Carpenters, The - Carpenters (The) > Reviews > 'I was born to belong to the lines of a song'

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money

Advantages:	Beautiful music, exquisite arrangements, sweet memories
Disadvantages:	none (except having to wait ages for the 'Rainbow Connection') album !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

We’ve Only Just Begun

OK, I admit it: I’m a huge Carpenters fan. I’ve been one for as long as I dare to remember. And after much thought, and with a just a snatch of trepidation, I have determined to set out and trace their musical life and legacy for all those who, like me, love their unforgettable music - and that unmistakable voice.

‘When I was young, I’d listen to the radio..’ 1

Karen Anne Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut on March 2 1950. She had a brother, Richard, and the two of them grew up to become very, very close as siblings. In 1963, Karen and Richard moved with their parents to Downey, California. At this time, the children spent a great deal of their time listening to their father’s eclectic musical collection and experimenting with musical instruments – Richard played piano, Karen (after some time) hit it off with the drums.

In 1966, Karen and Richard entered and won their first big-time competition: the Hollywood Battle of the Bands. They were offered a recording contract, cut a few tracks, and were unceremoniously dumped. They were, it seemed, too ‘square’ for the simmering sixties and an age dominated by Dylan, Marley and the Rolling Stones.

‘He’s got a ticket to ride..’ 2

But in 1969, the Carpenters were invited to join A & M, a prestigious record company part owned by bestselling musician Herb Alpert. Alpert loved Karen’s voice and Richard’s arrangements and asked the duo to start recording for a first album:

‘TICKET TO RIDE’ Released: 1969 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Ticket to Ride (their first single, reached no.54)
Someday: a brilliant, heart-rendered song by Karen
Sailing On the Tide: cheery, sweet music with lush arrangement

The album was modestly successful, but the best was yet to come.

‘They long to be, close to you..’ 3

In 1970, Richard and Karen recorded the Burt Bacharach number ‘Close To You’. It shot to number 1 in the charts that summer, pre-empting a second, hugely more successful album:

‘CLOSE TO YOU’ Released: 1970 (**** out of 5)

Highlights: Close To You (4 weeks at No.1 in the US)
Another Song: profoundly rich and moving
Druscilla Penny: fun, cheeky and sweet

‘We’re on our way..’ 4

The following year, 1971, was a golden year for the Carpenters, their fans, and their music, culminating in their chart-topping third album:

‘CARPENTERS’ Released: 1971 (***** out of 5)

Highlights: We’ve Only Just Begun (went to no.2 in the US)
Superstar: a brilliant, and hugely successful hit
Rainy Days and Mondays: see above

The Carpenters won two Grammy awards at the ceremony that year.

‘Singing this song for you..’ 5

By now superstars, Karen and Richard were touring America half the year round. Their 4th album was, however, as great sounding as ever:

‘SONG FOR YOU’ Released: 1972 (**** out of 5)

Highlights: Song for You: deeply moving, wonderfully sung by Karen
Sing: called the ‘chipmunk’ song by its detractors, it sold over a million copies
Top of the World: their second US no.1

‘Looking back on how it was in years gone by..’ 6

For whatever reason, 1973 was a year for introspection and reflection for the Carpenters, and their album reflected that fact:

‘NOW AND THEN’ Released: 1973 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Johnny Angel: ‘oldie but goodie’
End of the World: great cover version of a classic
Yesterday Once More: hugely successful on both sides of the Atlantic

‘Wait a minute, Mr Postman’ 7

By 1974 the Carpenters were exhausted. A tour of Europe and Japan was cancelled after Karen collapsed with fatigue. They enjoyed another smash hit with the classic ‘Please, Mr Postman’.

‘CARPENTERS, SINGLES 1969-1973’ Released: 1974 (***** out of 5)

A compendium of their biggest hits over the previous 4 years, including ‘For All we Know’ (1971) and a re-recording of ‘Ticket to Ride’ (1973).

‘Only Yesterday..’ 8

By 1975, the Carpenter craze was beginning to dim – their new album, they felt, was unnecessarily rushed.

