Superstar Battles: KAREN CARPENTER V MARCIA HINES Something's Missing In My Life скачать в хорошем качестве

Superstar Battles: KAREN CARPENTER V MARCIA HINES Something's Missing In My Life

A 1970's penned song by Paul Jabara who won an Academy Award for the hit 'Last Dance' recorded by Donna Summer from the movie 'Thank God Its Friday'. Paul would also go on to compose the duet 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) which was a huge success for Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand in late 1979 and then 'It's Raining Men' for The Weather Girls in 1982. A more sensitive side was on display with 'Something's Missing (In My Life) which he initially recorded as a duet with Donna on his own second album 'Keeping Time' which also featured Paul's own vocal on 'Last Dance'. In 1979 Marcia Hines recorded this beautiful song on her 'Ooh Child' set and found herself back in the Australian Top 10 after a quiet spell on the charts. Marcia had ruled the Top 40 between 1975 and 1978 and won three consecutive Queen Of Pop prizes as well. Her last major success before this song was 'You' which peaked at #2 and is still her best selling single to date. 'Ooh Child' was a bit of a hotch potch, and seemed to include (maybe contractually) the use of two prominent American singers: Mona Lisa & Terry Young who scored their own hit with a song included on Marcia's LP - 'I Wanna Make It With You Tonight' which made the Aussie Top 15 but no mention of Marcia Hines on the single! They are featured in the art work, and provide back up vocals, but even then it seemed odd to me that this was a Marcia Hines album with this pair of session singers forming a trio on the covers. Nevertheless, there are some terrific tracks on it - including the very funky title track 'Ooh Child' which is on my channel and the vibey 'Let The Music Play' and 'Dance You Fool Dance'. 'Something's Missing' as recorded by Marcia Hines is the most known and successful of the versions that have existed. The pairing of Paul Jabara and Donna Summer should have been issued as a 7 inch single as it is great. For this post, though, I have paired Marcia with the other best known rendition of Paul's song. Although never released officially, Karen Carpenter's version as included here on this 'Battle' was recorded in 1979 by Billy Joel's producer Phil Ramone, and this was unusual as Karen's brother Richard had always produced their material, but was indisposed at the time (in rehab) and the self titled LP was presented to A&M record label execs but the uber successful and iconic head honcho Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss did not want the material released and so it wasn't. Karen was devastated but accepted it. Spookily on the day before she died in February of 1983, Karen contacted the producer of the record (Phil Ramone) to again discuss her feelings about it being shelved. It would be another 13 years before it would finally see the light of day. A grab bag of genres and songwriters involved, the material has some memorable tracks including the tender 'Make Believe It's Your First Time and Karen's heartbreakingly true performance of 'Something's Missing'. I have placed hers first on this clip, as it is more gentle and it felt like a more appropriate front end to this 'battle. There will never be another Karen Carpenter - so unique and superb was her voice; her gift, her spirit. Her death at aged 32 is just endlessly sad, but there are more than a dozen years of recordings and taped performances to enjoy her glorious voice yet ponder how it all came to be.... Marcia Hines brings her requisite power and texture to the song. It feels less vulnerable and raw than Karen's, and they were in fact recorded around the same time as it transpired. Marcia's ability to tell a story through song is what made her such a favourite in her adopted country. One can only wonder if she and her management had tried to crack the American market; as to whether she would have taken on some of those big voiced divas, or would have been lost in the rush during those heady times of the 1970's and 1980's. Marcia chose to raise her daughter here in Australia and become one of our most cherished entertainers. Her tone is so recognisable and so assuring, I have found across my lifetime. This is a difficult battle to decide a winner, as the two recordings, although created at the same time, were from two such different women and at different points in their respective careers and lives. Whichever is deemed 'better', they both do great justice to Paul Jabara's sensitive song. Paul sadly succumbed to HIV in 1992, but leaves behind some of the most memorable dance and pop hits of the era. I'm glad he got the recognition during his lifetime. Upon reflection, as much as I adore Marcia Hines, I think the longing and fragility in Karen Carpenter's wins out. This is made more poignant by the fact that this was recorded for her first and only solo outing (breaking free from her brother and The Carpenters' brand). The world didn't get to hear her solo work until 13 years after her death. There was a lot missing in her life. Sometimes Art really does Imitate Life!