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Post by JIM on Nov 22, 2005 11:43:53 GMT -5
 I discovered and fell in love with Carpenters from the first time I heard CTY on the radio back in 70, which seems like a life time ago. A lot of you are much younger and were not even born in the hey days between 70 and 75. So I would love to hear how the younger members and the rest of the old timers story on how you came to love the music of the Carpenters JIM
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Post by heartwaves on Nov 22, 2005 13:11:02 GMT -5
I'd like to be able to answer when exactly it was I first discoverd this awesome duel, but I can't remember.....I just know it was somewhere during my early teens (I'm now 41). I immediately fell in love with their music as soon as Karen's beautiful voice touched my ears, and heart!
Karen's vocals so uniquely drew me.....and so what music I did collect of the Carpenter's back then, I played over and over!!!! Their music was very "therapeutic" for me in my younger years....and it still is!
I do rememeber watching some of the tv shows they appeared on with John Denver back in my younger years.....I got a kick out of their silliness! It was really fun seeing that more 'playful' side of Karen's....as most her songs were sooo serious!
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Nov 22, 2005 13:35:55 GMT -5
Having just graduated from elementary school in 1970, I spent the bulk of my summer vacation pursuing my hobbies: drawing, painting, and listening to KYA, a Top 40 radio station in the San Francisco bay area. The radio originally served to provide background music while I was engaged for hours creating my artwork. However, whenever the Carpenters' "Close to You" came on, I would stop and become spellbound by its magic: the clear resonance of Richard's opening piano chords, Karen's deeply rich and intimate lead vocals, the enchanting lyrics, the flourish of trumpet-playing, the piano riffs punctuating the bridge to the third verse, the munchkin-like chorus, and the soothing, close harmonies resulting from the over-dubbing of the voices of only two people --- those of Karen's and Richard's!
When autumn rolled around and I made the milestone transition to junior high school, "We've Only Just Begun" was enjoying massive airplay. I was thrilled by the meteoric rise of the Carpenters, and felt as if my sense of aesthetics had suddenly "grown up" along with my discovery of their music.
In an era when hard rock and other less-than-subtle genres of music still figured prominently on the charts, the Carpenters' music was a refreshing change. Along with other performers like Bread and Anne Murray, the Carpenters revolutionized the cross-over appeal of gentler, softer sounds on the airwaves.
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Post by Federico Cruz on Nov 22, 2005 17:55:31 GMT -5
Having just graduated from grade school in 1970, I spent the bulk of my summer vacation pursuing my hobbies: drawing, painting, and listening to KYA, a Top 40 radio station in the San Francisco bay area. The radio originally served to provide background music while I was engaged for hours creating my artwork. However, whenever the Carpenters' "Close to You" came on, I would stop my work and become spellbound by its magic: the clear resonance of Richard's opening piano chords, Karen's intimate lead vocals, the flourish of trumpet, the punctuated piano riffs leading to the third verse, the munchkin-like chorus, and the eventual realization that the soothing, close harmonies belonged to only two people! When autumn rolled around and I made the milestone transition to Junior High School, "We've Only Just Begun" was enjoying massive airplay. I was enthralled by the meteoric rise of the Carpenters. I felt as if my aesthetics had suddenly "grown up" with my discovery of their music. In an era when hard rock and other genres of music still figured significantly on the charts, the Carpenters' music was a refreshing change. Along with other performers like Bread and Anne Murray, the Carpenters revolutionized the cross-over appeal of gentler, softer sounds on the airwaves. Beautiful story... Who is the next? |
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 23, 2005 0:26:43 GMT -5
  First I must say "wow" and "hooray" to GoodOldDreams for your beautifully written tale of when you first came love the Carpenters. I am impressed by your creative way with words. You are talented My story has two parts. First is when I first heard Carpenters and second is when I came to finally love Carpenters.
I first heard the Carpenters (or anyway this is my first recollection) in the early summer of 1971 (I was eleven years old). We were on a family vacation. Every summer we rented an RV and would go out to the desert for the weekend to ride motorcycles. This particular summer we went with my dad's friend from high school and his family. We were all very good friends. I remember one of the evenings we were in the RV listening to some music (on 8-track). Three Dog Night and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Then my dad's friend played Carpenters' "Close To You" album on 8-track. I remember him saying that they're only in their early 20's and they're both millionaires. At that point though I didn't latch on to the Carpenters.
