Fall of 1975 was so special to me, in that I (along with 14 others) was able to sing with the Carpenters when they came to perform in my small hometown. Children were chosen in each of their venues to perform Sing a Song 🎵.
The Carpenters were a Big Part of my teen years. My boyfriend and I one night, picked up a very good Friend of mine, and we cruised around. The radio started playing Rainey Days and Mondays. My Friend, who also had a very good voice, began to sing along with Karen. It is my last vivid memory of her, she lost her life a few months later. She was only 15.😭
This was the very first song of KC i heard when i was 10,and i was totally hooked and fell in love with this magical voice and likewise the singer...now that i'm 22,KC is still my lady and my girlfriend.
Most beautiful female pop-rock voice ever..I was 10 when this came out, I was in love with her...lol...Superstar will never be forgotten. The video of Karen in the red dress still makes me feel those old feelings..lol..
Castanets is what those clicky things were. Along with the fuzz guitar, was another one of Richard's "experiments" with their sound. He was always changing things.
A & M and Herb Alpert... Thank you once again for your insight. I appreciate your understanding of music, and your appreciation of 'Carpenters' music. I was one of those 'HIDDEN' listeners of them, because I was ashamed that I enjoyed that kind of music. People our age (You and I are a few months apart) were ridiculed if they enjoyed Carpenter music. The critics were very hard on them... but after Karen died, they changed their tune, and started to realize and/or confess that she was something special! They did not get the 'Star' in Hollywood until after she had died: I know that Richard still feels somewhat angry about that. Karen also is one of the few singers that reaches deep inside of me: she has brought more tears to my eyes than any and all other musicians combined! Thank you once again for your reactions. I hope you will react to "Reason to Believe" - that song; and how Karen's disposition displayed... very, very special! Peace. Also, the park where they were walking during the song is "Huntington Library" in Pasadena, Ca. I have been there a few times. Nice place.
Actually 1975 (year this was produced) was the year her dieting regime began. Look back at her Live performances from 1974 & you'll see she appeared 25-35lbs heavier. She looked great here, only problem being she continued to lose substantially more weight 😞 which sustained thru the next 6 years.
Actually, the controversy wasn't just Tony Peluso's fuzz-distorted guitar; it was specifically the tail-end of "Goodbye to Love." Richard, I think, wanted to mix things up because, as I've mentioned in previous comments, a lot of people thought the Carpenters just too pretty and sweet, and he definitely got wind of it, so he let Tony play away in "Goodbye to Love." In this song, he's just transitioning with an innocuous line in this song, but, in "Goodbye to Love," that's where his guitar did NOT sound like Carpenters. Tony said that he started playing an innocuous melody for a solo at the end, but Richard stopped him and told him to jazz it up. That was the controversial and CONSPICUOUS appearance of Tony Peluso's fuzz guitar. And, I think Richard was thinking, "Oh yeah? Well listen to this!!!" :) And, you know, it WAS incongruous, but Tony's lines were tasteful and nothing like some over-the-top stuff I've heard out of rock or metal solos...it just was a non sequitur in Carpenters music.
Thank you, Christopher. Yes, “goodbye to love” is were Tony let’s loose a bit, and I plan on doing a reaction on that song. I remember as a kid not liking Tony’s riff very much. It seemed incongruous, but I love it now.
Hi Dax! (I'm not sure what to call you because I couldn't find anything on your real name, but Dax sounds neat!) I love the beginning of this song because I just know it was Richard's response to all the "...ew, the Carpenters are so soft and boring, I hate 'em..." trolls. So he wakes you up right away with tight, dry bass drum: Bup...bu bup, bup...bu bup BUP! Then he purposely wrote the song in the key that would allow Karen to start right out with beautiful first note. I have a treat for you, if you'd like. A lot of Carpenters fans don't know about these, but I mentioned them in my comments about ten minutes ago in your "Close to You" reaction. This is a near-a-capella version with retains the drums and bass, and that's it. And it's not a derivative video, but a high-quality audio version. I think you'll get a kick out of it: ua-cam.com/video/xWuRdjk4BHU/v-deo.html I was listening to another song, more obscure, by the Carpenters, in which Karen goes a step or two lower, I think. I'm not sure...I have to go back to all my previous reaction videos, but it was just jaw-dropping beautiful. If I find it, I'll send you a comment; you'll love it.
