I'll never in my life forget the night I was driving my car home and the man on the radio announced that Karen Carpenter had died of a heart attack, related to her anorexia. And then they played this song. I had to pull over and just weep. This song always makes me teary eyed.
I came home one afternoon and my younger brother (who BTW is now a professional musician himself) blurted out "Karen Carpenter died." He might as well have punched me in the gut...
If I remember correctly, this was the first time a guitar player performed a power ballad solo. The Carpenters did it first and all the other bands followed…..The guitar player was personally contacted and asked by the Carpenters to do this on the song. RIP Karen
This is another example of the brilliant Richard And Karen Carpenter. The Carpenters were the first to do this in a pop song, and if you think about it, it is the best way to end this song
@@keithrfield The problem with this thread is that there is no one Best Ever female voice or male voice for that matter. The beauty of music is that we all have different tastes and preferences. That makes "The Best" different for each person. I happen to like Linda Ronstadt and think she has one of the best voices ever. Karen Carpenter ranks on her equal. They do different styles of songs. Linda has a much broader spectrum of songs that she has performed but she performed a lot longer. There are many incredible singers out there. I personally think that Olivia Newton-John and Barbra Streisand can stand with them as well. There are others, more than I can write here on. I think that we should simply appreciate the incredible talents of these performers and consider our selves blessed to have been able to hear them all.
Karen Carpenter had such a unique tone, she is instantly recognizable from the first note. Unfortunately you can see her disease in this video, at a time when it was not recognized or treated, such a sad loss to humanity. ✌️
Yeah, she had it before it became widely known, it was surprising at the time to find her private personal life didn’t match up to her songs, and so sad to have her go at such an early age😢😔fwiw, it’s nice that a lot of diseases that were unrecognized or untreated back then are being taken care of now👍😏😊
When they were going back and forth about rock paper scissors, I thought about what Jay would say about the guitar solo. Richard is a great talent composing and arranging. Karen just plain sounds perfect. If only it had registered to her how much she was loved and appreciated.
@NotData That's just dumb. But they had that 3 minute limit rule of thumb for song length too. They are happy with the sterile 3 minute milktoast junk they have out today.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Timeyep. It's unbelievable how much guff they took through the years. It had to hurt. I've read them talking about it in interviews. Some of the reviewers were just mean. Poor Karen. They did a lot of things musically that changed the sound of every day music. They had guts to try something different. Love the Carpenters.
I was just a kid of 13 when this song came out. I already had all of their singles and albums. I loved the guitar solo the first time I heard it on the radio. Soon my parents took me to the local record store to buy the 45rpm. I wore that record out, mesmerized by the guitar solo, and the song itself. Even for a 13-year-old the lyrics were sad. And that guitar solo fit the song perfectly for me, almost like the singer had become defiant with the life she had been given. The lyrics were very sad, even for a kid. But, to me, there was power there in the end for the singer with that smokin' guitar solo.
This is the start of the power ballad. They took some flak for it at the time because electric wasn’t their usual sound, but it started a wave of music influenced by this song. Amazing, beautiful, and haunting song.
Exactly. Some people were so upset that they infused an electric (fuzz) guitar into this song. I think it was pure inspired genius. You gotta hand it to Richard. Our boy could arrange a song. He is up there in the pantheon, modern music wise, with Bacharach and Foster. It is their take on a power ballad.
FYI, if you haven't been told. Karen is an incredible drummer. She preferred to be known as a drummer first, singer second. Check out her drum solo videos.
My heart hurts seeing how thin and sickly Karen looks here. She suffered so much with her eating disorder. Her voice will never be duplicated! Just perfect.
After our lovely Karen rejoined heaven, Tony Peluso said "when Karen Carpenter called me, i couldn't believe it, she was one of my idol's". He added "I got to play with the greatest singer ever... we all loved her"!
When this song came out, a lot of fans were really angry that there was a rock guitar solo. They felt it wasn't "appropriate" for Carpenters. Well, they got over it pretty fast. This is one of their best songs.
Yep, you found a gem here! The introduction of the electric guitar was a shock back then for their fans. It turned many of their fans off from them. They felt The Carpenters were going electric now and moving away from their traditional soft sound. I think now, many fans appreciate how they were only doing what artists do, branching out in their talent and tastes. This one is a classic! Thanks for the great reaction.
The saddest thing to me about this song is that it ultimately became a testament to her life when it came to her never having that one love in her life, who loved her like no other. And yes, this song is considered the first "Rock Ballad" in the industry. Considering that this song came out in 1972, first ever soft ballad to have a rock guitar solo in it. And Tony Peluso, the guitarist, nails it! Yay! I'm so happy that you've not only reacted to this song but touched on some musical history! Thank you!!! And I thank Richard and Karen for having the guts to do it and put it out there!
Great choice!! Tony Peluso, who played the fuzz guitar part at the end, started out with a "Carpenters" -like solo and Richard stopped him and told him he really wanted something rocking and heavy.
