Post by cam83 on Sept 26, 2003 13:53:59 GMT -5
Karen still kept in touch with Steven Levenkron, who was back in New York. They would talk over her problems, and much to Karen's chagrin, Steven kept insisting that Karen needed to continue her treatment. Karen didn't feel the need to further her treatment, even though she still would call Steven in a rather emotional state when something was bothering her. Karen was in a lot of pain, and felt that Steven was her lifeline. She would tell him problems between her and Rich, between her Mom and herself, which seemed to be a big problem. Karen wanted more freedom away from the family, and they just kept pulling harder and tighter.
Karen's relationship with her mother had it's ups and downs, and sometimes, it seemed that it was more downs. Some days were good days, and others were bad days. She learned to stay away from her mother when they would get in a big disagreement. Agnes would rag on Karen when she learned that Karen was still talking to Steven Levenkron. That rankled her so much, that Karen felt the need to seek professional help. Agnes felt that Karen was better, and that Karen had just been wasting her money for some "mumbo, jumbo" as she saw it for that year of therapy in New York. She just couldn't understand why Karen needed to go outside of the family for help. It was just all in Karen's head. She didn't really need that help.
May saw Karen head to New York for a 2 week visit. She told her family that she needed a mini vacation, even though her mother raised her eyebrows in disbelief. In reality, Karen was going to work some more on her solo album. She hated not being able to tell them, but she just couldn't face herself to tell them. It would widen the division that Karen already felt between the 3 of them, and herself. She would stay with Phil and Itchy Ramone. Itchy's name was really Karen, but to lessen the confusion of having the same name, they shortened her maiden name to Itchy. It suited her anyways.
While there in New York, Karen also went to visit Steven Levenkron. He even admitted that Karen looked good. Her weight was 112 pounds and she took great pride in her appearance. He felt that she was like a flower, that had just opened it's petals and bloomed forth. She just looked wonderful and so very radiant. Karen discussed the whole situation of Tom and Karen's marriage, and what she really felt, deep within her. These sessions ended in tears, with Karen feeling that she had released a part of her, that had been locked away for many years. She felt like she had a lot of growing up to do, in some way. There was just so much deep within her, that it frightened her immensely.
Vocally, all Karen wanted to do, was re-record the song LAST ONE SINGIN' THE BLUES. She felt that this song was a gem. She was surprised at the compliments that she received from the other musicians. They made her feel so very talented, and they listened wholeheartedly to what she had to say, or suggest. Of course, whenever she did listen to the out takes, she always felt she could improve on something, and was hard on herself vocally.
She remembered the single SUPERSTAR from the 1970's, and how she had recorded that song in just one take, and how Richard wanted to release it that way. She wasn't terribly pleased about that, as she didn't like the way she did it. So, she re-recorded LAST ONE SINGIN' THE BLUES until she was satisfied. Perfection should have been her middle name.
She chose the album cover, and she felt that she looked really pretty, and so chic. It was the picture of her in a white sweatshirt, with her hair fluffed around her face. She looked so alone, so serious, and yet so at peace. This was her favorite photo of herself, and she would show it to anyone, at how she felt that this was one of the best pictures of her. It pleased her to have people tell her that they really liked it as well. It gave her some confidence in herself.
Her album title would be KAREN CARPENTER, and everyone was talking about how it would be a best-seller. Basically, everything would continue the way it should have done, over 3 years ago. She knew that it had cost a lot of money, plus more, but she was adamant about one thing. It would be released! If she had anything to say about it…This album really meant a lot to her, and no one was going to get in her way.
A&M Records was kind of shaky about releasing it, but they had had no recent big-sellers recently, so they agreed ever so slowly. What could it hurt? If anything, it might add some to their sales figures.
Her 2 week stay turned into a couple of more weeks added on. There was a lot of planning to go on with publicity and the like. She was involved in every aspect of it. What tv shows to visit, radio stations, autograph sessions, more photo shoots and so on. Also it would give her a chance to formulate in her mind what it was that she wanted. There was such a jumble of thoughts in her mind, and she needed time to sort out her feelings. It definitely wasn't easy being a person, much less a superstar. If only her fans knew what kind of turmoil she faced on a daily basis. Sure, she sang for them, but she faced her own problems that they were not aware of, and maybe that came through into the music.
