Drummer's Analysis Of Karen Carpenter Drum Solo (1976) || Is She As Good As They Say?!

[@setonhillstudios]

*You can support the channel with KZbin Channel Memberships or through Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* No question about it, Karen is the REAL DEAL on the drums! Let's Goooo!!!

[@juliewolfe168]

The drummer in the marching band who she "kisses" is John Denver. Cracked me up. I was one of those girls in the early 70s who was told "girls don't play drums." Im 62 y.o. and taking drum lessons. Just bought my first drum kit

[@kierstenridgway4634]

Yay you!!! ❤❤❤✌️

[@rojoeditor]

My wife surprised me with a bucket list item for my 60th birthday--drum lessons. I love it. Glad you're taking them!

[@vickiroman189]

You go, Girl!

[@batphink2655]

Good for you grandma go rock those tubs baby! 👍😉

[@theresareineke6753]

@@juliewolfe168 I’ve always wanted to play drums, but never got around to it. Now that I’m 64, I think I’ll give it a go! 🥁

[@thomastimlin1724]

Buddy Rich was adamant how good a drummer Karen was...she had his total respect and said so publicly in so many words.

[@batphink2655]

Al true yes but Buddy was no buddy of 'Ringo' calling him an insult to the art of drumming!

[@TheBoondoggler]

Natural talent in spades, a born musician and artist

[@lohikarhu734]

She just seemed the happiest ever, whenever she was drumming... And, do check out the sessions where she's drumming and singing... Drumming the beat, singing the melody, and a big old smile. She needed more of that, but "the business" took that away from her, and then took her away from us 😥 It's been 40+ years, and she's so missed.

[@RockL.Lorraine]

If you noticed... You will always see the biggest smile on her face when she's drumming.

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

This was so good. And the fact it's 1976 and she/they were able to double her up on stage, and then she started trading notes with herself, flawlessly! Amazing! She was smiling so much, having so much fun, it really hurts to know the pain she was in internally. Rest in peace, Karen. Thank you for your work on Earth. 🙏🙏

[@jonthibault5509]

It's called editing, numbnuts.

[@dagmar.6954]

Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. You can see the joy in her face in this video. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music.

[@anitawright7169]

She always said she was a drummer who could sing! She is so awesome. We lost her too soon! Love your reaction!

[@frankmerris8821]

What is so great and sad in a way is to see she always had her biggest smile while playing the drums. maybe her true LOVE

[@phillipbarker4757]

I always wondered if her life would have different if they didn’t push her out front and away from what she obviously loved.

[@roadwary56]

i didn't realize how good she was until your analysis of this vid. with your drummer background. I have to agree, she is a true legit drummer. she could drum as well as she sings, what a talented lady

[@setonhillstudios]

She was definitely an amazing talent! Truly unbelievable! 🔥

[@debortahwelch9298]

The thing I LOVE about this clip, you can see PURE JOY in her being!! RIP Karen

[@drumbelly]

Great reaction to Karen the drummer. She always considered herself “a drummer that sings”, but obviously her golden voice moved her to the front of the stage. A cool video to see her playing and singing is the Burt Bacharach Medley from the Ed Sullivan show performing before an audience of wounded Viet Nam vets. Many styles, Tom fills, and harmonies from early the Carpenters days.

[@stevetournay6103]

Oh yes. That video at Walter Reed is marvelous...and there's nothing "TV live" about as there is with this. The marching band drummer is John Denver, BTW...

[@DonMachado]

They wanted Karen to be out front. Ok, move the drum kit out front.

[@LoisChisholm]

The great drummer, Buddy Rich, called Karen the "best female drummer" he had ever heard. For all the different types of drumming she does throughout this solo, the one thing you never see in any of her other performances is THAT SMILE. You can tell she is doing her absolute favorite thing in the World! I'm not sure how many other performances like this you will find. There may be a few from live concerts.

[@stevetournay6103]

There's a great one from '76 recorded in London at a concert. But my favourite is the Ed Sullivan outdoor Bacharach medley from 1971, taped at Walter Reed military hospital...

[@sallycripe2697]

I think there's one of her playing a similar type solo in Japan in the early 80's. Loved that smile!

[@OneOddTodd63]

Something others may not think about. This was effortless. She's running around from place to place smiling. She's not winded. Not wearing herself out. She's having fun.

[@punkydoodle4774]

In a 1975 Playboy Drummers Poll Karen came in 10th...John Bonham came in 11th. He was not happy.

[@dannyhonn973]

Awwww. Too bad

[@dow311]

Thank you for explaining Karen’s talent on the drums. I had no idea the differences of styles.

