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
Johnny B. Goode
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way back up on the woods among the evergreens
There stood an log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who'd never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunnysack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Old engineers in the train would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passed him by they would stop and say
Oh my but that little country boy could play
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, Johnny B. Goode
His mother told him some day you will be a man
And he will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear him play your music when the sun goes down
Maybe some day your name will be in lights
Saying, "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, go, Johnny
Go, go, Johnny B. Goode
The Carpenters' cover of Chuck Berry's classic "Johnny B. Goode" tells the story of a young, talented guitar player from Louisiana named Johnny B. Goode. Despite growing up in a log cabin and lacking any formal education, Johnny possess musical skills that impress even the passing engineers on the trains near his home. His mother recognizes his talent and encourages him to pursue a career in music, with hopes that he would one day become successful and famous. The lyrics of the song emphasize the importance of natural talent over formal education, and the idea that true success can come from hard work and dedication to one's craft.
The song was originally written and recorded by Chuck Berry in 1958 and became one of the most popular and recognizable songs in rock and roll history. The Carpenters' cover, released in 1973, features Karen Carpenter's distinctive vocals and Richard Carpenter's arrangements, taking on a slightly softer and more polished sound than the original.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
The story begins in Louisiana, which is close to New Orleans.
Way back up on the woods among the evergreens
In those woods among evergreen trees, there was a log cabin.
There stood an log cabin made of earth and wood
The log cabin was built with natural materials, including earth and wood.
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode was a young man who lived in that log cabin.
Who'd never ever learned to read or write so well
Johnny B. Goode didn't have much formal education.
But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell
Despite that, Johnny B. Goode was adept at playing the guitar, with a sound that resonated like a bell.
Go, go, go, Johnny
The song encourages Johnny B. Goode to keep going, to keep pushing himself.
He used to carry his guitar in a gunnysack
Johnny B. Goode would carry his guitar around in a sack made of burlap.
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
He would then find a spot to sit and play his music, often next to a tree by a railroad track.
Old engineers in the train would see him sitting in the shade
People passing by on trains would see Johnny B. Goode taking a rest in the shade.
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
And, as he played, he would use the rhythm of the passing train to accompany his strumming.
The people passed him by they would stop and say
Passersby would often stop to listen and admire Johnny B. Goode's skills.
Oh my but that little country boy could play
Many of these listeners were taken aback by just how talented and skilled Johnny B. Goode was, despite his rural upbringing and lack of education.
His mother told him some day you will be a man
Johnny B. Goode's mother had aspirations for him and told him he would grow up to be a man.
And he will be the leader of a big old band
Moreover, she believed that he had the potential to be the leader of a large musical group one day.
Many people coming from miles around
Johnny B. Goode began to develop a following and people came from far away to hear him play.
To hear him play your music when the sun goes down
People especially loved listening to him play as the sun went down.
Maybe some day your name will be in lights
And his mother's hopes were realized when Johnny B. Goode became famous enough to have his name in lights.
Saying, "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
People would see those bright lights and know that Johnny B. Goode was playing music that night.
Go, go, go, Johnny
And through it all, the song keeps urging Johnny B. Goode to keep going, to keeping pursuing his passion for music.
Go, go, go, Johnny
Once again, the song's refrain encourages Johnny B. Goode to keep pushing himself on his musical journey.
Go, go, go, Johnny
And again, the song emphasizes the importance of perseverance and hard work on the road towards musical success.
Go, go, go, Johnny
In the end, the song serves as a celebration of Johnny B. Goode's talent and of the American musical tradition he represented.
Go, go, Johnny B. Goode
And the song's final words echo the title, once more encouraging Johnny B. Goode to keep pushing himself and keep spreading his music to people around the world.
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.