• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

I'm looking for an old pop song...

Zulu Romeo

Zulu Romeo

World Famous Starship Captain
Admiral
This has boggled me for a long while. Audiophiles of a certain age might be able to help me with this.

I'm looking for a certain pop song, sounding like it will have dated from the 70s or early 80s, perhaps Carpenters-esque. I have no idea who sang it, nor do I remember the lyrics or title, or even how the main melody and chord progressions in the main part of the song go, but what was very memorable about it was the extended purely instrumental coda at the end which had a unique chord progression that was very similar (but not identical) to the famous Pachelbel's Canon chord progression.

I remember this last part quite vividly, and as I have absolute pitch I even remember what key the tonic chord in the sequence was in (I think it was D major but it's been a long time since I heard it) but the sequence went something like this:
Code: 
D - / Dmaj7 - / D7 - / G -
Gm7 - / D - / E - / A7 -
D - / Dmaj7 - / D7 - / G -
Gm7 - / D - / G A7 / D -
and continued to loop around like this until the record faded out.

Any music types here know what the song is? :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Zion Ravescene said:
This has boggled me for a long while. Audiophiles of a certain age might be able to help me with this.

I'm looking for a certain pop song, sounding like it will have dated from the 70s or early 80s, perhaps Carpenters-esque. I have no idea who sang it, nor do I remember the lyrics or title, or even how the main melody and chord progressions in the main part of the song go, but what was very memorable about it was the extended purely instrumental coda at the end which had a unique chord progression that was very similar (but not identical) to the famous Pachelbel's Canon chord progression.

I remember this last part quite vividly, and as I have absolute pitch I even remember what key the tonic chord in the sequence was in (I think it was D major but it's been a long time since I heard it) but the sequence went something like this:
Code: 
D - / Dmaj7 - / D7 - / G -
Gm7 - / D - / E - / A7 -
D - / Dmaj7 - / D7 - / G -
Gm7 - / D - / G A7 / D -
and continued to loop around like this until the record faded out.

Any music types here know what the song is? :confused: :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...
*Whips guitar out and plays the chords*

ARGGHH! It's on the tip of my tongue!

The D/Dmaj7/D7 bit and the parallel shift from G to Gm7 sound like Let's Be Natural by the Prefab Four themselves - The Rutles!

That's all I got.
 
The first part seems familiar, especially around the G to Gm7 change, but the D to E loses me. Now it's going to bug me, too.

--Justin
 
I don't know how to read notes or play any instrument..

But here's an idea... What if some of you who do know how to play an instrument play the notes, record it and then post the audio clip online here? Not talking about making a youtube or anything, but just a mp3 file.

That way even more people can join in on the search for the song :)
 
Just A Girl said:
Could it be "Rain and Tears" by Aphrodites Child?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnf7ISLpQdw
Click to expand...
Nice song (good old Demis Roussos! :bolian:) and I see where you're coming from, but I don't think it's that one, sorry. :( The song I had in mind had a much grander coda... and I think the main body of the song was different in tone and harmony to the coda I described in the OP.

And no, it's not the theme tune to "Jamie and the Magic Torch" (which has a near-identical chord progression, by the way, except for the end).
 
That's the ending of "Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters. They sing it on "ah" a zillion times into the fade out. An electric guitar riffs over the top of it some of the time.

gtl.gif


One of my all-time favorite Carpenters songs. (They actually took some heat from Carpenters "purists" because of the "harder" guitar solo, but Richard insisted on it as a departure from their usual stuff)

--Ted
 
Last edited:
Zion Ravescene said:
I'm looking for a certain pop song, sounding like it will have dated from the 70s or early 80s, perhaps Carpenters-esque. I have no idea who sang it, nor do I remember the lyrics or title, or even how the main melody and chord progressions in the main part of the song go, but what was very memorable about it was the extended purely instrumental coda at the end which had a unique chord progression that was very similar (but not identical) to the famous Pachelbel's Canon chord progression.
Click to expand...
"Chevy Van," no doubt about it. :cool:
 
TGTheodore said:
That's the ending of "Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters. They sing it on "ah" a zillion times into the fade out. An electric guitar riffs over the top of it some of the time.

gtl.gif


One of my all-time favorite Carpenters songs. (They actually took some heat from Carpenters "purists" because of the "harder" guitar solo, but Richard insisted on it as a departure from their usual stuff)

--Ted
Click to expand...
That's the one! :bolian: I knew it was a Carpenter's song, it definitely felt like one.

Thank you so very much. :) I can sleep easier now.
 
TGTheodore said:
You're very welcome. It's been a rotten week, so it's good to be right about something for a change. ;)

--Ted
Click to expand...

I still miss Karen's voice. :(

Sorry to hear it's been a bad week for you. However, your acute skills here have me inspired to listen some Carpenters while I'm at work today. It's raining, but at least it's not Monday.
 
Thanks Theodore! I am not familiar with that song, finding most of the Carpenters work... not my thing. But I'm always struck by what a great clear, pure-toned voice Karen Carpenter had! If they sang like that on "American Idol" I might not swear at my TV when my local station covers it like it's news.

--Justin
 
Neroon said:
Tony Peluso was the guitarist on that song, if memory serves.
Click to expand...

I think you're right.

On one of the shows about the Carpenters, he remembers getting the call from Richard Carpenter to play on the track. He figured since it was the Carpenters, he'd do an easy, smooth guitar riff. But Richard insisted he wanted something harder.

--Ted
 
I've had this song in my head all day now. Its sentiments for some reason strike a chord with me now, in a way that listening to it while tuned into classic pop radio during my teens didn't quite manage. :adore:

Interestingly, the use of the hard guitar solo in the song have led some to declare this song as the first true "power ballad". :klingon:
 
The Carpenters were great. In addition to having that beautiful voice, Karen Carpenter was also a pretty amazing drummer. It's a shame she was lost so young. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top