What We Love About Karen Carpenter Solo

[Rick Henry]

There are so many wonsderful aspect about Karen's solo album that I figured it may be an interesting topic to discuss what we love about it.

Here's a few topic starters:

The fantastic and intricate vocal arrangements (mainly composed by Rod Temperton from the group Heatwave "Always And Forever" and "Boogie Nights").

The outstanding and multi-layered musical arrangements which masters Bob James, Rob Mounsey, Ruseel javors and other so skillfully created.

The upbeat (and in some points almost playful) lead vocals of our Miss Karen Carpenter.

The photos and album cover layout.

The unreleased songs.



I will come back with more input on some of these topics listed above.

[Rick Henry]

As promised I am back with some thoughs on Karen's solo album.

I particularly love this album as I feel of everything Karen ever recorded this is her most personal and adventurous work. Karen so much put her heart and soul into each and every one of these songs and she completely and totally loved this album. She felt it was a great album and she really wanted her fans to love it also. Of course I love this album from beginning to end.

Probably one feature on this album that stands out to me is the intense musical arrangements. Bob James (the jazz master) composed most of these arrangements (as well as some done by Rod Temperton, Rob Mounsey, Russell Javors and Peter Cetera). Bob James (and the others) kept the focus of this album on contemporary jazz sounds with a slight edge of funk in the mix. The musicianship was very contemporary for it's time - some even to the point of being cutting edge. There was quite a bit of fine artistry put into the musical arrangements of this album. Which I feel had it been released the album would have been a guidepost (of sorts) for others from the '70's to follow.

I feel this album shows that Karen was a leader and an innovator in creating new and contemporary sounds for the decade ahead of her.

[makapipi]

I like the keyboard sounds by Greg Phillinganes on the song "Lovelines"

[wisejester7]

My first point of interest in and about Karen's solo album is that she made one in the first place.

Knowing now about Richard's addiction problems and Karen's restlessness it makes pure sense. Karen had too much time on her hands to think about her own problems and those that Richard was experiencing to want to sit idle for any length of time. The time Richard took to straighten himself around gave Karen a chance to make some new strides musically. Karen had a chance to stretch her wings a bit and experiment with something different.

Secondly, Karen's solo album gave her the opportunity to work as an artist of equal status with other musicians. She didn't really have to take a second seat to anyone.
Her steps of independence provides us with a glimpse of what types of music and where Karen was heading musically at the time. Quite interesting!

*That said, I don't think Karen was even close to thinking about breaking up the Carpenters. She just saw an opportunity and took it. Who can blame a person for that?
**Karen DID dedicate the album to Richard, after all.

Thirdly, I very much like Karen's song choices ... and it goes without need of saying that her performances are fantastic. Karen ranges from simple, to jazzy, to quite intricate vocalizations.
Her voice is not one that can be duplicated. She truly had a far superior vocal command presence. Her's is a voice that comes only once a generation ... if that often.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

What do I like about Karen's solo album? Like wj7, first of all, I like the fact that she had the guts to get out there and make it. Think about the fact that she KNEW, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that Richard didn't want her to even conceive of the IDEA of striking out on her own, for whatever project it was, much less her own ALBUM!!! And, I can only imagine what her parents thought of the idea. I'm sure if Richard didn't like the idea, mom Carpenter certainly would have thought it the wrong thing to do, as well...I'm not so sure Harold had opinions that were heard much. Then of course, there were the powers-that-be at A&M, and again, I'm pretty sure there wasn't much support for Karen to make this solo album.

NEVERTHELESS....even knowing all this controversy existed, she went forward with it.

I love the fact that she had the album produced by Phil Ramone. What other record producer was (is) as creative and on the cutting edge as Phil? So, Karen was quite wise in her choice, here.

Of course, there are the vocal acrobatics of Rod Temperton. Man, oh man, can he ever write some creative, and complicated vocals. And Karen pulled them off beautifully (of course!).