She still kept in touch with her family, almost daily, but she couldn't help that. Her family was so much a part of her, maybe even more so than she was willing to admit. She needed them so much. She would just give up on life, if her family disowned her. She couldn't be able to handle life if her parents were there. Did it have something to do with the fact, that she could feel like a bit of a bad girl, when she rebelled, as opposed to always being a good girl, and never being able to live on the wild side. She was so scared of taking risks, and yet, the thought appealed to her, of taking a chance, and living on the wild edge. She was so sick of being labeled "wholesome" and "apple pie," and she wanted to be known for something more.
She wanted adventure, and maybe that would happen with the release of the solo album. Finally people would realize that there was more to her than just her wholesome image. She didn't want to be the girl next door.
Why her good friend Olivia Newton-John had made the transition from country gal to superstar rocker. That was what Karen wanted, as well. While in New York, Karen was more daring than on previous trips.
She had once visited the Sesame Street set, and had pictures taken, and would have loved to have appeared on the children's show. Why the song SING was written by Joe Raposo, and it had been a huge hit on the Billboard Pop Charts hitting # 3, and selling over a million copies. It would be a given that she should appear on the show.
So this time, she guested on the show and sang with Kermit. The song was the RAINBOW CONNECTION, and Karen loved the song, and of course she loved Kermit. Everything about Sesame Street or Walt Disney characters, she just adored. The child within her loved anything fluffy and soft. Mickey Mouse character was her favorite, and she loved all the gifts that she received from fans, who knew of her collecting Mickey memorabelia. See, she was just as normal as the next, she thought to herself.
Jim Henson was really sweet to her, and said that he was a big fan of Karen, and that if she ever wanted to, she could guest on the show again. She had been invited to appear on the famed Muppet Show, but due to prior commitments, she had been unable to attend, which had dissapointed her greatly. Now, she had the time and enjoyed meeting Jerry Juhl, Frank Oz, and all the other wonderful and talented puppeteers. Jim Henson even asked her what she thought about, if they made a puppet called, say Karen Plumber. Karen thought that would be neat, and Jim drew up some sketches for her. Karen had a ball. Plans were made to get together in the near future, and make it a reality.
Karen's relationship with her mother had it's ups and downs, and sometimes, it seemed that it was more downs. Some days were good days, and others were bad days. She learned to stay away from her mother when they would get in a big disagreement. Agnes would rag on Karen when she learned that Karen was still talking to Steven Levenkron. That rankled her so much, that Karen felt the need to seek professional help. Agnes felt that Karen was better, and that Karen had just been wasting her money for some "mumbo, jumbo" as she saw it for that year of therapy in New York. She just couldn't understand why Karen needed to go outside of the family for help. It was just all in Karen's head. She didn't really need that help.
May saw Karen head to New York for a 2 week visit. She told her family that she needed a mini vacation, even though her mother raised her eyebrows in disbelief. In reality, Karen was going to work some more on her solo album. She hated not being able to tell them, but she just couldn't face herself to tell them. It would widen the division that Karen already felt between the 3 of them, and herself. She would stay with Phil and Itchy Ramone. Itchy's name was really Karen, but to lessen the confusion of having the same name, they shortened her maiden name to Itchy. It suited her anyways.
While there in New York, Karen also went to visit Steven Levenkron. He even admitted that Karen looked good. Her weight was 112 pounds and she took great pride in her appearance. He felt that she was like a flower, that had just opened it's petals and bloomed forth. She just looked wonderful and so very radiant. Karen discussed the whole situation of Tom and Karen's marriage, and what she really felt, deep within her. These sessions ended in tears, with Karen feeling that she had released a part of her, that had been locked away for many years. She felt like she had a lot of growing up to do, in some way. There was just so much deep within her, that it frightened her immensely.