Hi, I’m of a similar generation, I got a few years on you. So Carpenters and Karen were everything growing up. I have to disagree, Karen is razor thin here. Even Richard is thinner than I’m used to seeing. As for the guitar that’s probably Tony Peluso but the giant guitar controversy was from Goodbye To Love, I haven’t checked but that’s one to react to, also a Richard/John composition. They shot this at The Huntington in San Marino, CA (Pasadena). Gorgeous scenery. I checked you’re still going so I’ll recommend one more, forgive me I didn’t check but few reacted to this one) it’s the Bacharach/David Medley. It was a live outdoors performance for The Ed Sullivan Show, I don’t have to explain that to you. At Walter Reed Hospital. You know the significance. Anyway, it’s 1970, Karen is 20 and really does look healthy and great. It’s a Karen showcase, too. Enjoy it, I know you will. ua-cam.com/video/yrsuLCF9FtI/v-deo.html
Well it appears as though you were as smitten by Karen's delivery of this song as much as I was. I missed a lot of this action while going through a busy decade in the 1970s, and now in retirement I'm taking time to seek out beauty that I missed along the way. The video says so much for how she puts her all into the emotions behind the lyrics. I mean she's alone in the recording booth with headphones and a microphone, with her eyes closed and she's living through all of the emotions expressed in the lyrics. You can see that by the facial expressions; the way she pronounces the word "pain" in the first verse. I've listened to it every day for at least the last month and never tire of the beauty I behold. As I've expressed in other forums before, I find it sadly ironic that for all of the beautiful and romantic love ballads she graced the world with, she never found anybody to truly love her.
The greatest female voice of all time for me,and she also played the drums!!!
Fall of 1975 was so special to me, in that I (along with 14 others) was able to sing with the Carpenters when they came to perform in my small hometown. Children were chosen in each of their venues to perform Sing a Song 🎵.
Wow!! Just wow!
The Carpenters were a Big Part of my teen years. My boyfriend and I one night, picked up a very good Friend of mine, and we cruised around. The radio started playing Rainey Days and Mondays. My Friend, who also had a very good voice, began to sing along with Karen. It is my last vivid memory of her, she lost her life a few months later. She was only 15.😭
One of my favorite songs of The Carpenters takes me back to the '70s rest in peace Karen Carpenter
Great reaction Dax. I just cannot believe her voice . No one has ever sung a song like she could.
This was the very first song of KC i heard when i was 10,and i was totally hooked and fell in love with this magical voice and likewise the singer...now that i'm 22,KC is still my lady and my girlfriend.
I have a Carpenters CD, The Singles, 1969-1973
Most beautiful female pop-rock voice ever..I was 10 when this came out, I was in love with her...lol...Superstar will never be forgotten. The video of Karen in the red dress still makes me feel those old feelings..lol..
the way she sings "pain"..... enough said....
I was 9-1/2 years old when this song came out. I absolutely love the Carpenters! The year Karen passed away I graduated from high school.
Castanets is what those clicky things were. Along with the fuzz guitar, was another one of Richard's "experiments" with their sound. He was always changing things.
Thanks, Bru. Castanets was the word I was searching for in my mind. Richard was an incredible experimenter.
This is my favorite music video that has ever been made. Filmed at Huntington botanical gardens.
The percussion instrument you hear are the castanets.
A & M and Herb Alpert... Thank you once again for your insight. I appreciate your understanding of music, and your appreciation of 'Carpenters' music. I was one of those 'HIDDEN' listeners of them, because I was ashamed that I enjoyed that kind of music. People our age (You and I are a few months apart) were ridiculed if they enjoyed Carpenter music. The critics were very hard on them... but after Karen died, they changed their tune, and started to realize and/or confess that she was something special! They did not get the 'Star' in Hollywood until after she had died: I know that Richard still feels somewhat angry about that. Karen also is one of the few singers that reaches deep inside of me: she has brought more tears to my eyes than any and all other musicians combined! Thank you once again for your reactions. I hope you will react to "Reason to Believe" - that song; and how Karen's disposition displayed... very, very special! Peace. Also, the park where they were walking during the song is "Huntington Library" in Pasadena, Ca. I have been there a few times. Nice place.
Actually 1975 (year this was produced) was the year her dieting regime began. Look back at her Live performances from 1974 & you'll see she appeared 25-35lbs heavier. She looked great here, only problem being she continued to lose substantially more weight 😞 which sustained thru the next 6 years.