Several months later it was early December 1971 I was visiting with my (elementary school) best friend. He said I've got a record to play for you. He hid the record so I couldn't see it. but I was able to see that it was a small single record and it had a blue picture sleeve. He began playing the song and a beautiful shimmering piano came on. I remember being almost immobilized by the sound. I loved it instantly and then came the voice. Karen Carpenter singing "Bless The Beasts and Children". I knew who the Carpenters were and I already knew the song - but that was the first time I really listened to it. I was in Heaven. Several months after that I finally bought my first Carpenters album in 1972 it was "a song For You". I played that album like crazy. I had it both on vinyl and 8-track. |
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Post by STEVE1975 on Nov 25, 2005 10:35:38 GMT -5
Growing up mostly in the 1980's (I turned 30 this year) I listened to the Carpenters on the radio. I had only heard the "hits" On my 25th birthday in the year 2000 I received gift cards for several music stores. I was browsing thru the aisles one day at Tower Records and came across The Singles 1969-1981. I bought it and I have been hooked ever since. Karen's voice, to me, is a beautiful instrument. The longing and sadness only adds to her appeal. Besides having a great voice, her life has always intrigued me. I have since purchased all of their studio albums on vinyl and CD. I have also purchased some compilation CD's since there are some un-released gems there. Karen has helped me thru some rough times in my life. Whenever I feel like I can't take one more minute of my life I jump in my car and take a long drive. I blast the Carpenters music. I have received some weird stares but I don't care. I love the Carpenters music and I have become a lifetime fan.
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Post by Federico Cruz on Nov 25, 2005 13:40:19 GMT -5
In 1970 I lived in a small city (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) with only 4 radio stations and never heard any records or someone mentioning the Carpenters, but I remember I saw the ads in the newspapers about "Bless The Beasts And Children". In1972 I moved to a larger city(Santiago) and
I used to hear at 1:00 PM two radio stations that played soft pop music (Diana Ross, Paul Anka, Engelbert Humperdinck, Andy Williams, etc.)
When one station played something I disliked, I turned to the other station.
I remember that when I heard the first notes of "A Song For You", I gone to the other station.
For that time, some friends were reunited in the house of one girl friend and she put in her record player and invited me to dance "Superstar". I only thought "wow, what a beatiful song..."
BUT, in the summer of 1973, the two radio stations began to play daily "Yesterday Once More" (and I tried to hear it twice).
Too, they played sometimes "I Can't Make Music", "Sing", "Jambalaya", and "This Masquerade".
!I was in heaven!.
Some weeks later I was invited to a birthday party and someone took his "Now and Then" album and played "YOM" there.
I went to see the cardboard jacket and was impressed to see its tri panel form with lyrics included.
Soon, I heard "Eve" and BOOM, I must own everything about Carpenters. The rest is history....
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Post by JIM on Nov 25, 2005 18:02:46 GMT -5
 These are some cool stories so far. I can totally relate to Heartwaves when he refers to the theraputic effect the Carpenters have for him. That has been one of the biggest factors in why I have developed such a deep appreciation for the C's over time. Whenever I feel stressed out, I just listen to the C's and and no time, I am relaxed. I think its a combination of superior arrangements and the resonance of Karen's voice that create this effect. Steve you sound like me, I love to blast the Carpenters at stop lights or parking lots! Its my twisted way of promoting the C's Imobalized I can relate to that also. Sometimes I will listen to certain songs or even select passages over and over in which I am just mezmorised by the complexity of the arrangements and the unique blend of harmonies. When I was young I found the concept of multitracking hard to grasp, now I feel that the Carpenters took this processs and turned it from just a recording technique but an art form all its own. Jim
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 27, 2005 17:27:24 GMT -5
In differing threads, I have mentioned this before, but for those of you who are new....I started my love affair with Carpenters as a junior in High School.....I was on my way to work with my best bud - we were busboys at a local country club...and we were listening to K.I.C.K., our only local a.m. radio station at that time that played top 40 stuff. I heard Close To You on the radio that evening on the way to work, and fell instantly, insanely in love with the sounds of Carpenters music. I called the radio station when I got to work and asked 'who WAS the group you played about 15 minutes ago with all that HARMONY? - they sang next to you, or close by you, or something like that. The DJ just laughed at me, told me it was called "Close To You" and that it was the Carpenters that had done the song. Of course, the next day, I went out, paycheck in hand, and bought the album. I must have listened to it at least 100 times before I would stop, the first go round, at any rate. I must have 3-4 of that album on vinyl, and then I began to purchase Ticket To Ride, and anything else I could find that Carpenters had recorded to date. I was always at the music store when a new album was released, and by now, my collection is fairly extensive....It was Close To You that hooked me right from the start....and what a love affair it has been for me. Tim
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Post by cam83 on Dec 1, 2005 22:43:02 GMT -5
For me, it was Spring of 1988. I was in Grade Nine at Calvin Christian School, a Dutch Christian Reformed Private School. I didn't really fit in, and so that is why at lunch time, I was still in the classroom, looking thru textbooks and reading, waiting for lunch hour to be over.
