Post by cam83 on Oct 30, 2003 1:55:41 GMT -5
This was written by both Cam and Rick Henry... Rick Henry's contributions are in italic lettering.
In May of 1974, Karen and Richard are musical guests at the White House as President Nixon is hosting a gathering honoring West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
The Carpenters also tour in Japan and are received with a phenomenal standing ovation. At the airport they are mobbed by over 5,000 eager fans. In all of their concerts spanning the country, all of them are sold out within an hour. Carpenters-mania. Their single I WON'T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU which hits #11 in US, becomes the Grand Prix Single of the Year in Japan, a top honor.
Karen and Richard are guests on crooner Perry Como's Christmas Show in December of 1974, and they sing a few songs. Richard performs on piano Carol of the Bells, while Karen sings a duet with Perry, SLEEP WELL LITTLE CHILDREN. Karen and Richard also sing SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN TO TOWN which is their newest single. They also get a chance to do a medley of songs of their songs and Perry's songs, including, Catch A Falling Star, Magic Moments, and the lush It's Impossible.
PLEASE MR. POSTMAN is released and zooms to #1 in the US and is a worldwide hit. Another gold million seller. "Please Mr. Postman" was the album's biggest hit single and also The Carpenters' biggest worldwide hit ever. It reached # 1 in the U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan and several other countries in the world, as well as reaching # 2 in the UK and Canada. This driving rhythm based tune features Karen on drums and a great Tony Peluso guitar solo.
"Please Mr. Postman" is one of a handful of song to be a U.S. #1 hit more than once. It reached #1 first in 1961 for the female Motown vocal group the Marvelettes. The song also gained further acclaim when the Beatles included it on their 1963 album "With The Beatles".
Their next single is ONLY YESTERDAY which hits #4 and will become their last Top Ten hit (in the U.S.). Written by Richard Carpenter and lyricist John Bettis, the song was a huge hit worldwide. Believing the song would not be a hit Carpenter and Bettis lost a one-thousand dollar bet to their recording engineer Roger Young. Since the melody was upbeat, Richard asked Bettis to make sure the lyric was not completely sad, so the outlook of the song changes midstream. It goes from dark and deep to bright and propulsive. Bettis described "Only Yesterday" as, "a manipulated positive song". The song is an impressive "wall of sound" with each instrument clearly recognizable. It has the feel of the sixties with castanets and chimes and the technology of the 70's with electric guitar chords and soulful saxophone progressions. With all this outstanding technology it's Karen's voice that remains the focal point. She opens with a haunting Low E Flat and moves gracefully through the range of the song and her voice with ease. "Only Yesterday" is two songs in one with a lush ballad verse which effectively gives way to an uptempo progressive pop chorus.
Later on in the year, SOLITAIRE hits #17. Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody wrote "Solitaire" which was the third single from "Horizon". It reached # 17 in the U.S. and the top 40 in several other countries around the world. The richness of strings and Karen's deep full-bodied voice give this song that chill factor that Richard looked for in a song. Many people consider this to be one of Karen's most intense and finest readings.
The Carpenters' fantastic (and critically loved) album "Horizon" is released and becomes one of their biggest selling albums worldwide. See more on "Horizon" in the next post in this thread.
By this time, Karen is starting to begin her battle with anorexia nervosa. She is getting slimmer. The Carpenters begin touring around the US, and in Las Vegas, she is worse. She is down below 90 pounds and has to lay down below the 2 shows per evening, but when back up on stage, she sings like an angel. Fans and family are worried at how super thin she looks. Their firing Neil Sedaka caused them stress and retaliation by Neil and Record jockeys is swift.
Finally Karen has to cancel the tours of England and Japan. In her weakened state, she is in no condition to travel so she takes off 2 months to recuperate. She stays at home and under her mother's watchful eyes, she gains weight and maintains it at 102 pounds.
Please continue reading into the next post for further documentation on the years of 1974 and 1975
In May of 1974, Karen and Richard are musical guests at the White House as President Nixon is hosting a gathering honoring West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
The Carpenters also tour in Japan and are received with a phenomenal standing ovation. At the airport they are mobbed by over 5,000 eager fans. In all of their concerts spanning the country, all of them are sold out within an hour. Carpenters-mania. Their single I WON'T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU which hits #11 in US, becomes the Grand Prix Single of the Year in Japan, a top honor.
Karen and Richard are guests on crooner Perry Como's Christmas Show in December of 1974, and they sing a few songs. Richard performs on piano Carol of the Bells, while Karen sings a duet with Perry, SLEEP WELL LITTLE CHILDREN. Karen and Richard also sing SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN TO TOWN which is their newest single. They also get a chance to do a medley of songs of their songs and Perry's songs, including, Catch A Falling Star, Magic Moments, and the lush It's Impossible.
PLEASE MR. POSTMAN is released and zooms to #1 in the US and is a worldwide hit. Another gold million seller. "Please Mr. Postman" was the album's biggest hit single and also The Carpenters' biggest worldwide hit ever. It reached # 1 in the U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan and several other countries in the world, as well as reaching # 2 in the UK and Canada. This driving rhythm based tune features Karen on drums and a great Tony Peluso guitar solo.
"Please Mr. Postman" is one of a handful of song to be a U.S. #1 hit more than once. It reached #1 first in 1961 for the female Motown vocal group the Marvelettes. The song also gained further acclaim when the Beatles included it on their 1963 album "With The Beatles".
Their next single is ONLY YESTERDAY which hits #4 and will become their last Top Ten hit (in the U.S.). Written by Richard Carpenter and lyricist John Bettis, the song was a huge hit worldwide. Believing the song would not be a hit Carpenter and Bettis lost a one-thousand dollar bet to their recording engineer Roger Young. Since the melody was upbeat, Richard asked Bettis to make sure the lyric was not completely sad, so the outlook of the song changes midstream. It goes from dark and deep to bright and propulsive. Bettis described "Only Yesterday" as, "a manipulated positive song". The song is an impressive "wall of sound" with each instrument clearly recognizable. It has the feel of the sixties with castanets and chimes and the technology of the 70's with electric guitar chords and soulful saxophone progressions. With all this outstanding technology it's Karen's voice that remains the focal point. She opens with a haunting Low E Flat and moves gracefully through the range of the song and her voice with ease. "Only Yesterday" is two songs in one with a lush ballad verse which effectively gives way to an uptempo progressive pop chorus.
Later on in the year, SOLITAIRE hits #17. Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody wrote "Solitaire" which was the third single from "Horizon". It reached # 17 in the U.S. and the top 40 in several other countries around the world. The richness of strings and Karen's deep full-bodied voice give this song that chill factor that Richard looked for in a song. Many people consider this to be one of Karen's most intense and finest readings.
The Carpenters' fantastic (and critically loved) album "Horizon" is released and becomes one of their biggest selling albums worldwide. See more on "Horizon" in the next post in this thread.
By this time, Karen is starting to begin her battle with anorexia nervosa. She is getting slimmer. The Carpenters begin touring around the US, and in Las Vegas, she is worse. She is down below 90 pounds and has to lay down below the 2 shows per evening, but when back up on stage, she sings like an angel. Fans and family are worried at how super thin she looks. Their firing Neil Sedaka caused them stress and retaliation by Neil and Record jockeys is swift.
Finally Karen has to cancel the tours of England and Japan. In her weakened state, she is in no condition to travel so she takes off 2 months to recuperate. She stays at home and under her mother's watchful eyes, she gains weight and maintains it at 102 pounds.
Please continue reading into the next post for further documentation on the years of 1974 and 1975
