Fifty years ago tomorrow (20th February 1974), the Carpenters appeared at the Liverpool Empire during the British leg of their World Tour.

As a piece of music trivia, the significance of this anniversary lies only in the fact that it was my first pop/rock concert.

Memories of the occasion are sadly vague, though I do remember the support act was a Las Vegas-style comedy duo improbably named Skiles and Henderson.

Also, that I found myself in the front stalls thanks to a schoolfriend with a connection in the theatre’s box office.

As a result, I was within touching distance of Karen, Richard and their slick band of musicians as they celebrated “The Singles 1969-1973” reaching number 1 in the UK album chart.

What I didn’t realise until researching this blogpost was that a moment from their Liverpool visit had been captured by a local press photographer.

Backstage, Stephen Shakeshaft from the Liverpool Echo took this engaging photo of the brother-and sister duo.

Their casual but smart clothes suggest a photo shoot before they took to the stage for shows scheduled at 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

In the half century since, my answer to the question “what was your first pop/rock concert” has become a badge of pride.

The Carpenters music has stood the test of time and is a staple of radio and streaming around the globe.

Karen’s death in 1983 at the age of 32 is a tragedy that forms the backdrop to Lucy O’Brien’s latest book, “Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter.”

Recently published in paperback (Nine Eight Books £10.99), O’Brien seeks to capture what was special about a woman whose eating disorder has long overshadowed the story of “one of the greatest singers in popular music.”

Interestingly, the front cover of the book features an artist’s impression of Karen drumming while she sings, but nowhere among its 350+ pages will you find any photographs.

A sequence of images that captured her physical deterioration as the years went by would seem ill-judged in this context and undermine its focus on other neglected aspects of her life.

Looking at the press photo of the smiling couple taken backstage at the Liverpool Empire 50 years ago, I’m reminded how lucky I was to see the Carpenters at the top of their game.

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