Karen Carpenter's calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo's sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn't prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the '70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late '60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
Following Jacobs' departure, the siblings formed Spectrum with Richard's college friend John Bettis. Spectrum fell apart by the end of the year, but the Carpenters continued performing as a duo. The pair recorded some demos at the house of Los Angeles session musician Joe Osborn; the tape was directed toward Herb Alpert, the head of A&M Records, who signed the duo to his record label in early 1969.
Offering, the Carpenters' first album, was released in November 1969. Neither Offering or the accompanying single, a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride," made a big impression. However, the Carpenters' fortunes changed with their second single, a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Taken from the album Close to You, the single became the group's first number one, spending four weeks on the top of the U.S. charts. "Close to You" became an international hit, beginning a five-year period where the duo was one of the most popular recording acts in the world. During that period the Carpenters won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist of 1970, and had an impressive string of Top Ten hits, including "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye to Love," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World."
After 1975's number-four hit "Only Yesterday," the group's popularity began to decline. For the latter half of the '70s, the duo were plagued by personal problems. Richard had become addicted to prescription drugs; in 1978, he entered a recovery clinic, kicking his habit. Karen, meanwhile, became afflicted with anorexia nervosa, a disease she suffered from for the rest of her life. On top of their health problems, the group's singles had stopped reaching the Top Ten and by 1978, they weren't even reaching the Top 40. Consequently, Karen decided to pursue a solo career, recording a solo album in 1979 with Phil Ramone. The record was not completed at that time (though it would be released in 1996), and she returned to the Carpenters later that year. The reunited duo released their last album of new material, Made in America, in 1981. The album marked a commercial comeback, as "Touch Me When We're Dancing" made it to number 16 on the charts. However, Karen's health continued to decline, forcing the duo out of the spotlight. On February 4, 1983, Karen was found unconscious at her parents' home in Downey; she died in the hospital shortly after due to cardiac arrest, which was later due to the strain on her heart caused by years of crash dieting caused by anorexia nervosa.
After Karen's death, Richard Carpenter concentrated on production work and assembling various compilations of the Carpenters' recorded work. In 1987, he released a solo album called Time, which featured guest appearances by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
from http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=1607403&contenttype=artistsongs
Book Of Love
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything that you say
So I don't get lonely
When you are away
I've got a book of love
If you should
I'll add your book to my
Lovelorn library
I've got a book of love
I know you'd never try
To leave me
'Cause I've got a chain
Around your heart
And you'll never be free
I've got a book of love
The above lyrics to Carpenters's song Book Of Love convey the message of how much the singer values the relationship they have with their partner. The singer has created a "book of love" in which they write down every single thing their partner says so that they won't feel lonely when the partner is away. This gesture goes to show how much the singer values the presence of their partner in their life. The singer is so afraid of losing their partner that they even mention that they will add the partner's book to their "lovelorn library" in case they ever leave. This reveals how much the singer treasures the moments shared with their loved one and how much they fear separation from them.
Moreover, the lyrics talk about the singer's belief that their partner would never try to leave them. The singer further states that they have a chain around their partner's heart and that they would never be free from their thoughts. This line may sound a bit possessive, but it can also be interpreted in the sense that the singer is so intertwined with their partner that they cannot bear the thought of living without them. The Book of Love is a beautiful and heartfelt song that speaks of the importance of relationships, love, and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I record
I document
all of your words
everything you say
So that I won't feel alone
to avoid loneliness
when you're not here with me.
during your absence.
I possess a manuscript
I have a reference
that contains tales of love.
describing our affection.
In the event that
If it happens that
you depart,
you leave me,
your story will be added
your experiences will be included
to my collection of heartbreak.
to my archives of lost love.
I am certain that
I firmly believe
you would never attempt
you would never try
to abandon me,
to leave me,
'cause I have a bond
'cause I have a tie
covering your heart,
encircling your heart,
and you'll never escape.
so you'll never flee.
I've got a book of love.
I possess a book describing our affection.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lindsey Buckingham, Richard Dashut
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lady Tee
I freaking love how The Carpenters sings this like I can't stop watching it......I love n miss your beauitful voice Karen RIP!
Lady Tee
@Sylvia Davis she was
Sly Davis
Wow!!! Karen was so awesome
Polar Works
Corta pero con mucho ritmo muy buena! gracias por el subtitulo
MeloLand
Todavia en esos años Karen lucia espectacular fisicamente, una pena que su vida haya terminado pronto y espectacular la forma de interpretar de Richard.
RAMMSTORM
De nada aunque va super rapido y los subtitulos costaron ponerlos >.< !
RAMMSTORM
De nada aunque va super rapido y los subtitulos costaron ponerlos >.< !
Polar Works
Corta pero con mucho ritmo muy buena!
Polar Works
Corta pero con mucho ritmo muy buena!