Carpenters
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Los Angeles, United States (1969 – 1983)
With their light, airy melodies and meticulously crafted, clean arrangements, the Carpenters stood in direct contrast with the excessive, gaudy pop/rock of the ’70s; yet they became one of the most popular artists of the decade, scoring 12 Top Ten hits, including three number one singles.
Karen Carpenter’s calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo’s sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn’t prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the ’70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late ’60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
Karen Carpenter’s calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo’s sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn’t prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the ’70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late ’60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
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Christmas Portrait
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The Essential Collection 1965-1997 (disc 1)
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Love Songs
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Carpenters Collection
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Shoutbox
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fmc200 wrote:
Loneliness is such a sad affair.
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andyisdead wrote:
ultimate guilty pleasure that's weird !!! [2]
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marcelocic wrote:
A Song for You ♥
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marcelocic wrote:
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
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orang_gila wrote:
"Now And Then" album is the best \m/
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ModernJP_ wrote:
<3
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vishal8492 wrote:
ultimate guilty pleasure that's weird !!!
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Wiracocha wrote:
"Ton87 wrote: ultimate guilty pleasure" Exactly!
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Ton87 wrote:
ultimate guilty pleasure
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bazzarelli wrote:
When I listen to these songs... I get nostalgic for a time that I never lived in... [9002] . And it's been almost 30 years without Karen. The world is sure heavier without her voice.
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jmnixon95 wrote:
When I listen to these songs... I get nostalgic for a time that I never lived in... [9001]
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bacokbet wrote:
perfecto!
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jessy_mtp wrote:
me faz chorar a lot [3]
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thd84 wrote:
Nostalgia to the time of our parents? Reminds me of this: http://xkcd.com/988/
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sarahbianeck wrote:
me faz chorar a lot [2]
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hanskiros wrote:
When I listen to these songs... I get nostalgic for a time that I never lived in...
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infantilidade wrote:
me faz chorar a lot
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scarebear wrote:
I was a little kid when their music was around, but I never outgrew it.
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marcelocic wrote:
Desperado ♥
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Joao_Frehley wrote:
LEGEND when i´m listen i fell like i lived in the 70´s
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Recent Activity
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strawbsss, TakingBackMish, hotcocoa69 and 73 other people added Carpenters to their libraries. 51 minutes ago
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LuckyTraveller tagged Carpenters with american, romantic, easy listening and 4 other tags. Saturday morning
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theminniek, ian66williams, sbotie and 1 other person added Carpenters to their libraries. Saturday morning
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Yo-ma-yo tagged Carpenters with oldies and 70s. Friday evening
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jonandtracyanne wrote about Carpenters – Singles 1969-1981 in Best of 2011. December 2011
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Rissacakes wrote about Carpenters – A Kind Of Hush in Record collection (LPs only). August 2009
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Rissacakes wrote about Carpenters – Carpenters in Record collection (LPs only). August 2009
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Rissacakes wrote about Carpenters – Horizon in Record collection (LPs only). August 2009
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hello_imac3 wrote about Carpenters – Singles 1969-1981 in CARPENTERS / (They Long to Be) Close to You. May 2009
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