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Carpenters Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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Carpenters Trivia

Carpenters Trivia Quizzes

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The Carpenters
9 Carpenters quizzes and 102 Carpenters trivia questions.
1.
  Carpenters: "The Singles: 1969-1973" album   popular trivia quiz  
Collection Quiz
 12 Qns
Released in November 1973, this album reached number one in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
Average, 12 Qns, sw11, Dec 25 23
Average
sw11 gold member
Dec 25 23
512 plays
2.
  Carpenters- Song Lyrics   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The beautiful sound of the duo comprised of Karen and Richard Carpenter ended too soon, with the death of Karen Carpenter on February 4,1983. How well do you remember their music?
Average, 10 Qns, spiritseeker, Nov 30 17
Average
spiritseeker
6673 plays
3.
  Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My first quiz on lyrics to songs by the Carpenters was so popular that I've decided to do another. I hope that you enjoy this one as much as the first.
Average, 10 Qns, spiritseeker, Sep 25 07
Average
spiritseeker
3548 plays
4.
  If I Were A Carpenter    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
In 1994 a Carpenters tribute album was released featuring alternative artist covers of popular Carpenters songs. Match the song to the cover artist.
Average, 10 Qns, ramonesrule, Dec 19 21
Average
ramonesrule
Dec 19 21
90 plays
5.
  Carpenters Quiz 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the 1st of a series of quizzes regarding Richard and Karen Carpenter, and their songs and albums. The difficulty will increase as you progress from quiz 1.
Average, 10 Qns, ryanaueong, Jan 12 21
Average
ryanaueong
Jan 12 21
332 plays
6.
  Carpenters Quiz 2    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the 2nd of a series of quizzes regarding Richard and Karen Carpenter, and their songs and albums.
Average, 10 Qns, ryanaueong, Feb 02 21
Average
ryanaueong
Feb 02 21
192 plays
7.
  The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
If you know the Carpenters' music and you enjoy cryptic puzzles, then this is for you. Think laterally and take your time (you'll need your keyboard). And don't panic - it's only 'semi-cryptic'! Release dates are given to help you along.
Difficult, 15 Qns, lifeliver, May 04 17
Difficult
lifeliver
202 plays
8.
  The Carpenters Karen & Richard    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz for only the die-hard Carpenters fan!
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, elsiefan, Jan 25 20
Very Difficult
elsiefan
Jan 25 20
1757 plays
9.
  Carpenters Quiz 3    
Match Quiz
 15 Qns
This is the 3rd of a series of quizzes regarding Richard and Karen Carpenter, and their songs and albums. Place the albums with the correct release years.
Average, 15 Qns, ryanaueong, Feb 02 21
Average
ryanaueong
Feb 02 21
134 plays
trivia question Quick Question
On 'Goodbye to Love', who was playing the electric guitar?

From Quiz "Carpenters Quiz 2"





Carpenters Trivia Questions
1. Who is the lead singer on most of the songs by the Carpenters?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: Karen Carpenter

She is 94th on Rolling Stone's 2010 list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.

2. Can you work out the name of this 1973 Carpenters' hit song from the cryptic clue below? 'What's going on? I feel like Bill Murray in 'Groundhog Day'.

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Yesterday Once More

In the Harold Ramis-directed 1993 movie, Bill Murray wakes up each day to find it's 'yesterday once more' - the previous day repeating itself. It co-stars Andie McDowell. This iconic song opened Richard and Karen's fifth album 'Now and Then', my personal favorite. The song expresses nostalgia for the romantic hits of the past. It's followed by a superbly arranged medley of 60s covers that take up the whole first side of the original LP, including such gems as 'One Fine Day', 'Johnny Angel', 'Our Day Will Come', 'The End of the World' and 'Da Doo Run Run'. This retro style, going in the opposite direction of musical trends of the time, no one did better, now or then. The single made number two in the US and UK, and number one in Canada.

3. What 1978 song by the Carpenters contains the following lyrics? "You don't have to sell me 'Cause you overwhelm me I've made up my mind for a lifetime."

From Quiz Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2

Answer: I Believe You

"I Believe You" was written by Don and Dick Addrisi, who also wrote "Never My Love", which was sung by The Association in 1967 and by the Fifth Dimension in 1971. "I Believe You" was released as a single by the Carpenters in 1978, and was included on the album entitled "Made in America", which was released in June of 1981.

