In a collab with Steve Goldberg, we celebrate the career of the late Neil Sedaka! We'll deep-dive into his & Phil Cody's "Solitaire," with a few covers we picked out, separately! Let's deal you in!🃏
What a great Inside Tracks ep! I love it when you guys collaborate.
I didn’t know the song or any of the cover versions. It’s a beautiful track. I was stunned by the purity of Sedaka’s tone. I also really enjoyed the vocal performance analysis. Great stuff!
Thanks, Andy....and for re-stackin', too!🙏I love it when Steve and I collab, too! I'm looking forward to doing some more, soon! I enjoy hearing your vocal analyses, too.....I like Sedaka's soft edges to his tone. Now, I'm off to check out your post for this morning....I'm getting a late start!!😁
Great tribute gentlemen. Steve, way to throw down the gauntlet by opening with the Carpenters. Very strong. Also hard to top, but I have to say Elvis was pretty compelling too. I was not familiar with this song. Shame on me. Brad, kudos for digging deep. And I appreciate the videos of Neil that you both found as well.
Thanks, Taz! It was a mutual decision to start with The Carpenters, that was the one that we both chose. The rest were individual picks! Brad edited out the harsher bits that Phil Cody had to say about Elvis’ version of the song (he really thought it was melodramatic in a bad way), but came to appreciate it years later.
Thanks so much, Taz! Glad you enjoyed our playing in the musical sandbox for this! I was amazed by how a ballad (or treated as such by so many) could be transformed into an out’n’out “big” ballad by the belters like Ms. Bassey and Ms. Valery! But, Dana knew what she wanted—to move it into power-ballad territory by bringing in Leslie West to not only play, but produce!
As for the info/interview vids on Sedaka, it’s a good thing that he did so many, and was so open and giving in his time and sharing!
Thank you, Dan! As soon as I read your second sentence, I thought of this song, and you! As in, have you heard it….not the “usual” Carpenters fare, and I think it would make a great “Inside Tracks”! I’d love to do it with you…..lots of fascinating facts available for this song! I remember the hubbub surrounding Klaatu, the band who originally recorded the song (we thought it might be The Beatles “undercover”….hell, it was on Capitol)!
This Carpenters cover was in ‘77! Let’s do it, yes? I love your emotional enthusiasm…..you felt it with Steve here!!
Sure! That would be fun to do! I was just as shocked as everyone when I first heard the song. It's not one of my favorites by the Carpenters but certainly one of the most interesting diversions they ever took!
We'll set it all up in DMs, but, I've got some of that "living history" with the original Klaatu....it was released when I was at a record store, and even the trades were convinced it MIGHT be a re-constituted Beatles....and, Capitol was doing absolutely nothing to dissuade our misguided hunches!!! It was not, at all, meant to be, or sound anything like what it was....a new group debuting with that album/song!
Just one critic, I guess, with an overactive imagination!!! And, not that I know (or remember it), I'm sure there's a helluva story behind how on earth did it get to Carpenters and/or A&M's attention (much less their desire to record it)!!!??! Thanks, Dan!
BTW, if you've not heard Klaatu's original, DON'T until you're ready to write your first impressions down, AND your thoughts about why you think our duo would WANT to cover it, and what you think THEY thought they'd get out of it!!!
I have heard it although it's been a while... I've got a lot I could say about why the Carpenters chose to record it as part of their "experimental" album "Passage." I love the idea of diving into this.
Write, if you would, what you guess/think/know (without any “now” research) about the song/album, etc and their “experimental” album….I know something about that, but I want your POV on that, and I’ll focus on the Klaatu angle as that’s my “boots-on-the-ground” POV!
Guys, you’re in exquisite company here. I never thought I’d read a write-up on this platform mentioning Nana Mouskouri and Patricia Paay in the same breath 😂. But seriously, it was a very interesting piece. I knew there were many covers and versions, but I didn’t realize just how many. I’d love to know how much in royalties he, or his heirs, receive each year. It must be quite a substantial sum. Well done to him, and to you for sharing such an interesting article.
I like how you are putting Brad and me in the same breath as Nana and Paay (that sounds like a disco law firm). I used to listen to Mouskouri a couple decades ago when she was doing some Latin-tinged stuff. I hadn't thought of her in a long time before seeing her appear on this list. Thanks, Pe!
Steve & Brad, Nana & Pat. An ideal name indeed. And there are plenty of possibilities for what it could stand for, a law firm is just one of them. It would also be a perfect name for a Eurovision entry. Nana already tried that once. If I remember correctly, the points were a bit scarce, but at least she can brief the other three on what to expect.
