Some of the albums I own that came out in 1971, the year I went to college, include Sticky Fingers – Rolling Stones; Pearl – Janis Joplin; Aqualung – Jethro Tull; What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye; Every Picture Tells a Story – Rod Stewart; Who’s Next – the Who; Santana (III); Led Zeppelin (IV); Hunky Dory – David Bowie. And, oh yeah, Carpenters, the eponymous third album put out by the sibling duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter.
Talk about uncool! These are the artists who took one of the Beatles’ hardest rockers, Ticket to Ride [LISTEN], and turned it into a ballad on their first album. (I rather liked it.) I loved Karen’s voice, though, and I thought they performed some lovely songs.
Side 1
The “tan album” begins with Rainy Days and Mondays [LISTEN], written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams, which I swear radio DJs at the time referenced every time there was precipitation on the first day of the workweek. The Carpenters* had recorded the Nichols/Williams tune We’ve Only Just Begun [LISTEN] on their previous album. Both songs went to #2 on the US singles charts.
Richard Carpenter was a great arranger for himself and his sister, and a decent keyboard player, but often wrote drippy songs, with a person named Bettis, and, worse, sang them. Saturday at least was only eighty seconds long.
Let Me Be the One was yet another nice Nichols/Williams song.
(A Place To) Hideaway was a lovely song by someone named Randy Sparks
For All We Know [LISTEN] was another hit single, going to #3. It was written for the 1970 film Lovers and Other Strangers.
Side 2
Superstar [LISTEN], written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, was originally recorded by Delaney and Bonnie in 1969. Then it was covered in 1970 in Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen Revue, with ex-Delaney and Bonnie singer Rita Coolidge as featured vocalist. But it was the version by a largely unknown singer named Bette Midler that caught Richard Carpenter’s attention. Their recording had the audacity of changing the line “And I can hardly wait to sleep with you again” to “And I can hardly wait to be with you again,” which solidified their white bread status among many. I thought it was a sage commercial move myself. Yet another #2 single.
Druscilla Penny [LISTEN], another Bettis- R. Carpenter song I hadn’t heard in years, yet remember instantly. Goofy song sung by Richard.
One Love [LISTEN] – a Bettis-R. Carpenter that was NOT goofy. Sung by Karen.
Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When to Leave/Make It Easy on Yourself/(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me/I’ll Never Fall in Love Again/Walk on By/Do You Know the Way to San Jose – I was never a big fan of medleys, but they are great songs sung well. The idea actually came from Burt Bacharach a couple of years earlier, I learned. (Of course, their first hit was the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song (They Long to Be) Close to You [LISTEN], which had gone to #1
Sometimes. Written by Henry and Felice Mancini, it is a suitable ending.
They won their third Grammy, this time for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for the Carpenters LP. They had previously won for Best New Artist, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus, for Close to You in 1970. The quality of her singing on this album reportedly got Richard to suggest that Karen get from behind her beloved drum set and sing center stage in a live performance.
The Carpenters put out a half dozen more albums, with hits such as [LISTEN TO THEM ALL] Top of the World , the Sesame Street song Sing and Yesterday Once More, possibly my favorite of their songs.
This I did not recall: “Richard sought treatment for his addiction to quaaludes at a Topeka, Kansas, facility for six weeks starting in January 1979. He then decided to take the rest of the year off for relaxation and rehabilitation.” But Karen didn’t want to either stop singing or “seek help for her anorexia” Nervosa for a few years. When she did seek treatment a few years later, it caused a dizzying yo-yo weight gain and loss which ended up killing her on February 4, 1983.
The only good thing to come of her passing was a greater awareness of anorexia and also bulimia. Richard, among other things, continues to keep the flame for the music of the duo.
*Yes, I know the name of the group is Carpenters, not The Carpenters, so named, Richard once said, “After much thought, we decided to name the act ‘Carpenters’ (No ‘The’; we thought it sounded hipper without it, like Buffalo Springfield or Jefferson Airplane.)” But I always thought Carpenters sounded like woodworkers.