4. Can you tell me the name of the song that contains these lyrics? "I think I'm gonna be sad, I think it's today, yeah. The boy that's driving me mad Is going away."

From Quiz Carpenters- Song Lyrics

Answer: Ticket to Ride

The Carpenters had a contract with A&M Records, which was owned by Herb Alpert (of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass) and his partner Jerry Moss. "Ticket to Ride" was from the Carpenters' first album, entitled "Offering", which was released in November of 1969. "Ticket to Ride" had previously been released by The Beatles in 1965. Richard Carpenter made changes to the song, such as changing some chords and time signatures, before the Carpenters recorded it.

5. Karen & Richard's parents were called?

From Quiz The Carpenters Karen & Richard

Answer: Harold & Agnes

Agnes Reuwer Tatum married Harold Bertram Carpenter on April 9th 1935

6. Who is the main pianist on most, if not all of the songs by the Carpenters?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: Richard Carpenter

He was also the composer for some of their songs, together with lyricist John Bettis. He occasionally sings with Karen on harmony vocals.

7. Can you finish the lyrics in this verse of "Close to You"? "On the day that you were born The angels got together And decided to create a dream come true So they sprinkled moon dust..."

From Quiz Carpenters- Song Lyrics

Answer: in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue

The Carpenters' second single, "Close to You", was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David . "Close to You" had previously been recorded by Dionne Warwick with the title "They Long to be Close to You". Dionne Warwick's song was released in June of 1970. The musical arrangement was changed by Richard. In March of 1971, the Carpenters won their first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song "Close to You" . They also won a second Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The song "Close to You" and the album entitled "Close to You" were nominated for six Grammy Awards altogether, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

8. From 1969 to 1978, in which year did Karen and Richard Carpenter NOT release any studio albums?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 2

Answer: 1974

They did not record a new album in 1974 as they were exhausted from extensive touring. Richard later said, 'There was simply no time to make one. Nor was I in the mood.' In 1970, they released 'Close to You', in 1972, they released 'A Song for You' and in 1976, they released 'A Kind of Hush'.

9. Other than singing, which instrument did Karen Carpenter play on some of their songs?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: Drums

In 1969, Karen was both the group's drummer and co-lead singer, until 1973 when she started singing more and drumming less, becoming the focal point of their records and live performances.

10. Can you guess the name of the Carpenters 1971 hit from the clue below? 'Ouch! Why you ... here's a taste of your own medicine! Take that! See how you like it!'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Hurting Each Other

This dramatic ballad made number two in both the US and Canada, number four in Australia, and top position on the US Easy Listening chart, though personally I find it quite 'demanding' listening. The song begins gently and builds to an emotional, richly arranged climax, harking back to Dionne Warwick's classic mid-60s renditions of Bacharach-David compositions. I hear echoes of Little Anthony and the Imperials, too, especially 'Going out of my Head'. A minor 60s hit for Ruby and the Romantics (of 'Our Day Will Come' fame), it was recorded by various artists of that decade, including the Walker Brothers and southern rock'n'roller Jimmy Clanton, (best known for 'Venus in Blue Jeans'). It was a hit in Canada for Chad Allan and the Expressions, later known as the 'Guess Who'. Rosemary Clooney (George's auntie) also had a version.

11. What's the missing line in this verse from "We've Only Just Begun"? "Sharing horizons that are new to us, Watching the signs along the way, (choose the line missing from here) Working together day to day Together."

From Quiz Carpenters- Song Lyrics

Answer: Talking it over just the two of us

"We've Only Just Begun" was also from the "Close to You" album. The song had been written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams for a television ad campaign, for the Crocker Bank in California. Again, the musical arrangements for the song were changed by Richard. "We've Only Just Begun" became many couples' choice for their wedding song.

12. What was Karen Carpenter's solo album called?

From Quiz The Carpenters Karen & Richard

Answer: Karen Carpenter

"Karen Carpenter" was released in 1996. Thirteen years after her death!

