If you could have scored tickets to a Carpenters concert (first time or if you could again), what would be your dream set list?

[Nemily]

Set list from Honolulu 11-23-1970

Help, Get Together, Ticket to Ride, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Bacharach Medley (studio album version), Reason to Believe, Cinderella Rockefella, We’ve Only Just Begun (encore) Merry Christmas Darling

Set list from Royal Albert Hall, London 9-24-71

(They Long to Be) Close to You, We’ve Only Just Begin, Rainy Days and Mondays, Please Mr. Postman, Love is Surrender, For All We Know, Reason to Believe, Mr. Guder, Maybe It’s You, Superstar, Merry Christmas Darling, Ticket to Ride

Set list from Melbourne, Australia 5-24-1972

Help, Love is Surrender, Ticket to Ride, For All We Know, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Cinderalla Rockefella, Superstar, Bacharach Medley (Anthology version), Hurting Each Other, We’ve Only Just Begun

Set list from Amsterdam 2-16-1974

Superstar/Rainy Days and Mondays/Goodbye to Love, Top of the World, Help, Mr. Guder, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Jambalaya (On the Bayou), Yesterday Once More, Oldies Medley, Sometimes, We’ve Only Just Begun

Set list from South Bend 5-18-1975

We’ve Only Just Begun, Only Yesterday, For All We Know, Top of the World, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Superstar/Rainey Days and Mondays/Goodbye to Love, Mr. Guder, Bacharach Medley (Anthology version), Oldies Medley, Sing

Set list from New London Theatre 11-28-1976

A Kind of Hush, I Need to Be in Love, Strike Up the Band Medley, From This Moment On, Warsaw Concerto, Medley of Hits ( (They Long to Be) Close to You, For All We Know, Top of the World, Ticket to Ride, Only Yesterday, I Won’t Last a Day Without You, Hurting Each Other, Superstar, Rainy Days and Mondays/Goodbye to Love), We’ve Only Just Begun

 

[Mark-T]

My Fantasy Concert: (Full article and Photos at Karen Carpenter's 1983 Concert)

Beginning with a new instrumental introduction, a very brief overture made up of three of their biggest hits, we hear Karen's voice from off stage- "I've been so many places in my life and time..." She lingers on the lyrics as she walks out to thunderous applause with the lights also showcasing Richard. Once it dies down, Karen continues with a full version of the iconic Leon Russell tune, A Song for You, as the audience claps wildly. Karen and then Richard welcomes the audience. No gimmicks or lines written for them. Natural, heartfelt, personal.
The pace picks up as the duo launches into their latest single, Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night, and then follows it with the next single to be released, the new Carpenter/Bettis ballad, In Love Alone. A smartly styled version of the old Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway classic, Where is the Love, follows. No duet, just Karen on lead with Richard's superb backing vocals. It's breezy and light, the perfect album cut. It wouldn't be a Carpenters concert without Karen performing her old favorite, I Need to Be in Love.
Next to come, a short look backward. Richard introduces a newly constructed mini Bacharach Medley- the one he originally wanted to do before Burt changed it up at the last minute back in 1970. It's got a full length take on A House is Not a Home. Karen hasn't lost her touch caressing a lyric!

With the next upbeat number complete- the one where Karen is finally on the drums, she departs as the room shifts to a late night jazz cafe. The lighting slowly changes to a soft blue color and three background singers appear off to the side. Richard loosens his bow tie, and the band takes on an instrumental number. Showcasing each player as he introduces them, this break gives Karen time to change. She comes back in a period appropriate outfit that's also contemporary but not trendy. Classy and elegant befitting the duo's superstar status.

Beginning with In the Wee Small Hours, the room goes quiet as Karen begins. It's from their upcoming Great American Standards disc due in a few months. Moving on to This Masquerade, Richard shows off his skills at the keyboard. The last two songs in the set display the duo's strengths- incredible vocals by Karen and top notch production by Richard: Ordinary Fool and I Can Dream Can't I? Once Dream begins, the lighting changes once again and the curtain goes up to reveal of the full orchestra that's been behind them all along.

