Billboard Article by Paul Grein - Remembering Carpenters, 50 Years After Their Hot 100 Debut

[__michael__]

Good read about Karen and Richard's career and their influence.

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

Nice new article by Paul, he always remembers her solo album work.
wow 50 yrs...so where is our 50th collectors item?

 

[Mark-T]

I met Paul Grein for lunch once long, long ago. He is a very nice man!

 

[A&M Retro]

Fantastic article! Just made my month.

I also met Paul at the 50th Anniversary event in Thousand Oaks. He was the one of the major highlights! Great guy with tremendous insight.

 

[Martin Medrano]

Very good read. I enjoyed it.

 

[Mike Blakesley]

It's nice to see him refer to the group's name properly throughout the article, even in the headline, and then he also goes on to explain that there is no "The" in their name. I've always enjoyed Grein's writing.

 

[John Adam]

Thank you Paul Grein.
And the answer to who coined the title to the Carpenters 1983 album, "Voice Of The Heart."

 

[Mark-T]

Thank you Paul Grein.
And the answer to who coined the title to the Carpenters 1983 album, "Voice Of The Heart."

Are you saying Paul came up with the name?

 

[GaryAlan]

^^The article by Paul Grein reads:
"Few singers have sung heartbreak ballads as well as Karen Carpenter -- because, we know now, she could relate.
Bettis, Richard's songwriting partner, alluded to that aspect of her vocal persona in the title he came up with for Carpenters' first album following Karen's death: Voice of the Heart.

 

[GaryAlan]

The Grein article leads to a Billboard Poll regarding Covers, so don't forget to vote (mine was for Dishwalla):
From Luther Vandross to Sonic Youth, Who Has the Best Carpenters Cover? Vote!

 

[goodjeans]

Good read about Karen and Richard's career and their influence.

Sublime article.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[Harry]

Nice new article by Paul, he always remembers her solo album work.
wow 50 yrs...so where is our 50th collectors item?

Well...how about digging out your 50 year old copy of "Ticket To Ride" and give it a spin!

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

Well...how about digging out your 50 year old copy of "Ticket To Ride" and give it a spin!

Great idea!!
I’ll have to dig out my WLP of Offering. I was hoping Japan might have done something special this year.

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

Thank you Paul Grein.
And the answer to who coined the title to the Carpenters 1983 album, "Voice Of The Heart."

I didn’t catch that on first read. Is this the first time we have heard that John Bettis came up with the title? Cool bit of info.

 

[Mark-T]

^^The article by Paul Grein reads:
"Few singers have sung heartbreak ballads as well as Karen Carpenter -- because, we know now, she could relate.
Bettis, Richard's songwriting partner, alluded to that aspect of her vocal persona in the title he came up with for Carpenters' first album following Karen's death: Voice of the Heart.

Thanks, GaryAlan. Somehow I missed that.

 

[Sabar]

"Impossibly lush." I'd never heard Karen's voice described that way. I like it.

 

[crescentnoon]

"Impossibly lush." I'd never heard Karen's voice described that way. I like it.

It's quite possibly the best word to describe her voice. The definition is - very rich and providing great sensory pleasure.

 

[MorningOpensQuietly]

What a great article! Very complimentary and comprehensive, but honest and realistic, too. Not over the top. He always has been a great reviewer with a keen sense of perception about K&C from the beginning.

 

[cam89]

Yes beautifully written!!

 

[Without A Song]

A nice overview of the duo's career, but as with many retrospectives on their career, I think it shortchanges Richard on not only his contributions to the act but also his prowess as a musician.

Paul Grein's article is rightly effusive about Karen's abilities, both vocally and musically; she was a transcendent talent with her voice and a trailblazing pioneer as a drummer for girls and women.

Still, there should have been more said about what Richard brought to the duo besides his skills at producing and arranging. His songwriting, which sometimes included lyrics as well as music. "Goodbye to Love" is duly noted by Grein as one of the first power ballads, but no mention is made that Richard wrote the music for that trendsetting song.

Likewise his talents on the keyboards went unmentioned as well, yet there are several songs where Richard's piano playing truly stands out, including "It's Going to Take Some Time," "This Masquerade," "Close to You" and of course, "Dizzy Fingers."

And I have to say I would be opposed to any induction of Karen into a music hall of fame without Richard unless the organization only honored women for their contributions to popular music. His contributions merit induction as well.