Without Karen, you never would have heard about Richard.

You've got a good ear. ; )

@@dougretter So true! Unless Richard could have sang like her. He was the brains, because of what he could create. He went back to Les Paul and Mary Ford to explain where it was first discovered how to overdub their sound, only if I remember correctly, Les and Mary did it with their guitars, and obviously Karen and Richard did it with their voices. I wouldn't want to know how many hours it took them to overdub every last song. Richard never had the voice like Karen, but Richard had the one thing that Karen didn't, and that was the love of their mother. She doted on Richard. She moved them to California to help him have a great career as an amazing musician. As it was, Karen was an exceptional drummer, but I often wonder if she did that as a way to hide from the eye of the cameras or people. She didn't want her broad hips that she inherited from her mother. Her mother was a bitch and didn't do a thing for her. Her love was all for Richard.

@survivrs You are wrong on several points: Yes, Les Paul over dubbed Mary Ford's voice. Karen started playing drums because she wanted to escape Physical education class and then admired the drumming of a band mate and wanted to do that too, and long before her self-image became a problem.Agnes did help Karen. Karen was in tap and ballet classes at the age of four, at Agnes' expense. Agnes authorized the purchase of expensive Ludwig drums and tolerated having a practicing drummer in the house, as well as a bulky drum set. Karen was enrolled in expensive drum lessons with a high profile teacher. And most telling, Agnes stood up to Hal Blaine and defended Karen's drumming ability as "as good as any of those guys on TV," which at that time meant Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, Dave Clark, Sal Mineo (as Gene Krupa), Dennis Wilson, and Ginger Baker.The world is full of imperfect mothers, yet all of them make great sacrifices to benefit their children, even those children that are not their favorites.

So refreshing to know that members of the younger generation appreciate the impact of The Carpenters. Good on you :-)

Richard Carpenter and Buddy Holly both.

Made in America. Happy Holidays all over again. You always want to prove that you can do holidays again. it doesn't matter if you've done them 100 times, you want to prove you can do them 101.

@@TheLarryBrown You're behind, it's October! Now I'm going to do Halloween over again... 101 and counting! You are correct on all but one thing... I don't have to prove anything, I celebrate because I Love it!!! Have a Wonderful Day!! 🎃

Hi, I loved your comment. Glen joined The Beach Boys when Brian had a nervous breakdown on a plane flying to Houston to do a show. Not only was Glen a great singer but he could also hit those high notes and he also played the bass guitar, which is what he played on tour as Carl played lead and Al Jardine played rhythm. I wish I could find it but there is a video that was once shown on KZfaq that had Glen playing bass on Sloop John B.

@@SThompsonRAMM_1203 Thanks Steve, I've seen at least one video on here where Glen talks about playing bass, but it's been quite awhile. I think it was a big interview with the Wrecking Crew. I wish I could be more helpful, but maybe I can come across it if I can't sleep tonight. I love hearing Carol Kaye talking about the rhythm she came up with on the Bass, and I think it was for Sonny and Cher, but I'm not totally sure about that tonight. Sorry I'm so useless right now! I had surgery yesterday and my pain is crazy.

@@survivrs Also crazy to think that Glen didn't/couldn't read music. Just a natural.

@@ibleebinU He learned to play by ear. Once he heard something, he could play it, something he learned around the age of 6 after his parents bought him a child sized guitar. For anyone hearing him the 1st time, they never forgot it. You could have put sheet music upside down, and as long as he already knew the song, it didn't matter how the music looked, he played what he knew.

Yes, I was transfixed as well. So cool to hear how We've Only Just Begun was created. Richard is a genius.

She was the greatest female pop vocalist of all time. Her tone and range was unrivalled. Heartfelt, melancholy and soulful.

Just like Lindsey Buckingham. Without either of them, the music created would NEVER have been the same

so true

As well as all around.

100% agree. Naturally Karen got all the plaudits for her perfect singing ability which probably but understandably overshadowed Richard's input... I think it was only after she had passed-over and a few years at that, that he came out of the shadows and spoke about his own contribution to his songs.

