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
Goofus
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A flaming youth who was bound that he'd fly away
I packed my grip and I grabbed my saxophone
Can't read notes, but I play anything by ear
I made up tunes on the sounds that I used to hear
When I'd start to play folks used to say
"Sounds a little Goofus to me"
Hold that note and change the key, that's called "Goofus"
Not according to the rules that you learn at music schools
But the folks just dance like fools, they go "Goofus"
Got a job but I just couldn't keep it long
The leader said that I played all the music wrong
So I stepped out with an outfit of my own
Got together a new kind of orchestree
And we all played just the same "Goofus" harmony
And I must admit we made a hit
The Carpenters' song "Goofus" is an uplifting and catchy tune about a young man who was born on a farm in Ioway with a passion for music. He packed his bag, grabbed his saxophone and set out to explore the world with no notes to read but with his ear as his guide. He made up his own sounds and tunes that he picked up along his travels, and people began to notice. When he played, they would say "Sounds a little Goofus to me." The young man didn't care - he loved the cornfed chords and rustic harmonies that appealed to him, and he would hold that note and change the key, much to the delight of the crowd. It wasn't according to the rules that he learned in music school, but the people would dance like fools and have a great time, all because of the "Goofus" tunes.
Eventually, the young man got a job, but it didn't last long as the leader believed that he played all the music wrong. So he went on his own and formed a new kind of orchestree. They all played the harmonies and sounds that he loved, and they became a hit wherever they performed. The song celebrates the beauty of being different, of finding one's own path, of following one's dream, and of not conforming to the standards that others set. It's about having fun, enjoying life, and making the most of the talents that one has. In a way, it's a message of hope and encouragement for anyone who's struggling to find their place in the world or who's been told that they don't fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born on a farm out in Ioway
I come from a humble background and started with very little
A flaming youth who was bound that he'd fly away
I knew I had potential and was determined to make it big in my own way
I packed my grip and I grabbed my saxophone
I packed what I had and pursued my dream with my saxophone
Can't read notes, but I play anything by ear
I don't have formal training in music theory, but I can pick up sounds and play them on my saxophone
I made up tunes on the sounds that I used to hear
I created my own music based on the sounds I heard around me
When I'd start to play folks used to say
People who saw me play would comment
"Sounds a little Goofus to me"
"Your music doesn't conform to traditional standards, it's a little quirky and unusual"
Cornfed chords appeal to me, I like rustic harmony
I enjoy the simplicity and rawness of country-style music
Hold that note and change the key, that's called "Goofus"
I have developed my own style of music that isn't taught in music schools, but I call it "Goofus"
Not according to the rules that you learn at music schools
My music doesn't follow traditional rules and guidelines of theory that are taught in music schools
But the folks just dance like fools, they go "Goofus"
Despite not being conventional or technically perfect, people still enjoy and dance to my music, which I call "Goofus"
Got a job but I just couldn't keep it long
I tried having a regular job but it didn't work out for me
The leader said that I played all the music wrong
My boss at that job didn't like the way I played music
So I stepped out with an outfit of my own
I decided to start my own band, with my own style of music
Got together a new kind of orchestree
I formed a new group with different musicians who were willing to play my style of music
And we all played just the same "Goofus" harmony
We all played my style of quirky, unconventional music called "Goofus" together
And I must admit we made a hit
To my surprise, our music was a success and people loved it, despite it being different than what they were used to hearing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLIAM HAROLD, GUS KAHN, WAYNE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Parker
on Happy
Wrong lyrics shown. Correct ones --- Happy by Carpenters
I've played the game of love before.
Too young to know
How hard the fall could be;
I never thought I'd try again.
Somehow you brought
The gambler out in me.
You can deal me in this time around.
Even though the odds are high,
We'll play them down.
You may be a chance I need to take,
And the hand I'm holdin' says it's no mistake.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
If this is luck then let it ride.
If it's the starts,
They're surely on my side.
I've never been so safisfied
By love before;
For all the times I've tried.
These beginnings could mean more
Than the brief affair I bargained for.
Little did I know, when we began,
That my time had come to win a hand.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
Please forgive me if I seem
To be walking through a waking dream.
Laughter never came so easily;
There's a freedom here that's new to me.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.