Post by cam83 on Oct 16, 2004 21:23:35 GMT -5
Chapter Forty One...
Christmas came around the corner, and there were lots of things to do. Actually months in advance. Karen was recording a new album, a solo Christmas album with some of her favorite singers, as well as a special duet with her brother Richard. She wasn't sure of the title. Several came to mind. Christmas In My Heart. Christmas and a Carpenter. Christmas Magic. Karen Carpenter's Christmas Treasures. Also, a special thing was that she was writing a song on it, with John Bettis. She had never written a Christmas song before, or at least, one that the public had never heard. Karen was still hard on herself, but enjoyed the chance to songwrite, and she was finding that she was learning more and more about the craft. Of course, she and John had fun doing that and this.
Also, Karen wrote a song with Richard titled LITTLE BABY BOY BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY. When she recorded this song in the studio, she wept at the beauty of it. Of how her emotions crept into the song, making it seem as if she were there, in Bethlehem at that particular time.
Little Baby Boy Born on Christmas Day
I come with all that I am
To offer you a welcome to this world
I don't have much to bring
But I bring you my honest devotion
I am a poor girl but with dreams
Let me hold you in my arms
And I will remember this moment
All the days of my life
Little Baby Boy Born On Christmas Day
I stare in awe at your little form
You are something special
I can't explain how I feel with you in my arms
Peace, joy and hope seem to radiate within me
And I feel that you have something to do with that
Although you are just a baby
There are many, unexplainable things
A star, the shepherds, the people...
Karen's friend Olivia Newton-John would be guesting on the album on a medley of Christmas songs. Both women, had such fun at the recording studio, that they seemed to barely get any recording done at all. They were sharing stories thru laughter and tears, and the funniest moment came when Olivia was in the recording booth singing AWAY IN A MANGER, and Karen was making these goofy faces to Olivia, who broke down in hysterics. So of course, take after take was done, until finally Karen had to calm down, and let Olivia do her job.
Another great friend was the Gospel queen Sandi Patty. Karen enjoyed their warm friendship, and it was so much fun to go shopping. It seemed as if she and Sandi spent more time shopping than recording. As she found out, she found a kindred spirit in Sandi, as both loved to shop. And both loved to sample wonderful cuisines at different cafes and delis. With Sandi, Karen could just be herself. Since Sandi was a spiritual lady, Karen found that being around her made her feel loved and welcomed. They recorded CHRISTMAS WAS MEANT FOR CHILDREN, and also HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Sandi parted, with plans to get together in the new year. Karen was excited. Karen was also amazed at the sheer quality of Sandi's immense range and how she could hit those high c's with remarkeable ease. She never faltered. Karen was also amazed to know how big of a fan Sandi was. She cracked when Sandi brought a cd of MORE THAN WONDERFUL, a Live album Sandi had done in 1983, and heard an imitation of her singing Jesus Loves me.
Richard and Karen recorded a medley of some of their classic Christmas songs from the 1978 Christmas Portrait album. Plus, on this album, they released the "Live" versions of AVE MARIA and MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING.
Karen was also invited to sing on the TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno. She sang a medley of Christmas songs, and also a full length version of MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING which got a standing ovation from the audience. Karen was beaming. She gave the entire audience a copy of the new Holiday release...titled...CHRISTMAS TREASURES.
Karen was also part of several concerts that would air during the Christmas season. Mariah Carey was having a Christmas TV Special. So Karen, was thrilled to be dueting with Mariah, on the songs JOY TO THE WORLD and Karen sang solo on her new song LITTLE BABY BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY. Also, Karen guested on the DONNY and MARIE Special...with Richard. That was fun to do some duets with Donny and Marie Osmond, as well as the whole Osmond family. Of course, it was neat to see her old boyfriend Alan Osmond. Karen and Richard sang MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING. The Osmonds, combined with the Carpenters made this a Neilson Ratings hit. A lot of this stuff was filmed prior to the week before Christmas so it was nice to have some time to spend with her family, during the Christmas season.
