Top of the World

This brother and sister team called The Carpenters was an American vocal and instrumental duo. They were Karen and Richard Carpenter and they went on to become two of the best-selling music artists of all time. In their 14-year career altogether they came out with 11 albums and 31 singles. Lots of their songs were so popular they were heard playing everywhere. The duo also appeared in 5 TV specials and on short-lived TV series. Their recording career came to an end when Karen Carpenter died of heart failure in 1983. This was a result of complications from the eating disorder disease anorexia nervosa.

Their popularity began in the 1970s with the songs “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”. Both songs became RIAA- certified Gold Singles and were featured on the best-selling album Close to You. This album was their second album and came out in 1970. It is at number 175 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Carpenter won two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus.

Their third album Carpenters came out in 1971 and is considered to be their most successful album. The singles from this album were “For All We Know”, “Rainy Days and Monday”, and “Superstar”. All lead vocals were sung by Karen Carpenter except on the tracks “Druscilla Penny”, “Saturday”, and “Walk On By”. They won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus.

In 1972 this very successful duo came out with their fourth album A Song for You. This album released six singles “Hurting Each Other”, “Bless the Beasts and Children”, “It's Going to Take Some Time”, “Goodbye to Love”, “I Won't Last a Day Without You”, and “Top of the World”.

Their fifth album Now & Then was released in 1973. This album was one of only two on which Karen Carpenter did most of the drumming. There were three singles “Sing”, “Yesterday Once More”, and “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”.

Horizon their sixth album was certified Platinum. The first single from this album was “Please Mr. Postman”. Then came “Only Yesterday” and “Solitaire”.

In 1976 their seventh album A Kind of Hush became Gold. However, it came at a time when Richard Carpenter was struggling with an addiction to sleeping pills. Despite the difficulties all of the three singles became hits - “There’s a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)”, “I Need to Be in Love”, and “Goofus”.

Passage their eighth album came out in 1977 and was the only Carpenter album that didn't include songs written by Richard Carpenter or John Bettis. The singles from this album were “All You Get from Love Is a Love Song”, “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft”, and “Sweet, Sweet Smile”.

Their first TV special aired in 1976 The Carpenters’ Very First Television Special followed by The Carpenters at Christmas in 1977.

The Carpenters' tenth album Made in America was released in 1981. It is their final album as a duo released still during Karen Carpenter's lifetime. On this album, she played the drums. The singles were “I Believe You”, “Touch Me When We're Dancing”, and “(Want You) Back in My Life Again”.

On February 4, 1983, thinking that she was cured of anorexia nervosa Karen Carpenter collapsed in her parents' house and was pronounced dead at the hospital. She was 32 years old. Her funeral was attended by over a thousand mourners among them artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Petula Clark, Dionne Warwick and Herb Alpert.

In October of 1983, The Carpenters got their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After Karen’s death Richard Carpenter continued to produce recordings of their songs and the compilation album Voice of the Heart included previous recordings and was certified Gold. It included two singles “Make Believe It’s Your First Time” and “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore”.