All I Can Do

As I was working on my computer late in the afternoon yesterday, I was looking around a bit at YouTube for some videos that would be good supplements for me to post to students regarding some facets of circadian rhythm development and the physiology behind the neural circuitry of the endogenous pacemaker in the brain.  I found a reasonably good rodent wheel-running video that was reasonably successful at being robust enough to be linked to my broader discussion of circadian rhythms.  

But, on YouTube, I have some sort of "interest feed" set up that suggests various videos I MAY like related to my past searches.  I get all sorts of biology videos that pop-up of course, but I also get an array of videos in this feed related to all sorts of pipe related topics, various other topics.... and musical interests of mine as well.... bass clarinet and saxophone videos, jazz videos, classical music videos, pop music videos (from the 1960s and 1970s predominately) folk music videos, etc.  

Well, on my "interest feed" a suggested video that popped up was of a documentary of the musical group "The Carpenters" that I had NOT previously seen.  I have always been a big fan of "The Carpenters" and besides listening to their music, I have watched a large array of documentaries about them and also read several books about their life and times.  But, this particular video documentary was one I had not ever seen before.  I believe it was produced by the BBC, which helped to explain why I had not had prior access to this video (it is often difficult in the US to obtain the MANY BBC programs I know about and would like to view, let alone ones I do not know about).  

So, I decided to play this documentary on YouTube.... and LISTEN to it, as I still had work to do on the computer.  But, I thought it would be enjoyable to hear in the background as I worked on PowerPoints, wrote drafts of some upcoming research talks, graded a bit, and a few other things before I was able to leave for the day.

So, I was casually listening to the documentary while working..... I know a sizable amount of The Carpenters history from the other documentaries and books I have perused..... but it was interesting to hear the details from a British perspective as well.  As I continued to work, the documentary then proceeded to play a Carpenter's song I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE!!!!!  And, it was, in my opinion, beyond amazing!!!!!!   

The Carpenters "sound" for which they are famous can be classified as "easy listening" and often as "soft pop" music.  And, I greatly appreciate and respect their famous body of work.  BUT... this heretofore heard song on the documentary..... was WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT from any other Carpenters song I had known of.  It was an early demo recording before they were "The Carpenters" but were instead going by the name of either "Spectrum" or sometimes "The Richard Carpenter Trio".  The song is called "All I Can Do" and is not "easy listening" in style.  Instead it is:

• somewhat of a Jazz song.... it has a lot of Jazz components
• somewhat of a 60s Psychedelia song.... it features some classic 60s "organ fuzz" sounds.
• a rapid, upbeat tempo song (most Carpenter songs are ballads, and often slow ballads).  
• a song of rapid, very interesting lyrics by Karen as well!
  

I emphatically URGE you to click on the link below to hear this song on YouTube.  I apologize that there is some sort of ad that will play first (but you can exit out of that after a few seconds before the ad is finished).  It is the only way I know to post this here.  But IT IS (in my opinion) VERY, VERY WORTH LISTENING TO!!!!!  

All I Can Do  - 1967 Demo by Spectrum/The Richard Carpenter Trio/The Carpenters

I am amazed and in awe of this song!  Certain songs just capture my attention so much.  After the documentary was finished, I went searching just for the song itself.  I must have replayed the YouTube video at least 20 times in my office yesterday listening each time to hear different nuances of the song.  

Although I love the "traditional" Carpenters music.... I would have ALSO relished them making more music in this vein as well!  The song was written by their friend and long-time collaborator, John Bettis and arranged by Richard Carpenter.  

The lyrics are pure 60s songwriting:

All I Can Do

Yesterday, I thought you'd stay, I thought you'd see things my way
But now I see my hope's maybe dead

 
I should have known when you said I was the one that you wanted
Wanting meant nothing more than today

 

All I can do is cry over you and hope you return someday
All I can do is cry over you ever since you've gone away

 

Every road that I follow leaves me with no tomorrow

 I need someone to show me the way (ba-ba-ahh, ba-ba-ahh)

 

All I can do is cry over you and hope you return someday
All I can do is cry over you ever since you've gone away

 

Finding this song made my day yesterday!!!!  So wonderful!

 

* * * * * 

• Not sure about running today yet..... we did get a huge amount of snow, and thus far the U is closed until at least noon.  Keeping fingers crossed it may be all day as I have an exam to give that was scheduled for 1pm.... and if they reopen at noon, I will get a helluva lot of students who still cannot get in to take the exam and it will be chaos.  
• PCS = 7.  Just a little less today.  Still strong cravings.  But, just not quite as intense as the 8 of the last several days.  
• If I am granted the afternoon off from the U as well due to this snowstorm.... I am going to try to finish my writing about the wonderful Chicago trip.  If I am able to do so, I will try to get it up and published on Friday.

PipeTobacco