Post by cam83 on Oct 3, 2003 3:49:45 GMT -5
Chapter Seventeen
During that time, Karen would be working on a new album, another solo album. She wanted to do an album of Broadway songs. She and Barbra Streisand were planning a duet, and Karen was ecstatic. She would be singing with one of the greatest female singers of all time, and she hoped that everything would turn out fine.
So Karen flew to New York, and this time, she arrived as a woman who had won her battle with anorexia nervosa. She was so pleased with herself. She would glance at herself, in the many glass mirrors that were all around her, and see a beautiful woman, who looked happy and more importantly, healthy.
Phil Ramone would be producing her 3rd solo effort, and they spent many hours together discussing the various approaches they could take. Karen just absolutely loved Broadway tunes, and wanted a chance to stretch and record some of these songs, to show her versatile range. For most of her career, she had sang in the deep end of her range, and had loved it, but she had a four octave range that she wanted to use.
The Carpenters album GEMS spawned another Top 5 single. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' hit # 4 and was certified gold. On the A.C. chart, it sailed to # 1 for 11 weeks. The best thing about that was that John and Michelle Phillips, who were a part of the 1960's group MAMAS AND PAPAS, adored the Carpenters' version. They even appeared on the video with the Carpenters and were seen laughing and talking with each other. It also brought MAMAS AND PAPAS back into the spotlight, and Karen and Richard were happy to share the spotlight.
The GEMS album was # 10 and was now quadruple platinum in the U.S. It now hit the 10 million mark all over the world. The WINGS album was still in the Top 200 Album chart hitting # 54 and worldwide, hit the 11 million mark. Their album sales was now well over the 120 million mark, more than any other musical duo in history, and they were very pleased with their accomplishments.
Karen found out that Mary was expecting a baby, and Karen was just thrilled at the news. Soon she would be an Aunt, and so with great enthusiasm, she went out and bought hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of baby products. Her niece or nephew would be treated with such vast amounts of love by Auntie Karen. She was so happy.
The months passed, and Karen was back in New York recording her album. The most special part of it all was when the legendary Barbra Streisand appeared to record their historic duet. The song would be A PIECE OF SKY, from the Motion Picture YENTL. Karen had loved that song, and was so thrilled to record it with Barbra. The song was perfect for the both of them, as it showed their range so diverse, and yet brought the song together with the melting of their 2 voices together. Karen had been a little bit nervous as this was the SUPERSTAR of all time, but Barbra made Karen at ease, and Karen became her normal, cheerful self again. Karen didn't feel at all like the superstar she was, and felt that Barbra was the one who was the greatest. They had lots of time to laugh, joke and talk. Barbra seemed to be greatly impressed at Karen's knowledge in the Recording studio, and also at how Karen was such a perfectionist. If a note didn't sound right, Karen would start all over again. But that rarely happened as Karen hardly ever made a mistake. She just seemed to have that rare gift of being able to sing with such ease, and little care in the world.
There were also photo sessions between the 70's Superstars of Barbra and Karen, and artwork was carefully being prepared for Karen's newest album. During this time, Karen was given the privilege of being Barbra's houseguest. Karen was so pleased, but yet so shocked at how Barbra's life seemed so opulent and so chic. Her houses seemed to be from the cover of Better Homes magazine. Karen's condo was nice, but plain compared to Barbra's palatial home it looked like nothing like what a superstar celebrity's home should look like. They spent lots of time shopping, attending various celebrity functions, with Karen under Barbra's wings. It was neat. She was glad for the friendship, and found a lot of things she enjoyed about Barbra.
A PIECE OF SKY was released worldwide as a single October 2nd, 1987 and was praised for it's workmanship and beauty. It debuted at # 8 on the Top 100 and the following week, it claimed the # 1 spot, and stayed there for all of October and part of November. It was # 1 for 6 weeks, and sold over 3.9 million copies. It was also # 1 on the A.C. chart for 12 weeks. It was # 1 in many other countries of the world, including Spain, England, and Japan among others.
