I have been thinking for some time of how to approach this dedication and of what to write. I finally decided to start with the purchase of my very first "Carpenters" recording. This took place way back in 1972, when I was just 12 or 13 years old. And the record I bought? Well it was the single (to be played at 45 RPM) of "Top Of The World" which I listened to over & over again. In fact I should have taken it back to the shop & exchanged it, as it was a very poor pressing. I remember listening to the B side, "Your Wonderful Parade" and being surprised at the different style of this song & at Richard taking the lead vocal.

It wasn't very long before I was able to buy my first album, "Now And Then". I could only do this of course after saving up my pocket money for several weeks. Listening to that album really cemented my interest and love of Richard & Karen's music, The oldies medley with it's variety and ground breaking D.J. theme really thrilled me, plus of course other tracks like "This Masquerade" & "Yesterday Once More".

As the months went by I steadily built-up my collection - Birthdays & Christmas were great opportunities for me to obtain another LP that lack of funds had previously forbade me to do, one by one I slowly collected the "old" albums until I had them all, then came the long waits for each new release.

Only the older people viewing this web-site will remember the long hot summers of 1975 & 1976 that we were fortunate enough to be able to enjoy here in England. These were very enjoyable years for me, I had completed my schooling and had plenty of free time on my hands, the Carpenters were at the height of their popularity in the United Kingdom. 1975 was a particularly good year as I remember, The "Singles 69-73" was still riding high in the chart and, the first new Carpenters LP in two years or so was about to hit the record shops.

Horizon entered our album chart on 28th June just two days after my birthday, it filled me with a great sense of pride, I don't really know why but I just felt great, and when Karen & Richard made it to the number one slot the following week I was over the moon. All this success as well as two hit singles (Please Mr Postman & Only Yesterday) in January and April. Things couldn't really get much better from my point of view. The only problem on my mind was how to raise the cash to purchase all the Carpenters memorabilia I wanted from the Duo's fan club. Well as you probably guessed I had to wait for Christmas or my next Birthday. Of course eventually I got at least some of the things I wanted but I remember the package seemed to take forever to arrive from the States.

Of course seeing the Carpenters live was the biggest aim in life for me at that time, their visits to the U.K. were few and far between so acting fast when it came to ordering tickets was very important, unfortunately for me I still wasn't old enough to act on my own or have my own bank account back then, so I had to rely on my parents to order on my behalf. I remember they wrote for tickets several times but were never successful, we were too slow off the mark. Sadly I never got to hear Karen singing live and, that's something I shall always regret.

More success came with the big selling albums, "A Kind Of Hush" & "Singles 74-78" but by the end of the decade things didn't seem to be so rosy. I have to admit that by the start of the Eighties I had begun to listen more & more to other artist, and my Carpenters records although still played, did not reach my turn table as often as before. I did however decide to play the Singles album on the evening of 4th February 1983. In those days we had our stereo & television in our lounge and, usually one or the other was on. So as soon as the record finished playing I switched on the television to watch the 9.00pm news, the castor was just ending one report and about to start the next, you can imagine my disbelief when he announced Karen's death in California. It couldn't be true I was listening to her voice just seconds ago..... As the news began to sink in I became more & more depressed and emotional. That very night I started my letter of condolence to Richard.

Since that sad day, Like all Carpenters fans I have had to be content to listen to the albums recorded and released during her short life time and also those released after her death. This is some what of a bitter sweet experience for me, Although I treasure those recordings and would never want to be without them. I do some times wonder what beautiful music we could have had to listen to had Karen lived.

The Carpenters still play a large part in my life. I have several very good "Carpenters" friends who I met through the Internet and various societies. I have spent many enjoyable times with them ranging from, a tearful trip to Forrest Lawn to chats on the 'phone and E-mails, also I derive great pleasure in collecting their CD's from around the World, although it is becoming a bit of a headache knowing where to keep them all. And of course creating this Web site has been a great source of pleasure,

Long may the carpenters legacy continue.