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| cover = Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter (1996).png
| cover = Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter (1996).png
| alt =
| alt =
| released = October 8, 1996
| released = October 7, 1996
| recorded = May 2, 1979 – January 1980
| recorded = May 2, 1979 – January 1980
| studio =
| studio =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[soft rock]]<ref name="AllmusicReview"/>
| length =
| length =
| label = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
| label = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
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| next_title =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Karen Carpenter
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Make Believe It's Your First Time#Karen Carpenter versions|Make Believe It's Your First Time]]
| single1date = 1996
}}
}}
}}
{{Album reviews
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="AllmusicReview">{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r241668|pure_url=yes}} | title=Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter | work=[[AllMusic]] | first=Stephen Thomas | last=Erlewine | access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="AllmusicReview">{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r241668|pure_url=yes}} | title=Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter | work=[[AllMusic]] | first=Stephen Thomas | last=Erlewine | access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2score = C+<ref name="EWReview">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294497,00.html|title=Karen Carpenter Review|last=Browne|first=David|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=1996-10-11|access-date=2012-10-08}}</ref>
| rev2score = C+<ref name="EWReview">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294497,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425121249/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294497,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2009|title=Karen Carpenter Review|last=Browne|first=David|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=1996-10-11|access-date=2012-10-08}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Karen Carpenter''''' is the only solo album by singer/drummer [[Karen Carpenter]] of [[the Carpenters]], recorded between 1979 and 1980 and released by [[A&M Records]] in 1996. It has sold around one million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://karenannecarpenter.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/behind-music-karen-carpenter-solo.html|title=Behind The Music: Karen Carpenter (Solo)}}</ref>
'''''Karen Carpenter''''' is the only solo album by singer/drummer [[Karen Carpenter]] of [[the Carpenters]], recorded between 1979 and 1980 and released by [[A&M Records]] in 1996.<ref name=am>{{cite web|access-date=2024-11-13 |publisher=onamrecords.com |title=Karen Carpenter |url=https://www.onamrecords.com/artists/karen-carpenter}}</ref>

⚫
==Background and recording==
The album came about when Richard Carpenter, Karen's older brother and musical partner, announced in 1979 that he wanted to take the year off while being treated for an addiction to [[Methaqualone|Quaaludes]] putting [[The Carpenters|Carpenters]] on a temporary hold. Karen on the other hand was eager to work and decided to pursue a solo record.<ref name=lat>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-31-ca-39226-story.html|title=Karen Carpenter’s ‘Lost’ LP|publisher=latimes.com|first=Jerry|last=Crowe|date=August 31, 1996|access-date=2024-11-13}}</ref>

The album was recorded in [[New York City|New York]] with producer [[Phil Ramone]] in 1979 and 1980. Karen was backed by various New York and Los Angeles studio musicians, including [[John Robinson (drummer)|John "JR" Robinson]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dmme.net/interview-with-john-jr-robinson |title=Interview with John Robinson |author=Dmitry M. Epstein |website=Let It Rock |date=December 2015 |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> [[Steve Gadd]], [[Greg Phillinganes]], [[Louis Johnson (bassist)|Louis Johnson]] and members of [[Billy Joel Band|Billy Joel's band]].

Out of the twenty-one songs recorded, only eleven were chosen for the album. The songs on the album were mixed according to Karen Carpenter's instructions.

The production of the album cost $400,000 of Carpenter's own money and $100,000 fronted by A&M Records. The $100,000 fronted by A&M was offset against Carpenters' future album royalties.

==Cancellation==
⚫
A&M executives in New York approved the material, but the executives in [[Los Angeles]], including label owners [[Herb Alpert]] and [[Jerry Moss]], responded negatively. Ramone recalls that Carpenter broke down in tears. Devastated, she accepted A&M's urging not to release the album.<ref name="coleman">Coleman, Ray. ''The Carpenters: The Untold Story''. HarperCollins, 1995, page unknown.</ref> It was officially announced in May 1980.<ref name=am/>

Richard Carpenter later said that the decision not to release the album was Karen's, who respected the opinions of A&M executives and others—including him.<ref name=ln>Liner notes, ''Karen Carpenter'', by Richard Carpenter</ref> Several musicians who worked on the album have said that Carpenter very much wanted her album to be released and that it was not her idea or decision to shelve it.<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=978-1507772676|title=The Carpenters Online Interviews|last1=Henry|first1=Rick|last2=Economou|first2=Irene|date=30 January 2015|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}</ref>

⚫
An episode of ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' profiling Karen Carpenter claims that Herb Alpert called the album "unreleaseable". [[Quincy Jones]] championed releasing the album to Derek Green, an A&M Records vice-president, but Alpert, Moss and Green insisted the album had to be canceled.

