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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 23, 2005 1:00:27 GMT -5
 Tuesday April 10, 1979
Today Karen and Phil received the latest Billboard magazine. Karen was too nervous to open it herself so she asked Phil to look at it first. As Phil flipped through the pages Karen sat across from Phil with a big smile on her face. she waited with nervous anticipation. Before Phil made it to the Hot 100 Singles chart he came across a full page ad for Karen's new single.
"Look," Phil said with excitement as he handed the magazine over to Karen.
Karen perked up with excitement as she grabbed the magazine she thought to herself, "It's done it, it's in the top 40." Then she looked at the magazine and just couldn't believe her eyes.
"Oh," she said with an animated face, "Wow a full page ad," she read aloud as she smiled from ear to ear. "If I Had You: Karen goes solo. Look out #1." Karen looked at Phil, "This is good. This is very good. I know we're going to go all the way." She spoke as she flipped the pages of the magazine to the singles chart. As she gazed at the chart her smile went away. She had a stunned look on her face.
"Are you alright Karen?" Phil asked. "You're in shock. It's done better than you thought. It's moved into the top 20 hasn't it?"
"Oh Phil," Karen said quietly. "No it didn't make the top twenty. It didn't even make the top 50. It jumped up only seventeen spots to number 67. I thought for sure with both sales and airplay the song would have atleast made the top 40 this week. I don't understand it."
"It's going to do it Karen," Phil comforted her. "You'll see next week it'll make an even bigger jump. Seventeen points is a good healthy jump up. It's a great song and it'll make to #1. billboard seems to think it will. Look at the full page ad. If I Had You. Look out #1." |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 23, 2005 1:26:15 GMT -5
Wednesday April 11, 1979
Today the final vocals were recorded for Rod's masterpiece "Lovelines".
Next the song would go into the engineering room to get it's final shine added.
Since Karen was feeling down Phil and Rod agreed to use "Boogie Nights" as a warm up song during rehearsal. This seemed to bring Karen's spirits up. She really enjoyed singing the song.
After four days work the group put the finishing touches on a cover of Martha and the Vandellas "Jimmy Mack". The song was more simplistic than the others so far. But it came together pretty quick and everybody was happy with the outcome.
Before they called it a night Karen, Phil, Rod and Bob talked about bringing in a known male vocalist to provide harmony vocals for "Making Love In The Afternoon". They had just started work on this song on Monday and Phil thought a male voice would add an extra edge to it.
They threw a few names around. Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Justin Hayward, Freddie Mercury, Elton John. Bob mentioned Barry Manilow.
At this Karen made a face and said, "Not Barry Manilow, that's too predictable. I want to work with someone that people just do not associate with the Carpenters."
A few more names were mentioned but no decision was made.
Throughout the last month Karen has been staying with Itchy and Phil at their home while working on the album. On the ride back to the Ramone home Karen turned the car radio on. While channel surfing for a song she liked the Rolling Stones' "Far Away Eyes" came on and Karen started singing the song. She knew every word to it.
She looked at Phil and said, "I like this song and to think though five years ago you could never get me to listen to a Rolling Stones song.
Before the song ended she continued channel surfing and landed on Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy".
"Ooh disco, I love it" and she started singing along to Rod for about thirty seconds and then started spinning the dial again for another song.
Finally she came upon Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now". And she began singing it word for word perfectly.
Phil commented, "That song's right up your alley. You sing it beautifully." He listened a little more and then said, That's it Karen."
"What's It?" she asked.
"Peter Cetera from Chicago. He's the perfect one to sing the harmony vocals. He's in New York right now and he's available."
"Yeah," Karen said, "I can hear it. Yeah, let's get Cetera." |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 23, 2005 1:44:49 GMT -5
Over the next few weeks the band continued work on the album.
