Posted on 02/20/2021 2:46:30 PM PST by simpson96
"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. It became most popular after its treatment by the Carpenters in 1971.
Produced by Richard Carpenter with Jack Daugherty, it was recorded with members of "The Wrecking Crew," a famed collection of Los Angeles area session musicians.
As the song's storyline was originally more risqué than what was typical for the Carpenters, Richard changed a lyric in the second verse from "And I can hardly wait/To sleep with you again" to the somewhat less suggestive "And I can hardly wait/To be with you again."
The track was finished in one take.
The Carpenters - Superstar (1971)
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Sure, a little of his own stuff and even more of him backing up bigger stars, but in about 1971 I decided that he was certain to become the NEXT BIG THING, and it never quite happened. Maybe he needed a David Geffen, and none were around.
Always being pressured by the rest of your family—and not being recognized by them for your achievements—will do that....
Somewhere I read the “Superstar guitarist” in the song was Eric Clapton.
My personal favorite was “Solitaire”. Even though much of the effect was probably brilliant engineering, her voice on that song was almost three dimensional.
I’m sure he wanted it. In the documentary on The Wrecking Crew the musicians had nothing but the highest praise for his talent but also described him as kind of strange - a quiet guy who definitely went his own way.
Tommy Boy was a great movie and that’s a priceless scene. I forgot the hood popping up at the end. That was hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.
The Sonic Youth version was the first that I heard, and I am partial to it as well. But Karen Carpenter had to work harder to sound haunting than Kim Gordon did. Karen does get pretty freaky on Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leKeknINhkc
One of my favorite singers. No screaming, just a beautiful, melodic voice.
Herb Alpert, who signed the Carpenters to A&M Records, described her voice this way (paraphrasing): you hear her on the radio, and it sounds/feels like she’s sitting next to you
Makes sense. That could have held him back.
""Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell with a songwriting credit also given to Delaney Bramlett[1] that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since; the best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, and by Luther Vandross in 1983."
First time I ever heard it was in an episode of “American Horror Story: Apocalypse.” That season was in 2018 but I only watched it a few months ago. I was blown away when I looked up the song and found out it was The Carpenters.
Karen Carpenter - one of the most beautiful voices ever in pop music. Tragic loss.
Oic - no clapton *plays* on the DB version - the idea came from a rita coolidge dream according ti Bobby Whitlock who was there. I too doubt it was *about* EC - I have zero idea on that.
I was just saying he played on the DB record of tge song.
Karen was no slouch on the drums.
First concert I ever attended (it was the summer of 1972 and I was 16 years old) was The Carpenters at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Remember as though it was just yesterday.
The Carpenters won a “Battle of the Bands” back when those were a thing in LA. The music execs were blown away by Karen’s (untrained) voice - they wanted to sign her immediately without her brother.
She said “no” - they were a duo and he was part of the deal.
The rest, as they say is history. I remember playing the double album when I was a senior in high school.
This was always my favorite song along with “Merry Christmas, Baby” - but I only play that over the holidays.
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