That one was an outlier, an album track Richard liked but didn't think was a hit. They played it live though and audiences went nuts, so it was released as a single and did become a big hit. Indeed Lynn Anderson's cover of it hit #1 on the country charts not long afterward.
I had anorexia from 13-17 years old. I had excellent medical help and a great support of family and friends. I am now almost 68 years old. I am blessed that God spared my life. Rest in Peace, Karen Carpenter.
Carpenters were a big part of my childhood in the 70's, they had such great hits. I think this was a very personal song for Karen Carpenter because she seemed to struggle in personal relationships or find the right person like so many of us do.
Amber hit the nail on the head. After a long string of traditional Carpenter hits, everyone was blown away by the appearance of that electric guitar. The ending solo goes on longer than featured here. It's just extraordinary.
This IS a power ballad. Possibly the first with a fuzz guitar solo, played by Tony Peluso, staying with them from this song on. The great Hal Blaine on drums. They received hate mail for “going hard rock”. Believe it or not. So much for fanatics. Song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. You should read the Wiki, good info. Once again and always Karen, RIP. 😢
Richard could find a hit anywhere. He got Only Just Begun from a bank commercial. He got Sing from Sesame Street. Goodbye to Love from a movie from the 49s.
"Bless the Beast and the Children" would love your reaction and yes this is the Carpenters.." Goodbye To Love" Beautiful song that is Richard Carpenters arranging with Karen singing.. One of the greatest brother and sister teams ever!
Richard Carpenter was asked about Karen's breathing technique. He responded: "Karen, along with Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and John Gary, could take one breath and do the super-human bit where they just kept singing and singing. You are absolutely right in your mention of 'Goodbye To Love', which has some very long phrases. Other singers would come up to Karen and comment on this; I remember John Davidson asking, 'Do you have three lungs?' because Karen took a breath and sang, 'time and time again the chance for love has passed me by and all I know of love is how to live without it…' and that Karen just did naturally. 'Live', as well. It’s not like we had to get it in multiple takes in the studio."
Heh. Right on about that absurdly long phrase. I've sung the song as a jazz ballad (as if it actually dated to the 40s, like the movie the title came from), and I break that line right before "how to live". Karen had onboard scuba gear, I think. (Where exactly she put it, who knows...)
@@garytorresani8846 yes, Sinatra above all, in my opinion. His later version of Night and Day and Old Man River are incredible. He said he learned breathing when he was with the Dorsey Band. He would watch the horn players using long breaths. It made Sinatra The Voice.
If I'm not mistaken, this was one of the first power ballads ever done. Richard Carpenter did the arrangements on all the Carpenters records. Richard Carpenter asked the guitarist to play a solo and at first the guitarist sort of played a little something soft and quiet and Richard Carpenter said to him, "No, just let it rip, and don't hold back." . . .and there you have it! Genius!
I am 61. This is what was on the radio in my childhood home. My mom had a stack of Carpenters records that would play on the old Philco Ford console stereophonic furniture. This is all warm memories of my mom. Always a Karen and Richard Carpenter fan!
My Mom would put us kids to bed and then go downstairs and listen to her Carpenters albums. I've lost count of how many nights I feel asleep to Karen's voice when I was a little girl in the 70s!
My favorite Carpenter song...even with the weird groovy guitar solo in the middle. Jay, you cracked me up at that point. Haha. And it's even more groovy in the studio version. It's as if the guitarist knew it was his opportunity to shine 😅 "Ballad? Screw that, I'm rockin'!" Her voice was soothing and magical. Be blessed ❤
This was one of the first power ballads. Richard and Karen invited rock guitarist, Tony Peluso, to sit in to record this song. When the guitar solo was to start, Richard told Tony, "This is where you play". Tony came up with a soft mild solo. Richard immediately stopped him and said, "No, not like that! I want you to take it to the stratosphere!" Numerous Carpenters fans were in shock when this came out. Some claimed the Carpenters were trying to sound more like Jimi Hendrix.
Her voice control and tone quality are so amazing even after only taking the slightest breath! Perfection. My heart broke the day she died and it’s never been the same since. I cry every time I hear one of their songs. This one in particular will make me weep if I am feeling the slightest bit sentimental.
I was 15 when she passed. My classmates and I were very sad and shocked to hear the news.She was the voice of our childhood. I listen to them to this day.👍😎
@@christineobrien7707 I was 20 and singing some of their songs at weddings. I loved their music. So much talent between the two of them. Karen couldn’t seem to make her mom happy. Really, really sad.
Tony Peluso's guitar rift is legendary. The Carpenters received some criticism from "fans" who said they sold out to hard rock. But most fans like me knew how great it was from the first time we heard it.
The guitar player Tony Peluso was in the band Instant Joy and had opened for the Carpenters. When Richard was working on the song, he and Karen decided that Tony would be perfect for the song. He first played something he thought was appropriate for the band. Richard said "No, no man. Play the melody for the first five measures then let it rip. It was one of the first time a fuzz guitar solo was recorded in a ballad.