The album IN ANOTHER TUNE, Karen Carpenter's 3rd Solo Album hit # 6 and was already gold the first week. By Christmas time, it had sold over a million copies.
Meanwhile, Karen had purchased a beautiful, spacious home in L.A. in Ferndale. The house had cost her 3.8 million dollars, but it was well worth it. It had a beautiful yard, and lots of possibility with what to do with it. It would take several months to fix the place up, paint the rooms, design the rooms and furnish it. Karen had a lot of ideas with what to do with it. She was excited. With Richard's new arrival in a few months, Karen had the desire, to convert one of the bedrooms into a nursery, so that whenever the need be, Karen could babysit for Richard and Mary. One day, she would make use of that specific room with her own child.
Christmas 1987 was now upon them, and this would be a very special Christmas for the Carpenter family. Mary's mother Bernice and their family would be spending it at the Carpenter home. Agnes was quite happy, and very excited about the soon to be grandson/daughter. Finally everything was looking good, and there would be only good memories left. It was nice to see the family so happy and so full of love. Christmas just seemed to have that effect on everyone. Karen bought lots of presents for Mary, Richard and their soon to be baby. She just jumped around with happiness. Their cousin Bear, who was Mary's brother was also there, and lots of laughter was heard all over the big, but festive house. Bernice was just as thrilled as Agnes was about Karen's state of health, and how good she seemed to be doing. Bernice went over, at various points and went and gave Karen big hugs. Agnes did not look miffed anymore, and surprised even Karen when Agnes would go and give her daughter a hug. Karen just beamed with happiness.
Agnes had made some life altering decisions and it showed with everyone who knew her. Harold was not in the best of health, and so Agnes put a lot of her energy into making sure that he was comfortable. He was still on medication.
Mary and Karen spent time shopping, and going out together. Karen had always loved her pretty cousin and they were great friends. Karen even helped prepare their nursery, and helped with the tough things that Mary could not do. She was now 5 months along. Christmas 1987 came and went and left lifelong memories for everyone involved. Now everyone was focused on the baby's safe arrival.
During that time, Karen would be working on a new album, another solo album. She wanted to do an album of Broadway songs. She and Barbra Streisand were planning a duet, and Karen was ecstatic. She would be singing with one of the greatest female singers of all time, and she hoped that everything would turn out fine.
So Karen flew to New York, and this time, she arrived as a woman who had won her battle with anorexia nervosa. She was so pleased with herself. She would glance at herself, in the many glass mirrors that were all around her, and see a beautiful woman, who looked happy and more importantly, healthy.
Phil Ramone would be producing her 3rd solo effort, and they spent many hours together discussing the various approaches they could take. Karen just absolutely loved Broadway tunes, and wanted a chance to stretch and record some of these songs, to show her versatile range. For most of her career, she had sang in the deep end of her range, and had loved it, but she had a four octave range that she wanted to use.
The Carpenters album GEMS spawned another Top 5 single. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' hit # 4 and was certified gold. On the A.C. chart, it sailed to # 1 for 11 weeks. The best thing about that was that John and Michelle Phillips, who were a part of the 1960's group MAMAS AND PAPAS, adored the Carpenters' version. They even appeared on the video with the Carpenters and were seen laughing and talking with each other. It also brought MAMAS AND PAPAS back into the spotlight, and Karen and Richard were happy to share the spotlight.
The GEMS album was # 10 and was now quadruple platinum in the U.S. It now hit the 10 million mark all over the world. The WINGS album was still in the Top 200 Album chart hitting # 54 and worldwide, hit the 11 million mark. Their album sales was now well over the 120 million mark, more than any other musical duo in history, and they were very pleased with their accomplishments.
Karen found out that Mary was expecting a baby, and Karen was just thrilled at the news. Soon she would be an Aunt, and so with great enthusiasm, she went out and bought hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of baby products. Her niece or nephew would be treated with such vast amounts of love by Auntie Karen. She was so happy.
