*To receive PRIORITY Requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* This group was so good! Take me back in time to this era of music!
Karen and Richard, brother and sister duo, The Carpenters were the top U.S. hitmakers of the 1970's with 12 top 10 hits and many more in the top 40 and top 100. This song "We've only Just Begun" reached #2 on the charts in 1970 following their first huge hit earlier that year, "Close to You' that reached number #1 on the charts. This song "we've only just begun" was and remains a HUGE monumental song played at weddings for decades now. Karen sang lead and played drums ( a world class drummer I might add) while her older brother richard, 3 years older, sang back up vocal, piano and arranged their songs. They did ALL of the background vocals using a dubbing technique recording and mixing their voices in different octaves and ranges. The only used background singers (their band) in live performances.. At the time of this song, Richard was 23, and Karen was only 20 years old. Her voice then and now is considered one of if not thee greatest female pop voice of love and romance songs ever. Oh yeah and she never had a singing lesson! The most pure, moving, warm, intimate beautiful voice which was one in 2 lifetimes of a voice. Notice she also had perfect diction and enunciation and was a master storyteller vocalist as opposed to just a great "singer"...
you're welcome. She is my favorite singer, male or female. While I love pretty much all kinds of music, different eras, solo singers and groups too many to count, for me, she is it and always has been and will be.@@setonhillstudios
@@willarth9186 We actually covered that in our channel not too long ago! If you go to our home page it’s under the playlist ‘Bands and Groups 🤘🏻’ Thanks!
@zigman8550 Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt and Dusty Springfield are all amazing too. Then there are the R&B/Motown girls, Aretha, Gladys, Ronnie and Diana. Oh yeah, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Barbara Streisand can also sing a little bit. I love Karen and rank her as one of the greatest of all time but....there are a lot of incredible female singers. ❤❤❤
First, let me say, I am older than dirt. I saw The Carpenters twice in concert. Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice. It was crazy watching her play the drums and sing with that voice. Karen tragically died at the age of 32. Her brother's name is Richard. Thanks for reacting
I’m old as dirt too but was never fortunate to see the Carpenters in concert. You were lucky! Karen is my all time favorite female vocalist (Patsy Cline #2 but nothing like Karen).
How in the world could you have known the music of The Carpenters? Richard and Karen created lush layered vocal harmonies and impeccable instrumental arrangements. Karen sang lead with warm, natural, resonant contralto and played drums. Richard harmonized, arranged, piano and keyboards. Karen died in 1982.
Karen Carpenter, also a great drummer in her own rite, has one of the greatest, smoothest, clearest voices ever recorded. And her brother Richard Carpenter did the arrangements and was responsible for the incredible harmonies. They are iconic.
Great brother & sister duo from the 60's-80's. Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music. The Carpenters had so many great songs such as "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "Close To You", "For All We Know", "A Song For You", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)" & so many more.
Bless The Beast & The Children... I watched the movie at 8 years old in Woodburn, Ore at the Pix Theater. Cried my eyes out... 😢😢Karen sang the song, The same name as the movie...
@@setonhillstudiosYou really need to see and react to that one. There's a video of her singing the song and playing the drums at the same time. Seriously, check that one out.
@@setonhillstudios My favorite is "Goodbye to Love". Karen knocks that one out of the park even though it takes about 1,000 gallons of air to sing. The fuzz guitar in that one also marked a backlash, as people assumed the duo was "going hard rock".
I didn't read all the comments, I just posted that info. I also remember when people were married and did their photos, "We've Only Just Begun" was always written in the front of the wedding book. GenX (1968). It was like everyone had the same wedding photobook
This song started out as a Crocker Bank commercial. Richard heard it and contacted the writer (Paul Williams). Together they rearranged it for Karen. Karen and Richard did all the overdubs themselves. There was a time when you couldn't go to a wedding or reception without hearing this song.
Song background: this song was written by Paul Williams (who became an extremely successful songwriter), and Roger Nichols. The song was originally in a wedding-themed TV commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in early 1970, with Paul Williams on vocals. (I remember these commercials, as I grew up in CA.) The song was commissioned to help Crocker appeal to young people. The song played over footage of a young couple getting married and just starting out. In the song, direct reference to the bank was left out, in part to make the song more marketable. The commercial turned out to be very popular, but it attracted customers in whom the bank was not interested: young adult customers with no collateral for loans. The campaign was eventually suspended, and Crocker subsequently franchised it to other banks. Separately, Richard Carpenter saw the TV commercial and guessed correctly that Williams was the vocalist (both of them were under contract to A&M Records). Carpenter ran into Williams on the record company's lot and asked whether a full-length version was available. Although the TV commercial had only two verses and no bridge, Williams stated that there was a bridge and an additional verse, forming a complete song, which was then delivered. According to Williams in the documentary Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters "We'd had some success with songs before, a few album cuts and some B-sides - but no singles. This was a major break, a chance to get an A-side and maybe even a hit, so we would have absolutely lied through our teeth if there wasn't a full song." Carpenter selected the composition for the duo's third single and included it on the LP Close to You. Released in late summer 1970, the single featured Karen's lead vocals and the overdubbed harmonies of both siblings. Following their hit "(They Long to Be) Close to You" onto the charts, "We've Only Just Begun" hit No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and No. 2 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 behind the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" and the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You", becoming the pair's second million-selling gold single, spending nine weeks in the Top 10. It was considered by both Karen and Richard to be their signature song. According to The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th edition), on the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart, it was the duo's best-performing tune, lasting seven weeks at No. 1 (beating the six-week stay at the top of "Close to You").[5] The song also helped them to win two Grammy Awards in 1971: Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus (for "Close to You").
Karen has the voice of an angle. She was taken from us to soon by anorexia. She didn't feel she was enough. Karen was a world class drummer and Richard her brother did all the arranging on the music. Karen you are very much missed. RIIP Sweet Karen.
Her name was (as many have said Karen) and his is Richard Carpenter. They were older brother younger sister. From 1965 to 1969 they played in a jazz band (Dick Carpenter Jazz Trio) in jazz clubs around Los Angeles with a short break in an easy listening band (Spectrum) which played at the Whisky A-GO-GO. Karem was 15 (in 65) and did not sing she was the drummer and one that would make you take notice. Richard (Dick) wrote part of the music they did and played keyboards Wes Jacobs (for the pre Spectrum trio and Bill Sissoyev for the after Spectrum trio provide the bass. Karen and Richard signed with A&M (Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss) in 69 and A&M let them do about what they wanted. On their albums (except 1) the singing is all Karen and Richard. They recorded the harmonies on from 3 to 30 tracks then put them on the master (a trick Richard had gleaned from Les Paul and Mary Ford) Most of the time getting Karen was done in one take then to get the harmonies like I said from 3 o 30 times singing it. Richard also wrote a number of the songs they did and did all the arranging. They took a lot of abuse from music critics in the 70s and 80. One of the nicknames for them was goody4shoes. Thier appearances were knock for not having a face. Karen at the time was the drummer too and was not easy to see, so they brought her from behind her drums. When the brought out "Goodbye To Love" I think the first real power ballad) they were hated on for including a fuzz guitar solo by Tony Peluso, When I listen to their music (which I do often) I can still hear hints of their jazz days in the instrumental solos Unfortunately Karen Died from complications from anorexia in 1983.
Karen and Richard. Pure perfection. Karen is the best singer who ever lived. She was one of the best drummers also. Richard is a genius. She is part of my soul.
For all of you that love the Carpenters, especially Karen's contralto low ("the money is in the basement"...as Karen would say), soothing, melodic, haunting, relatable voice, and know she was a drummer first and a singer second (she considered herself "a drummer that sang") might enjoy a lesser known live performance of her drumming to the song "And When He Smiles" from Carpenters BBC TV Special, 1971. We all know she can drum and sing, but in this live performance you can see her total enjoyment while she is drumming. She can't stop smiling and interacts with the bongo player on the timing with her eyes and expressions. It just makes me smile every time I watch it. As a matter of fact if I just need a lift at any point in my day, I watch that video. It makes me feel good to watch her enjoying herself while in her element and doing something she loved so much. Here's a link. Enjoy. ua-cam.com/video/1_AgEYfCaJQ/v-deo.html
She was without question the greatest contralto voice ever. Check out a you tube channel that plays some of their greatest songs with her singing with the background music stripped away. She had perfect pitch, exceptionally note stretching, and superior breath control. She is, IMO, the GOAT of female pop singers.
Karen had one of those voices that you only needed to hear a few notes to recognize who it was. And, what you heard on the albums is exactly what you heard in person, the whole band was incredibly precise. And I learned to play the drums because of Karen Carpenter, she was SO GOOD, her timing and intricacies were INSANE.
Awesome!! A fellow drummer! 🥁 I heard she was amazing on the kit and I still need to check out some videos of her drumming! They are incredible and the way their vocals blend is unreal!
This song is from 1970. Karen had the voice of an angel. 👼 She passed away too soon. Great reaction from a first time listener. Keep playing these oldies and I will subscribe.
For me, the GOAT, vocally pure, angelic, pitch spot on. What can you say about an angel when she sings. Heaven sent. Karen, lead singer and drummer, Richard, background vocalist, musician and arranger/composer❤❤❤❤
This song was Carpenters' third single and second monster hit, dating to mid-1970. Carpenters were a sibling duo, writer, arranger and pianist Richard and drummer/singer Karen. Their first three singles were all covers, with this one being a Paul Williams song written for...a TV commercial for a bank...! Richard heard the ad, knew a hit when he heard one, and arranged for Carpenters to record it. Richard and Paul Williams were friends and studio mates at A&M... Quite right about Karen being a drummer. Indeed she preferred that over singing. And she was kickass, too. There are several videos showing her drumming. Check them out. The harmonies (inspired by Les Paul and Mary Ford's work circa 1950) are Richard and Karen multitracked. Of course being siblings they blend well vocally already, and then when it's several of each, it's heavenly. Much of their early music in particular features that technique, the 1970 Close To You album especially (there's a cover of Burt Bacharach's I'll Never Fall In Love Again on that album that has a 39-voice chord in it that's all Richard and Karen). The music world lost Karen in February 1983 at just 32. Complications from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa killed her. Other Carpenters to listen to (but that's gonna be like sipping from a firehose): Ticket To Ride Close To You Another Song Crescent Noon Eve Nowhere Man It's Going To Take Some Time Superstar This Masquerade A Song For You Goodbye To Love Yesterday Once More Only Yesterday I Need To Be In Love I Have You I Can Dream, Can't I The Uninvited Guest When It's Gone If I Had You Goodbye And I Love You Now ...I'm a bit of a fan.
BEAUTIFUL song. The song was first used in a commercial for a bank in California. Richard tracked down the song (written by Paul Williams) and told him he wanted to hear the rest of the song....the rest is history.
Karen is her name she sings and plays drums, the fellow standing next to her is Richard Carpenter who plays piano and writes, producer on their songs. You check the songs, Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar.
Karen's velvet voice...Richard's artistry and talent in this arrangement, not to leave out the back up instrumentation and vocals; this is a song made in heaven.
I see that pretty much all of your questions have already been answered. There are a lot of Carpenter lovers still in the world. 😀 Thanks for the reaction. I have always LOVED listening to Karen and Richard. 😀
Shewee! They were so amazing and their harmonies were too notch! I need to check out some videos of Karen drumming, being a drummer myself! Thanks so much Linda! 😁
As others have said her true passion was drumming. But once the world discovered her voice, the pressure was on for her to get out from behind her beloved drums and sing front and center. her manager and bro-ager pushed her to do so, against her preferences. believe that caused her to be self-conscious, partly contributing to the eating disorder that ultimately killed her.
Dude! Thanks so much for sharing! So glad that these videos stirred up memories for you. You’re right! These songs are incredible and it’s been a joy discovering them! Have a great one and thanks for stopping by!
Great analysis, I love that you pointed out how the harmonies are FANTASTIC, which is something I couldn't get over in my own reaction of the song. Thanks for the fun watch!
This was the norm back in the day. You don't hear it these days because we have drastically lowered the bar in what we accept as "talent" and entertainment.
These are the phenomenal Carpenters…siblings Karen and Richard. Karen’s hauntingly beautiful voice and she’s a drummer too and Richard’s backing vocals, piano and phenomenal compositions. Both musical geniuses and had more top hits than The Beatles and Elvis. Paul McCartney said Karen’s voice was the most perfect voice in the world.
You get a Paul Williams commercial with the arrangement by Richard Carpenter to amplify Karen Carpenter’s voice. And yes she was the drummer. They did all the vocals on their records and he played keyboards and she played the drums
Not to forget - there was no such thing as auto tune or so back then. Real voices , real talent. Just like the BeeGees and other great artist around that time. Carpenters are one of my all time favorites. I can't remember a single song by them that didn't catch me within the first couple of notes.
So good! And you’re right! They had to be on point! I think while technology is good, it does hinder so many musicians today from actually developing and learning their craft! Thanks for the insight!
I have been obsessed with these two since I have been there from their start as a kid. No one will ever match them. She struggled many years with anorexia and didn't recover. Thankfully they have many hits they left us with. Richards still alive in California with his family. Their musical journey ended with her death. Her death opened up the world of anorexia and other eating disorders since she was the first celebrity to be known to die from it in 1983.
Do more if Karen,respectfully the greatest female contralto ever and one of the finest voices in the history of modern music. Go down this Angel's musical rabbit hole. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
Karen carpenter and Richard Carpenter are brother and sister she plays the drums and sings Richard does the arranging she died at 32 for a eating disorder Her voice is one of a kind
Thank you and welcome to that wonderful rabbit hole of Carpenters music. Sir Paul McCartney said of Karen: “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive." (NPR, 2013). That about sums it up. Enjoy the ride!
Richard and Karen Carpenter were THE vocal harmony act of the 70s, until she tragically died at age 32 in 1983. And yes, Karen was the drummer, Richard played other instruments but also arranged the songs.
The harmonies are so good and blend so perfectly because it's just Richard and Karen's voices: Richard overdubbed them doing their own harmonies. I think I read one song had 16 overdubs. This performance is singing live to a pre-recorded background with all the harmonies and extra instrumentation. Five people on stage are not producing that sound!
This song was about a couple getting married and starting a life together (white lace and promises). After its release, it was the most requested bridal dance song at weddings during the 70's.
That’s so cool that she said that and you’re 💯 right! That’s the same thing Phil Collins would always say too! 🤘🏻 Thanks so much for the insight and swinging by the channel! This was such an incredible vocal performance and amazing song! Can’t wait to hear more from them! Have a great one! 😁
I've been listening to Carpenters since I was a kid in my parents' car on vacation with an 8 track tape! You can't go wrong with their music!!! Incredible voice, arrangements, instrumentation, lyrics--it's incredible!
Maybe the greatest, (or in the conversation anyway) female singer ever. Sold more albums in the 70s than anyone else, male or female. Brother Richard wrote and arranged most of her songs. They were Brother and sister. Karen struggled for years with Anorexia nervosa, and it finally took her life at such a young age.
Karen Carpenter one of the most phenomenal singers who ever walked the earth. She has inspired many singers like Madonna, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, Chrissie Hynde. I could go on and on. Rockers like Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi, Gene Simmons, and crooner Frank Sinatra and many more. Karen was fabulous. This is coming from an old hard rocker. Some more info, Carpenters tore up the charts in 70's by having 3 #1's and 5 #2's on the billboard 100. Just awesome. One of if not the best female voice and drummer ever IMHO.
*To receive PRIORITY Requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!*
This group was so good! Take me back in time to this era of music!
Karen and Richard, brother and sister duo, The Carpenters were the top U.S. hitmakers of the 1970's with 12 top 10 hits and many more in the top 40 and top 100. This song "We've only Just Begun" reached #2 on the charts in 1970 following their first huge hit earlier that year, "Close to You' that reached number #1 on the charts. This song "we've only just begun" was and remains a HUGE monumental song played at weddings for decades now. Karen sang lead and played drums ( a world class drummer I might add) while her older brother richard, 3 years older, sang back up vocal, piano and arranged their songs. They did ALL of the background vocals using a dubbing technique recording and mixing their voices in different octaves and ranges. The only used background singers (their band) in live performances..
At the time of this song, Richard was 23, and Karen was only 20 years old. Her voice then and now is considered one of if not thee greatest female pop voice of love and romance songs ever. Oh yeah and she never had a singing lesson! The most pure, moving, warm, intimate beautiful voice which was one in 2 lifetimes of a voice. Notice she also had perfect diction and enunciation and was a master storyteller vocalist as opposed to just a great "singer"...
@@tomschmitz-dj1fg Thanks for sharing!!
you're welcome. She is my favorite singer, male or female. While I love pretty much all kinds of music, different eras, solo singers and groups too many to count, for me, she is it and always has been and will be.@@setonhillstudios
Check out Tori Holub doing a cover of this song! INCREDIBLE! Tori is Karen reincarnated!
@@willarth9186 We actually covered that in our channel not too long ago! If you go to our home page it’s under the playlist ‘Bands and Groups 🤘🏻’ Thanks!
Karen easily one of the best voices in history. No autotune needed people.
Absolutely phenomenal! Thanks for swinging by the channel!
Karen Carpenter was a phenomenon vocalist and a fabulous drummer.
Seems like that was definitely the case!
A good drummer.
Much better than good. Check out some videos of Karen Carpenter drumming.
@@jack-um9hz I've seen all those videos.
You just heard what I think is the greatest female singer of all time. Never flashy, never trying to impress, just straight to your soul.
Incredible! She is such an amazing singer and this was a beautiful song!
Karen IS the greatest female "pop" vocalist of all time!
@zigman8550 Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt and Dusty Springfield are all amazing too. Then there are the R&B/Motown girls, Aretha, Gladys, Ronnie and Diana. Oh yeah, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Barbara Streisand can also sing a little bit. I love Karen and rank her as one of the greatest of all time but....there are a lot of incredible female singers. ❤❤❤
No auto-tune... Just pure talent.
💯 Back then you had to be able to sing without auto-tune. Amazing vocal performance!
That Is Karen Carpenter. One of the best vocalists who ever lived!
Karen Carpenter’s voice is long considered perfect-flawless. Best of the Carpenters will never leave my 61 year old ass’s playlist. Never. ❤
Keep it alive!
First, let me say, I am older than dirt. I saw The Carpenters twice in concert. Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice. It was crazy watching her play the drums and sing with that voice. Karen tragically died at the age of 32. Her brother's name is Richard. Thanks for reacting
So sad she passed so young! Thanks for swinging by to check out the video
The same for me. I saw them in concert with Neil Sedaka such a long time ago...sigh.
You’re not as old as dirt. That title still resides with Keith Richards. 😂❤
I never saw them in concert but loved their music. I'll never forget hear she died on the radio. Her and Dennis Wilson a few months apart
I’m old as dirt too but was never fortunate to see the Carpenters in concert. You were lucky! Karen is my all time favorite female vocalist (Patsy Cline #2 but nothing like Karen).
How in the world could you have known the music of The Carpenters? Richard and Karen created lush layered vocal harmonies and impeccable instrumental arrangements. Karen sang lead with warm, natural, resonant contralto and played drums. Richard harmonized, arranged, piano and keyboards. Karen died in 1982.
Guess I’ve been slipping! Glad I found them and they absolutely blew me away! Can’t wait to hear more from them!
Your answer's in the question...KC died 41 years ago ('83, not '82, BTW)...and this guy ain't 41! 😉
Karen a true alto.
She passed in 1983, Feb. I believe
Karen Carpenter, also a great drummer in her own rite, has one of the greatest, smoothest, clearest voices ever recorded. And her brother Richard Carpenter did the arrangements and was responsible for the incredible harmonies. They are iconic.
I have to check out her drumming for sure! Incredible vocalists and I loved this tune! Thanks for swinging by the channel!
SHe was good. Not great.
Great brother & sister duo from the 60's-80's. Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music. The Carpenters had so many great songs such as "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "Close To You", "For All We Know", "A Song For You", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)" & so many more.
So sad she passed away so young! Definitely left a musical legacy though! ❤️
Bless The Beast & The Children...
I watched the movie at 8 years old in Woodburn, Ore at the Pix Theater. Cried my eyes out... 😢😢Karen sang the song, The same name as the movie...
Rainy Days & Mondays by the carpenters always gets to me-phenomenal performance.
Haven’t heard that one!
@@setonhillstudiosYou really need to see and react to that one. There's a video of her singing the song and playing the drums at the same time. Seriously, check that one out.
@@setonhillstudios My favorite is "Goodbye to Love". Karen knocks that one out of the park even though it takes about 1,000 gallons of air to sing. The fuzz guitar in that one also marked a backlash, as people assumed the duo was "going hard rock".
Karen carpenter
"One Take karen"
The most beatifull voice Ever!
I believe it!
Karen's voice can best be described as "velvet." Richard wrote some of their songs and arranged all of them.
Great description! Such amazing singers and songwriters!
layered vocals from both of them, so glad I was born in an era where we had such amazing music
So awesome! They are crazy talented for sure
Me too
Paul Williams wrote this song for a Bank Commercial. He sang it for that. Richard came to him to get to do that song and the rest is history
That’s crazy how it started!
Richard is a genius arranger he arranged all of their stuff and wrote many of their hits.
I didn't read all the comments, I just posted that info. I also remember when people were married and did their photos, "We've Only Just Begun" was always written in the front of the wedding book. GenX (1968). It was like everyone had the same wedding photobook
@@sassymess7111 I like all the feedback so no worries. Learning alot! Appreciate ya!
He wrote the first verse for the Bank Commercial. Richard heard it and asked to him to write the complete song.
Brother and sister Richard and Karen Capenter Richard was a genius at arranging music. And Karen was the voice of the 70s Can’t get any better !
Hearing her sing is therapy.
True!
This song started out as a Crocker Bank commercial. Richard heard it and contacted the writer (Paul Williams). Together they rearranged it for Karen. Karen and Richard did all the overdubs themselves.
There was a time when you couldn't go to a wedding or reception without hearing this song.
The song started out as a 30 second ad for Crocker Bank written by Paul Williams. They took it and made this beautiful song.
They were wonderful. But every time I her, I feel sad. She left us way too soon and the way she passed. Great reaction my man!!🙌🏼
Thanks so much! It truly is sad she passed anyway so young!
The Carpenters are classics, for sure! I’m glad you have discovered them! ❤️
Yes they are, shame it took this long!
I love how you can see Karen playing air drums at one point!
Song background: this song was written by Paul Williams (who became an extremely successful songwriter), and Roger Nichols. The song was originally in a wedding-themed TV commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in early 1970, with Paul Williams on vocals.
(I remember these commercials, as I grew up in CA.) The song was commissioned to help Crocker appeal to young people. The song played over footage of a young couple getting married and just starting out. In the song, direct reference to the bank was left out, in part to make the song more marketable. The commercial turned out to be very popular, but it attracted customers in whom the bank was not interested: young adult customers with no collateral for loans. The campaign was eventually suspended, and Crocker subsequently franchised it to other banks.
Separately, Richard Carpenter saw the TV commercial and guessed correctly that Williams was the vocalist (both of them were under contract to A&M Records). Carpenter ran into Williams on the record company's lot and asked whether a full-length version was available. Although the TV commercial had only two verses and no bridge, Williams stated that there was a bridge and an additional verse, forming a complete song, which was then delivered.
According to Williams in the documentary Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters "We'd had some success with songs before, a few album cuts and some B-sides - but no singles. This was a major break, a chance to get an A-side and maybe even a hit, so we would have absolutely lied through our teeth if there wasn't a full song."
Carpenter selected the composition for the duo's third single and included it on the LP Close to You. Released in late summer 1970, the single featured Karen's lead vocals and the overdubbed harmonies of both siblings. Following their hit "(They Long to Be) Close to You" onto the charts, "We've Only Just Begun" hit No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and No. 2 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 behind the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" and the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You", becoming the pair's second million-selling gold single, spending nine weeks in the Top 10. It was considered by both Karen and Richard to be their signature song. According to The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th edition), on the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart, it was the duo's best-performing tune, lasting seven weeks at No. 1 (beating the six-week stay at the top of "Close to You").[5] The song also helped them to win two Grammy Awards in 1971: Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus (for "Close to You").
I really appreciate you taking the time to share all that info! So interesting! It’s crazy how far the song came and the impact it ended up having!
Could it be that siblings , such as the Carpenters, the Bee Gees and the Everly Brothers have a special gift for harmonies?
Could be!
Karen has the voice of an angle. She was taken from us to soon by anorexia. She didn't feel she was enough. Karen was a world class drummer and Richard her brother did all the arranging on the music. Karen you are very much missed. RIIP Sweet Karen.
Her name was (as many have said Karen) and his is Richard Carpenter. They were older brother younger sister. From 1965 to 1969 they played in a jazz band (Dick Carpenter Jazz Trio) in jazz clubs around Los Angeles with a short break in an easy listening band (Spectrum) which played at the Whisky A-GO-GO. Karem was 15 (in 65) and did not sing she was the drummer and one that would make you take notice. Richard (Dick) wrote part of the music they did and played keyboards Wes Jacobs (for the pre Spectrum trio and Bill Sissoyev for the after Spectrum trio provide the bass. Karen and Richard signed with A&M (Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss) in 69 and A&M let them do about what they wanted. On their albums (except 1) the singing is all Karen and Richard. They recorded the harmonies on from 3 to 30 tracks then put them on the master (a trick Richard had gleaned from Les Paul and Mary Ford) Most of the time getting Karen was done in one take then to get the harmonies like I said from 3 o 30 times singing it. Richard also wrote a number of the songs they did and did all the arranging. They took a lot of abuse from music critics in the 70s and 80. One of the nicknames for them was goody4shoes. Thier appearances were knock for not having a face. Karen at the time was the drummer too and was not easy to see, so they brought her from behind her drums. When the brought out "Goodbye To Love" I think the first real power ballad) they were hated on for including a fuzz guitar solo by Tony Peluso, When I listen to their music (which I do often) I can still hear hints of their jazz days in the instrumental solos
Unfortunately Karen Died from complications from anorexia in 1983.
Thanks for all the info! So sad she passed away so young
Excellent post. Thank you for sharing more of their history and background. I was going to do that, but you've done it beautifully. 😊
THAT VOICE. THAT VOICE. THAT VOICE. AN ANGEL IS SINGING NOT AT YOU, BUT TO YOU.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Beautiful Karen's singing was ONE OF A KIND and Richard's piano, harmonies, composing, arranging and producing was extraordinary. They're my favs.
Thanks for sharing! Crazy talented! Appreciate you swinging by the channel!
Karen had the most angelic voice God ever gifted a drummer!
True!
This was my parent's wedding song in 1974 and it still gets me in the feels every time I hear it!
Karen and Richard. Pure perfection. Karen is the best singer who ever lived. She was one of the best drummers also. Richard is a genius. She is part of my soul.
For all of you that love the Carpenters, especially Karen's contralto low ("the money is in the basement"...as Karen would say), soothing, melodic, haunting, relatable voice, and know she was a drummer first and a singer second (she considered herself "a drummer that sang") might enjoy a lesser known live performance of her drumming to the song "And When He Smiles" from Carpenters BBC TV Special, 1971. We all know she can drum and sing, but in this live performance you can see her total enjoyment while she is drumming. She can't stop smiling and interacts with the bongo player on the timing with her eyes and expressions. It just makes me smile every time I watch it. As a matter of fact if I just need a lift at any point in my day, I watch that video. It makes me feel good to watch her enjoying herself while in her element and doing something she loved so much. Here's a link. Enjoy. ua-cam.com/video/1_AgEYfCaJQ/v-deo.html
Thanks for the link and for swinging by to check out the video!
Familial harmony is one of the most magical sounds. Being from a musical family
I didn’t understand that everyone’s family didn’t sing together.
About her love of playing drums.
150 million units sold can't be wrong....magic!
💯 Can’t wait to hear more from them!
@@setonhillstudios You won’t be disappointed 🎶
Richard and Karen Carpenter
It gives me a smile to see others first discover THE VOICE. I recall the first moment I heard her.them
Her voice is perfect!
Karen Carpenter has a voice of an angel the most soothing voice ever.
So good! Absolutely phenomenal!
She was without question the greatest contralto voice ever. Check out a you tube channel that plays some of their greatest songs with her singing with the background music stripped away. She had perfect pitch, exceptionally note stretching, and superior breath control. She is, IMO, the GOAT of female pop singers.
Karen had one of those voices that you only needed to hear a few notes to recognize who it was. And, what you heard on the albums is exactly what you heard in person, the whole band was incredibly precise. And I learned to play the drums because of Karen Carpenter, she was SO GOOD, her timing and intricacies were INSANE.
Awesome!! A fellow drummer! 🥁 I heard she was amazing on the kit and I still need to check out some videos of her drumming! They are incredible and the way their vocals blend is unreal!
A fantastic song! For sure it will be playing in 30 years and still feel timeless.
This song is from 1970. Karen had the voice of an angel. 👼 She passed away too soon. Great reaction from a first time listener. Keep playing these oldies and I will subscribe.
Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it! Definitely an amazing voice and I can’t wait to hear more from them!
For me, the GOAT, vocally pure, angelic, pitch spot on. What can you say about an angel when she sings. Heaven sent. Karen, lead singer and drummer, Richard, background vocalist, musician and arranger/composer❤❤❤❤
One of the sweetest voices I have ever heard. My favorite is Top of the world. Big hi from México.
Hi there! I agree 💯 with that! Incredible talent and such a smooth vocal performance! Thanks for stopping by!
This song was Carpenters' third single and second monster hit, dating to mid-1970. Carpenters were a sibling duo, writer, arranger and pianist Richard and drummer/singer Karen. Their first three singles were all covers, with this one being a Paul Williams song written for...a TV commercial for a bank...! Richard heard the ad, knew a hit when he heard one, and arranged for Carpenters to record it. Richard and Paul Williams were friends and studio mates at A&M...
Quite right about Karen being a drummer. Indeed she preferred that over singing. And she was kickass, too. There are several videos showing her drumming. Check them out.