And then, there was the fact that Karen used members of Billy Joel's band (at that time) to lay down the instrumentation. What great choices - Russell Javors, David Brown, Liberty DeVitto, Doug Stegmeyer...and the other musicians - Rob Mounsey, Greg Phillinganes, Bob James - all outstanding keyboardists. Whew! These were (are) some players.

The selections were incredible. Karen showcased her voice so well with these selections - from the wonderful If I Had You, through Makin' Love in the Afternoon with Peter Cetera, to Remember When Lovin' Took All Night, to All Because of You, to My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, to Last One Singin; the Blues!

I'm all about the selected songs - the way that Karen sang them - the unbelievable vocal harmonies that Karen sang each note of - and how intricate these are...just outstanding. The music is fresh - it's crisp - it's edgy (for the time, it was right on target), and still, it stands up, making it timeless, as well.

I just don't think there was anything Karen couldn't have sung, had she wanted to. She could pull off anything with finesse, and panache. She was one of a kind, and this solo effort is wonderful. I heard just the other day someone say that it was shelved because it was no good. Oh, I think just the opposite is true - I think A&M and the others who said "no" were saying it because the Carpenters, as a duo, needed to get back into the spotlight - and having this record out there for everyone to hear may have opened just a few too many doors just for Karen, that some didn't want opened (too wide, anyway) at that point. I haven't met any Carpenters fan who really didn't like Karen's solo effort...it was, and it remains, a real ambitious enterprise. Kudos to all who were involved.

Tim

[GoodOldDreams]

I like the bold experimental nature of Karen's solo album, and how it puts Karen's voice in new contexts and genres. It gave her the freedom explore other avenues of vocal expression and assert more mature attitudes about love and her own public image, a rare opportunity for her to find and define her personal musical niche. In many ways, we get to know Karen better by the extent of her adventurous spirit and unfiltered personal musical tastes.

Now for some of the more "controversial" and debatable aspects of this album:

— Although I heard the more lush Carpenters cover version of "Make Believe It's Your First Time" initially and was not "wowed" by it, the simple and elegant original solo version by Karen (when it was finally released years later) made me cultivate a new appreciation for the song and its potentials.

— By some accounts, Richard said the solo album stole the stacked "Carpenters" sound that he perfected, but Karen's inimitable trademark voice is all her own, and her unembellished voice on songs on songs such as "Make Believe It's Your First Time" are among her strongest numbers on the album. The complex vocal layering in "If I Had You" pushes the envelope even when compared to the trademark vocal stacking for the Carpenters.

— Although Richard advised her against doing disco (odd, considering Karen sang "Boogie Nights" and there was a instrumental version of "Do the Hustle" on their TV specials), Karen dared to venture out with "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" and wonderful jazzy/disco-tinged "Lovelines", showing that she really had moxie!

[Rick Henry]

Excellent... Outstanding.

Thanks for the great input on this topic.

Please others add your "What We Love About Karen Carpenter Solo" comments.

This thread will be the subject of an article which will be featured on The Carpenters Online Web Site in February 2007. Select comments will be used for the article.

[Rick Henry]

Again, I must say that everyone's reviews are outstanding - very well written and will make great reading for our broader audience on the main web site.

Just to further this topic here are three more questions:

1. If you were an executive marketing this album, how would you market it? (think in terms of it having been released in 1980 and then also how it could have been marketed better in it's actual release in 1996).

2. Which three songs do you feel could have been released as a single?

3. Of the nine unreleased KC solo tracks which one most deserves to have made it on the album?

[jose]

Where can i find the unreleased songs?
Can somebody help me??



I love the album.

[makapipi]

"Lovelines", and "If I Had You" could have been released singles.

[makapipi]

I like this background photo from the solo album photos.

[Rick Henry]

makapipi said:

I like this background photo from the solo album photos.

Yes, it is a fantastic photo. Makes me wonder just how they were planing on promoting the album - had it been released in 1980.

[cam83]

Karen Carpenter really took on this album as a labor of love. She put so much work into it, even denying herself a visit to the famous Studio 54. Imagine if she had gone to Studio 54 and how she would have been recieved and all the stories...it would have made headline news.