Joe Osborn should thank The Good Lord for The Carpenters.

Keep trying! You never know!

@@RitaSora I am just joking. I have no illusions of stardom. My Carnegie Hall is the open mic I used to go to until they shut it down because of covid. Its sold now but I will head over to a Blues Jam once that gets going again. I saw Charles Anznavour perform and he had a song about an older waiter who was a singer still waiting for his big break. That is not me. I just do it for fun. The story of the Carpenter's is fascinating right at the beginning. Appearing on the College Talent program as a Trio. Recording in a garage studio. Herb Albert hearing them. The dreams and aspirations they must have had then culminating in a hit song when they were so young that started their huge success. I always think the early days in a group or artists history are the best usually. Not many can keep the energy, creativity and freshness through their career. They become too professional!! I am an amateur!!!! Thanks for the comment though and support!!!

@@jamesbond4633 Ha! Your welcome.Got it! Just didn't want you to give up right b4 a possible big break.Yes The Carpenters Story is very interesting to me.I have loved them since day one.Karen always fascinated me with that warm and happy voice on their TV specials and her deep singing voice on some of their songs.I have an inherited deep voice from mom and was embarrassed that I sounded like one of the boys when I was at school.Then came Karen....... Ha!

@@abc456f Hey ...thanks for the information. I might just do that. I used to have the 4 track cassette Tascam which was easy to operate. This digital one is a little more complicated and just has a tiny screen to mix on etc. so not very user friendly. I much prefer sliders and knobs and such but running the software you mentioned on a laptop that I could hook up to a large screen might be the way to go. I worked doing computer networking and support so can probably figure it out. I have about 10 songs so am ready for the big times!!! lol. Thanks again for the suggestion!!!!

@@RitaSora My nephew is the one who might become famous. He studied at Berkeley in Boston for piano and writes musicals and farces. He is doing a one man show now called The Exorcist: An Operetta that is hilarious. Going to watch it next week. He likes all the old style writes like Cole Porter , Jerry Herman , Yip Harburg etc. He is an old soul in a young body kinda like Karen was and Richard too.

"Theyve only just begun to live" is the last line in the 1939 film Wuthering Heights. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b52IbMum3p3UeIU.html

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b52IbMum3p3UeIU.html

It WAS a really sweet commercial with that wonderful song. Then we Hear it in toto from the Carpenters a year or two later! Surprise!! It's a hit single !!!

Actually, Richard Carpenter was NOT at all underrated in their heyday, really up until Karen's death. Richard just sat it all aside 1) because he could 2) the heartbreaking loss of his sister. The duo will never be rivaled again.

Certainly not underrated

Not much, if anything, that's commonly known, or else I would know about it. He made one solo album around 1985 called "Time" where he had a few guest singers, including Dusty Springfield (the song was "Something in your eyes" ) and Scott Grimes. The title song was agood instrumental track. That album was not successful and Richard basically quit making new music after that, and only worked retweaking Carpenters music, putting together new compilations with occasional previously unheard Carpenters tracks, and making two new Carpenters albums "Voice of the Heart" and "Karen Carpenter," and more recently he released one more solo record "Richard Carpenter's Songbook," solo piano renditions of Carpenters tunes, and also an album of Carpenters tracks re-recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It seems like he feels that "Carpenters" was the fulfillment of his life's destiny and he is content to be mostly retired (and filthy rich) and occupy himself strictly with Carpenters.

He worked with Dusty Springfield on "Something in your eyes" in 1987 although it was originally written for Karen. In 2008 he recorded it again with Filipina Claire de la Fuente.

​@@captnneroAh, Claire dela Fuente, she was considered the Philippines' Karen Carpenter!

i think he knew that karen couldnt be replaced, i did say in an interview that karen was the greatest singer that ever lived. im not bullshitting, but i think of my brother as the male version of the karen singing style. he was born blind, but has the perfect pitch singing and is just amazing to listen to. i will always love karens singing and drumming, and of course the studio ace of richard.

