Billboard: Remembering Carpenters, 50 Years After Their Hot 100 Debut

[Carpe diem]

Happy 50th Anniversary to the release of the single Close To You!! The duo's greatest hit (4 weeks at the top of the "Big Chart"), their international breakout song, and of course the first time most of the world heard that unique and God-given voice of Karen's. And as a tribute to this momentous occasion in Carpenter history, let's go back in time and enjoy this beautiful Bacharach/David song as arranged by Mr Richard Carpenter:

 

[Harry]

Here's a picture of the rare mono single for "(They Long To Be) Close To You".

 

[newvillefan]

I think the 50th anniversary of their breakthrough single deserves its own thread. Billboard celebrates it here with this fitting tribute. This anniversary is nicely bookended in a way by the fact that it’s also 40 years since the Carpenters' last special aired on ABC, May 15, 1980.

Carpenters: Remembering the Sibling Duo 50 Years After Their Hot 100 Debut | Billboard

 

[Harry]

I think the 50th anniversary of their breakthrough single deserves its own thread. Billboard celebrates it here with this fitting tribute. This anniversary is nicely bookended in a way by the fact that it’s also 40 years since the Carpenters' last special aired on ABC, May 15, 1980.

Carpenters: Remembering the Sibling Duo 50 Years After Their Hot 100 Debut | Billboard

Your wish is my command.

 

[Carpe diem]

^^ Nice work Harry!!

 

[CarpentersToYou]

It’s so lovely to read such words in modern times even though we already know that Karen was the best. And it’s also nice to hear that no one has ever come close to her.

 

[Carpe diem]

Great piece by Paul Grein. He was part of that fantastic panel discussion that we were treated to at the 50th Anniversary celebration down in Thousand Oaks last year. Nice to have a music journalist that totally gets the duo.

 

[ericzs]

I vividly remember hearing it for the first time when I was 10, while driving down the 23 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, California in our station wagon.
I was instantly mesmorized by her voice!

 

[goodjeans]

I vividly remember hearing it for the first time when I was 10, while driving down the 23 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, California in our station wagon.
I was instantly mesmorized by her voice!

I love your recollection.

 

[CMW-UHD]

Happy 50th Anniversary to the release of the single Close To You!! The duo's greatest hit (4 weeks at the top of the "Big Chart"), their international breakout song, and of course the first time most of the world heard that unique and God-given voice of Karen's. And as a tribute to this momentous occasion in Carpenter history, let's go back in time and enjoy this beautiful Bacharach/David song as arranged by Mr Richard Carpenter:

Thanks for posting this up, I was 13 at the time of that Bob Hope show. It was also my first time seeing the Carpenters on TV. I have two LPs of The Carpenters, from the 70's still to this day are in very good condition. This is the 2nd time Viewing that of the Carpenters, 62 now. Karen and Richard where truly as good as Music artist can be. As all who know the Carpenters Karen's voice was one in 100000,000 and Richard's Musical geniuses unmatched even to this today.

 

[Mark-T]

Welcome to the Boards, ericzs and CMW-UHD!

 

[Rocky Boy]

Same age that Karen would have been. Still crushed.