This is also my favorite Carpenters song. The guitar solo was the first and had some Carpenters Fans very angry. They were very worried that guitar solo would destroy the Carpenters. How wrong they were! I saw them at Pine Knob in 1977. AMAZING....
Karen Carpenter had such a beautiful, sweet voice. She went through so much suffering and always hid it from the public. Her story is so sad but she always seemed to have a tender soul. ❤
I was in my first college teaching job in Southern California when this song came out. I played it over and over again. Love Karen's voice! Love the guitar work!
Richard was a musical genius and he wasn’t afraid to stretch the boundaries. He got a lotta flak for this song, but it’s just AWESOME! Richard’s musical arrangements were so incredible and Karen’s voice so sweet and smooth, we can only wonder where they would have taken us all if only. I was 13 years old when The Carpenters best known song; Close To You came on the radio. I didn’t think a lot of it at first, but my Dad liked them and bought their albums, so I grew to appreciate Karen’s amazing voice and here I am, 53 years later, still absolutely in love with it. I can listen to her sing for hours on end. I don’t wanna offend anyone, but the so-called girl singers of today aren’t even in the same state as her, let alone the ballpark. No autotune, she recorded avery track in one take and nailed it! Added to that, she was a first class drummer as well and she could sing and play the drums at the same time, which is very difficult to do. She exelled at both. She was sensational. I cried when I heard she had passed away. Such a huge loss!
The guitar solo was quite a shock for many Carpenter fans at the time. And not always in a good way. It was Richard who wanted a really rocking solo and at first the guitar player (I'm sorry I cannot remember his name) tried playing something mellow and Richard encouraged him to really let loose...and he did! It was one of Karen's favorite songs.
Growing up with the Carpenters music was awesome. Hearing hit after hit for years. We never really knew that she had an eating disorder until really just before she died. Things were coming out in the media that she was so skinny and she did collapse on stage I think in Japan once. We learned later that Karen was also in denial about her eating disorder so that did not help. Then on the 4th of February 1983, the world lost arugably the best female vocalist of all time.
One their best songs ever. They got hate mail for using the electric guitar and not sticking to that "soft" sound, but it's an amazing song. Tony Peluso was the guitar player and was in their backup band for years. There is a young English singer/songwriter called Harriet who sounds so much like Karen. She writes her own music, but occasionally sings a Carpenters song. Look up Harriet-Goodbye To Love and be floored!!!! Richard actually ended up married with 5 kids, so he FOUND love after Karen died.
Thx for hitting this! I still remember the shock of hearing the screaming electric guitar solo on this track for the first time. I remember sitting there in total disbelief listening to my new Carpenters album. I was stunned and entranced at the same time. This is still one of my all time favs of theirs.
Jay and Amber, you are my favourite music reaction channel. The Carpenters are my favourite ever artists; and ‘Goodbye to Love’ is my absolute favourite song by any artist, bar none. It’s 1:46 in the morning here and I should really go to bed but I feel so happy right now. Thank you!
Shout out to the late great Tony Peluso who was brought in just to play on this record and come up with a guitar solo for it. He smashed it, so much so that he ended up staying with the band and touring with them for almost ten years. R.I.P. Tony and Karen.
Richard Carpenter said that some fans gave them flak when the electric guitar was used on this song. Some fans said they were selling out. When the song came out it was a surprise but I thought it was awesome. In the studio the guitarist originally did a more mellow solo assuming that’s what they wanted. Richard told him no, I want you to wail on this song.
I forgot what a great song this is. Man, you can tell Karen is deep in the throes of her illness here. It's so sad. But what a treasure trove of music she left us with. Thank you for covering this:)
Richard Carpenter is a wonderful composer and orchestrator. He not only accompanies Karen on duets, he also directs the orchestra. He went on to produce recordings for many other artists.
Richard was watching a movie late one night & a member of a fictional music group in the film, at some point, mentions that their best song is called "Goodbye To Love", but it's never played/heard in the film & there's no other reference to it. Presumably, just a fictional song title used for the scene/film. It gave Richard the idea to turn it into a real song!
I love her voice so much, and this is such a sad song that, sadly, many of us can relate to. I would have thought it was written by her for many reasons. You might like the songs "Solitaire" and "For All We Know."
The music, the lyrics, all these years later and it is still so beautiful! Nothing like hearing Karen sing! Gone too soon! Oh, what she could have contributed if she had more time here! I will always love hearing all their songs. Thanks!
Oh man, one of my all time favorites of The Carpenters! The whole song is on point from Karen's vocals to all the instruments and the whole sound! Makes me cry every time I hear it though.
I can't say I'm sad J lost the rock, paper scissors contest. Carpenters and Karen angelic voice always delivers. Richard never seems to get the credit he deserves too.
My goodness! One of my favorite Carpenters songs. But the lyrics are so sad, considering what Karen was battling at the time, combined with the loneliness of their travel. Thankfully she left this gem for us to enjoy for all time. And how about that guitar? Very cool.