[@robertwalker1803]

Just talented and beautiful.Killed us all to watch her waste away from anorexia and feeling helpless.Angel voice and Angel smile. She plays drums on some of her own songs.

[@alexanderh.5814]

It was a tragic story. On a tour of England, Paul McCartney invited them to the studio where he was recording an album for his brother. Paul told her she was his favorite female voice. Later that day they went and did press for their show and an interviewer asked her what she thought about a reviewer noticing she had “big hips”. Imagine going from that high to being told that in a couple hours.

[@LJB1031]

I remember watching this on TV. I was 14. I was and still am a huge Carpenters fan

[@MichaelAndrews-uy1gl]

A good reaction from a drummer's perspective...learned a lot from this one.

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@jeffreyflint6286]

Karen was so talented. Her voice alone could possibly have melted the polar ice up north. Sorely miss her❤❤❤❤

[@JamesCrackethCorn]

"She's the real deal." Yes she was, she sure was. Great review.

[@jojones1082]

The thing that always strikes me when I see this is the pure happiness and joy that she is clearly experiencing while she's playing. I've never seen that same joy in her while she's singing, but to be fair, most of the songs she sang were more on the melancholy side. Still, even if I were blind and could only hear this performance, I would still be able to tell that she was absolutely loving every single second of it.

[@chipurBillWhite]

I really enjoyed that. Karen was a breath of fresh air. I miss her…

[@mcbeezee2120]

THANK YOU, for explaining all this to the layperson. 👍👍👍

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@shawnjohnson6311]

I love that woman, she was an incredible musician, voice of an angel and could play drums so effortlessly, truly amazing!

[@levvellene570]

I totally agree with that, and I discovered the Carpenters about 35 years ago, while working at a local library, where we let people borrow any CD we had. My initial reaction to learning why Karen passed away can't be printed, though.

[@BabsR]

so fun to see Karen and John Denver together

[@roberthughes5279]

That Drummer she switched instruments with was John Denver

[@frankiebowie6174]

Oh, God! 😊

[@Bossman-jd3sv]

I was just going to ask that. John Denver, country singer, a lot of great songs, I even like the movie Oh, God.

[@theresareineke6753]

He was probably a guest on their show.

[@salinagrrrl69]

TY! I thought that was him.

[@THEOLYMPIAGUY360]

@@Bossman-jd3svJohn Denver played folk music.

[@victorsixtythree]

One of my favorite videos showing Karen's (and Richard's) raw talent is from 1968 (when she was just 18!) when they were "The Dick Carpenter Trio" and appeared on a TV talent show called "Your All American College Show". They played "Dancing in the Street" with Karen on vocals and drums. This was before they were "discovered" and signed a record deal.

[@DonMachado]

The audience is on their feet and as she was taking her bows, you can hear her say, "It's too much", humble all the way.

[@TheRatsCast]

It's real nice to hear a drummer's take on Karen's talent. I was a kid when she was alive and making music, but I knew her as a drummer. I think that's one of the many reasons why she isn't here with us today. The studio didn't want her behind the drums. You couldn't see her sing. They forced her up front when all she wanted to be was a drummer. Richard needed her to sing, but I think she was hoping to be replaced. That didn't happen, as she was so amazing a singer, the studio bought the band with her as singer. As you said, she lights up when she's drumming. That might when out of her. With all the other demons she was dealing with, she turned to anorexia to help fix her problems. But that's not how it works, does it? She is saddling missed every day.

[@DennisCadigan]

Unapologetic enthusiasm for Karen’s artistic skills, percussive and generally. I appreciate your genuine appreciation of her under rated playing. 🥁

[@Lakeshore14]

Thank you for highlighting the greatness of Karen Carpenter. I remember when they first became famous and they talked about her great voice. She said she just happened to be a drummer who liked to sing. She loved the drums. I love seeing anything about the Carpenters, but I always feel a sadness about how she left us. 💔

[@robertbootier8223]

You could tell right away that she could play, just showing a little crispness right away. Seemingly endless Multiple types of fills. Jazz chops I envy.. 🤙

[@channonskinner50]

I love watching her sheer joy of playing. THAT is what music is about.

[@Irockthere4]

26 years old there and a flawless voice to match

[@stevenschoen1138]

Most people don’t realize what a kick ass drummer Karen was

[@setonhillstudios]

She could definitely bring it!! 🥁

[@thebullet7874]

I grew up on the Carpenters music. Learned piano to many of their songs. I’ve heard for decades how great her voice is but never on her drumming skills/art. I know nothing about drumming and have a horrible ear for rhythms so THANK YOU for validating her craft.

