Their Solo Albums

[Rob813]

I don't know if this topic is any good, but I was thinking about Karen's solo album and Richard's solo album from 1987. I just purchased Richard's album "Time". I've been thinking about what Karen accomplished versus what Richard accomplished. My feeling is that together they were the moon and the stars. Individually, there was something missing. Karen was adventurous, choosing songs from many different genres. The music was bolder and freer than with Richard. Clearly, Karen was broadening her musical horizons. Richard's album was a total departure from the Carpenter sound. He wrote most of the songs, featured Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick on two of the selections and included a new talent named Scott Grimes. Both albums are superbly produced. Yet with both of them I find myself longing for Karen and Richard together. I can't fully describe what I feel about their collaboration but there was a magic that continues to hold me in it's spell. Sometimes I can hardly believe how lucky I am to have this connection with their music. I'm very grateful.

Just my thoughts,
Rob

[enigma]

That can be said about any solo record of a person that has been in a group without the contributions of their former parners anybody who goes solo will be missing elements of their former bands or partnerships if that makes any sense. In the case of the Carpenters because there were two and both contributed so much to the sucess of the Carpenters there is a huge void when one is missing Richard and Karen needed each other to make the Carpenters what they were pure and simple.

As far as whose solo album was better thats a matter of opinion. I loved Karens solo record and did not care for Richards but then again I felt the same way as a Carpenters fan I recognised Richards contributions and their importance but loved and love Karen and she is the sole reason I listen to Carpenters music.

Yes Karen was definately spreading her wings with this album this was supposed to be a musical rebirth for both her and the Carpenters but was not to be.

Finally I really did not have a problem with Karen being away from Richard in some ways she needed that and the fruits of her labor I just loved but there is no doubt they did their best work as a team, as the Carpenters.

[Rob813]

Enigma, I agree with you. Karen is the reason why most of us listen to the Carpenters. Of course, it was Richard who originally recognized Karen's budding talent and helped her develop it. He arranged every song to showcase her talent. Clearly it was a total fusion of both of their talents. I've read that Richard went through a period of jealousy about the public's recognition of and devotion to Karen's spot in center stage. People thought he was just Karen's pianist! It had to be frustrating for him. Anyway, there's so much that might have been. I'm very grateful for what we do have. What an enormous body of superb work. I like both of their solo albums but find myself going back to the Carpenters for the magic!

[Rick Henry]

enigma said:

As far as whose solo album was better thats a matter of opinion. I loved Karens solo record and did not care for Richards but then again I felt the same way as a Carpenters fan I recognised Richards contributions and their importance but loved and love Karen and she is the sole reason I listen to Carpenters music.

.

Hi enigma, as for which solo album I like best I also have to go with Karen's hers was better by a long shot (Richard's "Time" was good maybe a three stars out of five, but Karen's was great with the full five stars). There are varied musical textures and sounds and Phil Ramone helped Karen to stretch her vocals in different areas. I felt her album was excellent. Once I read an interview or maybe heard an interview where Richard said that none of the songs (on Karen's solo) had that chill factor and that there was really only one single on it. I have to disagree with that statement. There were several songs with the chill factor; "If I Had You", "Make Believe It's Your First Time" and "All Because Of You". As for potential singles there is "If I Had You", "Make Believe It's Your First Time", "Making Love In The Afternoon", "Guess I Just Lost My Head", and "If We Try".

[enigma]

Hi Rick
I agree with your sentiments about Karens solo record being better by a long shot but when I deal with a Karen vs Richard situation I try, I really try, to be objective and respect the fact that there are people out there who like Richard. As y'all know I am firmly in Karens corner with regards to both the Carpenters and the solo projects and recognise I may be biased when it comes to a comparison so I put both solo records on equal ground initially for the sake of being fair to Richard. I really don't get the same chill factor from her solo record as I do from the Carpenters records so I have to agree with Richard here but I do feel an energy and vibe on this record that makes it a pleasure to listen to. As far as hit singles all the songs you mentioned could have been hits especially Making Love In The Afternoon Peter Cetera wrote and contributed to it after all and he was no slouch as a songwriter and with Karens great vocal performance it would have been a hit for sure. As Karen said this is a f'in good record (sorry for the bad word but it was in Karen's own words)

Rob
You are right about Richard he did discover Karen but it was like discovering gold, anybody would have discovered Karen all they had to do was hear her sing. Naturally being her brother he would be the most likely person to discover Karens vocal talents.
As for arranging every song to showcase her talent well yes he did but I have also heard him say many times that certain songs he picked he did not think would be hits until Karen sang them so she also surpassed his expectations in a song via her vocal performance dispite his arrangement.
Yes Richard was jealous for a time of Karens fame overshadowing his contribution in fact he resisted allowing her to front the band in the beginning. However he must have known that it was inevidable that Karens star would rise; he knew she had an incredible voice and must have seen a presence there I know I did even early on

[Rick Henry]

enigma said:

Hi Rick
I agree with your sentiments about Karens solo record being better by a long shot but when I deal with a Karen vs Richard situation I try, I really try, to be objective and respect the fact that there are people out there who like Richard. As y'all know I am firmly in Karens corner with regards to both the Carpenters and the solo projects and recognise I may be biased when it comes to a comparison so I put both solo records on equal ground initially for the sake of being fair to Richard.

Wow Enigma, that's a good way to look at it. But looking at in a purely musical standpoint Karen's solo is really the better of the two, and it's mainly because the vocals are far better. Also the vocal arrangements are out of this world. Don't get me wrong I do like Richard's "Time", but I love Karen's solo.

[Rob813]

Well Rick of course Karen's solo album is better vocally. There is absolutely no comparison between Karen's awesome voice and Richard's rather thin/reedy voice. Karen's album had an array of different style songs and the music was bold and engaging. What struck me about Richard's album was his willingness and/or ability to produce something so different from the Carpenter sound. I think this was a deliberate attempt on his part to establish himself as a solo artist. He also wisely didn't sing every song, instead bringing in Dusty, Dionne and Scott Grimes. It also included an instrumental song. I'm sure he was well aware of his limitations as a singer. I like both albums, but, for different reasons.

Let's face it. If it were reversed and Richard had died, Karen would have gone on to an even higher level of fame as a solo artist. There is just no denying her brilliant, extraordinary, heaven sent voice.