Ticket To Ride
1965年，卡本特兄妹－凱倫及理查卡本特(Karen & Richard Carpenter)跟一位負責低音結他及大號的朋友共同組成一支三人爵士樂隊－卡本特三人組(Carpenter Trio)，其間認識了一位醉心於錄音工程的電子低音結他手祖奧斯邦(Joe Osborn)，理查加深了多音軌錄音技術的認識，他們在祖的車房改裝的錄音室裡，錄製樣本聲帶(Demo)，發覺凱倫天生有一把適合錄音的好嗓子，而祖和一位拍擋剛成立一間小型唱片公司，但祖並沒有打算和卡本特三人組簽約。1966年，卡本特父母只好替十六歲的凱倫簽了第一張個人唱片合約，理查可以負責作曲。這只是一個開始，凱倫以個人名義推出幾首單曲，但缺乏宣傳，成績未如理想，而唱片公司因經營不善，於一年內即倒閉。同年卡本特三人組在荷理活「碗形劇場」(Hollywood Bowl)的樂隊大賽中奪得冠軍，三人才簽約RCA唱片公司。他們迅速錄製了十一首作品，當中包括翻唱披頭四樂隊(The Beatles)的《Every Little Thing》及原創作品而其後最終成為流行曲的《Flat Baroque》，但RCA當時並不看好，認為爵士樂沒有商業潛質，唱片一直未能推出，最後只好解約。
卡本特三人組解散後，凱倫及理查再和另外四位同學組成史柏尋和聲合唱團(Spectrum)，當中包括其後創作多首經典的卡本特金曲的約翰貝提斯(John Bettis)。理查負責鍵琴樂器，凱倫擔任敲擊樂器及主唱，他們到加州狄士尼樂園等地演出。他們並到處尋求唱片公司支持，但找了很多家都碰壁。1967年，凱倫和理查獲得著名小喇叭手赫伯亞柏特(Herb Alpert)的賞識，於1969年簽約他所主持的A&M唱片公司。
1969年，卡本特樂隊(Carpenters)－最初並沒有「The」－正式推出首張專輯【Offering】，其中翻唱披頭四樂隊(The Beatles)的《Ticket to Ride》大受歡迎，為他們奠定了知名度。於是唱片公司後來更用了「Ticket to Ride」為大碟主題，把專輯【Offering】改成【Ticket To Ride】。
About Astor
Astor is able to express herself with logical literacy but full of artistic feelings. She acts to record her valuable, interesting and unforgettable experiences during her travel and plans to share with others her instant feelings, thoughtful insights and findings via poems, free verses, prose, narration, reference, etc.
Music, Movie, Musicals and Me
Music and theatre have had a close relationship. Theatre can associate with movie or musical theatre (musicals) and I love both of them. I sing theme songs in some Asian movies, such as“When I Dream” (theme from “Dragon Squad”). It easily recalls people not only from scenes of the movie, but also from memory. I love theme music from movies as well as songs from Musicals, especially Broadway. I remember I have fallen in love with Broadway since I was 12. Musical films characteristically contain elements reminiscent of theatre; performers often sing and dance as if there is a live audience watching. Some musical films were adapted for the stage after their great success, such as “The Wizard of Oz” and“Fame”, while successful musicals also definitely received movie adaptations, i.e. stage-to-film adaptations, such as“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita”. We can share our moments after all these years by passing through “Over the Rainbow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “You Must Love Me” ……
“Moon River” (theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) has to be selected in my new album "Theatre" although it has been covered by hundreds of artists all over the world. I sing it each time, it seems like a live performance accompanied by the pianist just in front of the audience.
“The Way We Were” (theme from “The Way We Were”) must be selected because it was the song of one of my favorite singers that influences me most, Barbra Streisand, and I won the singing contest with it!
“For All We Know” (theme from “Lovers and OtherStrangers”) was selected, of course, in tribute to my forever idol, the Carpenters.
WORDS from Astor :
I hope all of you would like the presentation of my albums.
Everlasting love dedicated to SUPERSTAR...
My dearest family,
Mom and Dad,
Uncle,
Tony,
Jan.
All the one I love,
Teachers and tutors, who have enlightened me,
All singers and writers of the original songs, especially Karen and Richard Carpenter.
All musicians,
All my fans and friends.
Thanks GOD.
Astor Fong
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1965年，卡本特兄妹－凱倫及理查卡本特(Karen & Richard Carpenter)跟一位負責低音結他及大號的朋友共同組成一支三人爵士樂隊－卡本特三人組(Carpenter Trio)，其間認識了一位醉心於錄音工程的電子低音結他手祖奧斯邦(Joe Osborn)，理查加深了多音軌錄音技術的認識，他們在祖的車房改裝的錄音室裡，錄製樣本聲帶(Demo)，發覺凱倫天生有一把適合錄音的好嗓子，而祖和一位拍擋剛成立一間小型唱片公司，但祖並沒有打算和卡本特三人組簽約。1966年，卡本特父母只好替十六歲的凱倫簽了第一張個人唱片合約，理查可以負責作曲。這只是一個開始，凱倫以個人名義推出幾首單曲，但缺乏宣傳，成績未如理想，而唱片公司因經營不善，於一年內即倒閉。同年卡本特三人組在荷理活「碗形劇場」(Hollywood Bowl)的樂隊大賽中奪得冠軍，三人才簽約RCA唱片公司。他們迅速錄製了十一首作品，當中包括翻唱披頭四樂隊(The Beatles)的《Every Little Thing》及原創作品而其後最終成為流行曲的《Flat Baroque》，但RCA當時並不看好，認為爵士樂沒有商業潛質，唱片一直未能推出，最後只好解約。
卡本特三人組解散後，凱倫及理查再和另外四位同學組成史柏尋和聲合唱團(Spectrum)，當中包括其後創作多首經典的卡本特金曲的約翰貝提斯(John Bettis)。理查負責鍵琴樂器，凱倫擔任敲擊樂器及主唱，他們到加州狄士尼樂園等地演出。他們並到處尋求唱片公司支持，但找了很多家都碰壁。1967年，凱倫和理查獲得著名小喇叭手赫伯亞柏特(Herb Alpert)的賞識，於1969年簽約他所主持的A&M唱片公司。
1969年，卡本特樂隊(Carpenters)－最初並沒有「The」－正式推出首張專輯【Offering】，其中翻唱披頭四樂隊(The Beatles)的《Ticket to Ride》大受歡迎，為他們奠定了知名度。於是唱片公司後來更用了「Ticket to Ride」為大碟主題，把專輯【Offering】改成【Ticket To Ride】。
