Carpenters: Voice Of The Heart CD Track Listing

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Carpenters Voice Of The Heart (1983)
Originally Released November 1983 \nCD Edition Released ??\nRemastered CD Edition Released January 12, 1999\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Consisting of previously unreleased masters for a solo album by Karen, this album was compiled by Richard. -- Bil Carpenter\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\n"Voice of the Heart" is a Tribute to Karen Carpenter, August 21, 2005\nReviewer: James Koenig "Konedog4" (Fergus Falls, MN United States)\nReleased on October 13, 1983, just 8 months after Karen Carpenter's tragic death, "Voice of the Heart" debuted. How Richard could put together this album with the heavy grief of Karen's death hanging over him can only be answered one way - this was his tribute album to his beloved sister. \n\nThe album features a very gaunt but beautiful Karen Carpenter on the cover. The album is filled with many beautiful slow love ballads, which the Carpenters do so well. The first song, "Now", is the last song that Karen Carpenter recorded and is the most beautiful song on this album. Touching and beautifully performed by Karen, "Now" was just a vocal lead, not a complete song, but Karen's reading of the song was so precise and perfect (which was common for Karen) that Richard later added the instrumentals and made it into a complete song. It will touch your heart, as Karen sings it with such touching poignancy. "Now" was released as a single and briefly charted in the US, Brazil, and the UK. "Sailing on the Tide" is the only "upbeat" song of the set, but what a lovely number it is. Written by the group' guitarist, Tony Peluso, the song seems to be written for Karen herself, a woman seeking relief from the intense pressure she is under. \n\nSince this album was put together after Karen's death, many of the songs included are tracks that never made it on other albums. For example, "Ordinary Fool" was originally recorded in 1976, "Make Believe its Your First Time" in 1981, "Prime Time Love" was recorded for the "Made In America" album in 1981, "Look To Your Dreams" a song composed by Richard and John Bettis (his favorite songwriter partner), was recorded in 1978. Despite not being included on previous albums, these are still wonderful compositions, and Karen's voice and interpretation is again incomparable. \n\nHeavily promoted by Richard, "Voice of the Heart" did fairly well, selling over 300,000 copies in the US. It also did very well in Japan, and went to the top-10 in the UK. Unfortunately, the singles released from the album never cracked the top-100 in the US. "Make Believe its Your First Time" peaked at #101, and "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" at #104. \n\nDon't let the singles lack of success fool you, this is a good solid Carpenter album that will please your ears and touch your heart. The beautiful Carpenter sound is clearly evident here and you will love it. -- Jim "Konedog" Koenig \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nVery enjoyable, June 14, 2000\nReviewer: A music fan\nI remember being annoyed when this LP came out that the liner notes did not specifically state when each song was recorded, even if it was just a vocal track (there are copyright dates specified but not recording dates). Over the years a few of the songs have appeared elsewhere with liner notes giving the dates. I remember that my first impression of this album was that it was rather somber, with none of the songs really standing out. Of course, through the years of repeated listening I've come to respect and enjoy it more. I was extremely surprised when Karen's solo album came out in 1996 that she had recorded "Make Believe It's Your First Time" because I hadn't read anything about it. I wonder if this is the same vocal track taken from Karen's album (without credit at the time) or was it rerecorded specifically for a new Carpenters album (I need to listen more closely to both). Overall it's a very enjoyable album.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nSo, so sad, October 27, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nI agree with a reviewer below, that this is just a compilation of previously unreleased tracks. Richard Carpenter and A&M Records never should have hailed "Voice of the Heart" as the final Carpenters album, considering this fact. I also agree with so many others as this being regarded as the "funeral" album. I was a fan of The Carpenters and this posthumous release only served as a reminder of the great loss everyone was feeling at the time. However, there are many lovely recordings such as "Ordinary Fool," "At the End of a Song" and "Now." "You're Enough" is the only song I bag on, in which the intro always reminds me of a bunch of circus clowns and elephants for some reason. I love "Sailing On the Tide" which is the only upbeat song on the whole album. I could have done without the "fogie" chorus singers on some of the album's best tracks. This is The Carpenters and if you were a fan, you should add this to your collection. But be prepared to get very, very sad.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nRichard's Personal Tribute, March 25, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\n"Voice Of The Heart" was released by Richard in October 1983, months after Karen's death. Having a wealth of tunes to choose from, Richard turned to those that remained unfinished and bravely returned to the studio, alone, to finish whatever production needed to be done. The parts Karen didn't live to finish, mainly the backing vocals, are done by a choir. The album opens with what was Karen's last recording session, the song titled "Now." Karen was at the peak of her performance and "Now" is positive proof of the maturity and control in her voice. During this session which was recorded in one take, there was no hint of Karen's fate and if anything, she sounded like she was in the prime of her life. A few other songs were recorded in early 1982 during Karen's visits home from New York, where she was in full-time treatment for her eating disorder. Outtakes were used on this album, "Sailing On The Tide," the only song that features Karen performing backing vocals with Richard, was recorded for the "Horizon" effort, the saloon song "Ordinary Fool" was recorded for "Kind Of Hush" and hinted at the possible direction of their future career, and the rest of the album was filled out with outtakes from the massive and over-productive recording sessions for "Made In America." The most touching song is "Look To Your Dreams" recorded in 1978. Richard plays a solo piano fade after a showtune type song and he simply fades away, a touching euology. I don't think it was intentional, but the album in it's entirety is eeriely soul searching and has the feeling something was missing. The somber mood is completed by a cover featuring a close up of a relaxed and beautiful Karen half-smiling. She clearly wasn't finished living.\n\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Paulinho Da Costa, Tom Scott \nProducer: Richard Carpenter \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Carpenters: Karen Carpenter (vocals); Richard Carpenter (keyboards).\n\nAdditional personnel: Tim May (acoustic & electric guitars); Tony Peluso (electric guitar); Dennis Budmire, Fred Tackett (acoustic guitar); Jay Dee Maness (pedal steel guitar); Gayle Levant (harp); Sheridon Stokes (flute, recorder); Earl Dumler (oboe, English horn); John Phillips, Tom Scott (tenor saxophone); Chuck Findley, Ron Gorow, John Audino (flugelhorn); Shaun Furlong (synthesizers); Joe Osborn (bass); Ron Tutt, Ed Greene, Larrie Londin (drums); Paulinho Da Costa, Peter Limonick (percussion); The O.K. Chorale (background vocals).\n\nDigitally remastered by Richard Carpenter.\n\nVOICE OF THE HEART, released in October 1983 (only months after Karen Carpenter's death at the age of 32), contains her final recordings. The album was finished posthumously and dedicated to her memory by Karen's brother, Richard. Aside from the solemnity of the packaging, it's a fine late-period Carpenters album, the highpoint being the lovely and poignant opener "Now." The CD was remastered by Richard Carpenter in 1998 as part of a general overhaul of the Carpenters' A&M catalogue. A limited-edition Japanese version features 32-bit digital remastering and an LP-style slipcase.\n\nIndustry Reviews\nPerformance 8 / Sound 8.5\nCD Review Reader Consensus - Performance 8.8 / Sound 8.8
This data cd contains 10 tracks and runs 40min 31sec.
Freedb: 85097d0a

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