Vocally, all Karen wanted to do, was re-record the song LAST ONE SINGIN' THE BLUES. She felt that this song was a gem. She was surprised at the compliments that she received from the other musicians. They made her feel so very talented, and they listened wholeheartedly to what she had to say, or suggest. Of course, whenever she did listen to the out takes, she always felt she could improve on something, and was hard on herself vocally.
She remembered the single SUPERSTAR from the 1970's, and how she had recorded that song in just one take, and how Richard wanted to release it that way. She wasn't terribly pleased about that, as she didn't like the way she did it. So, she re-recorded LAST ONE SINGIN' THE BLUES until she was satisfied. Perfection should have been her middle name.
She chose the album cover, and she felt that she looked really pretty, and so chic. It was the picture of her in a white sweatshirt, with her hair fluffed around her face. She looked so alone, so serious, and yet so at peace. This was her favorite photo of herself, and she would show it to anyone, at how she felt that this was one of the best pictures of her. It pleased her to have people tell her that they really liked it as well. It gave her some confidence in herself.
Her album title would be KAREN CARPENTER, and everyone was talking about how it would be a best-seller. Basically, everything would continue the way it should have done, over 3 years ago. She knew that it had cost a lot of money, plus more, but she was adamant about one thing. It would be released! If she had anything to say about it…This album really meant a lot to her, and no one was going to get in her way.
A&M Records was kind of shaky about releasing it, but they had had no recent big-sellers recently, so they agreed ever so slowly. What could it hurt? If anything, it might add some to their sales figures.
Her 2 week stay turned into a couple of more weeks added on. There was a lot of planning to go on with publicity and the like. She was involved in every aspect of it. What tv shows to visit, radio stations, autograph sessions, more photo shoots and so on. Also it would give her a chance to formulate in her mind what it was that she wanted. There was such a jumble of thoughts in her mind, and she needed time to sort out her feelings. It definitely wasn't easy being a person, much less a superstar. If only her fans knew what kind of turmoil she faced on a daily basis. Sure, she sang for them, but she faced her own problems that they were not aware of, and maybe that came through into the music.
She still kept in touch with her family, almost daily, but she couldn't help that. Her family was so much a part of her, maybe even more so than she was willing to admit. She needed them so much. She would just give up on life, if her family disowned her. She couldn't be able to handle life if her parents were there. Did it have something to do with the fact, that she could feel like a bit of a bad girl, when she rebelled, as opposed to always being a good girl, and never being able to live on the wild side. She was so scared of taking risks, and yet, the thought appealed to her, of taking a chance, and living on the wild edge. She was so sick of being labeled "wholesome" and "apple pie," and she wanted to be known for something more.
She wanted adventure, and maybe that would happen with the release of the solo album. Finally people would realize that there was more to her than just her wholesome image. She didn't want to be the girl next door.
Why her good friend Olivia Newton-John had made the transition from country gal to superstar rocker. That was what Karen wanted, as well. While in New York, Karen was more daring than on previous trips.
She had once visited the Sesame Street set, and had pictures taken, and would have loved to have appeared on the children's show. Why the song SING was written by Joe Raposo, and it had been a huge hit on the Billboard Pop Charts hitting # 3, and selling over a million copies. It would be a given that she should appear on the show.
So this time, she guested on the show and sang with Kermit. The song was the RAINBOW CONNECTION, and Karen loved the song, and of course she loved Kermit. Everything about Sesame Street or Walt Disney characters, she just adored. The child within her loved anything fluffy and soft. Mickey Mouse character was her favorite, and she loved all the gifts that she received from fans, who knew of her collecting Mickey memorabelia. See, she was just as normal as the next, she thought to herself.
Jim Henson was really sweet to her, and said that he was a big fan of Karen, and that if she ever wanted to, she could guest on the show again. She had been invited to appear on the famed Muppet Show, but due to prior commitments, she had been unable to attend, which had dissapointed her greatly. Now, she had the time and enjoyed meeting Jerry Juhl, Frank Oz, and all the other wonderful and talented puppeteers. Jim Henson even asked her what she thought about, if they made a puppet called, say Karen Plumber. Karen thought that would be neat, and Jim drew up some sketches for her. Karen had a ball. Plans were made to get together in the near future, and make it a reality.
