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
Hurting Each Othe
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ever had a love as sweet as my love
For nowhere in the world
Could there be a boy as true as you love
All my love
I give gladly to you
All your love
You give gladly to me
Oh why should it be that
We go on hurting each other
We go on hurting each other
Making each other cry
Hurting each other
Without ever knowing why
Closer than the leaves
On a weepin' willow, baby, we are
Closer dear are we
Than the simple letters A and B are
All my life
I could love only you
All your life
You could love only me
Tell me why then
Oh why should it be that
We go on hurting each other
We go on hurting each other
Making each other cry
Hurting each other
Without ever knowing why
Can't we stop hurting each other
Gotta stop hurting each other
Making each other cry
Breaking each other's heart
Tearing each other apart
Can't we stop hurting each other
Gotta stop hurting each other
Making each other cry
Breaking each other's heart
Tearing each other apart
The song "Hurting Each Other" by Carpenters is a timeless classic about a couple who love each other deeply, but they cannot seem to stop hurting one another. The song is an emotional tender ballad that explores the complicated, confusing and paradoxical nature of love. The song opens with the singer expressing that their love is a lot more profound and genuine than anyone else's in the world. He believes they are true to each other, and he happily gives his all to her because she reciprocates this gesture. The chorus, however, reveals that despite their love being so pure, they continue to hurt each other- crying and breaking each other's hearts.
Throughout the song, the lyrical imagery is compelling, especially when the singer describes their closeness- comparing it to the leaves on a weeping willow tree, where they are closer than A and B letters. Despite this, they hurt each other without knowing why, just like many couples who continue to have misunderstandings and disagreements, leading to emotional pain. The song ends with a plea, asking if they can't stop hurting each other and breaking each other's hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
No one in the world
Ever had a love as sweet as my love
The singer believes that their love is unparalleled and unmatched by any other in the world.
For nowhere in the world
Could there be a boy as true as you love
The singer believes that their lover is the truest and most sincere person in the world.
All my love
I give gladly to you
The singer is willing to give all their love to their partner without any hesitation.
All your love
You give gladly to me
The singer believes that their partner willingly gives all their love back to them without any reservations.
Tell me why then
Oh why should it be that
The singer is confused and curious as to why they keep hurting each other despite their strong love.
We go on hurting each other
We go on hurting each other
Making each other cry
Hurting each other
Without ever knowing why
The singer is acknowledging the fact that they keep causing each other pain and sadness without understanding why.
Closer than the leaves
On a weepin' willow, baby, we are
The singer feels that they are incredibly close to their partner, almost as close as the leaves on a weeping willow tree.
Closer dear are we
Than the simple letters A and B are
The singer feels that they are even closer to their partner than the letters A and B are to each other in the alphabet.
All my life
I could love only you
The singer believes that they will only be able to love their partner for the rest of their life.
All your life
You could love only me
The singer believes that their partner will only be able to love them for the rest of their life.
Can't we stop hurting each other
Gotta stop hurting each other
Making each other cry
Breaking each other's heart
Tearing each other apart
The singer is pleading with their partner to stop causing each other pain and heartbreak.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: GARY GELD, PETER UDELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deborahclarke3389
No one will ever replace this beautiful singer
@CarlsbadCADee
Concur 100%
@andrewzaltman6934
Damn right❤
@robertpiarulli6230
Ever
@AnnE-ed1fh
Agreed
@ninamartinez5171
Nope ❤
@drdickvagesq
Karen Carpenters voice was the best friend a song ever had.
@larryeidelman3322
Before there was "Auto-tune" and "Pro-Tools", there were just Pro's. Rest In Peace Karen, your buttery voice was perfect.
@dannyblack3814
When I listen to Karen , it always brings tears to my eyes . She has such a Beautiful voice. She will never be forgotten.
@Kim-iv4ty
Same here