The Carpenters

[Mark]

Hi everyone

I have looked back through the threads in other music listing and have not been able to find one dedicated to the Carpenters, Karen Carpenter in particular. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to start one, particularly as in a recent article, Hayley says she loves to listen to the Carpenters when she has time to listen to music.

Until Hayley came along, I can honestly say that I have not really found any artists that inspire me to listen to music like Karen Carpenter does/did. It was her unique, rich voice and the way she sang - technically perfect (in my eyes anyway) that did it for me. All these years later, I can still sit in a world of my own listening to Karen and now I feel the same way with Hayley. For me, there has been nothing in between !! I find it strangely reassuring that Karen is also one of Hayley's favorites.

I would be interested to know what anyone elses view is ?.

Best wishes
Mark.

[scott]

Mark,

I liked listening to the Carpenters. My favorite songs that Karen sang were "Top Of the World", "We've Only Just Begun", and her version of the Neil Sedaka song "Solitaire". For a number of years, when I was in my teens, she was just about my favorite female vocalist. It is so sad that she is no longer with us.

-Scott

[jons]

I love the Carpenters, I always have done. If I recall Karen began as a drummer, didn't she?

[Raymond]

jons said:

I love the Carpenters, I always have done. If I recall Karen began as a drummer, didn't she?

Yes. Karen considers herself a drummer who sings. But eventually, she gave up playing the drums on the stage. I myself is a very devoted Carpenters fan. Before knowing anything about Hayley, my music world is all about the Carpenters. And my music world is now the Carpenters and Hayley. I love Karen's voice very much. I have nearly all the Carpenters' albums on CD format too. The music of Carpenters help me to get through many difficult times of my life. When I am listening, I think I forget all my worries. It has been 23 years since Karen's death in 1983, but I think the music of the Carpenters lives in our heart.

Raymond

[Mark]

Hi Raymond, Jon & Scott

I am so pleased that you are also such Carpenters fans. It was through my teens that her music had the most influence on me. I also have just about every album produced. Some dont sound so good these days, although the digitally remastered ones, now on cd are really quite good considering they were recorded 30 plus years ago. I cant think off hand which is my favorite song. I will give that some thought and will post again.

I do regret that I never got so see her perform live. Oh well - at least I have seen Hayley live, quite a few times now.

Best regards

Mark

[Joe]

Hi all,

I have always enjoyed The Carpenters; the voice of Karen Carpenter being the main reason. I adore 'Top of the Road', 'Rainy Days & Mondays', and 'We've Only Just Begun'.

I believe The Carpenters had "Portraits", their Christmas album. That is receiving huge airplay on the radio. "Christmas Waltz" and "Merry Christmas Darling" are tops for me.

As with Hayley, Karen's music is timeless.

Joe

[Mark]

Hi Joe

I will have to look out for the "Portraits" album, for some reason I dont seem to know about that one - thankyou. I also like Rainy Days & Mondays and you are right, her music is timeless just like Hayley's.

Merry Christmas
Mark

[Raymond]

Hello Mark,

It is very difficult to find 'Christams Portraits' now. But you can easily find 'Christmas Collection' which contains 'Christams Portraits' and 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'. 'Christmas Collection' has 2 versions. One is the US version which contains liner notes which is about the details and Karen and Richard's thoughts about the album. The international version doesn't have this. But the CDs contents are the same. I think it is high time to play these CDs now because Christmas is coming.

My favourite song is 'I need to be in love' which is on the album 'A kind of hush' (1976).

Raymond