I can certainly understand why The Carpenters my not have broad appeal anymore, but that doesn't distract from the fact that they (both Richard and Karen) were a lot more talented than people realized even at the height of their popularity.
Richard was an incredible arranger, and very few singers could impart the kind of emotion Karen could with her voice. What's fascinating to me is that neither really started down that path - Karen shared vocals pretty much equally with Richard on their first album, and his talent at arranging really came into play when he had some solid writers to work with.
It was Hal Blaine (jeez - talk about stupid huge talent) that really got Karen away from the kit to focus on vocals. Not that she wasn't a capable drummer, but studio drumming (especially in the 70's) was a real art in itself, and Hal was the master.
In any case, you don't have to like their music to appreciate their talent.
Zappa - if I had a beer for every beer I drink singing "Broken Hearts are for Assholes". AND "Baby Snakes"!
Zappa wasn't a poor arranger in the same way I'm not a poor pilot. I never flew a plane, and he (from what I can tell) never arranged. But who cares? Dude played what no one else did and got Johnny Guitar Watson to sing the out-chorus on San Ber'dino. A good arranger would have left that out, and we would be deprived of its awesomeness...Zulch! Is the auto works...
