The Serious Side of Karen Carpenter

This photograph of Richard and Karen Carpenter seems like one that has been used for their Lovelines disc in 1989. But look again. This one has a shot of Karen without a smile. Although it is a very nice shot, she looks much, much older than 30 or 31 when this photo was taken. By this point in time, anorexia had taken its toll on the much loved woman with the golden voice. There's a wedding ring, but her marriage to Tom Burris was not the great hit he promised it would be.

Photographer Norman Seeff captured them at an interesting time in their careers and in their personal life.

As seen at the top of this article, the serious pose seems even more pronounced when viewed in black and white. Karen is looking into our souls even if we appear to be gazing right into hers. Richard is contemplative. It's a stark contrast to their sunny All-American image.

With 1981's lackluster sales and airplay of their comeback album Made in America, the duo was forging ahead. Something would connect for Carpenters. They'd had too many hits and too much of a worldwide fan base for it not to. But time was not on Karen's side...

(Photograph by Norman Seeff.)

A Haunted Karen Carpenter

"It's like being haunted. It's the worst thing in the world." Singer Karen Carpenter, discussing anorexia.

A quote from Ray Coleman's book on the Carpenters, The Untold Story, this quote from Karen stuns us with its bluntness and stark portrayal of living with the deadly disease Anorexia. It wouldn't be too long after speaking to Mr. Coleman that Karen would pass away from this very disease.

At one point she said, "I may not be in control of anything else, but I am in control of my body." 

A beautiful life melting away.

How the world mourned her passing! Oh, the what should of and what could have been! The songs unsung. The life cut short. The joyous adventures unexplored. 

Surprisingly, I discovered a Bible verse that unintentionally applies to her struggle:

"They acted like fools in their rebellious ways, and suffered because of their sins. They lost their appetite for all food, and they drew near the gates of death."  (Psalm 107:17-18)

Karen was just like the rest of us- created in God's image but sinful and in need of a Savior. (Information about her last hours are here.)

I've seen too many friends struggle with all sorts of issues. Me, too. Yours may not be anorexia. Some admit they need help, and get it. Others never do. 

Don't let your life be cut short by not getting help.

Please- if you or someone you know is struggling, get help. Be courageous and lovingly come alongside them and speak truth. You'll never regret that you did.

Thank you, Karen, for your contribution to our world. Please know that you're remembered for much more than your illness.

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2025 Note: This is part of a continuing series on the music and lives of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews, the more extensive articles than my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings and focus on various aspects of the individual disc's creation, promotion, and public reaction.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

The Legacy of Karen Carpenter

"When I was young, I'd listen to the radio, waiting for my favorite songs."

The opening lines from the Carpenters' hit "Yesterday Once More" seem to ring of days gone by. In fact, it was 33 years ago the world lost the greatest female voice of the seventies and of her generation. On that day, Karen Carpenter passed away, but the very memorable music she crafted with her gifted brother Richard continues to reach new fans every decade since.

Unfortunately, her death from anorexia nervosa overshadowed her art in the earliest years, but the public has moved on to finally first recognizing her as the amazing artist she was- a once in a lifetime vocalist. With brother Richard as arranger, songwriter, producer, and musical partner, the Carpenters were a recording act for all time. 

"Close to You", "We've Only Just Begun", "Rainy Days and Mondays", "Superstar", "Goodbye to Love", "A Song For You", "Top of the World", "Only Yesterday", "Please Mr. Postman", and of course, Karen's favorite "I Need to Be in Love". Playful or serious, these incredible recordings defined music in their time and are still played today. Even as the duo's popularity waned, the least of their best selling albums contained instant classics. Enough hits to fill two full discs of music without a trace of filler. 

Karen's voice was instantly recognizable, the mark of a great artist.  Pure tones without having to scream to make an impact. No studio tricks in order to make you listen. Just talent. Intimate, engaging, richly deep, and sensual. All those wonderful multi-tracked vocals of the brother and sister displayed Richard's genius in arranging the songs and producing Karen's voice.  

Do you ever wonder why you don't hear covers of Carpenters songs on The Voice or American Idol? Easy. Although Karen made it all sound simple, in reality, the songs were very difficult to perform, and only the finest vocalists would attempt them. Yet, Karen's voice along Richard's production combined to make their versions definitive. Even Christmas songs became theirs. When no one else was recording these favorites, they set the new standard for holiday music with their 1978 release of "Christmas Portrait". 

Photo from her long delayed solo album.

Karen's influence is still heard today. Every time I hear Adele sing "Someone Like You", I hear Karen and her first take- the one released as a single- on the Leon Russell classic "Superstar". Vocalists as varied as Rumer, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, k.d. lang, Shania Twain, and Christina Aguilera have named Karen an influence. Even British singer Harriet, a lovely woman with a voice that sometimes is eerily similar, wisely avoids doing covers of Carpenters songs. Mostly.

As part of a duo or a solo artist, there's only one Karen Carpenter. The woman could sing, and she could sing anything. Try out one of these lesser known, non-single, favorites from their/her catalogue-

Album Title: Song

Ticket to Ride/Offering:  All of My Life

Close to You: Baby It's You

Carpenters (aka Tan album): Hideaway

A Song For You: Road Ode

Now and Then: Our Day Will Come

Horizon: Desperado

A Kind of Hush: Boat to Sail

Passage: B'wana She No Home

Made in America: Strength of a Woman

Voice of the Heart: Ordinary Fool

Lovelines: Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night

As Time Goes By: Karen's medley with Ella Fitzgerald

Karen Carpenter: Still Crazy After All These Years

For those of you new to the duo or to Karen, what wonderful discoveries await you! For those of you already familiar with their work, it will be a trip down memory lane. Want more Karen and Richard? To date, there's over 80 more posts on this blog, including album reviews, very rare photos, and much more.