‘HORIZON’ Released: 1975 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Only Yesterday: a Carpenteresque classic
I can dream, can’t I: an awesome vocal performance by Karen

‘I was born to belong to the lines of a song..’ 9

Karen’s health was deteriorating by 1976 (she was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa), as was the Carpenters’ ability to top the charts. This album, their 8th, was the first in 7 years not to reach ‘gold’ status:

‘KIND OF HUSH’ Released: 1976 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Kind of Hush: a 60s classic perfectly rendered
You: touching, sentimental song
Sandy: fun, sweet and cheerful.

‘All you get from love is a love song..’ 10

In 1977, the Carpenters released their 9th album. Moody, radical and profound, it sold only modestly and was their last major release for several years.

‘PASSAGE’ Released: 1977 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: All you get from love is a love song: cleverly written track
Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft: reached no.8 in UK

‘You might as well surrender..” 11

In September 1978, the Carpenters played out their final live gig (they didn’t realise it at the time). Richard was hospitalised for a sleeping pill addiction. Karen continued to get thinner and thinner. Two albums were released:

‘CARPENTERS, SINGLES: 1974-1978’ Released: 1978 (*** out of 5)

Compilation of their biggest hits from the preceding years (Please Mr Postman, Only Yesterday, Kind Of Hush, Calling Occupants etc.)

‘CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT’ Released: 1978 (**** out of 5)

Highlights: Ave Maria: Karen is awesome singing this in its original Latin
Merry Christmas Darling: originally a big hit for them in 1970
Little Altar Boy: a fantastically sung and deeply moving track

‘It’s Just Gone..’ 12

For the next three years, the Carpenters were silent. Karen recorded her first (and only) solo album in New York in ’79, but it was shelved. Richard, sufficiently recovered from his addiction, joined his sister for their last TV show ‘Music, Music, Music’ aired in 1980. Finally, in 1981 came their comeback:

‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Released: 1981 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Touch me when we’re dancing: their final top 20 hit
Man smart, woman smarter: a fun and funky track
The Wedding Song: commemorating Karen’s short-lived marriage

‘And when my life is over, remember when we were together..’ 13

By early 1983, Karen had received 18 months of on-off treatment for her anorexia. Enthusiastic by the solid sales they had achieved with ‘Made in America’ two years before, and a final tour of South America (in November ’81), the Carpenters were busy with a number of new projects when the unthinkable happened. Karen, aged only 32, collapsed and died of heart failure at her parents’ home. Their next album, therefore, was Karen’s first posthumously released:

‘VOICE OF THE HEART’ Released: 1983 (*** out of 5)

Highlights: Beechwood 45789: a silly, funny classic
Now: Karen’s final song

A further christmas hits album followed a year later, followed by a Richard Carpenter solo album, ‘Time’ in 1987. The best of the subsequent compilation albums came on the Carpenters’ 25th anniversary:

‘INTERPRETATIONS’ Released: 1994 (***** out of 5)

Highlights: All their top hits (Close to You, Rainy Days, Sing, Postman etc.)

Karen’s only solo album was finally released in 1996:

‘KAREN CARPENTER’ Released: 1996 (** out of 5)

Highlights: Still Crazy after all these years: recorded by Karen in 1979
Lovelines: A funky, discoey track

1999 saw the Carpenters’ 30th anniversary. A video and DVD: ‘Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters’, was released. As of October 2001, fans are still waiting for the imminent release of the Carpenters’ ‘final’ original material album, to be entitled ‘Rainbow Connection’.

‘Her body may be still, but her echo will linger forever’ – Herb Alpert, at Karen Carpenter’s funeral, February 8th 1983.

NOTES:

1: ‘Yesterday Once More’, 1973
2. ‘Ticket To Ride’, 1969
3: ‘Close To You’, 1970
4: ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’, 1970
5: ‘Song for You’, 1972
6: ‘Yesterday Once More, 1973
7: ‘Please Mr Postman’, 1974
8: ‘Only Yesterday’, 1975
9: ‘I have You’, 1976
10: ‘All you get from love is a love song’, 1977
11: ‘Little Girl Blue’, 1978
12: ‘It’s Just Gone’, 1980
13: ‘Song for You’, 1972