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
Little Honda
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I'm gonna take a ride wih you
We're going down to the Honda shop
I'll tell you what we're gonna do
Put on a ragged sweat shirt
I'll take you anywhere you want me to
First gear it's all right
Third gear hang it tight
Faster (it's all right)
He climbs hills like the magic
Cause my Honda felt really light
When I go into the turn
Stick with me and hang on tight
I better turn on the lights
So I can ride my Honda tonight
First gear it's all right
Second gear real riot
Third gear hang it tight
Faster (it's all right)
The Carpenters' song "Little Honda" is an upbeat rock and roll tune that appears to be a tribute to the then-popular Honda motorcycles. It features a male protagonist who wakes up his partner early in the morning to take her for a ride on his Honda motorcycle. They go to the Honda shop and put on sweatshirts, ready to take on any adventure they please. The song then describes the power and agility of the Honda bike through the lyrics, "He climbs hills like the magic, 'cause my Honda felt really light. When I go into the turn, stick with me and hang on tight." The song even makes a reference to turning on the lights to ride the Honda at night.
On the surface, the song appears to be just a fun and lighthearted tune about taking a ride on a motorcycle. However, some believe that the song could be interpreted as a metaphor for teenage rebellion or freedom. The lyrics "I'll take you anywhere you want me to" and "When I go into the turn, stick with me and hang on tight" could be seen as a symbol of youth following their desires and taking risks.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wake you up early
I am excitedly anticipating an early start to our adventure.
Cause I'm gonna take a ride with you
I want to share this enjoyable ride with you.
We're going down to the Honda shop
Our intended destination is the Honda shop.
I'll tell you what we're gonna do
I will explain the fun activities we have planned for the day.
Put on a ragged sweat shirt
I suggest you wear a casual and comfortable outfit.
I'll take you anywhere you want me to
I am willing to take you wherever you desire.
First gear it's all right
Starting off in first gear is comfortable and smooth.
Second gear real riot
Engaging the second gear feels thrilling and exciting.
Third gear hang it tight
Holding on tightly while in third gear is necessary to maintain control.
Faster (it's all right)
Traveling faster is acceptable and does not cause any problems.
He climbs hills like the magic
The engine of my Honda performs exceptionally well when driving uphill.
Cause my Honda felt really light
Driving my Honda gives me the impression that the vehicle is relatively lightweight.
When I go into the turn
As I approach a curve in the road...
Stick with me and hang on tight
Stay with me and hold on securely during the turn.
I better turn on the lights
I need to switch on the headlights to ensure safe night driving.
So I can ride my Honda tonight
I am looking forward to a safe and enjoyable ride on my Honda tonight.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Brian Wilson, Michael Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Everythingman
The Carpenters need to release these amazing live performances on Spotify. YouTubes subscription music client is trash.
MeloLand
Great!!
A Rem
Yo La Tengo do an excellent version.