Karen Carpenter had a tone to her voice that may never be duplicated. She could very well be the greatest female singer ever, and that is a fact. Her life and death was so sad, but her legacy so many years later still lives on thanks to people like Jay and Amber, and her voice will be appreciated for generations to come.
This is one of my favorite Carpenter songs. (I have many favorites of theirs.) Loved your reaction to it. Amber, not only did the guitar surprise you but I remember at the time there was some push-back from some of their hardcore fans about the guitar solo. Some were afraid they were moving away from their soft rock sound. That didn't happen and they remained true to their roots. I absolutely love Karen's voice and putting that guitar solo in kicked this song up another notch in my opinion.
IMO, this is the best of many great Carpenters songs! I've been recommending it for months and am sooo glad you reacted to it. The electric guitar solo was a new touch for the Carpenters, and I seem to remember that Richard had to kind of push for it with the record label. It's a brilliant composition, delivered to heartbreaking effect by Karen, yet the lyrics give some hope that someday she'll find love. Great reaction, guys!
My absolute favorite Carpenters song is Hideaway !! When she sings I’ll Save My Pennies For a Rainy Day, But Where Can I Buy Another You ? Those words automatically bring tears to my eyes !!
I'll never in my life forget the night I was driving my car home and the man on the radio announced that Karen Carpenter had died of a heart attack, related to her anorexia. And then they played this song. I had to pull over and just weep. This song always makes me teary eyed.
I came home one afternoon and my younger brother (who BTW is now a professional musician himself) blurted out "Karen Carpenter died." He might as well have punched me in the gut...
I still cry when I listen to her sing...she could rip your soul out
I too remember it so well. She died on my 23rd birthday.
Such a sad life, such an amazing talent
Solace lives in strange places. Thank the Lord you know where to look.
If I remember correctly, this was the first time a guitar player performed a power ballad solo. The Carpenters did it first and all the other bands followed…..The guitar player was personally contacted and asked by the Carpenters to do this on the song. RIP Karen
1st time the guitar player let er rip in a pop song for sure. Usually they just echoed the hook or vocal and boring unlike this classic. great tune.
You are correct. Tony Peluso played the fuzz guitar on this. He would join the Carpenters and stay up to Karen’s death.
You did remember correctly. This is the first one!
This is another example of the brilliant Richard And Karen Carpenter. The Carpenters were the first to do this in a pop song, and if you think about it, it is the best way to end this song
At the time they were ridiculed and made fun of for trying to be Led Zeppelin lite.
Knowing the Karen Carpenter story makes this song all the more heartbreaking. So many of their songs sound so light and fluffy but cover dark emotions
Hard to say why Richard wrote this song, I have my suspicion but I'll keep it to myself.
All their songs are heartbreaking in the context of Karen's tragic death.
@@RicoCosta317So true👍✌️
This performance too was heartbreaking now knowing she was too weak to stand for the whole song on her own.
Hmm.. sounds like a duo from now. My heart was broken when we lost Karen.
Karen Carpenter may very well have been the greatest voice to ever live.
She was without a doubt!
@@SPohl-zy4rzAbsolutely true👍✌️
only if you ignore the fact that she wasn't anywhere near being *"the greatest voice to ever live"*
@@sg-yq8pm Who was the greatest voice in your opinion?
@@keithrfield The problem with this thread is that there is no one Best Ever female voice or male voice for that matter. The beauty of music is that we all have different tastes and preferences. That makes "The Best" different for each person. I happen to like Linda Ronstadt and think she has one of the best voices ever. Karen Carpenter ranks on her equal. They do different styles of songs. Linda has a much broader spectrum of songs that she has performed but she performed a lot longer.
There are many incredible singers out there. I personally think that Olivia Newton-John and Barbra Streisand can stand with them as well. There are others, more than I can write here on. I think that we should simply appreciate the incredible talents of these performers and consider our selves blessed to have been able to hear them all.
Karen Carpenter had such a unique tone, she is instantly recognizable from the first note. Unfortunately you can see her disease in this video, at a time when it was not recognized or treated, such a sad loss to humanity. ✌️
Yeah, she had it before it became widely known, it was surprising at the time to find her private personal life didn’t match up to her songs, and so sad to have her go at such an early age😢😔fwiw, it’s nice that a lot of diseases that were unrecognized or untreated back then are being taken care of now👍😏😊
Voice of an angel! Richard insisted on this electric guitar part, even though the label told him he was crazy!
Tbis!!!
Richard was spot on!
When they were going back and forth about rock paper scissors, I thought about what Jay would say about the guitar solo. Richard is a great talent composing and arranging. Karen just plain sounds perfect. If only it had registered to her how much she was loved and appreciated.
A soft rock/easy listening radio station I listened to back in the day would cut out the guitar part when they played this song.
@NotData That's just dumb. But they had that 3 minute limit rule of thumb for song length too. They are happy with the sterile 3 minute milktoast junk they have out today.
The record company was agast by the guitar solo, but Richard stuck to his guns and said it will stay in. He was right, it fit perfectly.