Christmas came around the corner, and there were lots of things to do. Actually months in advance. Karen was recording a new album, a solo Christmas album with some of her favorite singers, as well as a special duet with her brother Richard. She wasn't sure of the title. Several came to mind. Christmas In My Heart. Christmas and a Carpenter. Christmas Magic. Karen Carpenter's Christmas Treasures. Also, a special thing was that she was writing a song on it, with John Bettis. She had never written a Christmas song before, or at least, one that the public had never heard. Karen was still hard on herself, but enjoyed the chance to songwrite, and she was finding that she was learning more and more about the craft. Of course, she and John had fun doing that and this.
Also, Karen wrote a song with Richard titled LITTLE BABY BOY BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY. When she recorded this song in the studio, she wept at the beauty of it. Of how her emotions crept into the song, making it seem as if she were there, in Bethlehem at that particular time.
Little Baby Boy Born on Christmas Day
I come with all that I am
To offer you a welcome to this world
I don't have much to bring
But I bring you my honest devotion
I am a poor girl but with dreams
Let me hold you in my arms
And I will remember this moment
All the days of my life
Little Baby Boy Born On Christmas Day
I stare in awe at your little form
You are something special
I can't explain how I feel with you in my arms
Peace, joy and hope seem to radiate within me
And I feel that you have something to do with that
Although you are just a baby
There are many, unexplainable things
A star, the shepherds, the people...
Karen's friend Olivia Newton-John would be guesting on the album on a medley of Christmas songs. Both women, had such fun at the recording studio, that they seemed to barely get any recording done at all. They were sharing stories thru laughter and tears, and the funniest moment came when Olivia was in the recording booth singing AWAY IN A MANGER, and Karen was making these goofy faces to Olivia, who broke down in hysterics. So of course, take after take was done, until finally Karen had to calm down, and let Olivia do her job.
Another great friend was the Gospel queen Sandi Patty. Karen enjoyed their warm friendship, and it was so much fun to go shopping. It seemed as if she and Sandi spent more time shopping than recording. As she found out, she found a kindred spirit in Sandi, as both loved to shop. And both loved to sample wonderful cuisines at different cafes and delis. With Sandi, Karen could just be herself. Since Sandi was a spiritual lady, Karen found that being around her made her feel loved and welcomed. They recorded CHRISTMAS WAS MEANT FOR CHILDREN, and also HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Sandi parted, with plans to get together in the new year. Karen was excited. Karen was also amazed at the sheer quality of Sandi's immense range and how she could hit those high c's with remarkeable ease. She never faltered. Karen was also amazed to know how big of a fan Sandi was. She cracked when Sandi brought a cd of MORE THAN WONDERFUL, a Live album Sandi had done in 1983, and heard an imitation of her singing Jesus Loves me.
Richard and Karen recorded a medley of some of their classic Christmas songs from the 1978 Christmas Portrait album. Plus, on this album, they released the "Live" versions of AVE MARIA and MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING.
Karen was also invited to sing on the TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno. She sang a medley of Christmas songs, and also a full length version of MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING which got a standing ovation from the audience. Karen was beaming. She gave the entire audience a copy of the new Holiday release...titled...CHRISTMAS TREASURES.
Karen was also part of several concerts that would air during the Christmas season. Mariah Carey was having a Christmas TV Special. So Karen, was thrilled to be dueting with Mariah, on the songs JOY TO THE WORLD and Karen sang solo on her new song LITTLE BABY BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY. Also, Karen guested on the DONNY and MARIE Special...with Richard. That was fun to do some duets with Donny and Marie Osmond, as well as the whole Osmond family. Of course, it was neat to see her old boyfriend Alan Osmond. Karen and Richard sang MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING. The Osmonds, combined with the Carpenters made this a Neilson Ratings hit. A lot of this stuff was filmed prior to the week before Christmas so it was nice to have some time to spend with her family, during the Christmas season.