And no worries if some of you don’t hold a passport from a participating country. There are always a few “countries” happy to recruit top talent from elsewhere, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco… I’ve even heard rumours that Liechtenstein might be considering a debut. 😁
(And in case you’re wondering: Pat instead of Paay, Paay is her surname, Patricia her first name. But Pat works much better. Brad… Pat… Sounds like a winner if you ask me!)
Thanks, Pe…..Steve and I were happy to go international for this! With Miss Patricia, I was imagining you marrying up with her, and going by Pe Paay! Your anniversary, of course, could then be, ostensibly, Paay Day! Ka-ching!
My first intro to Ms. Mouskouri was in the late-’70s/early-’80s, during my record store tenure in both Houston and L.A…..I’d hover, during slow store times, in both the Classical and International sections, thumbing thru albums I was completely unfamiliar with, and was curious as to what the bespectacled Nana was all about! Never heard any of her music, of course, ‘cause we weren’t about to crack open a twice-the-cost import over a free-promo domestic release!
As for Neil’s publishing, I’m sure Elton, during his Rocket tenure, anyway, set him up for a princely sum befitting one of Sedaka’s stature! Thanks again for enjoying, and for the kind words!
Nana was quite the character. She was a Member of the European Parliament for Greece and also a recording artist for Universal. Being based in Brussels for a good part of the year meant that my boss would occasionally go out to dinner with her. It seemed she had quite a fondness for whiskey—apparently she could drink a bunch of Vikings under the table.
As for Mrs. Paay… there are far too many salacious stories to repeat here 😂
Wow……great stuff, Pe! Thanks! I’m trying to think of an American counterpart/comparison! I guess it would be like Elizabeth Warren (House or Senate, I forget) doing her Congressional thing, and then going into the studio for a few weeks for her next album!😱
But, the “head start” of at least, knowing ABOUT Nana is a far cry than my no knowledge at all about Ms. Paay! That’s why I jumped on her cover (thankfully, it wasn’t bad!) when I discovered she was married to an MTV VJ….a hook!
I tellzya…..between you and me, we’ve got a couple decades covered, record-biz wise for a coupla continents! I rue the day when I become INcontinent!🤣
Loved this deep dive into Solitaire by both of you. Kind of ironic in a nice way that you teamed up to do it. It really is ine of those songs that can leave a lump in your throat. I prefer Sedaka's version but by a hair over The Carpenters, but i really enjoyed hearing how different vocalists approached it, maybe because it really feels like one of those songs where you showcase your voice.
If you make it to the end, you'll see that I included an instrumental version. I was ready for anything other than the usual vocal gymnastics. I also prefer the Sedaka version over all 138 of the others. But Carpenters is a close second. I really tried to find a polka version but came up empty.
Hmmm....polka version, eh? As it happens, there's an Algonquian Powhatan group of musicians who've taken their cue from a certain female Disney cartoon Native princess, and tackled that Bohemian style of music and dance. "Oh, really....what're they called?"
"Polka Hontas."
Thank you, thank you! I'll be here..........all weak.
Thanks, Emm……Steve was so patient with me, as (not unlike a wide receiver in the Super Bowl), I wanted to go long! But, he kept helping me whittle down my several selections to a really unusual, small handful, and I’m glad he did!
You’re right….as it can, easily, be a piano-only accompaniment, the voice is highlighted that much more, and for future cover artists, Karen laid down the gauntlet! And, Richard’s production and arrangement choices are always so clean and classy!
Steve has the patience of a saint, as I can attest to from my own collab with him. I can't imagine shaving down so many options to a small clutch, but the ones you landed on were all worth sharing. But Sedaka and Carpenter are the ones I keep thinking about.
It’s a testament to how great the songwriting is that the covers are all really good. My favorite will always be the Lanegan version but the Carpenters were also brilliant (not surprising).
That's true, Mark.....it's all about the songwriting.....write a good song, and many will be attracted to recording it (in their own style)! What a treat for the writer, too, to hear the many arrangements of their creation!!
Thank you for that compliment, Ellen....much appreciated! Steve and I will be looking for more opportunities for collabbing! Here's something I found that you might like (a British '76 Carpenters televised concert):
What a great Inside Tracks ep! I love it when you guys collaborate.
I didn’t know the song or any of the cover versions. It’s a beautiful track. I was stunned by the purity of Sedaka’s tone. I also really enjoyed the vocal performance analysis. Great stuff!
