It's 'Yesterday Once More' as Richard Carpenter Recalls 1970s Pop Duo

Musician and song writer Richard Carpenter poses for a portrait at his home in Westlake Village, California, US, September 10, 2021. Picture taken September 10, 2021. (Reuters)
Musician and song writer Richard Carpenter poses for a portrait at his home in Westlake Village, California, US, September 10, 2021. Picture taken September 10, 2021. (Reuters)
TT
20

It's 'Yesterday Once More' as Richard Carpenter Recalls 1970s Pop Duo

Musician and song writer Richard Carpenter poses for a portrait at his home in Westlake Village, California, US, September 10, 2021. Picture taken September 10, 2021. (Reuters)
Musician and song writer Richard Carpenter poses for a portrait at his home in Westlake Village, California, US, September 10, 2021. Picture taken September 10, 2021. (Reuters)

More than 50 years after "We've Only Just Begun" and "Yesterday Once More," Richard Carpenter is looking back on the California soft pop duo with his sister Karen that ruled the charts but got a rough ride from music critics.

Now he is telling the story his way for the first time in "Carpenters: The Musical Legacy," a book based on hundreds of hours of interviews Richard gave to authors Mike Cidoni Lennox and Chris May. Crammed with photos, posters, programs, reviews and work schedules, it is intended as the definitive story of the 1970s recording stars.

"It covers really from our childhood all the way through our years together, Karen and I, making music, and the legacy. It concentrates more on the music that we made than the personal," said Carpenter from his home near Los Angeles that is packed with gold discs and Carpenters memorabilia.

"Many times, right from the time that Karen and I first hit with 'Close to You,' there was so many beyond nasty, vicious things written about us," said Carpenter, 75, recalling how the music press derided their mellow ballads as square at a time when rock was the dominant force.

After their breakout single "(They Long to Be) Close to You" in 1970, the Carpenters had a run of hits including "Top of the World" and "Rainy Days and Mondays," won three Grammy Awards and had their own TV show. They turned out 10 albums, winning fans as far afield as Japan, Norway and Zimbabwe.

Their career came to a tragic end when Karen died in 1983 of heart failure attributed to complications from anorexia nervosa. She was 32.

Richard Carpenter, who did all the musical arrangements and harmonies, is reluctant to dwell on Karen's death and prefers to focus on her talent.

"She just had a timeless voice, ... Karen was a natural. She didn't have to practice, ... she just sang instantly, impeccably whether it was live or on record," he said. "She was my sister, she was my professional partner, and she was my best friend."

The book will be published on Nov. 16.

It will be followed in January by a new album, "Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook" in which Carpenter plays classical arrangements on solo piano of some of the duo's hits.

Carpenter, who once had dreams of being a concert pianist but hated practicing, said he was "immensely flattered" to be asked to make the record.



‘Lilo & Stitch’ Cruises to No. 1 Again; John Wick Spinoff ‘Ballerina’ Dances to 2nd Place

Stitch arrives at the premiere of "Lilo and Stitch" on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Stitch arrives at the premiere of "Lilo and Stitch" on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
TT
20

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Cruises to No. 1 Again; John Wick Spinoff ‘Ballerina’ Dances to 2nd Place

Stitch arrives at the premiere of "Lilo and Stitch" on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Stitch arrives at the premiere of "Lilo and Stitch" on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

In the box office showdown between a deadly assassin and a chaotic CG alien, “Lilo & Stitch” still had the edge. The Disney juggernaut celebrated a third weekend at the top of the charts, while the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina” did not jeté as high as expected.

According to studio estimates Sunday, “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” earned $25 million from 3,409 theaters in the US and Canada, The Associated Press reported. Several weeks ago it was tracking to open in the $35 to $40 million range, but that was adjusted down several times. Ultimately, it still came in lower than forecasts. The movie, directed by Len Wiseman, makes a sideline character out of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick and focuses on Ana de Armas. It takes place during the events of “John Wick 3.”

The box office performance is a bit perplexing result considering that “Ballerina” got good critic reviews and audience exit polls. Conventional wisdom would say that word of mouth might have given it a boost over the weekend. But, recently, opening weekend isn’t the end all that it used to be. “Ballerina” could be in the game for the long haul.

The Lionsgate release, a Thunder Road Films and 87Eleven Entertainment production, had a hefty production price tag reported to be in the $90 million range. But much of that cost has already been offset by foreign pre-sales. Internationally, it earned $26 million from 82 countries, bringing its global opening to $51 million.

As the first spinoff, it’s the second lowest opening of the five-film franchise – above only the first film which opened just over $14 million in 2014, which does not account for inflation. The franchise overall has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

First place once again went to “Lilo & Stitch,” which added another $32.5 million in North America, bringing its domestic total to $335.8 and global tally to $772.6 million. In just 17 days, it's already made more domestically than the live-action “The Little Mermaid” did in its entire run ($298 million).

“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” slid to third place with $15 million, bringing its worldwide total to $450.4 million. “Karate Kid: Legends” earned $8.7 million to take fourth place. And “Final Destination: Bloodlines" rounded out the top five with $6.5 million.

The new Wes Anderson movie “The Phoenician Scheme” expanded beyond New York and Los Angeles to 1,678 theaters nationwide. The Focus Features release starring Benicio del Toro made an estimated $6.3 million and landed in sixth place.