Top of the World (1972 Carpenters cover by des0free) - Redone higher key!

[des0free]

Edit: Redone transposed another half step up, to get more treble in my voice, with guitar chords transposed to "G" with capo on 6th fret, and remixed.

I never tried to cover a song that has a female vocalist, so of course I tried to cover one of the most amazing singers ever, Karen Carpenter, who had a 3 octave range 

This 1972 song hit #1 in the charts in 1973.  My wife likes Carpenters and after listening to them a lot I grew to also, even if some of their songs are "cheesy" - it is quality music and what an amazing voice - hard to believe she was originally just recruited to be the drummer when she was just 15. 

Details (similar approach as for my recent Neil Diamond cover):

Vocals via AT4040 mic and USB interface into Reaper, CLA vocals plugin, etc.
Harmony vocal generated from 2nd take using Waves ultrapitch plugin.
Acoustic guitars (panned) Taylor GS mini via AT4040 mic
All other instruments via Sampletank 3 plugin (midi), including (this time) drums and bass

[ODH]

That's a lovely bright start to the day. Kudos for taking on Karen Carpenter, you did a good job.

[Groundy]

Nice one Des, well done.

[BerryPatch]

Lovely track, I'm unfamiliar with the original. Love the vocals and the acoustic guitars with the other arrangements sound great, excellent use of strings as well.

[Jean Pierre]

very pleasant, very well constructed you are still progressing in sound recording

[des0free]

Thanks for your comments!  I have redone this transposed another half step up, to get more treble in my voice, with guitar chords transposed to "G" with capo on 6th fret, and remixed (original post replaced)

It is quite interesting to try transposing songs, even if you can sing them in the original key sometimes it sounds better with your voice in a different key.  Other times I do it to make the guitar chords easier to play.

[StephenM]

yes this is excellent.  I really like the bass guitar alot...def that vibe similar to this era bass style and that electric piano sound, very nicely played.  High quality recording.  Stellar actually as in as good as the radio stuff.  Vocals sound great. 
Funny you mention Karen's voice range as I never remember her singing 3 octaves.  Pat Benatar could sing 3 octaves and often got way, up there on her tracks.  I think maybe with Karen her range started alot lower than Pat's.... I totally agree she was a great singer and while yes the Carpenters songs were sappy they were amazing. 
Kind of like very commercially successful painters.  Their stuff is so good you can't really dislike it yet it's almost too good.

[Zoltan]

Hey... this is lovely! You're voice fits the song perfectly and there's a sunny and happy vibe to all of it.

[Rene Asologuitar]

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HI des,
Beautiful recording.
I love the carpenters, and particularly this song!
Very uplifting and hopeful music, and we need these type of message today.
Your version is lovely, and the accompaniment is very nice, I love all your instrumentation.
Thanks for sharing this song.
Rene

[cuthbert]

Edit: Redone transposed another half step up, to get more treble in my voice, with guitar chords transposed to "G" with capo on 6th fret, and remixed.

I have updated the song mp3 path / ID in the 1972 festival jukebox.
 
Friendly reminder (for all): if you upload a new mix to a festival song, it won't automatically update in the jukebox, but needs to be manually updated by the admin team.

To make this a speedy and trouble-free experience, whenever you upload a new mix in a festival post please re-add the blue Festival Submission message icon - the admin team will take care of the rest.