Thanks, Andy....and for re-stackin', too!🙏I love it when Steve and I collab, too! I'm looking forward to doing some more, soon! I enjoy hearing your vocal analyses, too.....I like Sedaka's soft edges to his tone. Now, I'm off to check out your post for this morning....I'm getting a late start!!😁
Great tribute gentlemen. Steve, way to throw down the gauntlet by opening with the Carpenters. Very strong. Also hard to top, but I have to say Elvis was pretty compelling too. I was not familiar with this song. Shame on me. Brad, kudos for digging deep. And I appreciate the videos of Neil that you both found as well.
Thanks, Taz! It was a mutual decision to start with The Carpenters, that was the one that we both chose. The rest were individual picks! Brad edited out the harsher bits that Phil Cody had to say about Elvis’ version of the song (he really thought it was melodramatic in a bad way), but came to appreciate it years later.
Thanks so much, Taz! Glad you enjoyed our playing in the musical sandbox for this! I was amazed by how a ballad (or treated as such by so many) could be transformed into an out’n’out “big” ballad by the belters like Ms. Bassey and Ms. Valery! But, Dana knew what she wanted—to move it into power-ballad territory by bringing in Leslie West to not only play, but produce!
As for the info/interview vids on Sedaka, it’s a good thing that he did so many, and was so open and giving in his time and sharing!
Love that Carpenters cover! Like Steve though, just about anything Karen sang brought me to tears.
Great piece!
Thank you, Dan! As soon as I read your second sentence, I thought of this song, and you! As in, have you heard it….not the “usual” Carpenters fare, and I think it would make a great “Inside Tracks”! I’d love to do it with you…..lots of fascinating facts available for this song! I remember the hubbub surrounding Klaatu, the band who originally recorded the song (we thought it might be The Beatles “undercover”….hell, it was on Capitol)!
This Carpenters cover was in ‘77! Let’s do it, yes? I love your emotional enthusiasm…..you felt it with Steve here!!
https://youtu.be/m5t0hO9sv7o
Sure! That would be fun to do! I was just as shocked as everyone when I first heard the song. It's not one of my favorites by the Carpenters but certainly one of the most interesting diversions they ever took!
We'll set it all up in DMs, but, I've got some of that "living history" with the original Klaatu....it was released when I was at a record store, and even the trades were convinced it MIGHT be a re-constituted Beatles....and, Capitol was doing absolutely nothing to dissuade our misguided hunches!!! It was not, at all, meant to be, or sound anything like what it was....a new group debuting with that album/song!
Just one critic, I guess, with an overactive imagination!!! And, not that I know (or remember it), I'm sure there's a helluva story behind how on earth did it get to Carpenters and/or A&M's attention (much less their desire to record it)!!!??! Thanks, Dan!
BTW, if you've not heard Klaatu's original, DON'T until you're ready to write your first impressions down, AND your thoughts about why you think our duo would WANT to cover it, and what you think THEY thought they'd get out of it!!!
I have heard it although it's been a while... I've got a lot I could say about why the Carpenters chose to record it as part of their "experimental" album "Passage." I love the idea of diving into this.
Write, if you would, what you guess/think/know (without any “now” research) about the song/album, etc and their “experimental” album….I know something about that, but I want your POV on that, and I’ll focus on the Klaatu angle as that’s my “boots-on-the-ground” POV!
“Let’s GOOOOOO!” as the kids would say!!
Sounds good! Traveling back across the country starting on Monday so I might not get to it right away but am eager to begin!
Guys, you’re in exquisite company here. I never thought I’d read a write-up on this platform mentioning Nana Mouskouri and Patricia Paay in the same breath 😂. But seriously, it was a very interesting piece. I knew there were many covers and versions, but I didn’t realize just how many. I’d love to know how much in royalties he, or his heirs, receive each year. It must be quite a substantial sum. Well done to him, and to you for sharing such an interesting article.
I like how you are putting Brad and me in the same breath as Nana and Paay (that sounds like a disco law firm). I used to listen to Mouskouri a couple decades ago when she was doing some Latin-tinged stuff. I hadn't thought of her in a long time before seeing her appear on this list. Thanks, Pe!
Steve & Brad, Nana & Pat. An ideal name indeed. And there are plenty of possibilities for what it could stand for, a law firm is just one of them. It would also be a perfect name for a Eurovision entry. Nana already tried that once. If I remember correctly, the points were a bit scarce, but at least she can brief the other three on what to expect.
