Carpenters

Profile:
American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of sister Karen, and brother Richard Carpenter.

Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970's. Though often referred to as "The Carpenters," their name on official releases and press materials was "Carpenters." During a period in the 1970's when louder and wilder rock was in great demand, Richard and Karen produced a distinctively soft musical style that made them among the best-selling music artists of all time.

Originally from New Haven, Connecticut, their parents decided to move the family west to Los Angeles, California. Richard and Karen originally played jazz, with Karen having an interest in playing the drums. They were briefly known as Spectrum and then Carpenters, where they then recorded for a small label, Magic Lamp Records. In their move West, they met Lou Adler who introduced them to Herb Alpert, who signed them to his label, A&M Records in 1969.

While Richard penned compositions with writing partner, John Bettis, many of the duos' hits were written by others and some were cover versions of established hits for other artists, such as The Beatles and Motown's, The Marvelettes. Their 1973 album, "Now and Then." B-side consists of a 9-song medley of 60's hits recorded like a radio show.

Carpenters' melodic pop, produced a record-breaking run of hits on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, and they became leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary genres. Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary Chart. In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.

During their 14-year career, Carpenters recorded 11 albums, five of which contained top 10 singles ("Close To You," "Carpenters," "A Song For You," "Now & Then" and "Horizon,") thirty-one singles, five television specials, and one short-lived television series. They toured the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, The Netherlands and Belgium. Their recording career ended with Karen's death in 1983 from cardiac arrest due to complications of anorexia nervosa. Extensive news coverage of the circumstances surrounding her death increased public awareness of the consequences of eating disorders.
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Albums

LPS-77923 Offering — Carpenters Carpenters Offering (Album) A&M Records LPS-77923 Venezuela 1969 Sell This Version
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none Navy Presents — Carpenters Carpenters Host Sam Riddle Carpenters Host Sam Riddle - Navy Presents US Navy Recruiting, US Navy Recruiting none US 1970 Sell This Version
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SP-4271 Close To You — Carpenters Carpenters Close To You (Album, Comp, MiniAlbum) A&M Records, A&M Records SP-4271 US 1970 Sell This Version
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HDAS 371-61 Carpenters — Carpenters Carpenters Carpenters (Album) A&M Records, A&M Records HDAS 371-61 Spain 1971 Sell This Version
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SLN 71-41, SLN 71-42, SLN 71-43, SLN 71-44 Sounds Like The Navy — Carpenters Carpenters Sounds Like The Navy(2xLP, Transcription) Sounds Like The Navy, Sounds Like The Navy, Sounds Like The Navy, Sounds Like The Navy SLN 71-41, SLN 71-42, SLN 71-43, SLN 71-44 US 1971 Sell This Version
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CSAM 1082 A Song For You — Carpenters Carpenters A Song For You (Album) A&M Records, A&M Records CSAM 1082 Mexico 1972 Sell This Version
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none Lawrence Welk — Carpenters Lawrence Welk With Guests Glen Campbell / The Carpenters* Lawrence Welk With Guests Glen Campbell / The Carpenters* - Lawrence Welk(LP, Transcription) U.S. Navy Public Service Radio none US 1972 Sell This Version
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SP 3601, SP-3601 The Singles 1969-1973 — Carpenters Carpenters The Singles 1969-1973 (Album, Comp, EP) A&M Records, A&M Records, A&M Records SP 3601, SP-3601 Canada 1973 Sell This Version
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SP-3519 Now & Then — Carpenters Carpenters Now & Then (Album) A&M Records SP-3519 Barbados 1973 Sell This Version
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GSW 301 / 2 Live In Japan — Carpenters Carpenters Live In Japan (Album, Comp) A&M Records GSW 301 / 2 Japan 1974 Sell This Version
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SP-4530 Horizon — Carpenters Carpenters Horizon (Album) A&M Records SP-4530 US 1975 Sell This Version
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DY-5007~2 Horizon / Love Will Keep Us Together — Carpenters Carpenters / Captain And Tennille Carpenters / Captain And Tennille - Horizon / Love Will Keep Us Together(LP, Promo, Smplr) A&M Records DY-5007~2 Japan 1975 Sell This Version
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28 335 XOT Live At The Palladium — Carpenters Carpenters Live At The Palladium (Album) A&M Records 28 335 XOT Germany 1976 Sell This Version
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SP 4581 A Kind Of Hush — Carpenters Carpenters A Kind Of Hush (Album) A&M Records, A&M Records SP 4581 Israel 1976 Sell This Version
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GP-2055 Passage — Carpenters Carpenters Passage (Album) A&M Records, A&M Records GP-2055 Japan 1977 Sell This Version
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AMP-6029 Christmas Portrait — Carpenters Carpenters Christmas Portrait (Album, Comp) A&M Records AMP-6029 Japan 1978 Sell This Version
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AMC-28021 Made In America — Carpenters Carpenters Made In America (Album) A&M Records, A&M Records AMC-28021 Japan 1981 Sell This Version
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AMC-28057 Voice Of The Heart — Carpenters Carpenters Voice Of The Heart (Album) A&M Records AMC-28057 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
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C 38253 An Old-Fashioned Christmas — Carpenters Carpenters An Old-Fashioned Christmas (Album) A&M Records C 38253 Australia & New Zealand 1984 Sell This Version
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LPR-73080 Lovelines — Carpenters Carpenters Lovelines (Album) A&M Records LPR-73080 Mexico 1989 Sell This Version
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23-26 Then, Now And Always:  A Carpenters Special — Carpenters Carpenters Then, Now And Always: A Carpenters Special(2xLP, Transcription) Westwood One 23-26 US 1989 Sell This Version
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069490880-4 As Time Goes By — Carpenters Carpenters As Time Goes By (Album) A&M Records 069490880-4 Indonesia 2001 Sell This Version
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00602577016325 Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra — Carpenters Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Album) A&M Records, Universal Music Group 00602577016325 Europe 2018 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

A&M 1142X Ticket To Ride — Carpenters Carpenters Ticket To Ride (Single) A&M Records A&M 1142X Canada 1969 Sell This Version
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H618, H 618, H-618 Cerca De Ti / Un Billete Compro — Carpenters Carpenters Cerca De Ti / Un Billete Compro (Single) A&M Records, Hispavox, Hispavox H618, H 618, H-618 Spain 1970 Sell This Version

Add Review

stanleyainsworth

stanleyainsworth

July 30, 2018
I love Karen always have I'm 60 yrs old and I still cry when I listen to you guys music. I've always felt I could have helped her . maybe not . But I still miss her I think she is the greatest, I'll miss her till I die, and hopefully after. You guys created something that is magical , will not ever be redone . It hurts to think she is gone , I loved her so much. and Richard your almost as good as Karen, and I still respect you. Your music made people feel good about themselves. Karen's voice is amazing, like the perfect rose' . I love her and you too.Thank you for all the music you have created.
See 1 reply
Xercus

Xercus

January 3, 2017
Yep, they were an amazing duo. Then again, if it were not for Karen Carpenter's alto voice, the whole thing would be mediocre. However, Richard managed to make her that little bit better and so it all made for a decade of solidity from a duo that really delivered the goods.
I personally don't see the point in everything being changed over and over by Richard through the years though (even if ever so slightly). Still I think he took the new times in and tried to his best ability and by all means, it is in reality almost never for the worse. Still I never got the point of these alterations... It worked in the original incarnation of the songs as well :)
rosesred

rosesred

May 30, 2015
Such an amazing duo!

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