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
From This Moment On )
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only two for tea dear from this moment on
From this happy day no more blue songs
Only hoopty-do songs from this moment on
For you got the love I need so much
Got the skin I love to touch
Got the arms to hold me tight
You got the sweet lips to kiss me good night
We'll be riding high babe
Every care is gone
From this moment on
The Carpenters' hit song "From This Moment On" is a declaration of love and commitment that affirms the beginning of a new chapter in a romantic relationship. The first stanza sets the scene for an intimate tea party, a cozy moment for two people in love who want to enjoy every moment they spend together. The reference to "blue songs" and "hoopty-do songs" suggests a shift from sadness and melancholy to joy and happiness, signalling a new phase in the couple's relationship.
The second stanza is a tribute to the lover's physical traits that make them irresistible to one another. The singer acknowledges the love they share and describes the lover's qualities that make them the perfect partner. The final stanza is a promise of a bright and happy future together. As the couple embarks on a new journey, they do so knowing that all their worries and cares are behind them.
Overall, the lyrics to "From This Moment On" are a heartfelt expression of love that celebrates the beginning of a new relationship. They capture the excitement and joy associated with falling in love and committing to a future together.
Line by Line Meaning
From this moment on you and me dear
Starting now, you and I, my beloved, will be together.
Only two for tea dear from this moment on
We will only need each other from now on; the world can wait for us.
From this happy day no more blue songs
Today onwards, we will forget our past sadness and live in the present.
Only hoopty-do songs from this moment on
We will only sing cheerful songs and live joyously going forward.
For you got the love I need so much
I have been searching for love, but now I have found it in you.
Got the skin I love to touch
Your skin is so soft and comforting, and I want to feel it all the time.
Got the arms to hold me tight
Your strong arms are my refuge, where I feel safe and protected.
You got the sweet lips to kiss me good night
Your lips are everything I need to end my day and welcome a new one.
From this moment on, you and I babe
Our lives have intertwined, and we are together from now on.
We'll be riding high babe
Our love will lift us up high and bring us closer to our dreams.
Every care is gone
All of our worries and troubles melt away in the face of our love.
From this moment on
Our love will continue to flourish and be the cornerstone of our lives.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron SEVENTIESMUSIC
One of the best singers ever!!!
HaFannyHa
This is so beautiful it makes me ache. I miss Karen so much, such an inspirational singer. Richard is still so underrated as a musician and arranger. Bach and Cole Porter? Works wonders!
Carrie
Karen's voice is the most finely tuned instrument i've ever heard in my life. Near perfect!
rpsnet
Outstanding, superb, sublime!
Martin Tobin
I'm in love with this! It's some of the finest music-making I've ever heard!
Martin Tobin
Out of this world! The phrasing, the timing, the vibrato... It's impeccable!
Ronald Zincone
The greatest female vocalist (and drummer) of all time EVER!!! "The Voice" of all voices!!!! Keep the legacy going!!
PaddleADK
Love Love Love this song!!!! Karen is absolutely amazing with her voice on this song. Richard is amazing on the piano!!! Thank you for posting this song and the video is wondeful yet you do a wonderful job on your videos all the time. Good job!!!! Thanks again for posting.
Sonya Katasheva
Brilliant!! I love this.
Deborah Cummings
A beautiful lady with a voice to match.