Karen Carpeneter died 42 years ago.

That voice was so good...unbelievably great...RIP Karen...

+1, @larsman .

chrisoshea - you're the one who is on a thread called "Karen Carpenter died 42 years ago". Odd place to be if you want to whine about having a fixation on Karen Carpenter. Do you normally spend time on forum threads in which you have no interest? 

@unclewilbur thanks for the reminder--a dose of Karen is relaxing in these crazy times.  I was lucky to have experienced my first two concerts featuring male and female vocalists as follows (although at the time i didn't really know how lucky i was):

1. First concert---Elvis at the International in Vegas (1970) visiting my best friend who had moved from Laramie and convinced me to go even though i didn't want to-i was an ignorant 18 year old-i never stopped thanking him for that

2. Second concert ever--The Carpenters at A&S Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming (1973)--i think the student price ticket was $2.  I was in love forever.

@bolong 

The Carpenters were that kind of group that many of my friends wanted to shun because they were a bit kitschy, but many of them finally caved pleading, in effect, that even tough guys need a puppy; and it didn't hurt that the puppy could croon like an angel. The best of the songs were classic but classics from an earlier time.

I wouldn't describe myself as a tough guy but I find the the "kitschy" aspect just as off-putting now as I did in the mid-seventies, riding the school bus to and from high school, force-fed top 40 radio.  

Nevertheless, I generally recognize and respect good musicianship when I hear it. 

No doubt there are records I enjoy that others here might term "kitschy".