I was looking thru a shiny, brandnew text book on Health and came across this chapter of Mental Health and such and was fascinated by some of it's stories. Then I came across a section on DIETING, and there was this picture, half the size of the book, and in black and white. I looked at this very skinny lady, and guessed her age at about 45 or so. She looked old and thin. She was wearing a shirt with wide lapels, with an "ae" on the front of it. She had on a watch and some jewelry. She was sitting between two men...(which turned out to be Phil Ramone as I found out later, and someone else...a blonde haired guy with a beard). She had her two arms against her side, holding their chins with her fingers. Her teeth seemed to take up all her face, and there was NO fat on her face. Her hair was parted in middle and almost seemed feathered back. ALongside her photo was mention of Singer Karen Carpenter died of Anorexia Nervosa in 1983, after long battle with Eating Disorder...or something along that vein.
That was the beginning for me. I was enamored and curious as to who this singer was. I wanted to know more of her story. So I took the book home and showed it to Mom, who was in kitchen preparing supper. She was peeling potatoes and carrots for supper when I showed her picture. She gasped and told me to to take picture away. She thought Karen Carpenter looked skeletol. I asked Mom about who she was, and Mom said, we had her tape in the 8-track bin. So I went to look but didn't find it. Mom came and found it, THE SINGLES 1969-1973. I eagerly put in in 8 track stereo and out came beautiful music...I was expecting country, or rock or something boring...and then remembered hearing these songs growing up...YESTERDAY ONCE MORE, SING, CLOSE TO YOU, and others. And for me, that was the beginning and became a HUGE fan of their gorgeous music. That was 17 years ago.
My thoughts,
Cam
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 2, 2005 0:45:02 GMT -5
I really like reading these testimonies...
I'm one of the old timers here to the forum, and so, I have told my story before, but surely don't mind again...I am sure that I may have seen the C's on tv and / or heard them on the radio they first became popular...but the one song that I clearly recall
which struck my heart was when I was about 11 or 12 in the very early 70's...
Rainy Days and Mon....
As has been mentioned so very well in this thread and others...there are very special times that stand out
in one's lifetime...and I was outside at the old swing-set
i enjoyed on the farm
I had a portable radio which I took everywhere..
It was late sunny afternoon...Karen sang Rainy Days...
maybe I was really in a bad mood or just lonely or what
but this adult rich voice sang
and as corny as it sounds, just like on the show "Touched by an Angel"...I just felt that
that song just melted me...how could this singer know this was how I was feeling...about everything
even though the song probably is
talking about a boyfriend or girlfriend relationship..."funny but it seems I always end up here with you...nice to know somebody loves me"..
i surely didn't have a special loved one that way...
all i knew was that soon after that i got my first Carps.
record Cl. to You....
and my love for them just grew from there...
The C's were different in some ways than other groups of the time...and I always loved harmony..
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Post by Carps1000 on Dec 6, 2005 13:03:47 GMT -5
Read Now & Then My carpenters life for my fascinatin life story on the Cs. Its sad/funny/heartbreaking/terrifyin/comical/genius/oh it has the lot & its all true. IM just waitin for Universal Studios to come a knockin at my door for the film rites.....as soon as they can get a lead role to play me....& someone to play me mother....Ken carps1000
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