Post by cam83 on Oct 2, 2003 2:57:15 GMT -5
Chapter Thirteen
Christmas 1985 came around, and it was a very quiet Christmas at Newville Avenue. It was a very reflective Christmas for everyone, and no one felt the need to waste Karen's energy. She needed the rest so much, and she kept up her doctor appointments.
She still talked to Steven Levenkron, every few days, and that seemed to help her sort all her thoughts. Her 36th birthday would be coming up in just a few months, and she felt such a great longing to find the man of her dreams, have a family, and continue on with her career.
She spent a lot of time just sitting around and resting. On days that she felt more up to it, she arranged for Evelyn to give her several boxes of fan mail. So then she spent several hours sifting thru, reading, and admiring all the cards and gifts she received from fans. Someone had to do it, and it might as well be her. No one else was going to do it. Plus, she knew that they would appreciate a letter from her, even if it was just an autograph.
In mid-January, Karen was feeling much better, and her weight climbed to 116 pounds. Her spirits seemed to climb as well, and she seemed quite confident. So she headed back to the ABC studios, to finish the delayed television special.
Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, the Boone Girls, and Gospel sensation Sandi Patti were the other female guest stars. It was to celebrate the achievement of women in the Music Industry. Olivia Newton-John and Karen sang DREAM SISTERS and PHYSICAL. Barbra Streisand and Karen sang the classic EVERGREEN, which just pleased Karen ever so much. The Boone Girls-Laury, Lindy, Cherry and Debby sang AMAZING GRACE and JOHNNY ANGEL in 5 part harmony with Karen. Sandi Patti, the newest Gospel sensation did her JESUS LOVES ME routine, imitating Karen and Barbra, and bringing the house down. Karen and Sandi sang WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN. Karen also sang a few selections from her solo release. Karen had a lot of fun, with the special, and as usual, it was another top-rated special, hitting # 2 on the Neilson Ratings. It was released the week before the Grammys, in early February 1986 titled KAREN, BARBRA, OLIVIA, SANDI and THE BOONE SISTERS, with this being Karen's special.
Karen and Richard headed back into the Studio, and began to start recording a pile of songs. Richard had known that Karen would be going for an extended vacation for her treatment in Seattle, and so he wanted to record as many songs as possible, so that if need be. They would have enough material for 2 albums, and have them paced out. This way, they would still be in the public view. Karen had been nominated for another 4 Grammy Awards, and Richard had been nominated for 2 with writing the song, and producing the song DREAM SISTERS.
Karen was excited, and made careful plans to what to wear to the gala event. She chose a pale pink chiffon gown, with pearls embroidered over the tight bodice and the long, flowery gown. She wore pale pink high heels, with straps going up to her knees. She wore a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. She wore pearls in her permed hair, and she looked breathtaking, especially with her recent and maintained weight gain. She looked so lovely and radiant.
As always, she stood out from every other star there. Olivia Newton-John was there as well, as Karen and her were to sing their DREAM SISTERS duet. They were both excited. Karen received the most nominations for a Female Artist ever. Karen and Olivia won BEST POP/ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO,GROUP OR CHORUS for DREAM SISTERS. It was the only Grammy win she won that night, but that didn't dull her in any way. Richard won BEST ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST for RAINING ALL DAY IN MY HEART, and also a Grammy for BEST PRODUCTION for DREAM SISTERS. Karen and Olivia went onstage to sing their duet and Karen started off singing,
"At one time, we were enemies…
unsure of each other.
We spoke words of hate to each other…
and I don't know why.
The years have come and gone…
and still we don't talk.
I feel the days getting longer…
all by myself.
What I want is for us to become Dream Sisters,
helping one another thru the hard times.
I want to know you better,
better than myself.
I want us to be Dream Sisters…
to talk and share our lives…"
Before they even finished the song, the audience, and all several balconies began to applaud and shriek. By the end of the evening, Karen won her Grammy Award and her brother Richard received 2 Grammys.
After their win, they headed into the recording studio, and they both literally lived there. Karen found that she now had a lot to offer in terms of assisting with Richard's production, so she actually produced one of their tracks called SPREADING MY WINGS, and she had co-written this with John and Richard. It's mood and atmosphere seemed to be I NEED TO BE IN LOVE part 2, and Karen delighted in this song. She had always thought that the 1976 Top 30 hit I NEED TO BE IN LOVE was her most favorite recording, and the most like her personality.
The O.K. Chorale sang the backing vocals for SPREADING MY WINGS, and Karen was so moved, at how far she had come in her life. This was a very therapeutic song for her, and caused the tears to fall, not only for, but for others as well.
June 19, 1986 the 16th Carpenters studio album was released to much fan fare and much hype. The cost of promotions was quite high, but A&M Records was doing everything they could for the Carpenters. They were still A&M's Biggest Selling Artists of all time. The album was called WINGS, and vaulted to the # 3 position, going gold on the strength of their # 1 single SPREADING MY WINGS, which sold over 2.3 million copies and staying in the top spot for 5 weeks. Once again, it hit # 1 for 7 weeks on the Adult Contemporary Charts. They were back with a vengence! Karen was happy to be alive.