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Follow this link if you want to read about Karen's last hours and the documentary that was made about it. 

This is part of a continuing series on the albums of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews of each album and then my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings about the creation and promotion and success of each disc.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

Young Karen and Richard

There's something so sweet about this early photo of Karen and Richard Carpenter! Perhaps it was early enough in their career and they hadn't been spoiled by their hard earned success or dealt the difficulties that would forever impact their lives. Regardless, the sweetness comes through. Decades later, fans continue to discuss their career and lives, debate the merits of the solo album projects, and most of all enjoy the absolutely unique and lovely artistry for which they were known.

For Die Hard Fans of Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter. She and brother Richard made some of the most beloved and hated music of the 1970s. As Carpenters (no "The"), the music flowed until 1983, when she died of complications of anorexia.

Arguably, one of their best albums was the A&M Records classic, A Song For You, containing five hit singles. The title track is a Leon Russell composition which no other singer has been able to perform as warmly or as convincingly. The disc is almost a greatest hits on its own as it also holds Top of the World, Goodbye to Love, and Hurting Each Other. Along with minor hit It's Going to Take Some Time, written by Carole King, and I Won't Last A Day Without You, the album was another smash, the third platinum release for the duo.

The photo session for the upcoming album included this shot- a beautiful portrait I had never seen previously. Enjoy in full size by clicking on it.

Each Carpenters album holds its treasures. Want to read about each one and their impact on this writer? A series going album by album, with musical history, tons of photos, and insights, can be found starting here. 

Notable and Quotable: Karen Carpenter

"It's like being haunted. It's the worst thing in the world."
Karen Carpenter, discussing anorexia

A quote from Ray Coleman's book on the Carpenters, The Untold Story, this quote from Karen stuns with its bluntness and stark portrayal of living with the deadly disease Anorexia. It wouldn't be too long after speaking to Mr. Coleman that Karen would pass away from this very disease.

I've seen too many friends struggle with all sorts of issues. Some admit they need help, and get it. Others never do. Please- if you know someone struggling, be courageous and lovingly come alongside them and speak truth. You'll never regret that you did.

And thank you, Karen, for your contribution to our world. You're remembered for much more than your illness.

Gaga's New "Act"

Lady Gaga's new act is sure to induce some vomiting. At least her own. The CNN report here details some new aspects of her stage performance that is going to leave some of us heaving. She's already crossed the boundaries of good taste too many times. So many times in fact, that I have referred to her as "Lady GagMe". Now it seems to fit even more.

Karen Carpenter: Toxic Waste Under Fantasyland

Randy L. Schmidt's new biography on Karen Carpenter is one fascinating read.

As someone who has followed the career and personal lives of Karen and Richard Carpenter for almost 40 years, I was alternately, surprised, dismayed, curious, angry, sad and ultimately touched by his portrait of a beautiful young woman who could not escape the toxic world she actually lived in- the world far beyond the pristine Fantasyland imagined by listening to her art. No wonder the woman loved the recording studio!

The Carpenters hits on A&M Records almost seem to deny what was under the surface of it all: a possessive and insecure mother, a passive but loving father, and a strangely codependent and sometimes destructive relationship with her brother and musical partner. Yet a second look at their albums reveals the truth is there- see "Road Ode" from A Song for You album, "Ordinary Fool" from Voice of the Heart, and yes, "I Need to Be in Love" from A Kind of Hush.

Randy's book provides some insight into the reasons Karen struggled with anorexia but allows the reader to draw his own conclusions. Her life is more the focus than her career, but Randy balances the story well, including exposing real life bad guy ex-husband Tom Burris for what he was. Bravo to Karen's friends Karen "Itchy" Ramone and Frenda Franklin for daring to speak out.

Some little tidbits of new information will make you want to pick up this book:

• Olivia Newton-John discussed working with Karen both in the studio and on tour
• The truth behind Karen's marriage and why it was doomed before it happened
• Karen was offered "Rock with You" and "Off the Wall" before Michael Jackson
• Richard's shocking and short sighted response to her about the solo album

In all, we've got the story of a very real woman trapped by her own success and emotionally held captive by her family. Yet Karen was not an innocent bystander. Randy also reveals her flaws and human shortcomings, with her own destructive behavior towards herself and those who crossed her. Again, it's a fascinating read that will make you listen to the music with your eyes open.
Go here to see details and buy the book.

If you want to see/read more about Karen's last hours, this post will interest you.

Want more Karen and Richard? To date, there's over 100 more posts on this blog, including album reviews, rare photos, and more.

Karen Carpenter: Anything But An Ordinary Fool

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the death of Karen Carpenter.

As the Carpenters, she and her brother Richard crafted some of the most beautiful music of the latter half of the twentieth century. 
Maybe of the century. 

Musical artists as Madonna to Gloria Estefan and seemingly thousands of others praised Karen's golden voice and Richard's thoughtful arrangements, but it was their fans that made her a star. The warmth of her voice, the accessibility of their music, and the overall fine choice of song, arrangement, and production made them an act that would endure.

Hit after hit graced the airwaves until this day in 1983. Then it stopped- only to be heard again at Christmas when their Merry Christmas Darling remains a must hear.

So, today especially, rest in peace, Karen. And thank you for the music.

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Note: The impact of their music is profound. As part tribute and part review, I have begun a series of posts about each album. For those interested, the series begins here.

Newest Face of Anorexia?

Is Victoria Beckham a victim of anorexia? Is the newest American Idol judge in trouble? Look at the photo from USA Today and judge for yourself. Wasn't the loss of Karen Carpenter enough to warn everyone excessive dieting is nothing to play around with? So sad, so sad.
(Photo by USA Today)