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I has discovered ... the Carpenters
I'm often dropping in to charity shops to see if they have any old CDs of interest, and on a whim I picked up the Carpenters greatest hits a couple of weeks ago. They are one of those bands that everyone sort of knows, you recognise the 'big' hits, but in my case I'm usually lost after the first line of singing along. To me they seemed like the ultimate 'soft rock' of the 70s, something that I didn't really have much interest in.
Anyway, after a few spins in the car I just really got into the record. It's a weird kind of nostalgia trip, weird because I never really knew their stuff that well. Karen had a lovely voice. No real range or power, but it has a gentle charm, and she seems to have a quite unique was of just slipping into a lower range than you might expect. Many of the songs have quite a strong melancholy flavour which really suited her style. They are a slightly strange band in that they got famous and made a lot of money singing other people's songs. Not many successful 'bands' do that, it usually seems to be the domain of a certain type of solo singer.
Anyway, I went online and found this rather lovely concert from 1974 - live at Budokan. The show is actually a lot of fun, classic Carpenters songs plus a medley of hit at the time thrown in, and with a very capable band. Tony Peluso is there of course looking Mr 70s with his long hair, sideburns, white flared suit and giant collar, and he lets loose a few times with some perfect soloing. Karen was a delight back then, the ultimate girl next door. Such a shame that she never managed to defeat her problems.
Bloody hell, I'm so middle aged these days!
Anyway, here's the concert if anyone is interested.
Anyway, after a few spins in the car I just really got into the record. It's a weird kind of nostalgia trip, weird because I never really knew their stuff that well. Karen had a lovely voice. No real range or power, but it has a gentle charm, and she seems to have a quite unique was of just slipping into a lower range than you might expect. Many of the songs have quite a strong melancholy flavour which really suited her style. They are a slightly strange band in that they got famous and made a lot of money singing other people's songs. Not many successful 'bands' do that, it usually seems to be the domain of a certain type of solo singer.
Anyway, I went online and found this rather lovely concert from 1974 - live at Budokan. The show is actually a lot of fun, classic Carpenters songs plus a medley of hit at the time thrown in, and with a very capable band. Tony Peluso is there of course looking Mr 70s with his long hair, sideburns, white flared suit and giant collar, and he lets loose a few times with some perfect soloing. Karen was a delight back then, the ultimate girl next door. Such a shame that she never managed to defeat her problems.
Bloody hell, I'm so middle aged these days!
Anyway, here's the concert if anyone is interested.
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Comments
She could also play drums quite well...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Passage, Horizon, Now and Then and Made in America are probably my favourite albums. A Kind of Hush is pretty great too.
Karen Carpenter was brilliant. Her voice was just so pure. I don't think we knew about her problems with anorexia at that time. I don't really recall much about Richard except he did some classical stuff which was a bit boring. His main function in the concert, it seemed to me, was to provide instrumental lead for the backing.
She was quite breathtaking. A genius and so gifted vocally.
The ABBA ladies had it, Joni Mitchell had it. Perhaps Ms Winehouse had it
Rainy Days and Mondays is my fave.
I should hate them, given what I grew up listening to, but they are an absolutely wonderful band. Love them.
Karen is up there as one of the greatest vocalist in my opinion. Just sublime.
Those old tracks are so luscious with those vocal harmonies and Richard's slick arrangements. And then there was 'Goodbye To Love' with that legendary outro solo by Tony Peluso.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein