I remember when I was growing up in LA in the 1970s,there was an FM radio station that would showcase the music of one particular artist or group every Saturday night ,playing their hits and giving biographical info about them . I heard Steely Dan ,Carly Simon ,the Doobie Bros ,as well as the Carpenters and many others profiled. What a great period for music
These pictures do show karen at her worst. Her marriage falling apart and the shelving of her solo album greatly affected her. That being said I love their final album made in America. I suffered from anorexia and bulimia
Thanks for posting this!!! I love to hear Karen and Richards interviews. Karen’s just got that voice that ya just wanna hear, doesn’t matter if it’s singing or telling a story. I still wish Karen had that one special friend in her life that coulda held her hand tight and walked with her until she could walk alone. I think she had been let down by a lot of people, considering she always had everyone else’s back. Just think, she’d be a beautiful grandma by now. Can’t believe it’s been almost 40 years!!!! And many people still love the Carpenters. I think that’s great. Their music will last thru many more generations
I just noticed another thing which intrigued me. I’ve never before seen those photos of Karen wearing sunglasses, and I was puzzled that the glasses had a monogram on them - KCB. Then it suddenly dawned on me that these were from the (very short!) period of her doomed marriage, and the monogram is for Karen Carpenter Burris.
Poor woman pursued for her money in the guise of love by Burris who by his deception ( according to what excerpts I read from Little Girl Blue )then most likely pushed her anorexic dysmorphia into overdrive and her death . According to the book after having Burris's financial state investigated and suspected his true motives she told her mother she wanted to cancel the wedding which her image obsessed mother wouldn't allow . Was that weakness on Karen's part ? Whatever compassion for her suffering .
I love how Richard Carpenter in this radio interview with his sister Karen, used what should be the correct expression, "lucked-in". Most people use the more common (and possibly grammatically erroneous) form of the expression, "lucked-out" which is suggestive of running out of luck regarding something, rather than being fortunate regarding an outcome.
Boy do I miss you love your music especially the Christmas music so festive and fun .I respect your brother sorry he couldn't help you even he tried to do I'm sure however in 2022 he doesn't indicate that he did specific what he did? What a voice you had 2nd to knowone. John Lennon was correct very very grate . Sleep in peace.
This was fun to listen to, thanks for posting. Glad Carpenters are still around in this form to enjoy. This was a magical time in musical history in USA. It's a treat to revisit.
Wow - these photos are Karen look like she was in her final throws of anorexia. Dried out permed hair, very frail looking. You could have least shown her in her prime when she was America's favorite daughter - such a shining star with the voice of an angel. We were gifted with the Carpenters. Nonetheless, the video is informative. RIP sweet Karen. I hope you have healed on the other side.
I'm confused. In a lot of interviews, Richard said it was Herb A who gave him the sheet music to Close to You not Burt B. Herb also said it was Karen's voice that made him sign them, so how could he be surprised that Karen could sing too?
Never heard that Your Wonderful Parade was the impetus for A&M siging them. I choose to believe it was the initial story that the demo tape with Karen vocals that did it. No offense to Richard’s musical chops as a great arranger and musician.
Herb could and would embellish his story to make it look like he recognized her potential, and could also not have the detailed memory of the event that a person like you does, a person that is still studying Carpenters interviews forty years later. Since that week when Herb heard one-hundred demo tapes, he's heard Karen's voice so much it seems like it's always been a part of him.
Karen did not die in vain because of her death many were saved that being said I think the focus needs to be more on her music and her brothers music rather than her death thank you for the post thank you for this beautiful interview God bless bye
Great to hear this interview, Chris, thanks for making it available. Out of interest, why does it play a little slow? I noticed Karen & Rich’s voices seemed a bit deeper than usual, and then as soon as I started to pay attention to the songs, I noticed they’re in the wrong keys! Not that it makes any difference at all to the interview, but it just caught my ear. Thanks again for posting.
He said Richard most important music influences as Beach Boys, Bacharach & the Beatles. Actually Richard said Bread, Bacharach & the Beatles, not Beach Boys.
The other "B" was The Bee Gees,..not Bread. Bread's first big single only came out a month before Close to You, so I don't think Bread would have been much of an influence on Richard.
The beginning picture of Karen is distressing to look at, she is terribly thin and obviously starving to death, just terrible. Everytime I think of Karen I get depressed and saddened by her loss, she was an incredible singer and a sweet young lady, you are missed by billions Karen. God has you in his care now.
What I don't understand is why Karen always dieted and thought she looked fat when she looked so good. She looked so terrible her last 2 years and to this day I don't understand how all the people around her let this go on.
She had a mental illness - Anorexia Nervosa. She dedicated a whole year in treatment in 1982 for it, it was too late and she died of complications from anorexia; her heart was damaged and her intestines were damaged as well. So even if Karen had lived she would've had LOADS of health issues. Heart issues and intestinal problems.
According to biography Little Girl Blue Karen suffered anorexia dysmorphia where according to a friend when Karen was emaciated she saw a fat person in the mirror . I had undiagnosed anorexia ( nervous loss of appetite)as a teenager because of totally inhuman parents where according to Little Girl Blue and possibly similar to Karen desperately seeking my mother's affection I was driven into para psychosis for years resulting in such stress that it cause endocrine disruption and absolute arrest of skeletal / bone growth for 3 years because of absolutely indifferent parents and onlookers even leaving home before my voice broke If true according to book her mother's only giving attention to her brother awoke in me a possible parallel to my own undiagnosed mental illness whereas in retrospect I realise I was to both parents a worthless object and my interest in her sad story . According to Little Girl Blue after the break up of her disastrous marriage to money seeking Burris who.Karen had had financially investigated and told her mother to cancel the wedding but her appearances concerned mother refused Karens mental.health deteriorated even more and secretly she started taking an emetic ( vomit inducing ) herb which atrophied Karen's heart muscle and caused heart failure . How does gold digger Burris live with himself ? Personally even though Karen had a beautiful voice I find most of their music bland and as though she is often singing in the third person .Since boyhood have always like Calling Occupants from Interplanetary Craft where weirdly Karen seems able to put more feelings in her voice singing to aliens than people . Without offence her emotional expression is the opposite of Janis Joplin which is often over the top. Both died early . Whatever artistic criticism great sympathy for her suffering and for others who suffer the terrible illness of anorexia dysmorphia . According to the biography her brother owned their mother's love and he owned her voice .
This is very interesting....but horrible photos of Karen. So sad and so thin with badly permed hair to try to hide her illness which only made her look worse! I never understand why people do that...Huge Carpenters fan, not trying to be rude.
No. I don't recall Richard or the family doing an intervention? She spent a year in New York being treated for anorexia and family visited her once, at the invitation of the therapist. Her mother thought she was just being stubborn.