And no worries if some of you don’t hold a passport from a participating country. There are always a few “countries” happy to recruit top talent from elsewhere, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco… I’ve even heard rumours that Liechtenstein might be considering a debut. 😁
(And in case you’re wondering: Pat instead of Paay, Paay is her surname, Patricia her first name. But Pat works much better. Brad… Pat… Sounds like a winner if you ask me!)
Thanks, Pe…..Steve and I were happy to go international for this! With Miss Patricia, I was imagining you marrying up with her, and going by Pe Paay! Your anniversary, of course, could then be, ostensibly, Paay Day! Ka-ching!
My first intro to Ms. Mouskouri was in the late-’70s/early-’80s, during my record store tenure in both Houston and L.A…..I’d hover, during slow store times, in both the Classical and International sections, thumbing thru albums I was completely unfamiliar with, and was curious as to what the bespectacled Nana was all about! Never heard any of her music, of course, ‘cause we weren’t about to crack open a twice-the-cost import over a free-promo domestic release!
As for Neil’s publishing, I’m sure Elton, during his Rocket tenure, anyway, set him up for a princely sum befitting one of Sedaka’s stature! Thanks again for enjoying, and for the kind words!
Nana was quite the character. She was a Member of the European Parliament for Greece and also a recording artist for Universal. Being based in Brussels for a good part of the year meant that my boss would occasionally go out to dinner with her. It seemed she had quite a fondness for whiskey—apparently she could drink a bunch of Vikings under the table.
As for Mrs. Paay… there are far too many salacious stories to repeat here 😂
Wow……great stuff, Pe! Thanks! I’m trying to think of an American counterpart/comparison! I guess it would be like Elizabeth Warren (House or Senate, I forget) doing her Congressional thing, and then going into the studio for a few weeks for her next album!😱
But, the “head start” of at least, knowing ABOUT Nana is a far cry than my no knowledge at all about Ms. Paay! That’s why I jumped on her cover (thankfully, it wasn’t bad!) when I discovered she was married to an MTV VJ….a hook!
I tellzya…..between you and me, we’ve got a couple decades covered, record-biz wise for a coupla continents! I rue the day when I become INcontinent!🤣
Loved this deep dive into Solitaire by both of you. Kind of ironic in a nice way that you teamed up to do it. It really is ine of those songs that can leave a lump in your throat. I prefer Sedaka's version but by a hair over The Carpenters, but i really enjoyed hearing how different vocalists approached it, maybe because it really feels like one of those songs where you showcase your voice.
If you make it to the end, you'll see that I included an instrumental version. I was ready for anything other than the usual vocal gymnastics. I also prefer the Sedaka version over all 138 of the others. But Carpenters is a close second. I really tried to find a polka version but came up empty.
Hmmm....polka version, eh? As it happens, there's an Algonquian Powhatan group of musicians who've taken their cue from a certain female Disney cartoon Native princess, and tackled that Bohemian style of music and dance. "Oh, really....what're they called?"
"Polka Hontas."
Thank you, thank you! I'll be here..........all weak.
🤮
Thanks, Emm……Steve was so patient with me, as (not unlike a wide receiver in the Super Bowl), I wanted to go long! But, he kept helping me whittle down my several selections to a really unusual, small handful, and I’m glad he did!
You’re right….as it can, easily, be a piano-only accompaniment, the voice is highlighted that much more, and for future cover artists, Karen laid down the gauntlet! And, Richard’s production and arrangement choices are always so clean and classy!
Steve has the patience of a saint, as I can attest to from my own collab with him. I can't imagine shaving down so many options to a small clutch, but the ones you landed on were all worth sharing. But Sedaka and Carpenter are the ones I keep thinking about.
Steve and Brad, good stuff!
Thank you, Paul......glad you enjoyed! Steve and I had a great time remembering with this one!
It’s a testament to how great the songwriting is that the covers are all really good. My favorite will always be the Lanegan version but the Carpenters were also brilliant (not surprising).
That's true, Mark.....it's all about the songwriting.....write a good song, and many will be attracted to recording it (in their own style)! What a treat for the writer, too, to hear the many arrangements of their creation!!
Have to agree with Steve about Karen Carpenter's vocals. One note and I'm tearing up.
But Elvis can really get me too. My appreciation of him is growing.
You two are a great collaboration.
Thank you for that compliment, Ellen....much appreciated! Steve and I will be looking for more opportunities for collabbing! Here's something I found that you might like (a British '76 Carpenters televised concert):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCarkGd4Xk
Thanks for finding that concert, Brad!