13. Who was the lyricist for songs composed by Richard Carpenter?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 2

Answer: John Bettis

He was originally part of Spectrum, with Richard and Karen Carpenter. He wrote many of the songs of Karen and Richard Carpenter, such as 'Top of the World' and 'Goodbye to Love'.

14. What was the name of the first album released by the Carpenters, which was poorly received before they renamed it?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: Offering

'Offering' was released in 1969 but later repackaged and retitled 'Ticket to Ride'. 'Close To You' was released in 1970, 'Carpenters' in 1971, and 'A Song For You' in 1972.

15. Can you identify this signature Carpenters hit from 1973 from the cryptic clue below (with more than a little Nepalese and Chinese)? 'Sagarmatha, aka Chomolungma'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Top of the World

These are the Nepalese and Chinese names respectively for Mount Everest, sometimes referred to as the 'Top of the World'. This song was composed by Richard and his lyricist partner and former bandmate John Bettis. Richard did not have a single in mind when they recorded it, and it was intended for album filler, but upon release they were surprised to find it was another huge hit - number two in both the US and Canada, number four in Australia. The song has grown in stature over the years and been covered by numerous artists. The pedal steel backing (by Buddy Emmons) lent itself to a country feel, and Nashville songbird Lynn Anderson used it as the title track for an album. Bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman and fiddler Mark O'Connor also have versions. It became the Carpenters' most familiar song in Japan when it was used as the theme for a major TV drama series, and is often used as a listening exercise in high school English classes there, due to Karen's clear diction (not to mention John Bettis's correct standard grammar, an increasing rarity in pop songs).

16. On 'Goodbye to Love', who was playing the electric guitar?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 2

Answer: Tony Peluso

After the release of the song, Richard Carpenter called John Bettis, talking about the guitar solo. John cried when he first heard it as he had never heard an electric guitar sound like that.

17. In which year was Karen Carpenter's death?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: 1983

She died from a heart failure related to her years-long struggle with anorexia on February 4, 1983. On October 12 in the same year, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

18. What's the title of this 1970 Carpenters hit? 'For us mere mortals, much is still a mystery. You might say you and I are just 'two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl'. The universe could be just part of some gigantic alien aquarium, who can say?'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: For All We Know

Another beautiful song about blossoming young love, magnificently rendered by Karen. It was this song that really made me sit up and take notice. Up to then I had thought of the Carpenters' music as too saccharine, songs for moon-eyed girly-girls, but when I heard this I knew I was listening to a voice that was very, very special. It made number three in the US, seven in Canada, 18 in the UK and 10 in Australia. The 'two lost souls' quote is taken from a Pink Floyd song, 'Wish You Were Here', from the 1975 album of the same name, lyrics by Roger Waters. The song was written for the movie 'Lovers and Other Strangers' by founding members of Bread (under pseudonyms), sung by little-known Larry Meredith, and won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1971. The oboe intro is credited to Earl Dumler. Mexican-American guitar phenomenon Jose Feliciano played on the original takes but his input had to be removed for contract reasons.

19. To what Carpenters song do these lyrics belong? "Play us a song we can slow dance on We want to hold each other Play us a groove so we hardly move Just let our hearts beat together."

From Quiz Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2

Answer: Touch Me When We're Dancing

"Touch Me When We're Dancing" was released as a single by the Carpenters in 1981, and was included on the album entitled "Made in America". "Touch Me When We're Dancing" was also released by country music band "Alabama" in 1986.

20. Who was Richard Carpenter's songwriting partner?

From Quiz The Carpenters Karen & Richard

Answer: John Bettis

Richard met John Bettis at a choir rehearsal 1n 1967. He stepped in when John needed a pianist after a disastrous attempt at singing accapella!

21. What was Karen Carpenter's favorite song, among the Carpenters' songs, as stated by Richard Carpenter?

From Quiz Carpenters Quiz 1

Answer: I Need to Be in Love

According to Richard, this song in the album 'A Kind Of Hush' released in 1976 was her favorite. It was released as a single on May 21, 1976. 'Carpenters - The Untold Story' by Ray Coleman also states that 'I Need To Be In Love' was Karen's favorite song.

