Only Yesterday: The Carpenters' Story Page #2

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cos I said, "You can get out of phys-ed if you're in the marching band."

Karen did not want to be in phys-ed.

And I wanted also to get out of geometry cos I just don't get it!

And when I got into marching band, I immediately fell in love with the drums.

Richard mentioned that his sister, who was still in high school at the time,

was learning to play the drums, and perhaps we could form a trio.

'The Carpenter Trio...'

The Richard Carpenter Trio went on to win the prestigious Battle Of The Bands Contest at the Hollywood Bowl.

And an RCA talent scout intrigued by their rock-tuba sound,

offered them a record deal.

I was a budding A&R man myself, and I knew damn well rock tuba was going nowhere!

And we cut the four sides and - a committee, you know, a committee listened to them,

and of course said, "Erhhh!"

And that was it for our deal with RCA.

# We'll be in Denver

# Dancin' in the street... #

Every now and again I'd ask Karen to sing.

And she'd do it almost under duress.

# Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear

# Just as long as you are there... #

Karen was a little hesitant actually about singing,

and I think for some period of time, she really wanted to play the drums.

The breakthrough, in a way, this is the key I wrote it in,

was one called You'll Love Me.

- The melody was...

- HE PLAYS

# They say we're too young to ever know a love... #

- It happens to be right...

- HE PLAYS A NOTE

And out came that sound.

# And I'll know you'll stay-ay-ay

# And I know you'll love me... #

And I heard it... Oh!

There's something here. There is something here!

Karen started singing by then.

And we added some people we had met at college, and started this group called Spectrum.

Spectrum's line-up included Richard's college friend, John Bettis.

And a creative partnership soon developed.

Richard was so noticeable because of his talent, for one thing.

He was an amazing pianist then as he is now.

So everybody knew who Richard was.

# Yesterday I thought you'd stay... #

Karen was having a whale of a good time. It was really play-time, in a way.

A lot of hard work, but we were all together, there was a lot of laughs, a lot of fun, a lot of music.

Renowned West Coast musician Joe Osborne had long supported Richard and Karen,

letting them record in his garage studio and helping them refine their sound.

He was also a very important studio bass player and also close friends with The Mamas & Papas.

# All the leaves are brown

# All the leaves are brown

# And the sky is grey... #

And so he, for some reason, had access to The Mamas & Papas' equipment.

And we got a possibility to do an audition for a private club in Los Angeles called The Factory.

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