First Time Reacting To Carpenters - Close To You 1970

Welcome to The Carpenters!!!! Nearly every song of theirs is a hit. Enjoy them!

Karen was amazing. Pitch perfect & clear (w/o auto tune.) Beautiful, rich tone. 3-octave range. Incredible breath control. Impeccable diction. And she makes you FEEL every word!! (And Richard knew how to make the arrangements - instrumentation, timing, etc. - that fit them perfectly. Add their tight harmonies and… pure PERFECTION!) Check out Superstar, Goodbye to Love, I Need to be in Love, and A Song for You

"On the day that she was born the angels got together and decided to create a dream voice come true." As you can see by her beauty and ANGELIC voice, why so many guys in my high school, (including myself) wanted to be Close To Her! And she played the drums! SUPERBLY! What more could a guy ask for? Be a good baseball player? Yep, she could do that too! Rest In Peace Beautiful Girl. You were loved by many then, and still loved by many now.

Richard Carpenter was a brilliant arranger. He and Karen sang all the harmonies, sometimes as many as 16 overdubs.

I first saw Richard and Karen when I was 22 Karen was 15 and Richard 18 (1965) Karen had already studied under some jazz drummers greats. Joe Morello the drummer from the Dave Brubeck quartet helped her get the drum kit she used. They were playing in jazz clubs around Los Angeles as the Dick Carpenter Jazz Trio. Richard on an electric piano Karen on the drums and Wesley Jacobs bass and tuba. They won the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands in 1966 playing "Iced Tea" which Richard wrote and "Girl From Ipanema" (Karen was not singing yet). Then they formed a collage group called Spectrum a sextet with Richard Karen and John Bettis, (who cowrote most of the music Richard wrote later) Leslie Johnson, Gary Sims and Danny Woodhams. They played the Whisky-A-GO-GO a number of times. then they seperated and Richard and Karen were back to Dick Carpenters Jazz Trio only with Bill Sissoyev providing the bass. They won the 'Your All American Show" (their first time on TV) in 1968. Karen was a killer drummer who could handle unusual times that most drummers could not and by 68 she was singing too. In the 60 and 70s Playboy sponsored a jazz festival every year. In 1975 Karen was named Playboy's Best Rock Drummer of the Year.

Johnny , if you really want to hear just how incredible her voice is react to Solitaire. You won’t be sorry. 👍

Y cualquier tema que elijas oír, te fascinará. Pues la voz de karen es simplemente increíble y los arreglos de Richard era espectaculares. Solitaire. Rainy days and mondays You are the one Top.of the World Son algunas de las canciones que se me. Vienen a la mente...

Burt (Backarack). He was the musical genius behind the successful careers of many artists in this era. He helped inspire Richard Carpenter's music style on piano, and even accompanied many artists on piano with their most popular hits. He also makes cameos in the Austin Powers films. He's the guy playing the piano in those films.

Please do much of her! Youll be very popular! Can't believe you know them! You have had to have heard this song!

So glad you’re discovering the Carpenters. Check out “Superstar” and “Solitaire” to be blown away!

I first heard this song in 1970 as a 12 yr old girl. Karen became my idol and I had a HUGE crush on her brother, Richard. I got to see them live many times and snuck backstage in 1975 to meet them. I played drums in high school because Karen did. My own sister's name was Karen. Karen could sing anything thing and her voice touched your soul. Not to forget, her brother Richard did the arranging/producing, sang background overdub vocals, and played keyboards. The great drummer Buddy Rich once told Karen that she was his favorite drummer! Time for more Carpenters songs now!! Try We've Only Just Begun, For All We Know, Bless The Beasts And The Children, This Masquerade, A Song For You, Top Of The World. The list of songs goes on and on, LOL.

Karen originally wanted to sing as a soprano but her brother Richard had her take it down an octave and voila! That voice!

Burt Bacharach is pronounced Back Her Ack. He wrote at least 500 songs, probably more. Karen Carpenter was and is considered one of if not the top singer/drummer. As far as female yes at that time very rare. Karen is untouchable as a vocalist/singer, in a class of one. This song was #1 for 3 weeks in the summer of 1970. This duo has sold over 150 million records and #1 selling American group of the 70's. Karen was just rated #1 singer on Sirius/XM 70's on 7 channel. Her brother Richard is a recording genius. Great reaction and looking up Carpenter history. "Goodbye To Love", "Superstar" and "Top Of The World" are just the beginning of this Carpenter journey.

Sip. Todos quedamos así, así oír cada una de las canciones de carpenters... Los arreglos musicales....y la voz de karen!! La voz más perfecta....ever!! Y una baterista increíble!!

Richard, her brother usually arranged every song..he’s on keyboards..she’s on drums..and is considered one of the finest drummers in the world..in the 70’s..Karen practiced her songs in the car on the way to the studio..and could record a full album in ONE TAKE…her nickname…ONE TAKE KAREN…and Olivia Newton John…a close friend…said Karen’s low contralto range was where the money is…

You can find vids on YT of Richard and Karen, along with assorted standup or electric bass players, performing as The Richard Carpenter (or Dick Carpenter) Trio, from 1966-68.

As you see Karen was a keyboardist, drummer and singer.

Nostalgia I was 17 years old then, now 71 years old 😅, it's still wonderful to hear the Carpenters.❤Did you know that KZ Tandingan also sang Close to You with a surprising hidden talent ?

I saw in an article the John lennon of the Beatles told her that she was the best female voice he had heard....she thought he was making fun of her and mocking her... so said cause John was right, she was the best! Peace from Northern Michigan

You nailed it dud