What Is The Carpenters Greatest Song? 

All that is very true. His singing voice, however, was very ordinary. Without his sister’s voice, he would be known for his arranging and piano playing only.

Yeah he seems unaware of Richard Carpenter's contributions. He spoke as if Karen made up her background singing.

richard was the brains behind the organization, Karen basically brought the Vocal prowess and percussion prowess early on, after they got big she dropped the percussion but hard to say what input she had in any originals? they did quite a few covers, more than 50% I believe.. but yes I am sure it was richard who took those covers and arranged them to karen carpenter songs, he was a genius at that... driving down hiway 95 thru the middle of nevada it turned AM from PM and the only radio station I could get had richard on doing songs and interview, dont remember a lot of his stories but he did mention the restructuring songs tomake them carpenter songs and he also produced a lot as well..

I always thought Richard was underrated. The tracks really did a lot for those songs. It seemed like Paul Williams renditions of his own songs were flat. The nostalgic sound in rainy days and Mondays a lot of it was the track.

Let's not give Richard any credit because I think it was all Karen who did everything. Where's all of these arrangements by Richard since Karen died? Maybe Richard was a good pianist, but all the songs were clearly written by Karen> By reading the lyrics, there's no way a male wrote them.

Absolutely.. angelical,her first husband was a $&-"

She often has got plenty of time as to her phrasing. Hadn't she been a jazz drummer first and foremost? A drummer who sang, according to her own definition. And there are so many long, long notes (reminiscing the cantus firmus of the Notre Dame epoch quite a bit) in many of the Carpenters' melodies … Karen thankfully and delightfully took the opportunity in bathing in them. The result makes melodies breathe, i.e. human: you can easily tune in to such an offer.

Always have yes

Her voice is the only voice I have heard sing that does high and lower notes at the same time.

@@armastat Try e.g. Cathy Berberian.

Interestingly, Ella Fitzgerald was much the same and yet, was excoriated for being "emotionless", when singing!

Both Karen and Ella had supreme control of their instruments. It’s not common, it’s ethereal.

The problem with the carpenters is they had a very distinct sound they did not deviate from. Even in Goodbye to Love, a song with an electric guitar solo, it is distinctly Carpenters. Even the cover of Jambalaya,a Hank Williams song has been thoroughly Carpenterized. It's possible they would have adopted to the changing musical preferences in the 80s, but I find that highly unlikely. You just don't change what propelled you into superstardom. Very few bands have been able to do that.

I very much hope that the multitrack tapes from their recording sessions still exist. No disrespect to Richard, but it's his instrumentation that dates their sound, not Karen's vocals. If there is a way to back Karen with more modern instrumentation, her legacy might grow.@@christo930

@@christo930 - And what is wrong with that????

Just curious, because I find them so similar, what do you think about Linda Ronstadt?

@@danaturner244 Great, but not nearly as great as KC.

​@@danaturner244Ronstadt is probably the most versatile vocalist of the late 20th Century. There is hardly a genre she has not tried and excelled at.

Have you listened to the brazilian singer Gal Costa?.

@@luizportes I have a lot. SHe's a wonderful singer. But kc is in a league of her own, imo.

She knew the essence of bitter-sweet life.

Magic and so tragic.

Perfect description.

I had a girlfriend back in the day who loved Karen, but, after she died, could only listen to about a minute of any song. Rainy days and Mondays would reduce her to tears within 30 seconds. I don't like AOC at all. Hate it. But like the bee gees with disco, I make an unqualified exception to Karen's work. Best Voice Ever

Perfect description of her voice!

Two others: Eva Cassidy & Judith Durham: All three are world class vocalists. To be enjoyed and never compared!

And Karen's enunciation is impeccable

Karen to me is the best female singer because she could make you feel every emotion with her songs

We all do😭

Her voice is amazingly beautiful but also sad

Alison Krauss is pretty special too, tho from a different style and era

But believe me, there's a cover called "Tori Holub" on RU-vid that sings almost the same, without imitating, because it's her natural voice! Many people get emotional when they hear it, just check it out!

i'm pretty sure many of us cried that day

It’s funny how you can cry for someone you’ve never met. I cried when Princess Diana died. I never followed her. I wasn’t into the whole Royal family thing but when I saw her casket and the funeral procession I cried. Strange huh?

