Before they became The Carpenters, the clean-cut California siblings were called The Dick Carpenter Trio. And this was their first TV appearance in 1968.

The sleazy host seems to be having a little too much fun asking 18-year-old Karen how much she enjoys “playing with Dick.” But what catches the eye (and ear) is her outstanding drumming – she even gets to perform a brief drum solo.

I became aware of this clip in a roundabout way thanks to seeing the Barbie film on Friday.

Afterwards, reading Mark Kermode’s review, I learned for the first time about Todd Haynes’s 1987 documentary Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story – made using Barbie dolls that are gradually disfigured as Karen’s anorexia progresses.

The doc was never released, due to its unauthorised use of Carpenters songs, and perhaps also for its unflattering depiction of their parents, who hated the film, while Richard successfully sued over the music licensing. But it’s on YouTube (songs and all) should you care to track it down.

One of the comments beneath Kermode’s article mentioned this YouTube clip, and it’s interesting to see that there’s a bit more oomph to them in their early days, with the addition of the bass guitarist with the “unpronounceable” name, than the easy-listening schmaltz that brought them fame.