Bob Messenger on Flute!! Song is Mr. Guder. Save the channel, Harvey has restored a bunch of Carpenters videos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX-ZqmqIf9SMrJYsi=ucIdCJzZkfZUlElT Now part 2. The song I requested. The lead singer, before she sang a note on KZbin she edited together a drumming compilation of Karen. It’s quite popular and has almost 85K views. I classify her as a Carpenters super-fan. Oh, she’s 20. 17 when she edited this! Let’s talk skillz. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5ymk2StrbFmocUsi=KrdA7-aCNLzGG_1C Joe

[@MrsRealistic]

@jbs256 cool thank you!

[@rayberry4261]

Leon Russell wrote this song.

[@joeholahan7619]

Keyboards all Richard

[@lukeweather]

Different but nice i like it

[@johnpegues5701]

Hahaha....really old music....getting there I guess...

[@DavidGlover-s7x]

Bob Messenger is the flute player, Rip.

[@karlosthegr3at-casinogrounds]

There's a video 25.47 min long it's johnny Manuel's voice journey. You gotta check it out. If you want a long review video

[@Michael-zv8cl]

Brother & Sister very very close... Richard was so protective of her .

[@thomastimlin1724]

You don;t hear REAL instruments very often anymore...Richard and Karen once said the money is in the basement. Meaning Karen's low range gets the guys every time.