The harmonies (inspired by Les Paul and Mary Ford's work circa 1950) are Richard and Karen multitracked. Of course being siblings they blend well vocally already, and then when it's several of each, it's heavenly. Much of their early music in particular features that technique, the 1970 Close To You album especially (there's a cover of Burt Bacharach's I'll Never Fall In Love Again on that album that has a 39-voice chord in it that's all Richard and Karen).
The music world lost Karen in February 1983 at just 32. Complications from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa killed her.
Other Carpenters to listen to (but that's gonna be like sipping from a firehose):
Ticket To Ride
Close To You
Another Song
Crescent Noon
Eve
Nowhere Man
It's Going To Take Some Time
Superstar
This Masquerade
A Song For You
Goodbye To Love
Yesterday Once More
Only Yesterday
I Need To Be In Love
I Have You
I Can Dream, Can't I
The Uninvited Guest
When It's Gone
If I Had You
Goodbye And I Love You
Now
...I'm a bit of a fan.
Love it, and I'm "a bit of a fan," as well. 😀
Just a little bit of a fan 🤣 thanks for all the info and suggestions!
This was a bank commercial that the brother saw on tv and the rest is history. Written by paul Williams. He has a few hits under his belt
Pure silk covered in velvet,With Richard's musical abilities nobody can touch them
So talented!
BEAUTIFUL song. The song was first used in a commercial for a bank in California. Richard tracked down the song (written by Paul Williams) and told him he wanted to hear the rest of the song....the rest is history.
I’m guessing they didn’t think it would blow up like it did! 🤣
I saw them in concert 🎶 in October of 1973 @ 13 years old.Loved them then,love them now!
So cool! Thanks for sharing that awesome memory! 😁
Yes she is a drummer
Well maybe up yonder she is...😢
Awesome!
Karen is her name she sings and plays drums, the fellow standing next to her is Richard Carpenter who plays piano and writes, producer on their songs. You check the songs, Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar.
Karen's velvet voice...Richard's artistry and talent in this arrangement, not to leave out the back up instrumentation and vocals; this is a song made in heaven.
It's so beautiful hard to imagine anyone not liking it!
💯 Phenomenal!
The chorus is the part that starts, "sharing horizons that are new to us. Watching the signs along the way."
Gotcha! Thanks so much! Such a beautifully written song! Can’t wait to hear more from them!
It was also widely used for weddings
That’s what I keep hearing!
I see that pretty much all of your questions have already been answered. There are a lot of Carpenter lovers still in the world. 😀 Thanks for the reaction. I have always LOVED listening to Karen and Richard. 😀
Shewee! They were so amazing and their harmonies were too notch! I need to check out some videos of Karen drumming, being a drummer myself! Thanks so much Linda! 😁
Do! Just youtube "Karen Carpenter drumming." She was phenomenal.
As others have said her true passion was drumming. But once the world discovered her voice, the pressure was on for her to get out from behind her beloved drums and sing front and center. her manager and bro-ager pushed her to do so, against her preferences. believe that caused her to be self-conscious, partly contributing to the eating disorder that ultimately killed her.
@@michellelamar8965 So sad! 😞
please listen to more they are unbelievable
Plan to listen to a lot more for sure!
Between the BeeGees video and this one, I’m actually crying. Such beautiful music. So many memories for me.
Thank you for rediscovering true talent.
Dude! Thanks so much for sharing! So glad that these videos stirred up memories for you. You’re right! These songs are incredible and it’s been a joy discovering them! Have a great one and thanks for stopping by!
Great analysis, I love that you pointed out how the harmonies are FANTASTIC, which is something I couldn't get over in my own reaction of the song. Thanks for the fun watch!
This was the norm back in the day. You don't hear it these days because we have drastically lowered the bar in what we accept as "talent" and entertainment.
TRUTH! So many great bands back in this era. Hopefully the music world will return to this level of excellence again one day!
Back in 'my' day we had SINGERS! Today they only have performers...
She's a drummer so you can understand her slapping her legs to the music. She's all about percussion
I still need to check out some videos of her on the drum kit! Heard she was a beast! 🥁
Great journey! Enjoy it!
Young folks today have no idea what they're missing until they hear music like this! Pure beauty and talent galore!!
For Streisand, A Piece of Sky. However, if you want to react to a great one, nobody else has reacted to, Kiss Me In The Rain
This song started out as an advertising jingle for a bank selling loans to newly weds. Richard liked it and reworked the arrangement
🤯 crazy!
Is she an angel..............¡¡¡
Unreal performance and her vocals are just beautiful! Thanks for swinging by!
❤❤❤❤ RIP sweet Angel. 😢
Did you know this was a bank commercial?
These are the phenomenal Carpenters…siblings Karen and Richard. Karen’s hauntingly beautiful voice and she’s a drummer too and Richard’s backing vocals, piano and phenomenal compositions. Both musical geniuses and had more top hits than The Beatles and Elvis. Paul McCartney said Karen’s voice was the most perfect voice in the world.
You get a Paul Williams commercial with the arrangement by Richard Carpenter to amplify Karen Carpenter’s voice. And yes she was the drummer. They did all the vocals on their records and he played keyboards and she played the drums
Absolutely fir reaction
Your welcome
Not to forget - there was no such thing as auto tune or so back then. Real voices , real talent. Just like the BeeGees and other great artist around that time. Carpenters are one of my all time favorites. I can't remember a single song by them that didn't catch me within the first couple of notes.