@@katiegrundle9900 Yes I agree Karen Carpenter just may be the greatest singer of all time followed by a close second Roy Orbison and Judith Durham of the Seekers. thank you for your interesting comments, Your brother must be an amazing singer.

Well he did with his solo album "Time." It has Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, and Scott Grimes on it. He also produced Scott Grimes' first solo record.

Yeah I know. He's there to talk about himself. They pay him to talk about himself. 40 years later people still contact him and ask him to talk about himself. And he has the NERVE to talk about himself!!!! By the way, you used the word "I" in your post. You should resign your KZfaq account, you have made a flagrant transgression...used the word "I" well I never........ In other news.....get a life.

Agree

Yeah, sadly that was apparently the environment in their household too, growing up. Their mother pegged Richard as ‘the genius’ and considered Karen the kid, side-kick. When the world turned Karen into a superstar, there was resentment-it was supposed to be Richard who was King.

Nice guys finish last. He's a world famous super star and recognized genius that topped Burt Bacharach. He's being interviewed, still, 40 years after the Last Carpenters album because people, like you, want to hear what he has to say.

They did,but she had to save herself first.Back then, not much was known about Anorexia Nervosa. And is so extremely complicated. It's not just a matter of est more,you'll be ok.

Why didn't anyone try to save Elvis, Michael Jackson, Andy Gibb, Janis Joplin, or the countless alcoholic or smoking dad all over the world, probably even your own. Let it occur to you that these are adult people that can't be controlled. I always think it's ironic how the people, like you, that want someone to intervene and force Karen to stop secretly destroying herself are the same people that will vilify Richard and Agnes and Herb for supposedly causing her illness by controlling her.

That's how it was presented on the DVD.

He mentioned drummer Hal (Blaine). And "same guys" meaning the Wrecking Crew.

@@TheLarryBrown He also mentione Joe Osborne.

Creepy guy

​@@christopherharris3229Yeah I know. Superstars that like to talk about music....who needs 'em.

That's bullshit.

@@Coowallsky Richard and his mother were convinced he was the genius of the family Together they picked on Karen all her life, the mother was cruel. But Karen had the Voice that cannot be denied Even now in interviews Richard is dismissive of Karen. I admit this is heresay, I didn't know them personally but it all adds up. I suspect you don't have any better info than I do so watch your words.

@@gymshoe8862 Richard never considered hiself to be a genius. Not ever. He was very talented and his parents saw that hence the reason they moved to California. Richard did not pick on Karen. Her mothjer was the one that was very indifferent to the attention that Karen was receiving once they started getting traction. I've never seen Richard being dismissive of Karen or her talents. Watch my words? You're the one spreading heresay by your own admission.

@@Coowallsky You want to debate here in comments? Get a life.

@@gymshoe8862 Back atcha,doofus!

Joe Osborn of course

One can look them up in Wikipedia under "The Wrecking Crew" but here are a few of the musicians from the 1960s. Don Randi, Al De Lory, Carol Kaye, Bill Pitman, Tommy Tedesco, Irving Rubins, Roy Caton, Jay Migliori, Steve Douglas, and Ray Pohlman, in addition to Hal Blaine and Joe Osborn. These musicians were the soundtrack of many musical groups back in the day.

@@SayItAintSo4real the film/documentary Tedesco’s son did is a must watch for anyone who enjoys music

@@SayItAintSo4real Don't forget Glenn Campbell.

It would have been some subset of all the instruments you hear other than piano and bass, and guitar, unless Joe Osborn is considered part of the wrecking crew, in which case bass as well. Richard plays piano, electric piano, some synthesizer and some organ. Karen plays drums (but very little on their records other than the first) and bass on a track or two, Tony Peluso plays guitar on tracks after "Goodbye to Love." All other instruments (other than bass) were played by unnamed session musicians, and some/many/most/all of those are the wrecking crew. Oboe, flute, harp, strings, brass, guitar, drums, trumpet solo, french horns. The wrecking crew can't just be bass, drums, and guitar, it has to be more than that.

He's a little high energy, enthusiastic, passionate, and a little jittery. And you are....?