Adele is making waves these days and nobody could ever ignore Ann Wilson’s pipes, or the style of Janis Joplin. But one would be hard pressed to find a better female singer then Karen Carpenter.
Along with her brother Richard, Karen forged a soft pop rock trail with the Carpenters that saw the band grab three Grammys and produce 20 gold records in their heyday.
On Saturday, December 5, 2015, Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters will premiere on public television. This comprehensive documentary looks back at the brother-and-sister duo who truly set the world alight with their catchy, mellow hits.
Richard offers commentary throughout the whole film; insights only he can give, as we watch his youthful self plucking through snippets of the band’s arrangements at the piano.
There is archival footage of the band, well before they were called the Carpenters. There’s also footage of the music videos they made at the time, appearances the band managed on various TV shows, and rare clips like Richard and Karen performing “Yesterday Once More,” arguably one of the best songs they ever recorded.
Contemporaries like Burt Bacharach and Paul Williams chime in about writing and placing songs with the duo (hits like “Close To You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”). Herb Alpert also makes an appearance and talks about signing the Carpenters to a record deal.
This is a well-executed history of one of America’s most important and popular pop groups. It is also a loving tribute to one of the best female singers of the 20th century. Karen Carpenter’s story unravels into a sad truth near its end, but what we get mainly with Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters is a celebration of the band this brother and sister made so special with their talents.
~ Ralph Greco