A new Hits medley wows the audience before the crowd departs. We've Only Just Begun indeed!

 

[Nemily]

Moving on to This Masquerade, Richard shows off his skills at the keyboard.

Mark, your dream concert would have been EPIC. I love it. Did they ever perform in concert This Masquerade?

 

[Mark-T]

@Nemily - Not to my knowledge.

 

[Portlander]

My dream set list would only include ONE medley and that would be the Bacharach arrangement. All of their hits would be performed in their entirety for a two hour concert with a 15 minute in intermission. I agree with Mark, "This Masquerade" would be Richard and Karen's showcase musically and there would be no need for the "Warsaw Concerto" or the Spike Jones skit. A short oldies lead in for "Yesterday Once More" would be acceptable followed by "Please Mr Postman" to round out the nostalgic portion of the show. "Goodbye to Love" would close out the first half of concert with Cubby as the guest drummer.

The solo spotlight for Karen would be "You're the One" with only piano in the background. "Top of the World" would be turned into an audience participation sing a long with the house lights on and their encore would include "Won't Last a Day Without You" (with the extended piano at the end for Richard) and "We've Only Just Begun" minus the holding hands like a married couple. Air Supply would be their opening act and our friend Stephen from this site would be hired to introduce both duos and personally escort me and my date(s) to our front row VIP seats!

 

[Murray]

Air Supply would be their opening act and our friend Stephen from this site would be hired to introduce both duos and personally escort me and my date(s) to our front row VIP seats!

Were you thinking of taking more than one date to the same concert? Well, it you're going to dream, you might as well dream big!

You hear that Stephen, he's got you working as both emcee, and usher... play your cards right, and you may even get to sweep up after!

 

[Portlander]

He has also accepted the position of the Carpenters manager in another thread which makes him extremely versatile. In my dream scenario, having VIP seating for an Air Supply/Carpenters concert the odds would be on my side that I could convince two dates to join me for the evening, Then reality strikes and they both ditch me after the meet and greet backstage for two members of Air Supply's touring band.

 

[Murray]

He has also accepted the position of the Carpenters manager in another thread which makes him extremely versatile. In my dream scenario, having VIP seating for an Air Supply/Carpenters concert the odds would be on my side that I could convince two dates to join me for the evening, Then reality strikes and they both ditch me after the meet and greet backstage for two members of Air Supply's touring band.

And in an unexpected twist, Karen sees your dates ditch you. Feeling sorry for you, she invites you to join her, Richard, and the band for a late dinner. You have the time of your life. Afterward, they have their chauffeur drive you home in their limo. Stephen is driving the limo!

 

[newvillefan]

You hear that Stephen, he's got you working as both emcee, and usher... play your cards right, and you may even get to sweep up after!

He has also accepted the position of the Carpenters manager in another thread which makes him extremely versatile.

It would be an honour, sir! This way please Jim, you’re front row and centre for the show

 

[Portlander]

Murray, you are a visionary!

 

[Nemily]

And in an unexpected twist, Karen sees your dates ditch you. Feeling sorry for you, she invites you to join her, Richard, and the band for a late dinner. You have the time of your life. Afterward, they have their chauffeur drive you home in their limo. Stephen is driving the limo!

You guys have a great imagination.Cheers.

 

[Nemily]

My dream set list if I was able to see them in concert would have been in 1970-ish similar to the one at Honolulu below when they had that raw, vital energy.

Set list from Honolulu 11-23-1970

Help, Get Together (with Karen's lead), Ticket to Ride, (They Long to Be) Close to You, Bacharach Medley (13 minute version adding Any Day Now and Bay it's you), Reason to Believe, Cinderella Rockefella, We’ve Only Just Begun (encore) Merry Christmas Darling