![]() ![]() ‘Top of the World’ was originally intended as an album cut, but in December 1973 it became the band’s second Billboard No.1. ‘Road Ode’ in particular shows just what a fine vocalist Karen was her ability to go from soft and sultry to hard-edged is amazing. It includes gems like ‘Road Ode’ and the Carpenter/Bettis original, ‘Crystal Lullaby’. The title song, another Leon Russell song, along with the beautiful, ‘Goodbye to Love’ – a Carpenter/Bettis original with an outstanding guitar solo by Tony Peluso, which British DJ legend John Peel declared to be one of his favourites – are standouts. In 1972 A Song For You showed the consistency of their recordings, with not a bad track in earshot. It’s made even more remarkable as it was Karen’s first and only take that’s used on the record. It shows Richard Carpenter’s brilliant ear for a song and is arguably one of Karen’s greatest ever-vocal renditions – brilliantly supported by Richard’s arrangement. Their self-titled album, Carpenters, is for many the pinnacle of their achievements, including as it does, a fabulous medley of Bacharach songs, their 1971 hits ‘For All We Know’ ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ and the exquisite, ‘Superstar’, written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. It appears along with a host of other Carpenters Christmas themed recordings on The Carpenters: Christmas Collection. 2 on the Billboard album chart.įor a Christmas release, they put out, ‘Merry Christmas Darling’, a song written by Richard and his University friend, Frank Pooler. ![]() It made No.2 on the charts and was also the opening track from the album, Close To You, which also made No. They followed it with ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’, written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, which Richard had seen on a TV commercial for a bank. 1 in America in July and stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a month. In 1970, the Carpenters version of the Burt Bacharach song ‘(They Long to Be) Close to You’ made No. It is one of the most underrated debut albums by a major artist, in any genre of music, including as it does a great version of Buffalo Springfield’s ‘Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing’. The Beatles song became a minor hit on the Billboard chart and the album was retitled and reissued as Ticket To Ride. Working in the studio with no real direction the Carpenters produced their debut album, Offering, which included their cover of ‘Ticket to Ride’. Demo tapes were sent out, Richard and Karen briefly had a band they called Spectrum and finally in 1969 Herb Alpert – the A in A & M Records – signed the band, attracted by their unique sound. She recorded two of Richard’s songs but they did not sell well. One day in 1966 while auditioning for a trumpet player Karen was tagging along with her big brother and ended up singing a song or two that convinced Osborn to sign her to his label. Richard started a trio and worked with bass player Joe Osborn who also had his own independent record label. Meanwhile Karen – in high school – began playing the drums, and not just averagely she showed a real talent for her chosen instrument. In 1963 the whole family moved to Los Angeles and when Richard enrolled at California State College at Long Beach he met John Bettis who would become his songwriting partner. Shove your prejudices where they can’t be found and wallow in one of the greatest female voices ever to grace a record, coupled with a man who had a wonderful ear for a hit and the ability to make everything he did just a little bit different.īorn in New Haven, Connecticut (Richard in 1946, and Karen in 1950), both children loved music throughout their childhood and teenage years, although Richard’s interest went way deeper than his sister’s. ![]()
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