Actually, the controversy wasn't just Tony Peluso's fuzz-distorted guitar; it was specifically the tail-end of "Goodbye to Love." Richard, I think, wanted to mix things up because, as I've mentioned in previous comments, a lot of people thought the Carpenters just too pretty and sweet, and he definitely got wind of it, so he let Tony play away in "Goodbye to Love." In this song, he's just transitioning with an innocuous line in this song, but, in "Goodbye to Love," that's where his guitar did NOT sound like Carpenters. Tony said that he started playing an innocuous melody for a solo at the end, but Richard stopped him and told him to jazz it up. That was the controversial and CONSPICUOUS appearance of Tony Peluso's fuzz guitar. And, I think Richard was thinking, "Oh yeah? Well listen to this!!!" :)
And, you know, it WAS incongruous, but Tony's lines were tasteful and nothing like some over-the-top stuff I've heard out of rock or metal solos...it just was a non sequitur in Carpenters music.
Thank you, Christopher. Yes, “goodbye to love” is were Tony let’s loose a bit, and I plan on doing a reaction on that song. I remember as a kid not liking Tony’s riff very much. It seemed incongruous, but I love it now.
My wife Lorraine was so upset when she died. :(
Jim Gordon was on drums
Hi Dax! (I'm not sure what to call you because I couldn't find anything on your real name, but Dax sounds neat!) I love the beginning of this song because I just know it was Richard's response to all the "...ew, the Carpenters are so soft and boring, I hate 'em..." trolls. So he wakes you up right away with tight, dry bass drum: Bup...bu bup, bup...bu bup BUP! Then he purposely wrote the song in the key that would allow Karen to start right out with beautiful first note. I have a treat for you, if you'd like. A lot of Carpenters fans don't know about these, but I mentioned them in my comments about ten minutes ago in your "Close to You" reaction. This is a near-a-capella version with retains the drums and bass, and that's it. And it's not a derivative video, but a high-quality audio version. I think you'll get a kick out of it: ua-cam.com/video/xWuRdjk4BHU/v-deo.html
I was listening to another song, more obscure, by the Carpenters, in which Karen goes a step or two lower, I think. I'm not sure...I have to go back to all my previous reaction videos, but it was just jaw-dropping beautiful. If I find it, I'll send you a comment; you'll love it.
Hi Dax, please react to her, "For All We Know Live, Australia 1972" performance .
Everyone else get tissues ready.
ua-cam.com/video/Oa1F2MEedZA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/v5QkLwZPOXQ/v-deo.html
Bring tissues, yes 😞😥
to me Karen's voice took uver everything.
Hi, I’m of a similar generation, I got a few years on you. So Carpenters and Karen were everything growing up. I have to disagree, Karen is razor thin here. Even Richard is thinner than I’m used to seeing. As for the guitar that’s probably Tony Peluso but the giant guitar controversy was from Goodbye To Love, I haven’t checked but that’s one to react to, also a Richard/John composition. They shot this at The Huntington in San Marino, CA (Pasadena). Gorgeous scenery. I checked you’re still going so I’ll recommend one more, forgive me I didn’t check but few reacted to this one) it’s the Bacharach/David Medley. It was a live outdoors performance for The Ed Sullivan Show, I don’t have to explain that to you. At Walter Reed Hospital. You know the significance. Anyway, it’s 1970, Karen is 20 and really does look healthy and great. It’s a Karen showcase, too. Enjoy it, I know you will.
ua-cam.com/video/yrsuLCF9FtI/v-deo.html
The guitar was controversial? I find that so funny.
Well it appears as though you were as smitten by Karen's delivery of this song as much as I was. I missed a lot of this action while going through a busy decade in the 1970s, and now in retirement I'm taking time to seek out beauty that I missed along the way. The video says so much for how she puts her all into the emotions behind the lyrics. I mean she's alone in the recording booth with headphones and a microphone, with her eyes closed and she's living through all of the emotions expressed in the lyrics. You can see that by the facial expressions; the way she pronounces the word "pain" in the first verse. I've listened to it every day for at least the last month and never tire of the beauty I behold.
As I've expressed in other forums before, I find it sadly ironic that for all of the beautiful and romantic love ballads she graced the world with, she never found anybody to truly love her.
Really don't know much about Carpenters, nice review though.
She is NOT healthy....she was so thin in this video...probably in the 94-96 lb range....