Karen Carpenter (1969) - Crescent Noon video free download
This is a rare recording of the California State University Long Beach Choir performing "Crescent Noon," a composition of Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. Karen (age 19) sings two verses solo. The audio is not the best - the choir is difficult to hear at times and Karen's solo was recorded much louder than the choir. Richard, of course, plays the piano on this recording. This performance was recorded sometime during the winter/spring of 1969, before Karen and Richard were signed to A&M records. Other songs recorded during that same session were "Goodnight" which has been released on "Carpenters - From The Top" and another song, "And When I Die." which was recorded with the choir and featured solos by Karen Carpenter and another choir member, Wanda Freeman.
"Crescent Noon" was re-recorded in 1970 and appears on the Carpenters' "Close To You" album. I have also produced a video for that song, which can be viewed here:
Carpenters - Crescent Noon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKYNckacP6E
Comments
8 years ago
Jacob Prince
Thanks for the upload man this is wonderful i'm from this generation,but i can't even explain what Karen's voice means to me and this is just hauntingly beautiful!!!8 years ago
Jacob Prince
Hauntingly beautiful Karen Carpenter Vocals!!!10 years ago
Dylan Kaulukou-Chang
I like crescent noon song was by (CLOSE TO YOU) album10 years ago
takumainc
Early on I wasn't so keen on the version on the Close To You album. And I got to know this version, which karen seems to sing more emotionally and now I wish Richard would put this version on the Close To You album as a bonus track for comparison. He included Goodnight in the From The Top boxset and later excluded it from The Essential Collection. As for And When I Die, there's no possiblility...10 years ago
Beth Mosior
very cooooool11 years ago
aerosote
No voice like Karen's ever again!11 years ago
No1KCfan6
oh, my! that voice is not of this earth! and i mean that in a good way....no, a great way! most amazing voice.12 years ago
rennie murgh
I love this songs of the carpenters from the beginning until now. Im still sad about her early death. her voice let me know that she has alway a depressive undertone.12 years ago
toni lee
wow!!! x12 years ago
mselbit
This is stunning. Thanks so much for this version.12 years ago
NiwdeLagirdam
I'm 21 and I love this song. This recording is bone chilling and awesome. The quality adds to the feel of the song and the times in my opinion.12 years ago
PHOEBE BEEBER
Oh my gosh. This is so fabulous to hear. Because of people like you these wonderful gems keep coming up for us to enjoy. The Carpenters are just plain raw talent. It is so obvious in these recordings.12 years ago
Jennifer McMullen
The entire experience of seing and hearing this upload gave me chills. Karen, we still mourn your loss...so many songs left unsung. Beautiful.12 years ago
SalMessina1
Karen, gioia nell'anima mia R.I.P. :(12 years ago
Silvia Sokolovsky
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did you find this treasure? hank you, relly, thenk you for sharing this incredible piece of history with us.12 years ago
octave7
I think the lyrics are "There the clouds cry, a vail of tears..."12 years ago
JanVermeer2
I would guess what happened here was that Karen had a (hand) microphone attached to a (hissy) tape recorder, so that the piano (nearby) and the choir (more distant) were picked up in the background. What a revelation to hear that wonderful voice so early. If only there were a balanced audio available of the performance!12 years ago
vmuto1
This never gets old, it's very rare for some Carpenters fans, but trust me there are alot more these Carpenters gems out there that many people will not realize that were ever recordered (documented). I know backstage there was always people holding little filming cameras, that you could put up on your home projector & screen that you would have to open up. My have we come along way with technology. Don't be surprised if you see some backstage footage of the Carpenters one of these days :-)12 years ago
octave7
This is Exquisite. Even though she is singing just a few parts, her vocal is more intense, and so yearning. Even at 19 her voice is projecting such a tortured soul. The choir in the background is so lush and gives the music more color than the album version does. These were true artists in the beginning.12 years ago
Robert Silvestri
In spite of the sound quality, to find something like this, and the background story, is one of the wonders of Youtube, but more than that, it unleashes talent like yours Robert. Thanks so much for enhancing Karen's story.Related Videos
