Another Son
Well-Known Member
Millions were attracted to the Carpenters largely BECAUSE of their (well, mainly Karen's) warm and friendly image. Then they stuck with them because of the fabulous music.
Good points, Yamaguchi.
As a boy, I idolised Richard. Even with no TV in my life and no access to music magazines, I was well aware that he was the songwriter, arranger, producer and keyboardist, (I read every word on the record covers, jackets and labels), and admired him greatly for his talents.
However, I also idolised Karen. I loved the fact that she played the drums and had heard on the radio that she was a
'Tom-boy', as they put it, which I liked. I liked the fact that Richard and Karen were close as brother and sister.
The over-riding thing that drew me in, though, was their sound. I loved their harmonies, Richard's classically-influenced arrangements, his focus on the keyboards and, more than anything , Karen's voice. My fascination with their sound built up hearing them on the radio when I was seven, eight and nine and at the age of ten, I asked my Mum if she could buy my first Carpenters single for Christmas.