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
Overture
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Refrain
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Glory Gloria
in excelsios Deo
The lyrics to Carpenters' song Overture depict the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, an event that holds significant importance in the Christian faith. The song begins with the first Noel, which was announced by an angel to a group of shepherds tending to their sheep in the fields. The refrain "Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Isreal" serves to emphasize the rejoiceful occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ, who was to be the ruler of Israel. The star that shone in the east, beyond the shepherds, also appeared to signify the coming of the Messiah.
The second stanza of the song, set in Bethlehem, portrays a town that is still and silent even as the stars shine brightly above. Despite the seeming stillness and darkness, the lyrics suggest that a light shines bright in the town. This light represents the hope that the coming of Jesus Christ brings. The lyrics also suggest that the fate of humanity is intricately tied to the birth of Jesus Christ; as the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Bethlehem that night.
Overall, the song Overture is a beautiful rendition of the joyous occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ. The lyrics serve to emphasize the hope, joy, and significance that this occasion holds, not just for Christians but for all of humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
The first Noel the angel did say
The angel announced the first Noel
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
The angel's announcement was made to poor shepherds resting in a field
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
The shepherds were taking care of their sheep when they received the announcement
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
The arrival of the announcement coincided with a cold and deep winter's night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Repeated announcement of the word 'Noel'
Born is the King of Israel.
The birth of the King of Israel was the reason for the angel's announcement
They lookèd up and saw a star
The shepherds gazed upwards and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
The star was situated far in the east and was quite bright
And to the earth it gave great light,
The star illuminated the earth with great light
And so it continued both day and night.
The star provided light both day and night
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
A town where the birth of the King of Israel took place is currently very quiet
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
The stars pass by silently above the town as the people sleep soundly
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
Despite the darkness of the streets, there is an everlasting light shining in the town
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
All the hopes and fears of previous years are currently present in the town
Glory Gloria in excelsios Deo
Honor and praise to God in the highest
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE
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.