At the time they were ridiculed and made fun of for trying to be Led Zeppelin lite.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time The ridiculers were ridiculous
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Timeyep. It's unbelievable how much guff they took through the years. It had to hurt. I've read them talking about it in interviews. Some of the reviewers were just mean. Poor Karen. They did a lot of things musically that changed the sound of every day music. They had guts to try something different. Love the Carpenters.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time Yep, sometimes you have to drag the audience with you! 👍
I was just a kid of 13 when this song came out. I already had all of their singles and albums. I loved the guitar solo the first time I heard it on the radio. Soon my parents took me to the local record store to buy the 45rpm. I wore that record out, mesmerized by the guitar solo, and the song itself. Even for a 13-year-old the lyrics were sad. And that guitar solo fit the song perfectly for me, almost like the singer had become defiant with the life she had been given. The lyrics were very sad, even for a kid. But, to me, there was power there in the end for the singer with that smokin' guitar solo.
This is the start of the power ballad. They took some flak for it at the time because electric wasn’t their usual sound, but it started a wave of music influenced by this song.
Amazing, beautiful, and haunting song.
Yep. Straight line from this song to, say, Evanescence...
Exactly. Some people were so upset that they infused an electric (fuzz) guitar into this song. I think it was pure inspired genius. You gotta hand it to Richard. Our boy could arrange a song. He is up there in the pantheon, modern music wise, with Bacharach and Foster. It is their take on a power ballad.
Boy, thinking about when this song came out, they really did take some flak. Idiots, all.
@stevetournay6103 You know, I can totally see that. Never thought of that, but, yes!!!!!
Even though written by Richard, I feel it sums up poor Karen's sad, and unrequited quest for love; and in the end her never finding it...😥
...by Richard Carpenter & John Bettis.
Yes, I totally agree. This song is, very sadly, almost autobiographical for poor Karen 😥
I'm so glad you did this one! It's not what you expect. The fuzz guitar was a big shock to early Carpenters fans.
At the time they were ridiculed and made fun of for trying to be Led Zeppelin lite.
Karen Carpenter has the most beautiful, rich alto voice. Almost haunting in some of their songs. My favorite female voice!
Sums up my life.Married at 36, widowed at 37.Still alone at 60.Resigned to the fact that I will die alone.
Contralto.
Best vocalist of the 20th century. She could sing the phone book and make it a hit.
FYI, if you haven't been told. Karen is an incredible drummer. She preferred to be known as a drummer first, singer second. Check out her drum solo videos.
My heart hurts seeing how thin and sickly Karen looks here. She suffered so much with her eating disorder. Her voice will never be duplicated! Just perfect.
The guitar solo is satisfying like crunchy peanut butter. Karen is smooth as silk. And Richard can sure enough write a good tune.
and John Bettis on lyrics
After our lovely Karen rejoined heaven, Tony Peluso said "when Karen Carpenter called me, i couldn't believe it, she was one of my idol's". He added "I got to play with the greatest singer ever... we all loved her"!
When this song came out, a lot of fans were really angry that there was a rock guitar solo. They felt it wasn't "appropriate" for Carpenters. Well, they got over it pretty fast. This is one of their best songs.
Richard Carpenter is a master music arranger and his sister had the voice of an Angel.
Yep, you found a gem here! The introduction of the electric guitar was a shock back then for their fans. It turned many of their fans off from them. They felt The Carpenters were going electric now and moving away from their traditional soft sound. I think now, many fans appreciate how they were only doing what artists do, branching out in their talent and tastes. This one is a classic! Thanks for the great reaction.
Her voice portrays pain, love, joy, passion you name it when she sings
I love Karen carpenters voice it is everlasting
The saddest thing to me about this song is that it ultimately became a testament to her life when it came to her never having that one love in her life, who loved her like no other. And yes, this song is considered the first "Rock Ballad" in the industry. Considering that this song came out in 1972, first ever soft ballad to have a rock guitar solo in it. And Tony Peluso, the guitarist, nails it! Yay! I'm so happy that you've not only reacted to this song but touched on some musical history! Thank you!!! And I thank Richard and Karen for having the guts to do it and put it out there!
Great choice!! Tony Peluso, who played the fuzz guitar part at the end, started out with a "Carpenters" -like solo and Richard stopped him and told him he really wanted something rocking and heavy.
"Top of the World" is a bouncy, country-style tune that needs to be the next Carpenters song.
That one was an outlier, an album track Richard liked but didn't think was a hit. They played it live though and audiences went nuts, so it was released as a single and did become a big hit. Indeed Lynn Anderson's cover of it hit #1 on the country charts not long afterward.
Adore the Carpenters and the first true power ballad- thank you Richard Carpenter!
I had anorexia from 13-17 years old. I had excellent medical help and a great support of family and friends. I am now almost 68 years old. I am blessed that God spared my life. Rest in Peace, Karen Carpenter.
Carpenters were a big part of my childhood in the 70's, they had such great hits. I think this was a very personal song for Karen Carpenter because she seemed to struggle in personal relationships or find the right person like so many of us do.
