Karen Carpeneter died 42 years ago.

@unclewilbur 

"But it seems to me that Carpenters is excellent audiophile material."

Have you picked up the 2018 release: "Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra?"

If not, you need to because both the sound quality and the subtly enhanced orchestration will probably stun you with how much better that it sounds; and, the original recordings were quite good to begin with!

I can admit that a a teenager back in the 1970s I would have scoffed at the music of Karen Carpenter. And I did (my parents had a few Carpenters albums, and I'm sure I rolled my eyes every time they played one).

I can also admit that I was VERY wrong on most of her stuff. She had a magnificent voice and tremendous talent. Hell of a drummer as well. 

I was never shy of admitting I enjoyed the Carpenters and Karen’s sultry voice, vast range, and accomplished drumming.  I listen often to their well recorded songs.  However, my memory of her relationship with her brother were that is was complex, with Richard’s controlling personality making musical decisions leading in part to her insecurity and emotional problems.  Combined with emotional issues from being overweight in childhood, and drug abuse, this compounded her anorexia nervosa, with habitual restricting and drug induced vomiting which, in turn, led to her tragic death from heart failure.  What a loss from a now better understood and treatable disorder.  Her life story can be a lesson for young adults now suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

@carlso63
Exactly!
Here is a typical situation in 1970. Four, sixteen year old boys are cruising around in a car, and listening to the most popular radio station. "Close To You," which is number one on the charts is playing on the radio. All four boys look at each other and shake their heads, roll their eyes, and say "No." The button is switched to the second most popular station. (Remember when we had buttons?) The Carpenters are playing on both stations! And all the boys wonder what’s happening!

The boys go to their homes and turn on the radio as they go to sleep. Of course, the Carpenters are playing on the radio again. The words are interesting. The melody feels nice. There is harmony, and layers of beautiful voices. They listen.......

For some people, it took a while to appreciate the significance of the Carpenters.

Sonic Youth were big fans of Karen Carpenter; they even wrote a couple of songs for/about her....