So good! And you’re right! They had to be on point! I think while technology is good, it does hinder so many musicians today from actually developing and learning their craft! Thanks for the insight!
Have heard it in at least 15 weddings
I have been obsessed with these two since I have been there from their start as a kid. No one will ever match them. She struggled many years with anorexia and didn't recover. Thankfully they have many hits they left us with. Richards still alive in California with his family. Their musical journey ended with her death. Her death opened up the world of anorexia and other eating disorders since she was the first celebrity to be known to die from it in 1983.
Hate to hear that we lost her so young, but they definitely left a legacy!
😁
Of course, they sound good together. They are brothers, they have been singing together for a long time.
Do more if Karen,respectfully the greatest female contralto ever and one of the finest voices in the history of modern music. Go down this Angel's musical rabbit hole. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
They are so good. She was one of the best singers ever. Threw will never be another like Karen.😊😊😊😊
Absolutely phenomenal! 😁
Karen carpenter and Richard Carpenter are brother and sister she plays the drums and sings Richard does the arranging she died at 32 for a eating disorder Her voice is one of a kind
Paul Williams wrote this song...he sings on Touch from Daft Punk Random Access Memories...
Loved the Carpenters! Karen sang with such eaze. Beautiful duo, brother and sister- Karen and Richard
So talented
A song written for a Bank commercial. Lol. True. Paul Williams , who played Little Enis in the movie Smokey and The Bandit. Also true.
That’s crazy that it was written for a commercial and blew up like that! So cool!
The song itself came full circle in 2020 when Lloyds Bank in the UK used a version by English singer-songwriter Bat For Lashes in one of their TV ads.
Be awesome to see what tat's you have. Thank you for checking out The Carpenters and your reaction 🎉
Got quite a few of them! Maybe I’ll have to show them off one day! 😄
Thank you and welcome to that wonderful rabbit hole of Carpenters music. Sir Paul McCartney said of Karen: “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive." (NPR, 2013). That about sums it up. Enjoy the ride!
Thank you for watching! Such an incredible group and I cannot wait to discover more from them! Have a great day! 😁
John Lennon also complemented her on her voice, in person when their paths crossed in LA.
Always did every song in just one take
Karen carpenter great est female singer ever
Richard and Karen Carpenter were THE vocal harmony act of the 70s, until she tragically died at age 32 in 1983. And yes, Karen was the drummer, Richard played other instruments but also arranged the songs.
The harmonies are so good and blend so perfectly because it's just Richard and Karen's voices: Richard overdubbed them doing their own harmonies. I think I read one song had 16 overdubs. This performance is singing live to a pre-recorded background with all the harmonies and extra instrumentation. Five people on stage are not producing that sound!
This song was about a couple getting married and starting a life together (white lace and promises). After its release, it was the most requested bridal dance song at weddings during the 70's.
That’s awesome!
Watch the medium shots of Karen. She can’t resist drumming on her thighs during the rhythm sections.
The sign of a true drummer! 🥁 I gotta rewatch it to catch that! Thanks
Believe it or not, she considered herself a drummer, who could also sing! With a voice like that, she musta been one helluva drummer! ;-]
She was. 😀
@@GrandmasGotGraceLW Yes, I know... Just trying to ignite his interest in wanting more Carpenters . 😊
That’s so cool that she said that and you’re 💯 right! That’s the same thing Phil Collins would always say too! 🤘🏻 Thanks so much for the insight and swinging by the channel! This was such an incredible vocal performance and amazing song! Can’t wait to hear more from them! Have a great one! 😁
My favorites are “Close To You” , “Superstar”, & “Yesterday Once More”
Thanks for the suggestions! Really appreciate it!
I've been listening to Carpenters since I was a kid in my parents' car on vacation with an 8 track tape! You can't go wrong with their music!!! Incredible voice, arrangements, instrumentation, lyrics--it's incredible!
So good!
known as 'one take Karen'....she is also a drummer
Awesome!
One of the greatest female voices of our time, at least in popular music.
In fact I would go as far to say that Karen is in the top 5 of all time.
She’s definitely talented!
Maybe the greatest, (or in the conversation anyway) female singer ever. Sold more albums in the 70s than anyone else, male or female. Brother Richard wrote and arranged most of her songs. They were Brother and sister. Karen struggled for years with Anorexia nervosa, and it finally took her life at such a young age.
So sad!
Great job reacting to this!
Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed it!
Accurate analysis I enjoy Carpenters music
Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Karen Carpenter one of the most phenomenal singers who ever walked the earth. She has inspired many singers like Madonna, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, Chrissie Hynde. I could go on and on. Rockers like Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi, Gene Simmons, and crooner Frank Sinatra and many more. Karen was fabulous. This is coming from an old hard rocker. Some more info, Carpenters tore up the charts in 70's by having 3 #1's and 5 #2's on the billboard 100. Just awesome. One of if not the best female voice and drummer ever IMHO.
That’s so awesome!
Family have the best harmonies
Superstar