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Does anyone else feel guilty listening to something else other than the Carpenters? I swear I just feel horrible and alone when I listen to something else. I like a few other groups, but I feel terribly guilty listening to them. Maybe I feel I have to get Karen and Richard's approval first?

Marty

You are not odd!!!! Well.... unless I am odd too!!!!!!! Which could be true

At any rate, back in 1971 when I discovered the Carpenters, my music collection had ONLY Carpenters music! I bought no other artists music or listened to anybody else!!!! I was 11 then and by the time I hit my 20's I finally started listening to other artists. It was hard though..... especially female artists.... no one could compare to Karen. But I found a few bands I liked listening to like REO Speedwagon, the Police, Bruce Springsteen and I even discovered a few other female singers that I like, such as Carole King, Carly Simon, KD Lang and Shania Twain. But it wasn't easy... so I know what you are saying. You do feel like a traitor at first, but then again, I think of all the different music Richard and Karen liked listening to... they had a wide variety of bands and singers that they liked..... so it's ok to branch out every once in awhile.

Thank you, Jayne! You made me feel better. () The other music that I listen to isn't far from the Carpenters. I'm sure some of this music is stuff that the Carpenters generally liked. I saw that the Carpenters had a Simon And Garfunkel record, so that shows that they listened to them, even though they were somewhat rivals at the time.

From reading the Coleman book they were friends with others who were "rivals" at the time..... like Elton John... I remember in one newsletter both the Carps and Elton John were doing concerts in Chicago, I think. K & R went to Elton's concert and I think he went to theirs. And I remember reading from the Coleman book that Jackson Browne used to stand in line with K & R and other artists waiting to get in to Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles. And they were friends with Capt & Tenille too. So I don't think that stopped them from being friends with other musicians. K & R loved music... all kinds of music.... I'm sure they loved listening to other peoples stuff. I think it's harder for us fans!!! It's hard to listen to other music when you keep comparing it to the Carpenters.... took me a long time to appreciate other artists. But the Carps will always be #1 to me.

Listening to other artists makes me appreciate the Carpenters even more. Karen's vocals and Richard's clean arrangements hooked me the first time I heard "Close To You".
Edited by Portlander, 20 September 2007 - 05:05 PM.

I kinda feel guilty for admitting to myself that I really think Karen's singing voice was better than Judy Garland since i invested so much time to Judy from 1996 to 2005. But yeah, Karen really comes out on top of everyone else to me, even if the other person really can sing well too. Its hard to explain but Karen's music stands out special to me aside from merely liking the voice. Its like she's a friend from somewhere and her voice, or seeing her in videos has this soothing, familiar, comfortable feeling for me, thus I listen to them more than other music bands... for its just merely music. Karen is something else more than just the music.

when i first became a carpenters fan that's all i listened to, so when i started listening to other artists i felt like i was betraying the carpenters but now i listen to all sorts of music, but the carpenters are still widely played on my ipod!

That's my story too, I'm sticking to it. Minus the ipod.

I have a variety of musical obsessions, so it's really just a natural progression. Today I listen to a fantastic rotation of recording artists that feel like 'home' to me. The Carpenters are one of them.

Music itself fascinates me.

The only other group that draws my interest are the Classics IV, and they had a Smooth Jazz sound. I think the Carpenters would've liked that.

I loved the Carpenters music so much that when Karen died I couldn't play their music anymore. It's like "American Pie"...... the day the music died. I put my Carpenter albums away ....took all my posters and photos down .... put my fanclub stuff away..... and didn't listen to the Carpenters for a good 5 to 7 years! I remember I was driving home from somewhere and I was flicking radio stations in the car and all of a sudden I heard Karen singing "Yesterday Once More" and I listened and my heart swelled and a few tears, but then I went home and started playing their music again. Music is so powerful.... it just makes you feel good!

. It's the best medicine when I'm down....I start to think of K&R and suddenly I'm happy again .


That's happening to me now . I used to feel guilty....but now I'm learning to listen to different kinds of music, however, there's nothing in the world like the carpenters . I still want to throw the radio away when I listen the end of a carpenters song on the radio , that has not changed

I finally played my Dennis Yost And The Classics IV CD today. The music reminds me of the autumn. Their big hit "Spooky" is known as a Halloween song, and Halloween is a-comin real soon. I also like Dennis Yost's voice. The sound of the band is great too. It's like a Smooth Jazz sound with tons of saxophone solos. I'm listening to the Carpenters after, but I figured I'd give them a listen today. Somehow I just know Karen doesn't mind. I just feel comforted.

I don't feel guilty listening to somone else's music other than Carpenters.

I grew up with Carpenters. When I'd listen to the radio, waiting for Carpenters played, Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John and Eric Carmen songs made hit!!

Then I knew Olivia and Barry were good friends of Karen. And Barry sang songs which John Bettis co-wrote.

While I was searching for Barry, I knew Karen wanted to sing with Barry.

I have posted many new photos, some were ignored. I don't like photo engine search, because many pictures that I don't like to see, show up.
I search for Olivia's and Barry's photos, I usually search for Carpenters photos at the site which have Olivia or Barry's photos. I found some like this way.

When I read Eric Carmen's fans message, I found Karen & Richard's photo in old magazine.

It's very good that we are interested in other music.

Karen listened to many kinds of music.

If we listen to original or cover songs of Carpenters, we know how Karen and Richard are wonderful!!

Eric Carmen's band album was released this July. Special box was delivered last month with hand-writing lyrics which show how the lyrics were changed to be completed, un-released tracks, old radio appearance and personal video!! Barry's new album was just released with Carpenters cover, Olivia's new album may be shipped today, LP "Now and Then" was released last month here in Japan. Almost like 70s for me. Maybe more. Except Karen is not with us.

Sakura
Edited by Sakura, 24 September 2007 - 10:35 AM.

Sakura,

Are the Carpenters still very popular in Japan?