Is Karen Carpenter pop music’s saddest story?
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- Karen Carpenter died 40 years ago at the age of 32, a life mapped out in a new biography by Lucy O’Brien called Lead Sister. It’s a chilling, cautionary tale of how she and her brother became international stars and the devastating personal repercussions that were the consequence. Our conversation with Lucy covers the waterfront and includes …
… the perils of “helicopter parents”.
… why Richard was “The Chosen One”.
… a disastrous association with Nixon.
… destabilising press comments about weight issues and her “milksop presence”.
… what Hal Blaine said about her mother.
... the night she met Elvis.
… what singers need to survive.
… the private bebop language she invented.
… “Drummers are like hockey goalies. No-one knows how to talk to them apart from another drummer.”
… the howling disaster of her solo album.
… and what she discovered about her husband three days before she was due to marry him.
Lead Sister by Lucy O’Brien …
www.amazon.co....
The Carpenters’ first TV appearance, 1968 …
• Carpenters - Your All ...
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R.I.P. beautiful, Karen ! Love you, so ! ♥️💐
What a wonderful interview. Thank you so much. I have all of their albums, all of their singles, Karen's solo album and other biographies about her. And it's such a pleasure to see yet another about the late and great Karen Carpenter. She was a wonderful role model, especially during the 1970s, for girl drummers because it was basically unheard-of back then. She was my favorite singer, male or female, and she still is. RIP, KC!
Absolutely beautiful singer and amazing drummer. What a great insight into her life. When you listen back now and compare her voice too the overblown vocal gymnastics of today you begin to realise how much emotion she could effortlessly interject into her performance. Great show guys .👍
Apparently a fantastic roller skater as well that she fitted into the act
What brilliant, considered analysis. 40 years seems time enough to appreciate Karen as someone not merely tragic.
responsible for one of pop music's greatest guitar solos, Tony Puluso on Goodbye to Love
Played straight in to the desk. No amp shenanigans involved 😁🥸
Karen Carpenter sang with a maturity that made her sound older than she was and could, thus, sell you wisdom.
Definitely one of the saddest stories in pop music, alongside Badfinger.
Karen was a stellar talent, awesome drummer and incredible vocalist. A real tragedy how her life went! Will definitely check out this book. Great podcast!
Karen was simply one of a kind
She was gorgeous
I'm an old rocker, love Motorhead etc, but absolutely love/d Karen and the Carpenters.
Great interview. Big Carpenters fan here. Thank you! ❤
Another fine show, great quest and definitely my next book to read. In Downey, an L.A. suburb where the Carpenter house is there are two apartment buildings, which Karen and Richard purchased that share the names of two of their most popular songs "Close to You" and "Only Just Begun". In a way, I find it a better and more fitting tribute than the usual statue or plague to honor greatness.
Excellent episode, couldn't agree more about how sad her story is. Most people know the hits but they made some great albums too. The Karen Carpenter solo album is also really good.
At a tangent, and in happier news, Robert Forster is in the UK for some shows just now. Would love another podcast with him. If anyone likes him and hasn't heard "Tender Years" from the new album it's probably one of the best songs he's ever written and has a brilliant video!
I am a big fan of classic rock, disco, funk and 80s new wave. And I love the Carpenters!
Karen was magnificent
What a voice
What delivery…
I love Lucy O´Brien. I have her book about Dusty Springfield.
Sad story, indeed. Without regard to a specific genre two other artists desire mention when we talk about sad stories. Eva Cassidy (listen to her sing her version of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow') and Patricia Janeckova (listen to her sing 'How The West Was Won' when she was a High School Student). Both remarkable artists. Eva of melanoma at 32 years old. Patricia of breast cancer at 25 years old. When you listen to their work it will make you cry.
Saw them play the Albert hall on their first UK tour..Memorable.
She’s my dream girl 1969 thru 74 then that horrible disease started showing up she was so beautiful still don’t understand what such a brilliant talented woman was seeing in the mirror another sad story was Tammy Terrell she was only 24 when she died
Karen's Story Is Beyond Sad Is The Book Already Out I Have To Get One
A&M and Herb Albert made a mistake in not releasing Karen's solo album. Admittedly, not every song was a gem -- but that's true of most albums. There were a few songs that showed Karen in a new light -- and would have been well-received in that era.
for sure because disco was all the rage then.
❤ yesyes 1983 saddest 😢 😞 😔 💔 in the 1974 isthe the last one music 🎶 🎵 god bi 😢 🙏 💔 ❤️
One of my 3 top female Vocalists,
Karen, Patsy Cline, and Annie Haslam of Renaissance.
I had an early teen relationship in 1970, and "Close to you" was the theme song!
There was a strong divide in the early 1970's in the US radio listening public between easy listening, soft rock, and FM aor Rock. I was an FM rocker, and became more of an English/ UK anglophile- still to this day.
I recognized Karen and Richard's writing and singing skills in the late 1980's.
Someone did let Karen go onstage in some very poorly fitting outfits. I don't blame her for being upset at how they looked. The 2 that come to mind had halter tops. Putting some shapewear on her would have done wonders.
Jim Croce had a pretty sad story, working so hard for his success and poised for even bigger things when he died leaving a wife and young child.
If there is any redemption, she has gone down as the greatest female voice in history. ♥
I wonder if she knew it.
@@johnbrowneyes7534 seemed to be pretty insightful. So, I'm gonna say she knew she was up there.
No badfinger!
Judee Sill?
Scott LaFaro?
@@trystero13 Randy Rhodes, Richard Manuel... the list is endless.
Two suicides and a career of horrors badfinger had bad luck
Too much use of the definitive article. Let’s just call them ‘Carpenters’, shall we?
They were known worldwide as The Carpenters so what’s wrong with that?
Karen and Richard carpenter spent their formative years in Connecticut and not California. They were Connecticut kids from New Haven
Is she reading from notes?
Sure looks that way. Began wondering if her book was ghost written, and she was just now familiarizing herself with the material. :))
P.s. But Lucy comes across as a very nice person, regardless.
I hear BBC Music is in very serious trouble, borrowed time as far as I know. That last 'Hootananny' was the last straw. All first 1/4 contracts for live musicians and technical crews are now void going into second 1/4 of 23. Major changes to BBC music or what will be left of it will be announced shortly. Watch this space ...G...
What the hell does Nixon have to do with anything?
He was a fan and he invited Karen and Richard to perform at the White House.
@@rangerannie5636 when he introduced them at the White House, he said comments to the effect that "this is what young America is really like." At the height of Watergate, this was a kiss of death in the USA for a pair what were already cast as "squares." Quite inaccurate and unfair, and ended up sticking to them permanently.
Lucy, Did you ever meet Karen? Did you ever talk to her? Probably not. Some of the statements you make are true but many are not. Karen was one of a kind. Very talented & very nice.