Actually she was 32, about to be 33. Just missed it.

@@4tun1 Right, she was 4 weeks away from her 33rd. Will never forget that day, Feb 4, 1983, couldn't believe what the radio was telling me.

And those of us who studied about the phenomenon (they were a phenomenon), from all we can gather…she wasn’t perfect (who is) but was a truly nice person. A real tragedy.

Yes, I saw that video. Worth the watch.

And, she nailed the songs and their feel with very few takes.

Fil! He’s great. Love his channel, too

Her timing and execution are second to none.

Superstar was one take

I agree. So many pop singers are all over the place and can’t seem to just sing the melody and bring out the beauty of the line with the harmonies. It is tiring and tedious.

She was a genuine singer, nothing artificial or put on! Truly one of a kind!

Karen had a beautiful voice, and Richard blended his talents with her perfectly. It was a rare combination ❤

​@Tbone51 it started with Whitney "I only sing forte" Houston

Yeah. Purity. Such a pure comforting, heartbreaking voice. Good god what a loss and yes, she was an excellent drummer.

Deepest condolences. Music moves souls.

❤

I lost my dad 12 years ago now. It’s tough. I’m glad your dad still felt the music until the end.

My deepest sympathies to you.

MY CONDOLENCES....... YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN .................. GOD BLESS YOU

And a very distinctive voice.

"LITTLE ENIS"

I don't think he's underrated. He is very highly regarded as a lyricist. I just wonder why we have heard any of his lyrics in such a long time.

I can't listen to her voice without breaking into tears. Her death was a great loss.

I was born in 1990, but my mother always played The Carpenters. Karen is my favorite singer of all time and my celebrity crush.

I always believed Karen.s voice was The Best EVER, but LUCY THOMAS is better 22:24 22:25 22:25 22:25 22:27 22:39

Its such a shame,, Cant understand anorexia.

@@GLADHARTS I've been crushing on her for years too (I'm 57)

She is like the Kate Bush of Karen Carpenter of the Kate Bush of the....

Rumer

@William Adams That's SO true! When me and my wife go shopping every Tuesday at Walmart they pipe music through and it's the same thing the singing is just some person yelling and it all sounds the same

100% correct. Nobody sounds like that.

Just goosebumps!

I wonder if later being more to the FOREFRONT PHYSICALY.. added to her FRAGILITY...such a loss

Yes! She was phenomenal! And was a catalyst to more women picking up the sticks and learning how to play the drums. Thank you, Karen!

​@@thomasfisher5742I've wondered the same. According to those who knew her well, she was painfully shy. But, she could deal with being on stage better playing her drums. She was an excellent drummer & ultimately it was a huge mistake to pull her off of the kit & push her to front the band. It's sad.

Taylor Swift WISHES she could sing and write like this. Send this to a "Swifty" so that they can hear what actual talent sounds like.

@@FPS1200apples and oranges… taylor swift is not and never was a singer (better writer than the carpenters in my opinion tho)

Yea, I'm waiting for him to mention that. They didn't write any of their hits. Maybe co-wrote one or two. I agree their arrangements and performances were nice.

ASCAP president and writer of many muppet bangers like Emmet Otters Christmas Jug Band

Rick, I found you by listening to my Favorite female singer, Karen Carpenter. I Am a Huge Fan of you now! Keep bringing Amazing Videos of my favorites Artists. IslsndJ

THAT is very cool!

A tale for the generations in your family ❤

So did I and they were a few years ahead of me too! Kevin Horrell here, what's your name?

AMAZING STORY & PIECE OF HISTORY! GOD BLESS YOU FOR SHARING THAT!

They got a record contract with A and M while in High school?

For sure…. He was a musical genius along with his partner Jerry Moss at A&M Records

What a kind, insightful and generous comment! Well done!

Didn't he also play the flugelhorn himself on Close To You?

I was a huge fan of Alpert as a kid. Happily he is still active, scared to perform in my hometown next spring, and I may try to go to that for old times' sake.

@@ArbeiterInnenlieder It sounds like him but I think it's someone else. Herb does appear on Richard's 1987 solo album Time...

I am 65...metal head...I learned how to slow dance in jr high to the Carpenters and MJ.....if you have not heard this young girl you are in for a treat.....TORI HOLUB - WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Goodbye to Love is a great marriage of classic Carpenters with "fuzz" guitar. Touch of the hard rock that everyone seemed to clamor for in the '70s, but just a touch.

This is absolutely true. I played my brother a rather obscure album track I was sure he had never heard before and he identified her in like one second and I'm not exaggerating.

Exactly! And not a word you have to question what it was she said. The purity was magic.❤

I’d put Anne Murray on the same level singing wise, but Karen was also an incredible musician,, rivalled the likes of Buddy Rich.

she is an Angel

@@chrisjeffrey7570Yes Anne was definitely tone and pitch perfect. Canadian Songbird

Thank you for your service ,sir.

Glad you made it back.

Thank you for your service from this wounded warrior wife and niece. ❤❤

Yes, thank you for service. Too little too late I know.

Thank you for your service seems so insufficient.

Karen’s voice strikes you in your soul. So listening to her sing while thinking of your late Mom is a wonderful way to keep your connection with your Mom going strong. 👍❤

@@JosieN-ns8rmyes thank you very much🙏🏽🎶👍🏽

EXACTLY! It's a song---music and Words!

She is in the top 5 all time female singer, she lived a tragic life not understanding her own awesome worth… she had a dominating mother and a poor body image, very sad 😢

This is a great point. I never fully appreciated this before, at least not in any articulated sense (if maybe a fuzzy intuition), but it is absolutely true!

Karen and Petula Clark were each other's fans and personal friends. Petula sang at Karen's funeral.

Frank Sinatra did this as well…enunciation was important to him.

Richard's professor at long beach state, frank pooler helped karen with her voice. Karen was actually a soprano and frank helped her bring out the buzz in her lower voice. My mother was one of her backup singers. I used to sit in on rehearsals as a kid.

Written by Leon Russell.

It is by far her most iconic song she had ever sung. It will always be my #1 from the Carpenters.

@@petesawchuk Leon was an unmatched talent too.

@@EmilyTienne Without question - a rock & roll Renaissance man.

Same

Ha-ha. Richard to Burt: "Hold my sheet music..."

Square is Cooool.

Don't forget Richard, her brother. He wrote, arranged, and led the music. They were a terrific team. 😻

"Close To You" by The Carpenters.

@@martycee55 I agree. Easily the most emotional love song that they wrote.

Sooooo true

I am 43 years old and I have been listening to the Carpenters since I was a kid. My grandmother of course gets full credit.

I saw a young singer on Tiktok who has a phenomenal voice covering We've Only Just Begun. Was encouraging to see the engagement. They won't be for everyone but those who understand and appreciate vocals and arrangements will hopefully pick it up.

34 year old singer here and I feel so lucky I grew up listening to Karen

❤❤❤

Hey, me too!! I never connected when I was younger, but I really appreciate the Carpenters now.

we were "hip rockers" and we were ashamed to admit that we liked the carpenters.

I was kinda hip (a jock) but loved A/M radio

It is definitely corny seeming and AM radio compared to something like “Sticky Fingers”. But their music was so well done that you have to respect that the Carpenters were the very best of their genre of music. As I’ve gotten older I definitely have come to appreciate that there is a time and place for everything, even over the top 70’s mellowness.

Same!

Too many celebrities in music, too few musicians….. Damn, you said a mouthful! Well done!

Great point. Near universal appeal. Hard to accomplish in an industry where success is often measured by being different. Having obtained that broad appeal made them different which, in turn, brought them well deserved success.

Except it was never "cool" to admit you liked them at the time.

The Beatles

John Denver has a tremendous amount of cross-over appeal.

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass also had major overlap appeal between demographics

I see you love Horizon as much as I do. I remember the week it was released and I bought it instantly. It showed a brewing of Richard’s skills and prescient song selection, making it a standout of its time. “Morning opens quietly, a shadow vision over me, I know you well….”

I played rock and metal most of my musical career, and now play R&B and jazz. But The Carpenters will always be one of my favourite groups of all time. Karen's voice is just sublime and so moving.

Same. I listen primarily to metal, progressive rock, grunge, classic rock stuff. But my deserted island playlist definitely includes Carpenters and Barry Manilo.

Yes. I hadn’t thought about it before but Adam’s voice has that same quality. Such depth and feeling.

Agreed !

I agree.

Yes her voice in those lower ranges in this. ...second show... just the radio...most sensual tone I've heard ever, as though it was meant to me personally...any guitarist in a band who was chased by a groupie type must think more softly about her after hearing these words

And her version of This Masquerade. And “solitaire” which was written by by Neil Sedaka.

YES! Superstar is stunningly beautiful. Or perhaps, hauntingly beautiful!

The were multi dubbing their voices to get that sound. Richard was a genius in the studio, while Karen could sing what he was trying to convey.

Fabulous memory 💖

Great story. A wonderful moment you'll always cherish. I'm a bit jealous! 🙂

The good ol' daze...Kustom amps and walking right up to the musicians for a chat. Wonderful!

❤

I remember Hearing her say in an Interview she was annoyed of being asked about her Hair and her dresses and never about the music. So apparently You touched the right string with Your question! Thank you for sharing that memory.

Unlike today’s pop stars who tend to sing as they’re trying to prevent themselves from vomiting.

Oh man, that is EXACTLY what I have always said about her delivery. Like she is talking to YOU, and you intimately. It’s a combination of her timbre, the way she adjusts it, and the feeling she puts into her phrasing and timing (her dynamics.) So you have said this perfectly and analysed from the most learned perspective. I have explained this before to rubes who said she wasn’t special. The closest others came include Matt Monroe in a simple way. On a small handful of numbers, Sinatra conveyed this, to wit: “I Have Dreamed” and “The Way You Look Tonight” and a few others and he has a body of work that may be the greatest overall next to Ella’s for a vocalist in the 20th century. Do you agree? I would think we could talk about this for hours, because you are the first guy I saw define this the way I do and I am certain about it!

Eva Cassidy was the only other singer with as clear a voice or as masterfully skilled at dynamic phrasing

Wow very well mentioned,,,

Yes! The dynamic changes in We've Only Just Begun" are what make it mind and soul shaking.

There was a time at high school when a few of us all flew in the face of fashion and 'came out' as Carpenters- lovers. Looking back now I realise we were all a bit broken in our own ways. Think we all heard that in Karen's voice and Richard's melodies. A clarion call for the damaged.

It's so crazy to think how when Richard and Karen started as a duo, I believe it was to promote his piano playing....him....I could be wrong, but I know the focus was not her AMAZING voice.... I love how Rick gets into music theory...."oh, there's the dominant 11..."

@@Jill_SmokeandMirrors Yes, for some reason the Carpenters in their day were seen as not cool. I guess they didn't fit the guitar band rock mold of the time, nor were they R&B, nor any other easy category. Even worse, I guess they were the sort of band your mom and grandma would like. But for me at least they were a guilty pleasure, and I now suspect for most others too. There was just no denying that voice.

Truth.

Yes! Never is showing off or trying to hit the diva notes. Eva Cassidy was like that. It just seems effortless.

I watched a documentary about the Carpenter’s and Richard became very jealous of Karen’s fame according to the doc. He is a master musician and did most of the mixing and instrumental’s. Their father got them started in music.

His arrangements were pretty much perfect for elevating each song into all it could ever hope to be. Richard's a prodigy.

Yes I don't think he gets enough accolades for his arrangements. Of course I live for Karen but Richard did the arrangements and should be praised for such. He is a musical genius for sure. @@gregscupholm254

It was my understanding that Richard did their arraignments

My understanding as well!@@debbiemeuser3778

Me too..😢

I'm glad I'm not the only weepy one. Born in 1961, Karen was definitely my first influence.

Yes! It came out when I was a kid, and her voice was perfect for that song!

Oh ya. That guitar solo raps up the song powerfully..

