In one year, the Carpenters recorded two of their biggest hits. “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun” were featured on their second studio album, Close to You. The titular breakthrough recording hit No. 1 in just six weeks! “(They Long to Be) Close to You” stayed there for four consecutive weeks. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and painstakingly arranged by Richard, who was described as a musical perfectionist. Also included on the album was “Mr. Guder,” the ode to Disney management.
Describing his influence for their album “Close to You,” Richard said, “Les Paul and Mary Ford probably had the biggest influence on me because of the overdubbed sound. Boy, did Karen and I take to the whole multi-track thing.” Karen’s magical voice captivated audiences. The song “We’ve Only Just Begun” came from an ad jingle for Crocker National Bank. Richard requested the rights to it from Paul Williams and Richard Nichols, and then he and Karen transformed the tune for a wedding-themed TV ad into a No. 2 hit on the charts.
A Disney Rebellion
At college, Richard also met a songwriter named John Bettis. With Karen, the three formed the group 'Spectrum' with Bettis on guitar, Gary Sims on guitar, Dan Woodhams playing bass, and vocalist Leslie Johnston. It was their second band after the Richard Carpenter Trio dissolved. In Spectrum’s early, formative days, it was great news when Disneyland hired Richard and Bettis to play at the park.
They were booked to perform turn of the 20th century Dixieland jazz tunes, the same tunes that Richard and Karen loved as children. All went well until park patrons began requesting popular music songs. During the height of hippie music, they took requests like “Light My Fire” by the Doors, a somewhat controversial tune then, and were fired for it. Victor Guder dismissed the young musicians for being “too radical.” With indignation, Richard and his bandmate wrote a song called “Mr. Guder” in response.
Offering a “Ticket to Ride”
Though 'Spectrum' had a regular gig at the famous Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood and had even opened for the young Steppenwolf, by 1968, the group disbanded. This left Karen and Richard to form a duo and become the massive success called the Carpenters. In 1969, they signed a recording contract with A&M. Karen, who was 19 at the time, was required to have a parent co-sign.
Their first single was a beautiful, melancholic ballad rendition of the Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride.” Hitting No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, it didn't stop Paul McCartney from calling Karen’s vocals, “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive.” The duo called the album Offering. It was released on October 9, 1969, to positive reception. One Billboard critic said, “With radio programming support, Carpenters should have a big hit on their hands.”
Overshadowed by Her Big Brother
In Karen’s mother’s eyes, Richard was the musical genius. Richard was born to make it big in the music industry. It was all about Richard. Heartbreakingly, Karen did all she could to earn her domineering mother’s praise, but, after all, the family had moved from the East coast to bolster Richard’s musical career.
Even as the Carpenters had become a pop sensation with number one hit songs and a third album that went Platinum, four times, one person barely noticed Karen’s contribution to the duo. And that would be Agnes Carpenter, the siblings’ mom. For some reason, she failed to validate Karen’s achievement. Karen felt unloved.
Always a Tomboy at Heart
As a drummer, Karen was a rarity. Drumming has always been a sort of glass ceiling of the rock ‘n’ roll world for women, but she banged and busted through. She liked to call herself a drummer who sings. As a kid, she loved to play sports. She loved the New York Yankees and she loved playing ball in her old New Haven neighborhood. It was Karen who was into sports while her brother was inside playing the piano or listening to music.
Karen grew up in a very conservative family. President Nixon once referred to the Carpenters as “young America at its best.” And so, she probably took her mother’s view when it came to women’s liberation. Her mom stayed home and cooked for her husband and family, and Karen approved. They had an idyllic childhood, after all.