They recroded a few more disco tracks "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" and "Don't Try to Win Me Back Again" ( a song which was recorded a few years ago by Vickie Sue Robinson). They also worked on the smoky smooth jazz ballad "Midnight" and the beautiful Carpentereque "Make Believe It's Your First Time".
During her stay in New York she visited Studio 54 with Phil and Itchy. They stayed only an hour as the night club fog and cigarette smoke really iritated Karen. Karen had the opportunity to meet Donna Summer. The two hit it off instantly and talked about possibly doing a duet in the future.
The DJ played Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and Karen's face lit up as she grabbed both Itchy and Donna and pulled them out to the dance floor. Phil sat and watched the girls as they danced and shouted out the disco anthem. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 23, 2005 2:14:33 GMT -5
Karen is keeping very close track of "If I had You" on the Billboard chart.
Here's the nest few weeks tracking of "If I Had You" and also the debut of the second single from Karen's solo album.
Tuesday April 17, 1979
If I Had You: Week three up seven spots to #60. "If I had You" jumps to #9 on the adult contemporary chart. At this point Karen has realized the song most likely will not make the top ten.
Tuesday April 24, 1979
If I Had You: Week four #57 and Adult contemporary #3.
Tuesday May 1, 1979
If I Had You: Week five #56 and adult contemporary #3 for a second week. Now Karen's even doubting the song will make the top 40.
Tuesday May 8, 1979
If I Had You: Week six #56 for a second week and Adult contemporary #3 for a third week.
Tuesday May 15, 1979
If I Had You: Week seven #65 and Adult contemporary #8. Karen was crushed. Her magnificent solo debut did not even make the top 40. But she vowed she'd keep a good attitude about this.
Tuesday May 22, 1979
If I Had You: Week eight #74 and Adult contemporary #5. The song moved back up on the AC chart for some strange reason.
This week "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" was released with "Last One Singin' The Blues" as it's b-side.
Tuesday May 29, 1979
If I Had You: Week nine #55 and Adult contemporary #3. Excitement - now everybody was thinking the song just might make the top 40 with this recent jump from #74 to #55. This was the biggest jump the song has made so far and it's also back up to #3 on the AC chart.
Tuesday June 5, 1979
If I Had You: Week ten #62 and Adult contemporary #10.
"My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" debuts on the chart at #73.
After three months of steady and dedicated work Karen's solo album is completed. It's double album set to be released on June 19, 1979. (See below for album song list).
Tuesday June 12, 1979
If I Had You: Week eleven #78
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: Week two #55
Tuesday June 19, 1979
If I Had You: Week twelve #85
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: Week three #55
Karen worries that "My Body Keeps.." won't make the top 40 either as it looks like it's also going to stall at #55.
The double album simply titled "Karen Carpenter" is released to excellent reviews from both Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines.
Now with the album released and complete Karen flies back home to Downey, California. She begins a four week vacation in which she spends most of her time with friends and family.
Tuesday June 26, 1979
If I Had You: Week thirteen #98
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: week four #48
With the recent jump of seven spots up people are finally thinking "My Body Keeps..." may possibly make the top 40.
Karen is worried that her album has not made the top 200 album chart this week. Phil encourages her (by phone) that it'll make it next week. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 23, 2005 11:41:33 GMT -5
Here is the song by song list of the double Karen Carpenter solo album.
Record One Side One
1. Lovelines
2. Truly You
3. If I Had You
4. All Because Of You
5. Love Makin' Love To You
6. If We Try
Record One Side Two
1. Don't Try To Win Me Back Again
2. Remember When Lovin' Took All Night
3. My Body Keeps Changing My Mind
4. Keep My Lovelight Burning
5. Still In Love With You
Record Two Side One
1. Make Believe it's Your First Time
2. It's Really You
3. Midnight
4. Still Crazy After All These Years
5. I Do It For Your Love
Record Two Side Two
1. Making Love In The Afternoon
2. Jimmy Mack
3. Guess I Just Lost My Head
4. Something's Missing
5. Last One Singin' The Blues |
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