Yesterday Once More

When you are driving long distance like we did last week there is nothing better on the trip than satellite radio. We spent the entire trip listening to the 70's on 7. I turned 16 in 1970 so it is the music of my youth. The tunes I listened to when I started to drive. Our two oldest children were born in the 70's. There is no greater music for me. As we were driving along I heard a familiar voice. There are some artists who are so distinctive you know immediately when you here them who they are. No one before or since played guitar like Jimi Hendrix. Maybe you will disagree but for me no one sings like Karen Carpenter. She has a voice that is distinct and beautiful. Notes and tones carried like no one before or since. Since Carol and I have been together forever it always brings to mind the fact we got to see her in concert.

The date was November 13, 1973. The place, Western Hall at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. On May 16, 1973 The Carpenters released their 5th studio album entitled "Now and Then". Rick Nelson had recorded and released "Garden Party" and it had resulted in a revival of oldies in 1973. The Carpenters released this album with a medley song entitled "Yesterday Once More" which began with their original song and contained parts of the following songs:
1. Fun, Fun, Fun (Brian Wilson & Mike Love)
2. The End of the World (Arthur Kent & Sylvia Dee)
3. Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) (Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry & Phil Spector
4. Dead Man's Cruve (Jan Berry, Roger Christian, Brian Wilson, & Artie Kornfield)
5. Johnny Angel (Lyn Duddy & Lee Pockriss)
6. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Benjamin Weisman, Dorothy Wayne & Marilynn Garrett)
7. Our Day Will Come (Bob Hillard & Mort Garson)
8. One Fine Day (Carole King & Gerry Goffin)

I remember Karen singing that song some 41 years ago. Karen always saw herself as a drummer who sang. She was short and when she sat at the drum set no one could see her. She was brought out front to sing and had some difficulty adapting to that role. The night we saw The Carpenters perform the drums were manned by former Disney Mouseketeer Cubby O'Brien.

Karen's life took a tragic turn after we saw her. When she originally became famous she was 5'4" tall and weighed about 145 pounds. When we saw her in 1973 she had weighed about 120 pounds. It is unfortunate that she fell into the grip of anorexia nervosa and by 1975 her weight had fallen to 91 pounds. She continued to perform and tour with the last song she recorded being "Now" in April 1982. She died on February 4, 1983 less than a month before her 33rd birthday of heart failure brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa. It is sad that with her beautiful voice and musical talents she was done in by issues regarding her body image. If there is anything positive that can come out of an untimely death perhaps Karen's is a good example. She brought anorexia nervosa to the publics mind and many have sought treatment because of her. You wonder years later what she may have accomplished had she lived. What beautiful music would her voice have brought forth? We will never know.

Karen Anne Carpenter

March 2, 1950 - February 4, 1983

Thanks for the memories!