Post by Rick Henry on Dec 18, 2005 2:20:59 GMT -5
FRIDAY JUNE 29, 1979
Today Karen phoned Topeka to talk with Richard.
"Hi Rich," Karen carefully speaks, "I miss you. How are you?"
"Oh Karen," Richard answers back How I would love to see you. I really miss you. It's been a tough road. It hasn't been easy. There's a lot I need to come to terms with. But, I am getting there. I'm kicking this habit."
"You sound great Richard. It's so good to hear your voice," Karen says with a sweet intonation.
"Hey, I've listened to your solo album," Richard comments. "I like it quite a bit, but it's not the Carpenters."
"Of course it not the Carpenters," Karen answers back, "It's Karen Carpenter."
"Well you know what I mean," Richard responds, "Nothing can beat us as a team."
"Yeah you're right Richard," Karen says.
"Anyway I love the album. I really like the smooth jazz groove to most of the songs, but you should have never done disco."
Karen chuckles at Richard's disco comment, "you're right Richard. I shouldn't have done the disco.Th e album's been out ten days now and it's shown very little activity. A&M only shipped 200,000 copies and they're wondering if we'll even be able to sell that. But on the other hand both Billboard and Rolling Stone gave it excellent reviews. The critics seem to love the album. It's just the public doesn't seem to be latching on to it."
"Karen give it a chance," Richard encouraged her, "It's a solid album. My kid sister just can't fail. You're a winner all the way. The important thing is that you believe in yourself and the album."
"Oh Richard," Karen gasped, "You are so good to me. I really did enjoy making this album and I love it completely. I think it's a great album. It's a true reflection of who I am and the type of music I want to be recording for the next four or five years. I recorded exactly what I wanted.
"That's more like it," Richard speaks, "That's the Karen I know and love."
"Well I almost recorded everything I wanted. The guys in the band wouldn't let me do 'Boogie Nights'."
"Smart guys," Richard interrupts with a chuckle.
"What?" Karen says, "I love the song and Rod Temperton is a great guy."
"Yeah Rod's a giant talent," Richard says.
"Yeah," Karen continues talking, "But he's always got a cigarette in his mouth and a cup of coffee in his hand. Come to think of it he reminds me of you Richard," Karen chuckles.
"Yeah well," Richard says, "I gotta have some vices I'm only human."
Karen and Richard speak a few more minutes before a tearful goodbye and a promise of another phone call next week.
TUESDAY JULY 3, 1979
Today Karen received the latest issue of Billboard magazine. In her mind she considered this to be the make it or break issue. She decided if the album doesn't make the chart this week then it most likely won't make it ever. She was very to the point about this in her mind. She had her mind made up that the album was going to be a flop.
She started with the SINGLES chart. This week "If I Had You" fell of the TOP 100 after thirteen weeks and reaching #55.
"My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" now in it's fifth week moves up another two spots to #46 and enter the top ten on the DANCE chart at #6. While it jumps to #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song seems to be showing some activity but doesn't seem likely to go TOP 40.
Next Karen flips over to the album chart and starts looking for the debuting albums. She sees the Knack entering the chart with "Get The Knack" at #17. There's been a huge buzz going on about them in the last month or so. But where's her album. she keeps looking #50, #75, #100. She keeps looking. "I just knew it," she thinks to herself, "It's not going to make it." But she continues reading the chart. And finally she sees it. her album has debuted on the chart. She was excited but than quickly grew solemn. "But #188 that's a very low position," Karen thinks, "That's really disappointing."
Here's the next few weeks chart activity of Karen's solo album and single.
TUESDAY JULY 10, 1979
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: in week six moves up one more spot to #45. It jumps from #6 to #2 on the DANCE chart and #9 on the ADULT CONTEMPORARY (AC) chart.
Karen Carpenter (the album) moves up six spots to #182 in week two.
TUESDAY JULY 17, 1979
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: In week 7 moves up to #43. Dance #2, AC #10.
Karen Carpenter (Album) #178 in week three
TUESDAY JULY 24, 1979
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: 8 weeks #43. Dance #2 (3rd week at #2)
Karen Carpenter (Album) #162 in week four.
TUESDAY JULY 31, 1979
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind: 9 weeks at #45. Dance #4. The song fall on both the Dance and Pop charts. It's certain now that "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" will not make the top 40.
Karen Carpenter (Album) #199 in week five.
After seeing her album fall thirty seven spots down to #199 Karen was sadly disappointed. She was very sad that her album has proved to be a flop reaching only #162 and two singles failing to reach the top 40.
With this disappointment Karen went into seclusion for several days. She didn't answer her phone or talk to anybody until Frenda came over and repeatedly knocked on Karen's door and rang the doorbell until she finally answered. Karen looked a mess. Her hair was all ratty and she looked like she had been crying for days. Her first words to Frenda were, "I knew I shouldn't have done the disco." Frenda spent time with Karen. She sat her down and brushed her hair and polished her fingernails for her. Frenda took the time to pamper her friend Karen. This seemed to help and the two of them left Karen's condo and went out for a lovely lunch near the beach.