Christmas 1985 came around, and it was a very quiet Christmas at Newville Avenue. It was a very reflective Christmas for everyone, and no one felt the need to waste Karen's energy. She needed the rest so much, and she kept up her doctor appointments.
She still talked to Steven Levenkron, every few days, and that seemed to help her sort all her thoughts. Her 36th birthday would be coming up in just a few months, and she felt such a great longing to find the man of her dreams, have a family, and continue on with her career.
She spent a lot of time just sitting around and resting. On days that she felt more up to it, she arranged for Evelyn to give her several boxes of fan mail. So then she spent several hours sifting thru, reading, and admiring all the cards and gifts she received from fans. Someone had to do it, and it might as well be her. No one else was going to do it. Plus, she knew that they would appreciate a letter from her, even if it was just an autograph.
In mid-January, Karen was feeling much better, and her weight climbed to 116 pounds. Her spirits seemed to climb as well, and she seemed quite confident. So she headed back to the ABC studios, to finish the delayed television special.
Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, the Boone Girls, and Gospel sensation Sandi Patti were the other female guest stars. It was to celebrate the achievement of women in the Music Industry. Olivia Newton-John and Karen sang DREAM SISTERS and PHYSICAL. Barbra Streisand and Karen sang the classic EVERGREEN, which just pleased Karen ever so much. The Boone Girls-Laury, Lindy, Cherry and Debby sang AMAZING GRACE and JOHNNY ANGEL in 5 part harmony with Karen. Sandi Patti, the newest Gospel sensation did her JESUS LOVES ME routine, imitating Karen and Barbra, and bringing the house down. Karen and Sandi sang WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN. Karen also sang a few selections from her solo release. Karen had a lot of fun, with the special, and as usual, it was another top-rated special, hitting # 2 on the Neilson Ratings. It was released the week before the Grammys, in early February 1986 titled KAREN, BARBRA, OLIVIA, SANDI and THE BOONE SISTERS, with this being Karen's special.
Karen and Richard headed back into the Studio, and began to start recording a pile of songs. Richard had known that Karen would be going for an extended vacation for her treatment in Seattle, and so he wanted to record as many songs as possible, so that if need be. They would have enough material for 2 albums, and have them paced out. This way, they would still be in the public view. Karen had been nominated for another 4 Grammy Awards, and Richard had been nominated for 2 with writing the song, and producing the song DREAM SISTERS.
Karen was excited, and made careful plans to what to wear to the gala event. She chose a pale pink chiffon gown, with pearls embroidered over the tight bodice and the long, flowery gown. She wore pale pink high heels, with straps going up to her knees. She wore a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. She wore pearls in her permed hair, and she looked breathtaking, especially with her recent and maintained weight gain. She looked so lovely and radiant.
As always, she stood out from every other star there. Olivia Newton-John was there as well, as Karen and her were to sing their DREAM SISTERS duet. They were both excited. Karen received the most nominations for a Female Artist ever. Karen and Olivia won BEST POP/ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO,GROUP OR CHORUS for DREAM SISTERS. It was the only Grammy win she won that night, but that didn't dull her in any way. Richard won BEST ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST for RAINING ALL DAY IN MY HEART, and also a Grammy for BEST PRODUCTION for DREAM SISTERS. Karen and Olivia went onstage to sing their duet and Karen started off singing,
"At one time, we were enemies…
unsure of each other.
We spoke words of hate to each other…
and I don't know why.
The years have come and gone…
and still we don't talk.
I feel the days getting longer…
all by myself.
What I want is for us to become Dream Sisters,
helping one another thru the hard times.
I want to know you better,
better than myself.
I want us to be Dream Sisters…
to talk and share our lives…"
Before they even finished the song, the audience, and all several balconies began to applaud and shriek. By the end of the evening, Karen won her Grammy Award and her brother Richard received 2 Grammys.
After their win, they headed into the recording studio, and they both literally lived there. Karen found that she now had a lot to offer in terms of assisting with Richard's production, so she actually produced one of their tracks called SPREADING MY WINGS, and she had co-written this with John and Richard. It's mood and atmosphere seemed to be I NEED TO BE IN LOVE part 2, and Karen delighted in this song. She had always thought that the 1976 Top 30 hit I NEED TO BE IN LOVE was her most favorite recording, and the most like her personality.
The O.K. Chorale sang the backing vocals for SPREADING MY WINGS, and Karen was so moved, at how far she had come in her life. This was a very therapeutic song for her, and caused the tears to fall, not only for, but for others as well.
June 19, 1986 the 16th Carpenters studio album was released to much fan fare and much hype. The cost of promotions was quite high, but A&M Records was doing everything they could for the Carpenters. They were still A&M's Biggest Selling Artists of all time. The album was called WINGS, and vaulted to the # 3 position, going gold on the strength of their # 1 single SPREADING MY WINGS, which sold over 2.3 million copies and staying in the top spot for 5 weeks. Once again, it hit # 1 for 7 weeks on the Adult Contemporary Charts. They were back with a vengence! Karen was happy to be alive.