[@batphink2655]

I just have to say not only was Karen mega talented on vocal and drums but she was my kind of girl wholesome and naturally cute. I was gutted when I heard she died. RIP Karen you are missed.

[@robertgieseler1220]

Yep, as you just said: Karen Carpeter has been the real deal. I had no idea that she's been playing the drums (pardon my ignorance) -- and boy, did she play them. Thank you very much for sharing that experience. Just fascinating. Let us keep moments like this alive...! All the very best from Germany

[@suzannezethner8180]

❤❤ Lord what a talented woman. I never saw this. Incredible ❤️. Gone too soon. 😢

[@lonniekay3506]

Good reaction. Look up Live at Budokan. Her abilities on drums are unbelievable!

[@CharlesBallard-f3t]

She tried playing the trumpet one time. But every time she hit it, the sticks broke. ❤ Karen Carpenter forever❤

[@setonhillstudios]

🤣😂🤣

[@BrentCox-m3r]

That’s John Denver that traded the bass drum!! Yeah, she was talented!!!🤘🔥

[@nailbndher]

Really enjoy your reviews of Karen’s drumming and singing and look forward to seeing more from you! Thanks again

[@carolhesterberg7526]

She was an award-winning jazz drummer as a teenager before she even started to sing. What a talent!!

[@whitebird357]

Never knew she was that talented with percussion.

[@setonhillstudios]

So good!! 🔥🔥

[@ChuckDrennen]

The world lost a musical treasure when Karen passed away. So many great songs that we won’t hear until we’re with her again.

[@in8hope617]

Yes and YES:) This was really fun to watch and so impressive to see!

[@vernhoke7730]

This is when she is at her happiest. Behind the drum kit banging away. I forgot John Denver was in this skit.

[@denveradams4909]

I was a church drummer back when I was in high school. (1975-77) Then, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I gave a girl in my church a few lessons and turned the drums over to her. After all these years, I have decided to get back into drumming. I have purchased the Alesis Nitro Max Expanded electronics drum kit to get started. It will give me something to do this winter. And I may be able to fill in at my church, when our regular drummer cannot be there. Karen Carpenter may not have been the best drummer out there, but she could hold her own and her silky smooth vocals more than made up for it. A true all-around talented artist and I sure do miss her music.

[@rojoeditor]

She may have been the best drummer out there.

[@1chound1]

Check her out with The Carpenters, Bacharack Medley at Walter Reed Hospital live......playing and singing.

[@catticusfeline4623]

A genius at singing and a genius at drumming, Karen Carpenter was extraordinary in so many ways. She made her performances look effortless. Thank you, Seton Hill studios for your continued commentary and appreciation of this truly great artist.

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the kind words! 😁

[@RustySax1949]

@@setonhillstudios - Here's another clip of Karen on drums, with an intro by her brother, Richard. Also in this video is Cubby O'Brien, one of the original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers, playing drums along with Karen. Cubby toured with the Carpenters for nine years, only stopping when she passed. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5aUiIqNhN2bg9U&ab_channel=SylvioBazote

[@ericschneider118]

The drummer who can sing !

[@Dansrgurl]

She started as a part of a jazz trio! Singing was just a beautiful surprise! Karen was never happier than when she was drumming! She called herself a drummer who sang. Imagine she's legendary as a singer - but she was a legendary drummer first! You can see the pure joy on her face during that amazing performance! The world truly lost a musical legend at the tender age of just 32!

[@roniboyd613]

❤❤❤❤ thank you for watching Karen's drum solo

[@kellypickle]

Very jazz and we all know that jazz is the king of drums. Definitely might reminds me of Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich, who was an inspiration to so many rock drummers

[@ThomasRyan-nf3wx]

Her short solo in “dancing in the streets” is amazing.

[@setonhillstudios]

I’ll have to check that out! Thanks! 🥁

[@heralddelarosa4472]

She's really an incredible drummer..Greatest singer of all time😊

[@setonhillstudios]

Unreal!! 🔥🔥

[@manolitoenales3363]

A great reaction 🥰 you may see her performance on Johnny be Good Live in Japan Budokan concert in 1974. She is amazing.

[@lohikarhu734]

I was just appreciating, too, how effortless she made it all look, and, unlike a lot of "serious" drummers, just having so much fun!

[@CarlR-h5x]

this is one of my favs of hers. I saw it years ago when it was new

[@swamihuman9395]

- "The Richard Carpenter Trio" - featuring Karen on drums :)

[@kennethohnemus3192]

She once went into the studio with a song written on a napkin. The studio engineer was shocked when that 1 take song became a hit

[@fabricioalves928]

Que cantora! Que voz! Que baterista! Que talento!