This has the most meaning for me- Tony Peluso's searing guitar breaks are so special
Amber hit the nail on the head. After a long string of traditional Carpenter hits, everyone was blown away by the appearance of that electric guitar. The ending solo goes on longer than featured here. It's just extraordinary.
This IS a power ballad. Possibly the first with a fuzz guitar solo, played by Tony Peluso, staying with them from this song on. The great Hal Blaine on drums. They received hate mail for “going hard rock”. Believe it or not. So much for fanatics. Song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. You should read the Wiki, good info. Once again and always Karen, RIP. 😢
Richard could find a hit anywhere. He got Only Just Begun from a bank commercial. He got Sing from Sesame Street. Goodbye to Love from a movie from the 49s.
Yep, and in the case of Goodbye To Love, not the whole song, just the title! Genius...
"Bless the Beast and the Children" would love your reaction and yes this is the Carpenters.." Goodbye To Love" Beautiful song that is Richard Carpenters arranging with Karen singing.. One of the greatest brother and sister teams ever!
Richard Carpenter was asked about Karen's breathing technique. He responded: "Karen, along with Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and John Gary, could take one breath and do the super-human bit where they just kept singing and singing. You are absolutely right in your mention of 'Goodbye To Love', which has some very long phrases. Other singers would come up to Karen and comment on this; I remember John Davidson asking, 'Do you have three lungs?' because Karen took a breath and sang, 'time and time again the chance for love has passed me by and all I know of love is how to live without it…' and that Karen just did naturally. 'Live', as well. It’s not like we had to get it in multiple takes in the studio."
She was incredible! Instrumentalists use circular breathing when playing to get that seamless phrase. It was like she did that vocally.
Heh. Right on about that absurdly long phrase. I've sung the song as a jazz ballad (as if it actually dated to the 40s, like the movie the title came from), and I break that line right before "how to live". Karen had onboard scuba gear, I think. (Where exactly she put it, who knows...)
Include Sinatra in this as well.
@@garytorresani8846 yes, Sinatra above all, in my opinion. His later version of Night and Day and Old Man River are incredible. He said he learned breathing when he was with the Dorsey Band. He would watch the horn players using long breaths. It made Sinatra The Voice.
If you listen to this song from the LP with headphones on, you can actually hear Karen inhale before she starts singing the first lines of the song.
Her breath control was extraordinary, listen again and the first three whole lines are sung without any break or breath, just WONDERFUL ❤
She was known in the trade as, "One Take Karen". We'll never see her like again.
If I'm not mistaken, this was one of the first power ballads ever done. Richard Carpenter did the arrangements on all the Carpenters records. Richard Carpenter asked the guitarist to play a solo and at first the guitarist sort of played a little something soft and quiet and Richard Carpenter said to him, "No, just let it rip, and don't hold back." . . .and there you have it! Genius!
She had the smoothest voice. Brings back AM radio from my childhood ❤
I am 61. This is what was on the radio in my childhood home. My mom had a stack of Carpenters records that would play on the old Philco Ford console stereophonic furniture. This is all warm memories of my mom. Always a Karen and Richard Carpenter fan!
My Mom would put us kids to bed and then go downstairs and listen to her Carpenters albums. I've lost count of how many nights I feel asleep to Karen's voice when I was a little girl in the 70s!
My favorite Carpenter song...even with the weird groovy guitar solo in the middle. Jay, you cracked me up at that point. Haha. And it's even more groovy in the studio version. It's as if the guitarist knew it was his opportunity to shine 😅 "Ballad? Screw that, I'm rockin'!"
Her voice was soothing and magical.
Be blessed ❤
Actually Richard kind of ordered Tony to rock out!
@@stevetournay6103 yeah, knew that, but I like my version better! 🙃
I grew up listening to The Carpenters. It was a tragedy that she died as she did. Do I have to say my favorite Carpenter song is Superstar
mine too!!
Another great song!
Mine as well. Superstar was written by the brilliant L. Russell Brown aka Leon Russell
This was one of the first power ballads. Richard and Karen invited rock guitarist, Tony Peluso, to sit in to record this song. When the guitar solo was to start, Richard told Tony, "This is where you play". Tony came up with a soft mild solo. Richard immediately stopped him and said, "No, not like that! I want you to take it to the stratosphere!"
Numerous Carpenters fans were in shock when this came out. Some claimed the Carpenters were trying to sound more like Jimi Hendrix.
May Miss Karen be at peace…and may she be singing to Our Lord with that beautiful voice.
Her voice control and tone quality are so amazing even after only taking the slightest breath! Perfection. My heart broke the day she died and it’s never been the same since. I cry every time I hear one of their songs. This one in particular will make me weep if I am feeling the slightest bit sentimental.
I was 15 when she passed. My classmates and I were very sad and shocked to hear the news.She was the voice of our childhood. I listen to them to this day.👍😎
@@christineobrien7707 I was 20 and singing some of their songs at weddings. I loved their music. So much talent between the two of them. Karen couldn’t seem to make her mom happy. Really, really sad.
