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Carpenters
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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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A Song For You
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Christmas Portrait
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Close To You
Carpenters
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Carpenters Collection
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Top Tracks
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We've Only Just Begun
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Superstar
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(They Long To Be) Close To You
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Rainy Days And Mondays
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Yesterday Once More
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Top Of The World
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| 8 |
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Please Mr. Postman
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Goodbye To Love
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| 10 |
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Sing
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| 11 |
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Only Yesterday
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| 12 |
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I Won't Last A Day Without You
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| 13 |
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Merry Christmas Darling
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Hurting Each Other
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Ticket To Ride
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Shoutbox
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luklen wrote:
Uma das vozes mais linda de todos os tempos.
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gbielq wrote:
3
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tabachi wrote:
Karen foi embora cedo demais... Não há, não houve cantora com uma voz tão linda, tão exuberante como a dela. [2]
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catinhacj wrote:
The best songs, the best voice *-* Carpenters (L) [2]
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shineslikegold wrote:
<3
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shuvinha wrote:
The best songs, the best voice *-* Carpenters (L)
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alemegadeth55 wrote:
Carpenters forever *
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RbtO93 wrote:
ah Karen has nice voice <3
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modernjp wrote:
Karen foi embora cedo demais... Não há, não houve cantora com uma voz tão linda, tão exuberante como a dela.
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_pinksandposies wrote:
This is the kind of music that doesn't get old. One of the most beautiful voices ever.
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bluetooth38 wrote:
Carpenters music is still just as good now, as it was back then when it first came out....
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vikingmuffin wrote:
I'm 19 and I love The Carpenters =)
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mickeybrasil wrote:
Check out our videoclip for Please Mister Postman (Beatles version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCumg8FMlZE -Made by 14 years old Beatles fans with love. :)
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clowezra wrote:
ingl, just hearing CTY in the wedding video in the simpsons movie pretty much made the film for me<3
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annurr wrote:
why tagged as 'oldies' i'm not an oldie and i dig the carpenters.
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edith_marshall wrote:
No, last.fm, it's The Carpenters
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xmomica wrote:
i love u Karen......
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amromo wrote:
"don't be naive dave, 'Close To You', We've Only Just Begun'?- Songs of madness and obsession." haha! :D
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Chrisgovea wrote:
Karen was such a great drummer ^_^
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xripper9 wrote:
Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby? :/
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