[@cliffordlowerre1381]

Never get tired of watching Karen play. She was always so happy behind a kit. What a tremendously talented lady! Rest In Peace Beautiful Karen. Very nice analysis sir. Glad you mentioned Cindy Blackmon. Master drummer married to a master guitarist. My favorite musician, Carlos Santana.

[@laraismyname821]

There's a video of her at 18 years old playing drums & singing "Dancing In the Streets" with her brother, here on KZbin. She looks like a little kid & the venue looks like a school talent show (it wasn't---I think it was a local TV show). It's so good though. She had it even back then.

[@davehind3193]

.Most thought of Karen as a singer that could play drums, She considered herself a drummer that could sing.

[@theemaygoogleme151]

The first actual concert I went to see at age 12 in 1972 and at that point she was the drummer for The Carpenters along with her angelic vocals.

[@kimcutts6153]

🇬🇧 Did you notice that was John Denver who gave Karen his drum 🥁😊 Karen was just the best. And she is missed. 😢💔❤️🫂🎼🎶

[@caryd67]

I was probably in the second grade when I saw this on tv, Karen Carpenter absolutely killed it, and definitely inspired me!

[@darrinlindsey]

If you ever get back to her singing, now, I would like to suggest a tv appearance from the early 80s. It's a medley that she did with Ella Fitzgerald (The Queen of Music). It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, musically. Miss Ella was up in age, but still had an amazing voice. I remember watching it, when it played on TV. To me, it felt like the elder superstar passing the torch on to the new superstar to run with. Unfortunately, Karen would lose her battle with demons and anorexia, soon after this aired. Like I said, it is so beautiful. You can search for their names and medley.

[@stevetournay6103]

Listening to Toronto radio station JazzFM yesterday and it was mentioned by Alex Pangman on her show Swing Set that the standards Don't Get Around Much Anymore and I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart were written as countermelodies for each other. That rang a loud bell: those two songs appear in the Karen/Ella medley in exactly that fashion, with successive lines traded back and forth...and Ella will certainly have known that was the intent with those two tunes. If only KC had lived longer. There would have been a Carpenters standards album...or several...

[@rudymorganti7155]

So cool . Love it she was great. Thanks from Belgium 🇧🇪

[@nemo227]

Back when I was playing gigs I always had a deep respect and admiration for the drummers. They seemed to hear everything and did little things to lead into different members taking a solo and transitioning from, e.g. trumpet solo to section playing.

[@setonhillstudios]

@@nemo227 Great point! Drummers definitely have to lead the band in many ways! Playing with confidence is key! Thanks for sharing! ❤️

[@wingnutofcoolness]

Check a very early TV appearance when, as college students, they performed "Dancing In The Streets".

[@kens32052]

She always had a big smile on her face whenever she played the drums.

[@taniaPBear]

Wow! Never seen that before, that was awesome. I could watch her do that for hours. Thanks for bringing us this one and whoever requested it too. ✌❤

[@timothy4664]

Her face showed pure joy.

[@bringmechoc]

So much talent. It’s great to hear a breakdown from a drummer. I had no idea there were different styles of drumming.

[@setonhillstudios]

So many! Thanks for watching! 😁

[@scottchapin2323]

She always looks so happy when she plays.

[@A-whiter-shade-of-pale]

This was from their first TV special. In the band the guy who had the drum before he got kissed was John Denver. She was fantastic when she was 15 (1965) and a part of the Richard Carpenter Trio (Richard Karen drumming not singing and Wes Jacobs) playing in jazz clubs in LA. Search on Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands 1966 to hear 2 songs recorded in 66 (Karen was 16) at the Bowl "Girl from Ipanema" (a jazzed up Bosa nova) and "Iced Tea" strait jazz song Richard wrote. Wes Jacobs plays bass on Ipanema and Tuba on Tea. THEY WON THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS in 66. Then in 68 with Bill Sissoyev replacing Jacobs they won Your All-American College Show 1968 You can do a search on that and see them win it. Karen was singing by 68. I still hear a hint of their jazz years in all of their music.

[@mikewoodrow5878]

Ya gotta check out the one when she was a teen and they are doing a cover of Dancing in the Streets - she kills it.