You've heard one of best guitar solos of the history of pop music, guys. Greetings from Cuba.
Oh! Right back atcha from Canada...
🇨🇦 ❤ 🇨🇺
Next Carpenters one must Top of the World. It is sure to leave you in a better mood.
Tony Peluso's guitar rift is legendary.
The Carpenters received some criticism from "fans" who said they sold out to hard rock.
But most fans like me knew how great it was from the first time we heard it.
And me. It instantly became, and remains, my favourite Carpenters song.
Richard had to beg the guitar player to really let loose on this song. Brilliant musical direction!
There was no begging.
She had a beautiful voice❤❤
The guitar player Tony Peluso was in the band Instant Joy and had opened for the Carpenters. When Richard was working on the song, he and Karen decided that Tony would be perfect for the song. He first played something he thought was appropriate for the band. Richard said "No, no man. Play the melody for the first five measures then let it rip. It was one of the first time a fuzz guitar solo was recorded in a ballad.
Yes, you've finally reacted to my favorite Carpenter's song.
My favourite Carpenters track. It's a classic. The use of fuzz guitar was a shock to Carpenters fans. Much love from England 🏴
My absolutely favorite Carpenters song. A soft rock/Power ballad.
Agree.
I'm 74 and still get goosebumps listening to Karen sing this song which was pretty much a reality for her.
This is the Carpenter's song that is as close to rockin' as they get.
This is also my favorite Carpenters song. The guitar solo was the first and had some Carpenters Fans very angry. They were very worried that guitar solo would destroy the Carpenters. How wrong they were! I saw them at Pine Knob in 1977. AMAZING....
No better place to see a show. So glad they changed the name back, and rightfully so.
If you haven't already, you should have a look at Karen drumming. She was a very talented lady.
Always loved that guitar solo.
This song never fails to bring me to tears. You are right Amber, knowing Karen's life story makes this incredibly sad.
you can see the illness in her eyes but her voice never waivered. In my opinion the greatest female voice ever
I love the Carpenters 🥰🥰🥰🥰
They really loved their craft. Have you ever heard the B-side 'Bless the beast and the children' to their single 'Superstar'? I think you'll enjoy it.
Karen Carpenter had such a beautiful, sweet voice. She went through so much suffering and always hid it from the public. Her story is so sad but she always seemed to have a tender soul. ❤
The Carpenters =Two awesomely talented musicians!
I agree. What are the odds that a brother and sister become the greatest music duo of all time. Incredible !!!!
I was in my first college teaching job in Southern California when this song came out. I played it over and over again. Love Karen's voice! Love the guitar work!
The world's first power ballad !!!!!
Richard was a musical genius and he wasn’t afraid to stretch the boundaries. He got a lotta flak for this song, but it’s just AWESOME! Richard’s musical arrangements were so incredible and Karen’s voice so sweet and smooth, we can only wonder where they would have taken us all if only. I was 13 years old when The Carpenters best known song; Close To You came on the radio. I didn’t think a lot of it at first, but my Dad liked them and bought their albums, so I grew to appreciate Karen’s amazing voice and here I am, 53 years later, still absolutely in love with it. I can listen to her sing for hours on end. I don’t wanna offend anyone, but the so-called girl singers of today aren’t even in the same state as her, let alone the ballpark. No autotune, she recorded avery track in one take and nailed it! Added to that, she was a first class drummer as well and she could sing and play the drums at the same time, which is very difficult to do. She exelled at both.
She was sensational. I cried when I heard she had passed away. Such a huge loss!
The guitar solo was quite a shock for many Carpenter fans at the time. And not always in a good way. It was Richard who wanted a really rocking solo and at first the guitar player (I'm sorry I cannot remember his name) tried playing something mellow and Richard encouraged him to really let loose...and he did! It was one of Karen's favorite songs.
Tony Peluso.
The guitar works perfectly in the song. Screw anyone who says otherwise.
Yes I remember it being a bit of a shock at the time of the release of this song. Although looking back now it fitted perfectly.
It is never a loss when you get to listen to Karen's hauntingly beautiful voice.
Growing up with the Carpenters music was awesome. Hearing hit after hit for years. We never really knew that she had an eating disorder until really just before she died. Things were coming out in the media that she was so skinny and she did collapse on stage I think in Japan once. We learned later that Karen was also in denial about her eating disorder so that did not help. Then on the 4th of February 1983, the world lost arugably the best female vocalist of all time.
One their best songs ever. They got hate mail for using the electric guitar and not sticking to that "soft" sound, but it's an amazing song. Tony Peluso was the guitar player and was in their backup band for years. There is a young English singer/songwriter called Harriet who sounds so much like Karen. She writes her own music, but occasionally sings a Carpenters song. Look up Harriet-Goodbye To Love and be floored!!!! Richard actually ended up married with 5 kids, so he FOUND love after Karen died.
The "pearled" tonal quality of her voice is unmatched.
