Post by cam83 on Nov 1, 2003 2:47:31 GMT -5
Written by Rick Henry and Cameron Longo
Richard spends 1979 at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka Kansas in order to kick a habit to the prescription drug Qualuudes..
Karen is approached by Herb Alpert to do a solo album. Phil Ramone steps is hired produce the album, which will take place in New York.
Karen leaves in early May...and begins the task of selecting a whole bunch of songs. She begins to record, during the next year, over 23 selections.
Her weight goes up and down. Beautiful photos are taken of Karen in a new light. She looks gorgeous. She chooses the album cover, which we see when her solo album is finally released in 1996. In that picture, she felt beautiful..."Look at me Itchy(Karen Ramone's nickname), I'm pretty!" she says upon looking at it. Her hair is feathered and styled to reflect the time period, and she is dressed in upbeat new wave styled clothing.
Most of the songs are orchestrated and arranged by jazz music legend Bob James. Several of the song's vocal arrangements are done by Rod Temperton. Rod was a founding member of the band Heatwave which had hits with "Boogie Nights", "The Groove Line" and "Always And Forever". Temperton also worked on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album. He also wrote the songs "Lovelines" and "If We Try" for Karen's solo album.
The recording process is strenuous, but Karen loves the fact of Billy Joel's back up band to play the instruments on the album. She really begins to feel like an equal in the recording process. Even in the song LAST ONE SINGING THE BLUES, she instructs the musicians on the (just a zinch slower, is it Lib?...and...Don't forget the break!).
Peter Cetera, of CHICAGO fame, wrote one of the standout tracks on the album, specifically for Karen...called MAKING LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON, on which he provides the harmony vocals.
All of these songs catch the female Carpenter in a new light. She is singing a new type of song, and in a sense is maturing musically. She is stretching her wings musically...on the easygoing song ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, she sings in a lazy-like manner which is appealing, and almost has a countryish feel to it. Her phrasing is impeccable. The note she hits at the end is simply chilling..."All because of Youuuuuuu...." as smoothly goes up into her higher octave the song fades out leaving the listener with a sense of awe.
IF I HAD YOU is gorgeous...complex vocal arrangements. While recording the song Karen called Richard on the phone to tell him about the intricate vocal mix and how much creativity and technology went into this song. The incomparable Rod Temperton put together this amazing vocal arrangement.
GUESS I JUST LOST MY HEAD is an album highlight with it easy going smooth jazz sound. Karen sings this one without flaw. Rob Mounsey who wrote the song also provided the otherworldly keyboard solo. Karen comments that Rob is much like her brother in his finesse of putting together a great musical arrangement and the patience he takes to make it all come together perfectly.
MY BODY KEEPS CHANGING MY MIND is a work of disco art. Karen sounds like she is having fun on this song...what a reviewer called..."A mad disco romp." I am glad she got the chance to record this period piece, while the disco era was slowing going out.
She recorded:
Lovelines
Remember When Loving Took All Night
Still Crazy After All These Years
Truly You(unreleased)
Last One Singing The Blues
Still In Love With You
All Because Of You
It's Really You(unreleased)
Jimmy Mac(unreleased)
If I Had You
If We Try
Love Making Love To You(unreleased)
Make Believe It's Your First Time
I Do It For Your Love(unreleased)
Don't Try To Win Me Back Again(unreleased)
Midnight(unreleased)
Something's Missing(unreleased)
Keep My Lovelight Burning(unreleased)
Making Love In The Afternoon
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind
Guess I Just Lost My Head
Basket Case(unreleased)
Wild(unreleased)
She spent all of 1979 recording and mixing this album
During this time, while in New York, she guested on an Art Garfunkel recording session, that remains untitled and unreleased.
Richard spends 1979 at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka Kansas in order to kick a habit to the prescription drug Qualuudes..
Karen is approached by Herb Alpert to do a solo album. Phil Ramone steps is hired produce the album, which will take place in New York.
Karen leaves in early May...and begins the task of selecting a whole bunch of songs. She begins to record, during the next year, over 23 selections.
Her weight goes up and down. Beautiful photos are taken of Karen in a new light. She looks gorgeous. She chooses the album cover, which we see when her solo album is finally released in 1996. In that picture, she felt beautiful..."Look at me Itchy(Karen Ramone's nickname), I'm pretty!" she says upon looking at it. Her hair is feathered and styled to reflect the time period, and she is dressed in upbeat new wave styled clothing.
Most of the songs are orchestrated and arranged by jazz music legend Bob James. Several of the song's vocal arrangements are done by Rod Temperton. Rod was a founding member of the band Heatwave which had hits with "Boogie Nights", "The Groove Line" and "Always And Forever". Temperton also worked on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album. He also wrote the songs "Lovelines" and "If We Try" for Karen's solo album.
The recording process is strenuous, but Karen loves the fact of Billy Joel's back up band to play the instruments on the album. She really begins to feel like an equal in the recording process. Even in the song LAST ONE SINGING THE BLUES, she instructs the musicians on the (just a zinch slower, is it Lib?...and...Don't forget the break!).
Peter Cetera, of CHICAGO fame, wrote one of the standout tracks on the album, specifically for Karen...called MAKING LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON, on which he provides the harmony vocals.
All of these songs catch the female Carpenter in a new light. She is singing a new type of song, and in a sense is maturing musically. She is stretching her wings musically...on the easygoing song ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, she sings in a lazy-like manner which is appealing, and almost has a countryish feel to it. Her phrasing is impeccable. The note she hits at the end is simply chilling..."All because of Youuuuuuu...." as smoothly goes up into her higher octave the song fades out leaving the listener with a sense of awe.
IF I HAD YOU is gorgeous...complex vocal arrangements. While recording the song Karen called Richard on the phone to tell him about the intricate vocal mix and how much creativity and technology went into this song. The incomparable Rod Temperton put together this amazing vocal arrangement.
GUESS I JUST LOST MY HEAD is an album highlight with it easy going smooth jazz sound. Karen sings this one without flaw. Rob Mounsey who wrote the song also provided the otherworldly keyboard solo. Karen comments that Rob is much like her brother in his finesse of putting together a great musical arrangement and the patience he takes to make it all come together perfectly.
MY BODY KEEPS CHANGING MY MIND is a work of disco art. Karen sounds like she is having fun on this song...what a reviewer called..."A mad disco romp." I am glad she got the chance to record this period piece, while the disco era was slowing going out.
She recorded:
Lovelines
Remember When Loving Took All Night
Still Crazy After All These Years
Truly You(unreleased)
Last One Singing The Blues
Still In Love With You
All Because Of You
It's Really You(unreleased)
Jimmy Mac(unreleased)
If I Had You
If We Try
Love Making Love To You(unreleased)
Make Believe It's Your First Time
I Do It For Your Love(unreleased)
Don't Try To Win Me Back Again(unreleased)
Midnight(unreleased)
Something's Missing(unreleased)
Keep My Lovelight Burning(unreleased)
Making Love In The Afternoon
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind
Guess I Just Lost My Head
Basket Case(unreleased)
Wild(unreleased)
She spent all of 1979 recording and mixing this album
During this time, while in New York, she guested on an Art Garfunkel recording session, that remains untitled and unreleased.