My Mom had this record… she seemed to specialize in uncool records that I was just sort of embarrassed by as a kid. Later, when I was older, her record collection fell to me because she no longer had an LP player, and I discovered a lot of the merits of that “uncool” music that I was way too cool for as an obnoxious teenager. Now this is one of my favorite albums. Karen Carpenter’s beautiful voice paired with my favorite songwriter ever, Paul Williams… now that’s what peace sounds like to me.
In the summer of 1971, Lorne asked me (for the first time) to marry him and of course in my head I was already planning the wedding. “We’ve Only Just Begun” would have been “our song.” Now we have another one… I loved the Carpenters and it was so sad about Karen’s death.
Leslie
abcw team
I always enjoy your band features. I started college in 1975.
My father had 1 album of Carpenters and I liked it.
I first heard of them in 2001, when a dear friend gifted me the “Top of the World” album. He insisted that I should learn the song and sing it in my voice, which he admired 🙂 Ah, happy memories. Thanks for that, Roger.
I was in high school in the early 70’s and the Carpenters were a guilty pleasure. I made sure that I was listening to Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath when my buddies were around, but crusin’ by myself I loved listening to The Carpenters and Bread.
An Arkie’s Musings
As always, Roger, lots of great information and especially nostalgic for those who love ‘the’ Carpenters.
I loved listening to them, so talented in every way. I remember reading an article about Karen years ago and it stated that someone in the music business had told her she was “FAT” and she needed to loose weight. She went on a downward spiral trying to be so thin. Makes my heart sad to think of loosing such a talented singer.
Ann
You have brought some nostalgia to me, Roger.
I guess I am really “old fashion”. I liked their “white bread” sound.
Thanks for all the interesting information.
Yes, really Sensational! the Carpenters bring back good memories of my adolescence, I loved artist!
I remember them well, kind of let you know my era. – Margy
I remember Karen’s fight with anorexia. Very sad. Their songs launched a myriad of wedding song options!
One of my wife’s an my favorite Christmas albums is “Christmas Portrait” by Carpenters, which was released in 1978. Karen definitely had one of the greatest voices. Blessings!
Yup had the same albums. Feel the same way. Karen could really sing. Not so much her brother. Really wonder if she was born ten or twenty years later if she would have got the help she needed to stay alive. No one recognized what she was going through at that time. Seems we lost a lot of good artists really young. Why is that. Perhaps there is no cure for it.
I had their albums too and loved their music. Great informative post for C!
I remember the Carpenters, love their songs!
Some of their songs were really nice
Fame certainly did not help the Carpenters. Tragic! Kate, ABC Team
You’ve got me flashing back to the 70’s and all the great music! Cool.
I love Karen Carpenter, though it is sad how she silently suffered for so long.
I also liked ‘the’Carpenters and I too was shocked by the death of Karen. Thanks for sharing this post, Roger.
Wil, ABCW Team.
Exactly! The Carpenters! Everyone in my family loves them.
I have a few of their albums. Such a tragic end to Karen’s life…
I thought I knew them all but I have never heard the “Carpenters” maybe they didn’t make their way to Europe ?
Loved the carpenters. Still do. Top of the World remains a favourite.. it’s such a happy song.
Great post, and I also thought Karen had a beautiful voice. Interesting info on their name. I agree “Carpenters” just doesn’t sound right, but what do I know?
Great post, have a great week.
Karen’s voice was amazing, I always loved her, even when I didn’t like some of their songs. “Bless the Beasts and the Children” is one of my favorites.
how funny, i was just humming a carpenters song yesterday…now i can’t think of which one it was! oh, now i know, close to you!
I love that arrangement of Ticket to Ride. Great voice. I remember the travails she had with her solo album (which I don’t think was every released), opposition from the controlling Richard et al. I suspect that added to her insecurity and death.
A great post on a great band! I love their “Mr. Postman”. Thank you Roger:)
I have not heard of this band before, so my knowledge is zero. But I will definitely remedy it now.
Good take on ‘C’.
It always takes me a long time to get through ABC Wednesday when you link to so many songs, Roger. LOL
Songs from my early twenties can take me up or bring me down, because it was a rough time in my life, but I enjoyed listening to these today (Friday).
K