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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 24, 2006 22:39:55 GMT -5
 Keeping in tune with Ken's (Carps1000) posts on each album I wanted to add Karen's solo to the mix.
I love this album. It's is my favorite Carpenters related release in the last twenty years - with "As Time Goes By" a firm second.
There are many things I love about this album. One aspect of the album that really intigues me is that Billy Joel's backing band provieds this fantastic music for us. What an outstanding band. I also like the fact that Heatwave founder Rod Temperton created the fantasitc vocal arrangments for Karen to interpret. He did an outstanding job in bringing out a new side of Karen's voice - boy how I would love to interview Rod Temperton. For those of you who don't remember Temperton's group Heatwave made the classic mid to late 70's hits "Boogie Nights", "Always And forever" and "The Groove Line". If you listen to Heatwave's album "Central Heating" you can actually hear several of the same jazz type vocal arrangements and techniques which he used for Karen Carpenter. |
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Post by BethMosior on Jan 24, 2006 22:51:28 GMT -5
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Post by Ming on Jan 25, 2006 9:07:22 GMT -5
I also love this album very much. I remember when I went to HMV to buy this album, the staff said that I needed to book it, I have waited for about 2 weeks and it finally arrived!
Ming
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jan 25, 2006 9:12:18 GMT -5
I, too, listen to this one a lot!!! I love the arrangements too, and Karen seemed to have done them with such ease. There are some mighty difficult vocal calesthenics done in this album. Boy! She really did an outstanding job vocally. Nailed each tune! And, like Rick, I was/am intrigued by the fact that Billy Joel's backing band at that time, with some excellent musicians in it - like Russell Javors, Liberty DiVitto, to name but two, and their backing of Karen is unparralled in my book. What a great coupling. The energy they provide, plus Temperton's edgy arrangements - wow. The whole thing pops! It's magical, and such a great listen - over and over again. I never tire of it, from start to finish - just a well done work. Typically, I enjoy listening in order to hear something "new" each time. Tim 
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 25, 2006 12:31:20 GMT -5
Another thing that makes me love this album is that Karen was truly proud of it and she loved it 100%. You can just hear the excitement in her voice as she sings these songs. |
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Post by cam83 on Jan 25, 2006 13:30:21 GMT -5
Amazing AMAZING album. I still love it. She just handles these songs wonderfully, and sings them in a new, fresh, fantastic way.
Cam
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Post by Will on Feb 1, 2006 0:29:21 GMT -5
Ditto. I think you know how I feel about this one. It's in a class all by itself.
Will
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Post by enigma on Feb 1, 2006 6:01:01 GMT -5
All controversy aside from the release of this record I simply love the record. As I said before I consider this a gift from Karen to her fans. I also love the fact Karen loved doing this record, she had fun recording it, she was prouid of it, it was truely ALL HERS. The fresh sound seeing and hearing Karen in a new light was refreshng and I loved seeing the uncontrolled "real" Karen come out in this record. The East Coast edgy sound on this record along with the great song selection (proof that Karen was more than capable of selecting great songs for her to sing) the solid band (Billy Joels Band really added to the edgy sound of the record) and the first rate producing (Phil Ramone need I say more his resumee speaks for itself. An underrated record whether by Richard and A&M or the critics and reviewers. This is a great record, a pleasure to listen to and I love it! Nuff Said!   |
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Post by karl UK on Feb 1, 2006 13:20:05 GMT -5
I do like karens solo album,you can tell by her singing that she really enjoyed making it.When the cd was released in 1996 ,the record company should have promoted it .Does anyone know if any video clips of karen were made during the solo sessions.
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 1, 2006 14:32:22 GMT -5
I do like karens solo album,you can tell by her singing that she really enjoyed making it.When the cd was released in 1996 ,the record company should have promoted it .Does anyone know if any video clips of karen were made during the solo sessions. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some filming of the rehearsals and recording sessions. It would be interesting if maybe some sort of montage music videos could be put together for some of the key songs from the album. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 1, 2006 14:38:39 GMT -5
Just a little further discussion on Karen's solo album...
What really gets me is when people say "no Richard, no Carpenters". My comment back to that statement is; "that's right". Karen's solo is not a Carpenters album. And there's nothing wrong with that. I love Carpenters' music - but I also love Karen's solo music. Karen went way over the top. She really put all her love and heart and soul into this project. And it shows. She sings with a new found joy and excitement on these songs.
Just a few thoughts on what I've heard said about the album. |
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Post by BethMosior on Feb 1, 2006 15:21:10 GMT -5
I agree totally with you Rick  thanx for your thought  |
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