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
Hideaway
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far from the shadows of my mind.
Sunlight and laughter,
Love everafter,
Oh how I love to find
A place to hideaway.
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
Knowing tomorrow
Brings only sorrow,
Where can I go to find
A place to hideaway?
Bright-colored pinwheels go round in my head.
I run through the mist of the wine.
But night and the music remind me instead
The world once was mine.
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day.
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping;
Love is for weeping
Oh how I long to find
A place to hideaway?
The Carpenters' song "Hideaway" is a poignant ballad about the search for a place to escape one's own thoughts and emotions. The lyrics speak of the need to find a "place to hideaway" from the "shadows of my mind" and the "sorrow" that tomorrow brings. The singer longs for "sunlight and laughter" and "love everafter," but is haunted by the memory of a lost love.
The second verse speaks of the singer's blind obedience to a commanding whisper, and the realization that the only escape from the pain is to find a place to hideaway. The image of "bright-colored pinwheels" going round in the head suggests a giddy, dizzying feeling, while "running through the mist of the wine" implies a desperate attempt to escape reality. However, the "night and the music" ultimately remind the singer of the world that once was theirs.
The final verse speaks of the futility of trying to replace a lost love, and the painful reality that dreams are only for sleeping, while love is for weeping. The longing to find a place to hideaway is never resolved, leaving the listener with a sense of melancholy and yearning.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to find a place to hideaway
I need to find a safe place to escape and avoid the things that cause me distress.
Far from the shadows of my mind.
I need to escape from the negative thoughts and doubts that preoccupy my mind.
Sunlight and laughter,
I seek a happy and positive environment free of negativity.
Love everafter,
I'm looking for a future filled with love and committed relationships.
Oh how I love to find A place to hideaway.
Escaping brings me comfort and happiness.
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
I blindly submit to someone else's expectations and commands.
Blindly follow where you lead.
I follow without questioning or considering the consequences.
Knowing tomorrow Brings only sorrow,
I expect that tomorrow holds only negative consequences and sadness.
Where can I go to find A place to hideaway?
I'm seeking another place to escape from the pain and anxieties of yesterday and today.
Bright-colored pinwheels go round in my head.
I have pleasant memories that preoccupy my thoughts.
I run through the mist of the wine.
I seek solace in alcohol and other vices.
But night and the music remind me instead The world once was mine.
The melancholic song reminds me of happier days when I felt the world was at my feet.
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day.
I'll try to save money for emergencies.
But where can I buy another you?
I'm grieving a lost loved one and I'm seeking a replacement that doesn't exist.
Dreams are for sleeping; Love is for weeping
I've replaced my hopes and dreams with grief and sorrow.
Oh how I long to find A place to hideaway?
I'm still looking for a safe haven to escape my negative thoughts and overwhelming emotions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RANDY SPARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Araceli Gaeta Martinez
I've got to find a place to hideaway
Far from the shadows of my mind
Sunlight and laughter, love ever after
For how I long to find a place to hideaway
I hear you whisper and I must obey,
Blindly follow where you'll be
Knowing tomorrow brings only sorrow
Where can I go to find a place to hideaway
Bright colored pinwheels go round in my head
I run through the mist of the wine
The night and the music remind me instead
The world once was mine
I'll save my pennies for a rainy day
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping
Love is for weeping
Oh, how I long to find a place to hideaway
Bru Schmidt
Love how her singing "floats" over the orchestration like a rare, fine instrument. Experts have said her vocals are stradivarius in quality & without peer. She also pulls us into her songs sweetly & without effort. Absolutely Brilliant!
Joe Hill
that's just a great way of putting it-
it does seemingly just 'float' over the orch ... she is my absolute favorite ... saw them live at the Arie Crown at McCormick Place in 1974 -it's interesting how the members of each generation can discover how absolutely fantastic she (they) was (were)Djalma Santos
😭😭😭
byron harkey
The 3rd and last concert we attended in November 1978 for The Carpenters was held at The Long Beach Terrace Theater where Karen sang Merry Christmas Darling....was so excited to see her sing Merry Christmas Darling that night!!!
Ma. Luisa Ighut
Without exerting effort, Karen sings magically. Her voice is very enchanting. It's like being caught in a very pleasant place that you didn't know exist.
Sharon Math
Love your comment
Richard White
No one that ever lived in my opinion could touch the voice of Karen Carpenter. She felt every word she sang and she not only touched your heart but your soul. Richard and Karen were both absolutely brilliant in what they did and Karen's voice cannot be explained in words. ONe of the greatest singers that ever lived. Karen!!!!!
Bru Schmidt
Well spoken, I couldn't have said it any better 😎
John Graham
Not one of the greatest,THE GREATEST.
Uss JimmyCarter
good grief! how can anyone be this good? the first time I heard her was "Close to You", I heard one note and stopped dead in my tracks. I had never heard a voice with such depth, beauty and the captivating emotion that she shared! there will never be another Karen Carpenter. GOAT! RIP Dear!