I know the music of the Carpenters is pegged as cheesy, but Karen had one of the ALL time voices, imho.

Very distinctive voice, I don't think they're seen as 'cheesy' anymore, kind of like Abba, people recognise how great they were, she had a very unique and beautiful voice.

We see it as cheesy now because there was still a very interesting range of "pop" music back then. Pop had a MUCH wider range than it does now. The Carpenters were certainly part of that. While I don't really dig their music, I do recognize their talent, and Karen's incredible voice. Too bad she died the way she did.

She was an alto, right? Her voice was very deep for a soprano.

ernestsewell said:

Back then, the Carpenters were definitely considered cheesy but it was for what they were portrayed as. But musically, Karen's voice mirrors a very sad, dark but deep and moving time in life. She lived the words she sang.

Timmy84 said:

I'd have to disagree. The Carpenter's were well respected in the business, and were on what seems like every TV special that someone had. (Variety one-off specials were in plethora back in the 70's.) Cheesy people don't sell millions of albums.

ernestsewell said:

I'm talking about the "rock and roll establishment", lol

I've written a few threads on here in the past on The Carpenters. I've stated several times my serious love for The Carpenters and how I think Karen had one of the most purest voices in music. Loved The Carpenters literally all my life.

blackguitaristz said:

What's your favorite song from them? Mine's is "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days & Mondays".

Timmy84 said:

Man, which ones of theirs DON'T I dig?... "Superstar" is my all time favorite of theirs. But I also really like "Close To You" (They Long To Be)" "This Masquerade" & "Yesterday Once More".
[Edited 9/27/09 20:18pm]

blackguitaristz said:

Oh yeah "Superstar" is tight. For some reason I always thought Lutha's version was in tribute to Karen. She died the same year he put that out.
[Edited 9/27/09 18:41pm]

Timmy84 said:

BIG fan... saw them in concert. No enhanced software back in the day, what you heard on the record you heard live. My favorite songs are, "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Bless the Beast and the Children" and "Goodbye To Love".

Adding to that Richard Carpenter is a genius Arranger and Producer. Along with Karen's voice and drumming they were magic.


[Edited 9/27/09 18:58pm]

^^ He sure was...

What impressed me is that both of them were very musical and they basically were in control with what they recorded, A&M let 'em be 'em.

My favorite by them was their version of "This Masquerade". Being sung by Karen, the song took on a very haunting tone.

shorttrini said:

I agree totally.

shorttrini said:

Karen's voice echoed her troubled life much like Phyllis Hyman's did.

Her life story was sooo tragic, that
sometimes you just forget the music
side to her altogether!

Timmy84 said:

I could not have made a better analogy, Timmy!

Absolutely one of the best voices ever. She kills me.



I've probably heard this song 10 billion times growing up and amazingly it gets better the older I become. I this song as much as any other song by anyone ever. And she's playing the drums





The invention of the power ballad



This is meant to be Karens favourite song of theirs according to Richard.

shorttrini said:

I was gonna say Karen's voice painted her tragic life but I didn't wanna sound too morbid, lol

My favourite Carpenters track, 'Another Song'.



It's jazzy, ethereal, funky, weird and slightly "Laurel Canyon"... I wish they'd stayed in this vein. Their first two earliest albums are amazing.

This pisses all over Mahavishnu Orchestra in terms of prog-rock jazz/funk fusion.

AND SHE WAS A BADASS DRUMMER!!!!!

Even with all the hard badass funk in my collection, I've got a nerdy side too and I love several songs by The Carpenters.

That's my favorite too. I even like her version better than George Benson's.

Timmy84 said:

It did and so did Ms. Hyman. Their deaths along with Marvin and Michael have affected me to this day.

shorttrini said:

True true...

Not bad...for a drummer!

Timmy84 said:

I was watching "Baby boy:with Tyreese, a few nights ago. There they played this track by Marvin, and I jumped out of my bed. I thought about email you about it, but I was like "Nah". I was during the scene where she comes to pick up their son in the rain. A very touching scene.