Karen the drummer and her influences...

[Rick Henry]

One of the things that has always drawn me to Karen Carpenter is the fact that she's a drummer. Her style is more reserved and along the lines of the jazz drummers of the 40's and 50's. She's not a crash and thrash drummer (although I must say I do appreciate a good crash and thrash drummer. Travis Barker is one of my current favorite drummers... and he's not really crash and thrash although he is aggressive).

Karen has sited Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to be her influences and inspirations as a drummer.

Here are a few videos to watch and listen to and compare styles.

Gene Krupa: Click Here

Buddy Rich: Click Here

Karen Carpenter: Click Here



and here are a few of my current favorites...

Travis Barker: Click Here

Neil Peart: Click Here

Steve Gadd: Click Here
Steve played drums on some of the tracks on Karen's fabulous solo album

Stewart Copeland: Click Here
Stewart Copeland (of The Police) is my all-time favorite drummer)... he's a great drummer and has a crazy sense of humor...

[Rick Henry]

Here are a few more drummers... these are all related to Carpenters or Karen in one way or another.

Liberty DeVitto: Click Here
Liberty played on several tracks on Karen's solo album. He's a really nice guy and has claimed that he had a crush on Karen while working on her album.

Ed Greene: Click Here
Ed Greene played drums on "All You Get From Love Is A Love Song", "Two Sides" and other Carpenters songs.

The drums were also an integral part of the early formation and development of the Carpenters' sound. Just as important as the keyboard and bass guitar. Of course Karen's voice was and still is the focal point.

[jill]

Its always good to give acknowledgements to the other musicians. It is their input which helps make the music good.

[kc1950]

John Bonham was said to be enraged when KC was rated greatest drummer in a magazine poll. I think its quite funny that John Bonham would be upset - i luv Karen on drums she looks so cute and happy -- and she had chops

[Rick Henry]

Jan 25, 2009 19:49:09 GMT -5 kc1950 said:

John Bonham was said to be enraged when KC was rated greatest drummer in a magazine poll. I think its quite funny that John Bonham would be upset - i luv Karen on drums she looks so cute and happy -- and she had chops

That was in 1975 and it was in a poll held by Playboy Magazine. Quite a few people were outraged by this. Though, I will agree Karen was an accomplished drummer and she definitely had the chops. As far as greatest drummer... I think Karen had a ways to go before earning that title.

[Rick Henry]

Jan 25, 2009 11:46:53 GMT -5 @jill said:

Its always good to give acknowledgements to the other musicians. It is their input which helps make the music good.

Yes, I agree. The drums were such an integral part of the Carpenters sound and so many people don't give the proper credit here. They had some great drummers working with them... Karen Carpenter, hal Blaine (I'll have to post a video of him), Steve Gadd, Ron Tutt, Liberty DeVitto, Ed Greene and others.

[kc1950]

she was a great drummer just like paul mccartney and prince - she had a good feel of the drums and played very soundly

the drums served as a shield for her - she had to feel naked on stage in beginning when she stopped playing drums - so, its kind of tough - she had a great feel for the drums

[Rick Henry]

I can't believe I forgot to put up a clip on Hal blaine.

Hal Blaine has played on more hit records than any drummer in the rock era, including 40 #1 singles and 150 that made the Top Ten. Eight of the records he played on won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, including an unprecedented six in a row ("A Taste of Honey," "Strangers in the Night," "Up, Up and Away," "Mrs. Robinson, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," from 1966 to 1971). He is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Carpenters' #1 hits Hall played drums on are "Close To You" and "Top Of The World". He played drums on most of the songs on the Carpenters albums "Close To You", "Carpenters" and "A Song For You".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMA03UYs_9U
Hal Blaine playing "Topsy" in 1965.

[kc1950]

yep Hal Blaine played on everything

But - if there's a number 2 drummer next to him on hits - Its Bernard Purdy - He played on a lot of stuff too. He also claims to have be the "hit maker"

He played on a lot of Steely Dan stuff too -

I like Karen Carpenters feel of the drums - Paul McCartney and Prince have the same feel on drums -

The guys from Motown who were never credited (James Jamerson, and those guys) - if properly credited - might have beat out Hal Blaine -

John Bonham if he meet Karen Carpenter would have happily taken one of her mickey mouse shirts and been charmed - He wouldn't be mad anymore -