Suggested reading from Chicago Review Press
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The Carpenters Reader
By Randy Schmidt
MUSIC
384 Pages, 6 x 9
Formats: Trade Paper, Mobipocket, PDF, EPUB
Trade Paper, $18.95 (CA $20.95) (US $18.95)
ISBN 9781613744147
Rights: WOR
Chicago Review Press (Oct 2012)
Overview
Articles about and interviews with one of pop music’s most beloved duos
With a string of number-one hits showcasing Karen Carpenter's warm and distinctive vocals and Richard Carpenter's sophisticated compositions and arrangements, the Carpenters were responsible for some of the most popular music of the 1970s, and this compendium collects more than 50 articles, interviews, essays, reviews, and reassessments that chronicle the lives and career of this brother-sister musical team. Writings from pop journalists and historians such as Daniel J. Levitin, John Tobler, Digby Diehl, Ray Coleman, Robert Hilburn, and Lester Bangs provide insight into the music and personalities of the duo who produced such timeless pop music. From serious musical analyses of the Carpenters’ arrangements to lighter pieces in which Karen and Richard discuss dating, cars, and high school, this new edition has been revised and expanded to include nearly a dozen additional pieces, some of which have never been published.
Reviews
"Unquestionably, the definitive historical recalling of the Carpenters . . . . Like the Carpenters' music, Schmidt's book about them delivers brilliantly, combining the talents of a gifted editor, the dedication of a devoted fan, and the admirable work of the writers he chose." —New England Entertainment Digest
Author Biography
Randy L. Schmidt teaches music in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He served as creative consultant for several television documentaries on the Carpenters, including the E! True Hollywood Story, A&E’s Biography, and VH1’s Behind the Music. He is the author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter. He lives in Denton, Texas.