The months passed, and Karen was back in New York recording her album. The most special part of it all was when the legendary Barbra Streisand appeared to record their historic duet. The song would be A PIECE OF SKY, from the Motion Picture YENTL. Karen had loved that song, and was so thrilled to record it with Barbra. The song was perfect for the both of them, as it showed their range so diverse, and yet brought the song together with the melting of their 2 voices together. Karen had been a little bit nervous as this was the SUPERSTAR of all time, but Barbra made Karen at ease, and Karen became her normal, cheerful self again. Karen didn't feel at all like the superstar she was, and felt that Barbra was the one who was the greatest. They had lots of time to laugh, joke and talk. Barbra seemed to be greatly impressed at Karen's knowledge in the Recording studio, and also at how Karen was such a perfectionist. If a note didn't sound right, Karen would start all over again. But that rarely happened as Karen hardly ever made a mistake. She just seemed to have that rare gift of being able to sing with such ease, and little care in the world.
There were also photo sessions between the 70's Superstars of Barbra and Karen, and artwork was carefully being prepared for Karen's newest album. During this time, Karen was given the privilege of being Barbra's houseguest. Karen was so pleased, but yet so shocked at how Barbra's life seemed so opulent and so chic. Her houses seemed to be from the cover of Better Homes magazine. Karen's condo was nice, but plain compared to Barbra's palatial home it looked like nothing like what a superstar celebrity's home should look like. They spent lots of time shopping, attending various celebrity functions, with Karen under Barbra's wings. It was neat. She was glad for the friendship, and found a lot of things she enjoyed about Barbra.
A PIECE OF SKY was released worldwide as a single October 2nd, 1987 and was praised for it's workmanship and beauty. It debuted at # 8 on the Top 100 and the following week, it claimed the # 1 spot, and stayed there for all of October and part of November. It was # 1 for 6 weeks, and sold over 3.9 million copies. It was also # 1 on the A.C. chart for 12 weeks. It was # 1 in many other countries of the world, including Spain, England, and Japan among others.
The album IN ANOTHER TUNE, Karen Carpenter's 3rd Solo Album hit # 6 and was already gold the first week. By Christmas time, it had sold over a million copies.
Meanwhile, Karen had purchased a beautiful, spacious home in L.A. in Ferndale. The house had cost her 3.8 million dollars, but it was well worth it. It had a beautiful yard, and lots of possibility with what to do with it. It would take several months to fix the place up, paint the rooms, design the rooms and furnish it. Karen had a lot of ideas with what to do with it. She was excited. With Richard's new arrival in a few months, Karen had the desire, to convert one of the bedrooms into a nursery, so that whenever the need be, Karen could babysit for Richard and Mary. One day, she would make use of that specific room with her own child.
Christmas 1987 was now upon them, and this would be a very special Christmas for the Carpenter family. Mary's mother Bernice and their family would be spending it at the Carpenter home. Agnes was quite happy, and very excited about the soon to be grandson/daughter. Finally everything was looking good, and there would be only good memories left. It was nice to see the family so happy and so full of love. Christmas just seemed to have that effect on everyone. Karen bought lots of presents for Mary, Richard and their soon to be baby. She just jumped around with happiness. Their cousin Bear, who was Mary's brother was also there, and lots of laughter was heard all over the big, but festive house. Bernice was just as thrilled as Agnes was about Karen's state of health, and how good she seemed to be doing. Bernice went over, at various points and went and gave Karen big hugs. Agnes did not look miffed anymore, and surprised even Karen when Agnes would go and give her daughter a hug. Karen just beamed with happiness.
Agnes had made some life altering decisions and it showed with everyone who knew her. Harold was not in the best of health, and so Agnes put a lot of her energy into making sure that he was comfortable. He was still on medication.
Mary and Karen spent time shopping, and going out together. Karen had always loved her pretty cousin and they were great friends. Karen even helped prepare their nursery, and helped with the tough things that Mary could not do. She was now 5 months along. Christmas 1987 came and went and left lifelong memories for everyone involved. Now everyone was focused on the baby's safe arrival.