I love the lavish, sexy photos of her. She looked hip and attractive. People would have been HUH upon seeing photos of her. People that were used to her bland image as The Carpenters, would have taken notice of this really attractive vibrant woman. They would have seen her in a new light.

The songs of the 9 Unreleased songs that should have been released would be Don't Try To Win Me Back Again...Love Making Love to You...and the attractive MIDNIGHT song.

Karen really did some very intricite, highly stylish vocal overdubs. Listening to them, showcases how much work and effort she contributed to this project. Way more attractive than what the Carpenters sound was, and they had a beautiful sound.

Cameron

[makapipi]

Oh wow , She could have walked into Studio 54 with Phil Ramone and did an special early play
of "My Body Keeps Changing my Mind" and couple other songs. Yes , I like Karen solo album
because it keeps me dreaming.

[Rick Henry]

Soon I will be working on the February 2007 web site - so far we have three excellent commentaries in this topic to share with the world. If anybody wants to contribute a well thought out commentary on why "you love Karen Carpenter's solo album" please add it to this thread for consideration.

[wisejester7]

Just a thought ...

It's possible that Karen's solo album is so intricate because of the results of Richard's illness.

Richard had been too tired/sleepy to put a lot of efforts into the Carpenters. This continued for quite a while ... leading up until his time of self imposed therapy. All of this time, Karen was taking on more and more responsibilities and making excuses for Richard, if needed.

When finally free to make an album, Karen probably had so many ideas in her mind she wanted to try. Her creative energy levels were more than ready to be put through their paces.

The result is a highly artistic album. Karen's vocals (lead, harmony, and background work) are fantastic!

[Rick Henry]

wisejester7 said:

Just a thought ...

It's possible that Karen's solo album is so intricate because of the results of Richard's illness.

Richard had been too tired/sleepy to put a lot of efforts into the Carpenters. This continued for quite a while ... leading up until his time of self imposed therapy. All of this time, Karen was taking on more and more responsibilities and making excuses for Richard, if needed.

When finally free to make an album, Karen probably had so many ideas in her mind she wanted to try. Her creative energy levels were more than ready to be put through their paces.

The result is a highly artistic album. Karen's vocals (lead, harmony, and background work) are fantastic!

Very interesting thoughts Wisejester7.

I agree that Karen must have had many ideas stored in her mind by the time she finally had the chance to take the lead and record the album she really wanted to do. She must have been so excited to be recording this album that it came through in the excitement levels in her voice. Her vocal performances on KC solo, in my mind, are her best performances of her entire recorded output from between 1976 to 1983. She sang with a verve and in some instances a certain playfulness that was lacking in the later Carpenters recordings. I really like the playful side of Karen. Yet on songs like "All Because Of You" and "Make Believe It's Your First Time" the depth and intimacy of calssic Karen Carpenter is still there and refreshed for a new genre and a new decade.

There's a lot that goes into the intricacy of this album. I feel one is the fact that Karen employed a producer (Phil Ramone) who was quite savvy to what was "in" at the time period yet had a firm grip on what is classic. With Ramone came his in house talent. With Karen's vision of recording a jazz influenced album with inflections of new wave, power pop, funk, R&B, country and easy listening. Ramone and Karen surrounded themselves with the finest talent to make this album. This talent came different areas of the musical scope. Hence the album ends up being quite diverse in style and emotion yet keeping a common thread throughout.

I feel the biggest contributions to the shaping of the album )other than Karen and Phil) came from Bob James and Rod Temperton. Bob James composed many of the wonderful musical arrangements and orchestrations for these songs. Bob James is a classic jazz artist who has a huge catlog of recorded releases and has worked with an uncountable of fine musicians throughout his long career. Rod Temperton is the one responsible for most of the outstanding lead, harmony and backing vocal arrangements. Certainly Karen sculpted a good portion of the lead vocals - though it's Temperton who mixed it all together and composed most of those mesmerizing harmony and backing vocals. Temperton had a big hand in the shaping of that WOW factor vocal mix at the end of "If I Had You".