22. Which song contains the following lyrics? "So I've made my mind up I must live my life alone And though it's not the easy way I guess I've always known I'd say goodbye to love"

From Quiz Carpenters- Song Lyrics

Answer: Goodbye to Love

"Goodbye to Love" was written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. "Goodbye to Love" was released in Britain on a double-sided single. "I Won't Last a Day Without You", which written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, was on the other side of the single. Both songs were from the album entitled "A Song for You", which released in 1972.

23. Can you guess this 1972 Carpenters hit from the cryptic clue? 'Half a New York prison'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Sing

Written by Joe Raposo, this perennial favorite is the only Carpenters studio recording I know of that contains voices other than Richard and Karen's, in the form of a children's choir. It made US number three and Canada number four, and in the mid-70s became a popular part of their stage act, sometimes featuring local children's choirs on stage for the choruses. The once notorious Sing Sing prison, 'up the river' from New York City, is still an operational correctional facility today.

24. What Carpenters' song contains these lyrics? "I used to say 'no promises, Let's keep it simple' But freedom only helps you say Good-bye."

From Quiz Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2

Answer: I Need to Be in Love

"I Need to Be in Love" was released by the Carpenters in 1976, and was included on the album entitled "A Kind of Hush". The song was written by Richard Carpenter, John Bettis and Albert Hammond.

25. What words am I missing in these lyrics from "It's Going to Take Some Time"? "It's going to take some time this time No matter what I've planned But like the ________ I'll learn how to bend"

From Quiz Carpenters- Song Lyrics

Answer: young trees in the wintertime

"It's Going to Take Some Time" was from the album entitled "A Song For You", which was released in 1972. The album "A Song for You" produced more hit singles than any of the Carpenters' other albums. The hit singles from this album included "Top of the World", "Hurting Each Other", "It's Going to Take Some Time", "Goodbye to Love", and "I Won't Last a Day Without You".

26. Richard Carpenter's middle name is....

From Quiz The Carpenters Karen & Richard

Answer: Lynn

The name is taken from grandmother Nelly Jane Lynn Carpenter

27. Can you identify this Carpenters 1972 hit from the clue provided? 'When your guy meets your eye with a fake alibi ... rats, amore!'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Goodbye to Love

The clue of course is a corrupted version of the opening line to the Dean Martin 1953 hit 'That's Amore'. This US number seven hit introduced an electric guitar solo in to a Carpenters arrangement for the first time, giving their backing group a heavier, more contemporary rock sound than had been heard on their previous recordings. It was played by Tony Peluso. Ironically, this move precluded the song from 'easy listening' radio play. Do you know the scuba-divers' lament? 'When your arm says goodbye in a crevice you pry, that's a moray!' Something like that.

28. Once again, find the song title by finishing the lyrics. "When there's no getting over that rainbow When my smallest of dreams won't come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But ..."

From Quiz Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2

Answer: I won't last a day without you

"I Won't Last a Day Without You" was included on the album entitled "A Song for You, which was released in 1972, and the song was released as a single by the Carpenters in 1974. "I Won't Last a Day Without You" was written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. The song was released as a single by Paul Williams in 1973. It was also released as a single by Maureen McGovern in 1973, and was included on Diana Ross' album entitled "Touch Me in the Morning", which was released in 1973.

29. What is this wistful Carpenters hit of 1971? 'Betelgeuse, e.g.'

From Quiz The Carpenters - a cryptic clue challenge

Answer: Superstar

Written by LA session musician Leon Russell, it was previously a moderate hit for Rita Coolidge so technically it's a cover, but the Carpenters version did better commercially and is the one most remembered today. It made US number two and Canada number three. It tells the sad story of a pining girl and a 'love 'em and leave 'em' rock guitarist, perhaps a not uncommon scenario in the world of popular music. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion and one of the most readily visible to the naked eye. It's estimated to be up to 20 times the size of our Sun. Let's not go there. Anyway, it's 640 light years away so no chance of that in the foreseeable future.

30. "______ when I was sad And I was lonely You showed me the way to leave The past and all its tears behind me." What missing words are also the title of this 1975 Carpenters' song?

From Quiz Carpenters - Song Lyrics 2

Answer: Only Yesterday

"Only Yesterday" was released as a single by the Carpenters in 1975, and was included on the album entitled "Horizon", which was released in the same year.

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