Karen Carpeneter died 42 years ago.

+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". 

@wyoboy 

I seriously wish that I had been at Carpenters and Elvis concerts at the very peak of their careers!!! You were so lucky! I can only imagine Elvis in '70, and Carpenters in '73. The Carpenters  released "Now And Then" (their 5th album) in May of 1973. It reached #2 on the Billboard chart, and is one of my favorite albums. So you probably heard them perform my favorite songs like Masquerade, Close To You, Yesterday Once More, We've Only Just Begun, Heather, Rainy Days And Mondays, Superstar, For All We Know, Bacharach Medley, Top Of The World, etc!  ...I wonder if there was there an orchestra with the band...

I think it was 1973 that Karen saw a picture of herself on tv, in a yellow jumpsuit, and was very upset about the bulge on her waist. And the troubles with weight-loss took over her life. ...too sad to talk about that in much detail, so....

My uncle and grandparents were big fans of Elvis, so I was too. I remember gathering around the tv every time he was on. I have very fond memories of that!

And I remember the night that the Beatles were introduced to America on the Ed Sullivan show! My Mom yelled to everyone in the house to come see this great show on tv!  😆

I'm four years younger than you, and grew up in one of the biggest "flyover" areas of the US, so my experience with Carpenters, Elvis etc, was with my radio, which was constantly turned on. Also the tv, to a lesser extent. And Laramie Wyoming doesn't seem like a mecca for fame, but I guess Laramie is the only place within a thousand miles! 🥴