And “Sing a Song”. Written for Sesame Street, but she made it her own.

Goodbye To Love is near the top of the list for me too. And it truly is a Carpenters song, written by Carpenter and Bettis, not a cover. The inclusion of the "fuzz guitar" (by Instant Joy's Tony Peluso) made that 1972 classic the very first power ballad, too.

"For All We Know" was another hit they had that Rick did not mention.

@@thomasluby1754 One of my favorites.

One of the greatest vocal performances ever.Brings me to tears every time✌️

YES! Loving watching his absolute joy listening to these fab songs

Merry Christmas Darling absolutely destroys me!

Wow! What an amazing experience!!! I would have absolutely loved to be there 💜🎶🎹

Please share more! Rhonda, you were that fly on the wall that I had wished to be. Amazing. I want to know- did they sing the songs as the composer wrote them or did they make any changes during the recording sessions? Did they laugh and joke around …or more serious? Can you give more scene setting description?

What a beautiful life , and boy hood, and Muse 0f talent for music that you have had. If you're ever discouraged. Just reflect on those wonderful days. Those gifts are still you. God bless you. Gregg Oreo long Beach Ca

What an honor! ❤

Absolutely. Their two Christmas albums occupy the number one spot for me.

I met my first comedic girlfriend around then

My Daddys favorite too! It's still so hard to hear♥️

It really is a brilliant song, and so lovely to hear her sing it live, and she adds a "yee haw" at the end.

First love indeed....great years....

Barbara Streisand couldn’t tie KC’s shoes…

Her and Minnie Riperton. Both taken much too soon.

@@dorland3 "Barbara Streisand couldn’t tie KC’s shoes…" Do we really have to turn this into a competition? How old are you?

@@tonyb9735 Lol. I’m 56. I’m sorry my comment upset you.

Wow! What an experience that must have been. So happy you were able to experience that. 💕

Absolutely. The arrangements were excellent and really improved the songs big time. I think there was a touch of genius there. Richard really knew what made a good pop record. The vocal harmonies were one of the big attractions for me.

@@daveyest Richard was brilliant. But when you are in a duo with Karen, there is only the possibility of second place. I think even Richard would admit this. Karen was one of the most perfect voices ever to move air.

@@nickmariotti4241 No second place for either. They were definitely a duo. A lot of the appeal was her great singing, but without Richard the songs wouldn’t have cut. I love her voice, but her solo album was pretty mediocre and dull as there was none of Richard’s genius in the arrangements and production.

@@daveyest No intention of denigrating Richard. As a keyboard player of far lesser talent myself, I have enormous respect for his abilities. In my opinion there was no "Carpenters" without them BOTH. It just seems to me that the gap between Karen and practically all other singers was even greater than that separating Richard from other composer/arrangers. I mean, if I might mention Richard in the same general ballpark with a Brian Wilson or a Burt Bacharach or a Jimmy Webb, I can't think of any singers anywhere nearly as close to Karen. There's really no one else in her ballpark; she's actually in a whole league, all by herself. I don't mean to say she was the "best" because that is too subjective and I don't get into saying one artist is "better" than another--we all have those we like and some more than others. I am just trying to express how extraordinary Karen was. I really can't think of anyone like her. It was not JUST her low range, her phenomenally accurate pitch, always nailing the tonal center, her immaculate phrasing, her smoothness--any ONE of those things would have made her a great talent. She had ALL of them. I know there's no way to express how apart from the rest I believe she was without it sounding like I'm putting Richard down, but that is not my intent. There was definitely a synergy there as neither was really successful without the other. You rightly mention Karen's solo album but it is also true of Richard's post-Karen career. It might be fairly said that Richard, understanding her abilities, and also being her brother, got more out of her than anyone else could have. He used her brilliantly as the primary instrument in creating the unique Carpenters sound. Karen's loss was deeply tragic, for all of us who loved the Carpenters' art and inexpressibly more so for Richard, as he lost his blood sister and musical partner and collaborator. She was irreplaceable. I feel certain he understood this which is why he never tried to.

he cruelly exploited karen, even many years after her death, he profited from his sister's record which he did not allow to release while she lived.