Remembered as schmaltzy elevator music, this sister-brother duo dominated the charts for much of the 1970s. Driven by the one-of-a-kind voice of Karen Carpenter and the orchestration of brother Dick, they epitomize the former power of television monoculture and the murky arc of cultural memory. It's THE CARPENTERS week!
Almost unlike any other group covered on the show, the clips this week are bountiful, explanatory, and filled with medleys. A recent viral clip of Karen ripping it up on drums on Your All American College Show in 1968 kicks off the podcast this week. The Carpenters play a medley of Burt Bacharach covers for skeptical injured vets at the height of the Vietnam War. Karen steps out front for the first time in 1973 on Johnny Carson. The Carpenters' first of many TV specials in 1976 is both illuminating and extremely silly. And we discuss the tragic demise of Karen and the mark left by her across culture.
Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!
Dancing in the Street, 8/31/1968 on Your All-American College Show
(They Long to Be) Close to You/Knowing When to Leave/Making It Easy on Yourself/(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me/I'll Never Fall in Love Again/Walk on By/Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, 11/8/1970 on The Ed Sullivan Show
Superstar/Rainy Days and Monday/Goodbye to Love/Mr. Guder, 11/6/1973 on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
The Carpenters' First Television Special, 12/8/1976
Please Mr. Postman/Merry Christmas, Darling/I Need To Be In Love/Christmas Medley, 12/24/1978 on Bruce Forsyth's Big Night
(Want You) Back in my Life Again, 11/2/1981 on The Merv Griffin Show
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