[@sarastromseth-troy3323]

I always love watching people react to this! My mom was Karen's age and The Carpenters was one of the few non-classical music acts she (still) enjoys. For all of the attention put (rightly) on Karen's beautiful singing voice, her drumming skills are impressive and often overlooked (at the height of The Carpenters' fame, the powers-that-be wanted her to stand onstage as a singer and not sit behind the kit). Meanwhile, behind the drum kit was where she was happiest, and you can see how much she loved drumming in this video. Another female drummer you may or may not be aware of is Gloria Estefan's daughter, Emily Estefan. She sings and plays multiple instruments, but the drums are her primary instrument. She is also a graduate of the Berklee School of Music. There is a video on KZbin of Emily playing drums on a medley of her mom's hits: Emily Estefan - Mi Tierra / Oye Mi Canto (Live at the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize 2019).

[@jbs256]

Hi Steven, I loved your reaction/analysis of this classic Karen exhibition. There is another done a little earlier on the BBC where the “Lead Sister” shirt is rooted from. There are numerous live examples of her drumming AND singing lead. You know that’s rare. Phil Collins, Don Henley, Levon Helm to name some of the guys. When you see a produced music video it’s often a mime to a Hal Blaine drum track. But one song was always Karen’s. That’s Mr. Guder, she drummed it for the album and Richard and John Bettis wrote the biographical song. It’s about Richard & John’s boss at Disneyland. I’m going to link a 1973 live performance on The Tonight Show. It also features Bob Messenger on the electric flute. It’s a stunning example of it all. I’m linking to a friend’s channel, he is restoring Carpenters videos. This one is based on a 20 minute appearance with Johnny Carson and that full version is on the Carson Channel. Harvey has the two musical segments on his. There are other Carpenters videos here and it’s a treasure trove of some beautiful videos. This one looks like it aired yesterday, not 50 years ago. It scales to 4K on a TV. Enjoy! Joe kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX-ZqmqIf9SMrJYsi=csZVOwhHnOcqblXj .

[@jamiemacdonald436]

Been waiting for this one!

[@jimsradiocheck936]

Check out the drum solo she does to dancing in the streets in 1968 fantastic

[@oldladylovesBruno]

She had so much talent and the voice of an angel. Sadly, her inner demons took her away from us. Truly tragic.

[@renemedina8026]

She Rocks

[@VinceEmbry]

"Help, Mr. Guder" live for more Karen on drums.

[@christopherstevenson5470]

A Special Talent.🙏🙏🙏

[@tanyarobinson1146]

I saw her in concert, and she was fantastic!

[@setonhillstudios]

So awesome! 😁

[@michaeltipton5500]

I always tell people she was an awesome drummer. They don't believe me. They need to watch this.

[@setonhillstudios]

💯 🔥🔥

[@Perfect_Blend]

Karen Carpenter took drum lessons from Bill Douglass, a well-respected jazz drummer who played with Benny Goodman and Art Tatum. Some of her best drum work is in her live performances. Another one of a very young Karen and Richard is "Carpenters- Dancing In The Streets-1968","Carpenters Burt Bacharach & Hal David Medley" on The Ed Sullivan Show", "Carpenters | Johnny B. Good - Live at Budokan (1974)". By 1974, they had Cubby O'Brian(an original Mousketeer) on drums as a back up drummer, but he also played at the same time Karen played and they wanted it to be EXACT. Both Karen and Richard were perfectionists.

[@firedoc5]

Karen was just amazing all around. She thought of herself as a drummer first and foremost and it took a while for her to come out from behind the kit because of her shyness. Singing drummers are a rare breed, such as Levon Helm with The Band and Don Henley with The Eagles who are two of my favorites.

[@ragtie6177]

Karen gave me this nickname "RagTie" when I did painting & repair work on her her brothers' apartments, houses & Richard's car warehouse. Even painted her parents house. Beau😢 one of a kind free spirit who, in opposite views portrayed upon her, was not conflicted or troubled outwardly and open in her everyday life. She was a happy, smiley ;& outgoing person. Despite her internal suffering. But I spent allot of time with her and that conflict never showed.

[@Laura_Martin42]

The drummer she is talking to in the marching band is John Denver.

[@robertsimon8344]

I've heard her drumming... for the first time today on various channels. This one, there is a second drummer. However, I have heard her on her own. I was amazed.

[@addison5938]

I think you'll fall in love with the drummer for the band One OK Rock and his extraordinary ability and creativity.

[@setonhillstudios]

@@addison5938 I covered one of their tunes here on the channel! Super talented! 🔥

[@sharoninglima1217]

Karen was an awesome singer and drummer. I saw Sheila E at a dinner concert in NY…she was incredible! Thank you for such a great reaction and recognizing Karen’s unreal talent! ❤❤❤❤

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@jmkqfnvyl87]

This is so expertly mimed! There is a live version of the same solo somewhere out there with the 1976 “strike up the band” show and her brother narrates the story of her growing up during the instrument changes.