Thx for hitting this! I still remember the shock of hearing the screaming electric guitar solo on this track for the first time. I remember sitting there in total disbelief listening to my new Carpenters album. I was stunned and entranced at the same time. This is still one of my all time favs of theirs.
Jay and Amber, you are my favourite music reaction channel. The Carpenters are my favourite ever artists; and ‘Goodbye to Love’ is my absolute favourite song by any artist, bar none. It’s 1:46 in the morning here and I should really go to bed but I feel so happy right now. Thank you!
IMO no-one will ever match this woman's voice. She was amazing
Exactly
Shout out to the late great Tony Peluso who was brought in just to play on this record and come up with a guitar solo for it. He smashed it, so much so that he ended up staying with the band and touring with them for almost ten years. R.I.P. Tony and Karen.
It's heartbreaking to see Karen in the depths of her illness around this time. She was truly one of the great vocalists in history.
Richard Carpenter said that some fans gave them flak when the electric guitar was used on this song. Some fans said they were selling out. When the song came out it was a surprise but I thought it was awesome.
In the studio the guitarist originally did a more mellow solo assuming that’s what they wanted. Richard told him no, I want you to wail on this song.
I forgot what a great song this is. Man, you can tell Karen is deep in the throes of her illness here. It's so sad. But what a treasure trove of music she left us with. Thank you for covering this:)
Richard Carpenter is a wonderful composer and orchestrator. He not only accompanies Karen on duets, he also directs the orchestra. He went on to produce recordings for many other artists.
FANTASTIC GUITAR SOLO from Tony Peluso!!!
Richard was watching a movie
late one night & a member
of a fictional music group
in the film, at some point,
mentions that their best song
is called "Goodbye To Love",
but it's never played/heard in
the film & there's no other
reference to it. Presumably,
just a fictional song title
used for the scene/film.
It gave Richard the idea to
turn it into a real song!
I love her voice so much, and this is such a sad song that, sadly, many of us can relate to. I would have thought it was written by her for many reasons. You might like the songs "Solitaire" and "For All We Know."
this one makes me weep for her and what her family lost and what we lost
The music, the lyrics, all these years later and it is still so beautiful! Nothing like hearing Karen sing! Gone too soon! Oh, what she could have contributed if she had more time here! I will always love hearing all their songs. Thanks!
When this song came out, a lot of hard core CARPENTER fans were shocked by the guitar solo and didn't like it. I personally love it.
I remember there was a big Backlash by the Carpenter for an. How dare they use electric guitar. I liked it and thought it was a funny reaction.
@@michaelmiller378 agree
Absolutely love Karen and the band!! Thanks!🤘🔥
Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. RIP Karen Carpenter 😢
Oh man, one of my all time favorites of The Carpenters! The whole song is on point from Karen's vocals to all the instruments and the whole sound! Makes me cry every time I hear it though.
Comfortably the greatest female vocalist ever.
My all time favourite American Female Singer
I can't say I'm sad J lost the rock, paper scissors contest. Carpenters and Karen angelic voice always delivers. Richard never seems to get the credit he deserves too.
Yes. Richard's contributions were as important as Karen's, though not as up front.
Karen was wonderful singer, but Richard was such a awesome writer. He never got enough credit! Stay healthy✌️
My goodness! One of my favorite Carpenters songs. But the lyrics are so sad, considering what Karen was battling at the time, combined with the loneliness of their travel. Thankfully she left this gem for us to enjoy for all time. And how about that guitar? Very cool.
Karen Carpenter had a tone to her voice that may never be duplicated. She could very well be the greatest female singer ever, and that is a fact. Her life and death was so sad, but her legacy so many years later still lives on thanks to people like Jay and Amber, and her voice will be appreciated for generations to come.
In 1975 she was voted the best rock drummer of the year
This song breaks my heart. RIP Karen.
This is one of my favorite Carpenter songs. (I have many favorites of theirs.) Loved your reaction to it. Amber, not only did the guitar surprise you but I remember at the time there was some push-back from some of their hardcore fans about the guitar solo. Some were afraid they were moving away from their soft rock sound. That didn't happen and they remained true to their roots. I absolutely love Karen's voice and putting that guitar solo in kicked this song up another notch in my opinion.
IMO, this is the best of many great Carpenters songs! I've been recommending it for months and am sooo glad you reacted to it. The electric guitar solo was a new touch for the Carpenters, and I seem to remember that Richard had to kind of push for it with the record label. It's a brilliant composition, delivered to heartbreaking effect by Karen, yet the lyrics give some hope that someday she'll find love. Great reaction, guys!
It is crazy to think that, that guitar solo was really controversial. It seems pretty tame now.
My absolute favorite Carpenters
song is Hideaway !! When she sings I’ll Save My Pennies For a Rainy Day, But Where Can I Buy Another You ? Those words automatically bring tears to my eyes !!
Ooh! So glad to see you reacting to this. It is my all time favorite Carpenter song. It has a kind of off beat melody which I really love.