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
Home For The Holidays
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For no matter how far away you roam
When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore
Gee, the traffic is terrific
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin' down
To Dixie's sunny shore
From Atlantic to Pacific
Gee, the traffic is terrific
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
The lyrics of Carpenters' song "Home For The Holidays" exude a sense of nostalgia and longing for home during the holiday season. The first verse emphasizes that no matter how far one roams, nothing can beat the feeling of being welcomed back to the familiar surroundings of home. The song sets this concept up by introducing a traveler who is making his way home for the holidays, specifically seeking a homemade pumpkin pie in Pennsylvania. The second verse emphasizes that people from all over the country are traveling to different regions for the holidays, causing traffic all over the nation. Despite the hustle and bustle, the song repeats the phrase "you can't beat home, sweet home," reinforcing the idea that home is the ultimate holiday destination.
The lyrics of "Home For The Holidays" are relatable to many because the holiday season is often associated with family, warmth, and nostalgia. The song encapsulates the feeling of longing to be back with loved ones and the comfort of being in familiar surroundings. Furthermore, the imagery of the homemade pumpkin pie and the different regional destinations adds a layer of specificity and realism to the song that makes it even more relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
Home is truly the best place to be during the holidays, nothing can compare to it.
For no matter how far away you roam
Even if you've been away for a long time, the feeling of being back home during the holidays is unmatched.
When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
You crave the warm, welcoming look of your loved ones while being away from them during the holidays.
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
Your home is an unrivaled place to be during the holidays, it's where you belong.
I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was headin' for
I encountered a man who lived in Tennessee and he was traveling towards
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
He had a desire to taste some delicious homemade pumpkin pie from Pennsylvania.
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore
People are going from Pennsylvania to Dixie's sunny shore.
From Atlantic to Pacific
From the East coast of America to the West coast of America.
Gee, the traffic is terrific
The traffic during the holiday season is very intense.
If you want to be happy in a million ways
If you want to experience the happiness in many different ways.
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
Your home is an incomparable place to be for the holidays.
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
Your home is an unrivaled place to be during the holidays, it's where you belong.
Lyrics Β© DistroKid, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Capitol CMG Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Stillman, Robert Allen
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.