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
Yesterday Once More
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along, it made me smile
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's, so fine
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry, just like before
It's yesterday once more
Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
All my best memories come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry, just like before
It's yesterday once more
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" is a nostalgic, sentimental song that yearns for the simpler times of the past. The opening lyrics, "When I was young I'd listen to the radio, Waiting for my favorite songs, When they played, I'd sing along, it made me smile," evoke the feeling of innocence and joy that comes with the childhood memories of listening to the radio. The song continues to reflect on the "happy times" that were "not so long ago" and how the singer wonders where all those good times had gone. The lyrics reverberate with the essence of reminiscence and the longing for the past.
The song then goes on to describe how the old songs still shine, the nostalgia, the memories still come back, clearly and vividly. It evokes a sense of melancholy and bittersweet memories of the past. The song even describes how the sad parts of the old songs can bring a listener to tears, just like before. The lyrics encapsulate how music can take people back to their happiest memories, and how it has a healing power to wash away the years and bring those memories back as if it were yesterday once more.
Overall, Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" is a touching song about the power of music to trigger memories of the past and bring people back to the happiest moments of their lives when times were simpler.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young I'd listen to the radio
As a kid, I would listen to the radio.
Waitin' for my favorite songs
I eagerly anticipated my favorite songs.
When they played I'd sing along, it made me smile
I happily sang along to my favorite songs when they played.
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
Those were joyful days, and they do not seem so far away.
How I wondered where they'd gone
I often questioned where those happy times went.
But they're back again just like a long lost friend
Those times have returned, like a dear old friend.
All the songs I loved so well
Those beloved songs of mine are back too.
Every sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la'
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
All the 'wo-o-wo-o's' still sparkle.
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's, so fine
Those 'shing-a-ling-a-ling's' they're singing are absolutely superb.
When they get to the part
When they reach that segment
Where he's breakin' her heart
Where he's causing her heartbreak
It can really make me cry, just like before
It can move me into tears, much like it did before.
It's yesterday once more
It's as if I've gone back in time.
Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
Remembering how it used to be in the past
And the good times that I had
Recalling the good moments from that time
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed
Today seems somewhat dismal in comparison, things have altered greatly.
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
At that time, I would sing songs about love.
And I'd memorize each word
I would commit every word to memory.
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
Those classic melodies still bring me joy.
As they melt the years away
Listening to them makes me feel like the years are melting away.
All my best memories come back clearly to me
All my treasured memories are vividly recalled.
Some can even make me cry, just like before
Certain moments can still evoke tears, as they did previously.
Every sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la.'
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
All the 'wo-o-wo-o's' still sparkle.
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
Those 'shing-a-ling-a-ling's' they're singing are absolutely superb.
Every sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la.'
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
All the 'wo-o-wo-o's' still sparkle.
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
Those 'shing-a-ling-a-ling's' they're singing are absolutely superb.
Lyrics © Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright (VCPMC), Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Bettis, Richard Lynn Carpenter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peace-Humanity_123.
I was born in yr 1971. I was first introduced this song by my school music teacher.
It had become my lullaby song when I preparing my sons to bed.
He is an adult now. Few days ago, he came back home and shared excitingly with me that he heard this old song played in the restaurant. He was amazed that he can sing along and memoize every word of the lyrics correctly..He recalled when he was a boy,he found this song is so soothing and brings him calmness. He is happy to find back this old song.
I realised I have not played it for many years. This is the reason I am here today to play ‘ yesterday once more’ and find back my best memories…..
Thanks, Carpenters❤
@raycao4195
When I was young
I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile.
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
Lookin' back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed.
It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry.
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
@princedarius7224
Best advice I can give a youngster. Ask Jesus into your heart, and follow Him, and ask for His guidance and protection.
Your life will turn out just fine. Don't feel scared about the future.
20 years from now, the sun will still shine in a blue summer sky because God is faithful
20 years from now, birds will still sing praises to God each morning
20 years from now, little babies will still laugh and play
@edisoncutamora3167
If you listen this 2024 you are a legend ❤
@saramaki1088
💖
@neetapoddar6072
Me at 72😊n loving all the memories that come flooding back.
@lienchu6329
Lần đầu tôi nghe trên radio năm 1990
@rosevelasquez324
❤
@ellenmariemcdonagh4538
I'm 66 years old,my loving husband passed away in 2021 aged 63,this brings back wonderful memories ❤
@mixplix100
Tears, tears, tears. After these years. I'm 78.
@gevans3523
I'm about to turn 50. I remember being a child and hearing this on the am car radio pouring out like an angels voice that even came thru on crappie am radio and that one speaker. I get misty every time I hear this song to.
@MrHolzheim
HI Jude............I'm 71, and almost daily I thank Utube and all those wonderful people that upload the great music from the 50s, 60's and yeah, some from the 70's, some of which I missed at the time, mainly Doo wop. And yes, many of them can now cause my eyes to moisten as the memories come back. Where's my time machine. LOL.
@mymysticplanet3535
You're not crying alone there, Jude. I'm 80 and writing my autobiography with a box of tissues nearby. Lots of good memories and lots of loving people to remember, so many of them gone now.