On February 3, 1983, the day before Carpenter's death, she called Ramone to discuss the album; according to Ramone, Carpenter said, "I hope you don't mind if I curse. I still love our ''fucking'' record!"<ref>Ramone, Phil. ''Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music''. Hyperion, 2007, page unknown.</ref><ref name=am/>

==Posthumous release==
The song "[[Make Believe It's Your First Time#Karen Carpenter versions|Make Believe It's Your First Time]]" was re-recorded by Carpenters during the sessions for ''[[Made in America (Carpenters album)|Made in America]]'', but it remained unreleased until the inclusion on ''[[Voice of the Heart]]'' in 1983.<ref name=ud>{{cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/voice-of-the-heart/|title=‘Voice Of The Heart’: Karen Carpenter’s Beautiful Swan Song|date=October 11, 2023|first=Richard|last=Havers|access-date=September 24, 2024}}</ref>


Four songs from the album ("Lovelines", "[[If I Had You (Karen Carpenter song)|If I Had You]]", "If We Try" and "Remember When Lovin' Took All Night") were later rearranged by Richard Carpenter and included on [[the Carpenters]]' 1989 album ''[[Lovelines]]''. However, the "If I Had You" single released the same year was credited as Karen Carpenter's solo.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-11-13 |date=January 13, 2024 |first=Paul |last=Sexton |publisher=udiscovermusic.com |title=The Carpenters’ ‘Lovelines’: A Posthumous Tribute To Karen Carpenter |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/carpenters-lovelines-album/}}</ref>
⚫
==Background==
The album was recorded in [[New York City|New York]] with producer [[Phil Ramone]] in 1979 and 1980, during the time that her brother [[Richard Carpenter (musician)|Richard]] was being treated for an addiction to [[Methaqualone|Quaaludes]]. Some of the songs from the album were later featured on [[the Carpenters]]' 1989 compilation ''[[Lovelines]]'' and later releases. In the liner notes, Karen dedicated the project to her brother Richard, "with all my heart". The liner notes (including comments from Richard Carpenter and producer Phil Ramone) include Richard's explanation for shelving the album in 1980, and his later decision to release it as Karen approved it. Karen was backed by various New York and Los Angeles studio musicians, including [[Steve Gadd]], [[Greg Phillinganes]], [[Louis Johnson (bassist)|Louis Johnson]] and members of [[Billy Joel Band|Billy Joel's band]].


Two additional songs, "[[My Body Keeps Changing My Mind]]" and "[[Still Crazy After All These Years (song)|Still Crazy After All These Years]]", were featured on Carpenters 1991 box set ''[[From the Top (album)|From the Top]]''.
==Refusal and posthumous release==
⚫
A&M executives in New York approved the material, but the executives in [[Los Angeles]], including label owners [[Herb Alpert]] and [[Jerry Moss]], responded negatively. Ramone recalls that Carpenter broke down in tears. Devastated, she accepted A&M's urging not to release the album.<ref name="coleman">Coleman, Ray. ''The Carpenters: The Untold Story''. HarperCollins, 1995, page unknown.</ref> Richard Carpenter later said that the decision not to release the album was Karen's, who respected the opinions of A&M executives and others—including him.<ref>Liner notes, ''Karen Carpenter'', by Richard Carpenter</ref> Several musicians who worked on the album have said that Carpenter very much wanted her album to be released and that it was not her idea or decision to shelve it.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Carpenters-Online-Interviews-Expanded/dp/150777267X/</ref>


The album in its original intended form remained shelved until the release in 1996 — thirteen years after Karen Carpenter's death. The reason behind the release was partly due to renewed interest in Carpenters music in the mid 90s and the success of the ''[[If I Were a Carpenter (tribute album)|If I Were a Carpenter]]'' tribute album.<ref name=lat/>
⚫
An episode of ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' profiling Karen Carpenter claims that Herb Alpert called the album "unreleaseable". [[Quincy Jones]] championed releasing the album to Derek Green, an A&M Records vice-president, but Alpert, Moss and Green insisted the album had to be canceled. The production of the album cost $400,000 of Carpenter's own money and $100,000 fronted by A&M Records. The $100,000 fronted by A&M was offset against Carpenters' future album royalties.
The liner notes of Karen's album included comments from Richard Carpenter and producer Phil Ramone about the later decision to release it the way Karen approved it. The resulting release included additional twelfth bonus track, "Last One Singin' the Blues".<ref name=ln/>


On February 3, 1983, the day before Carpenter's death, she called Ramone to discuss the album; according to Ramone, Carpenter said, "I hope you don't mind if I curse. I still love our ''fucking'' record!"<ref>Ramone, Phil. ''Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music''. Hyperion, 2007, page unknown.</ref> It remained shelved until 1996—thirteen years after Carpenter's death. The songs on the album were mixed according to Carpenter's instructions. Out of the twenty-one songs recorded, only eleven were chosen for the album. While the album was being prepared for release, an individual at A&M copied Carpenter's unreleased and unfinished material on a cassette tape and distributed it via a fan club on Yahoo! through the mail. The songs were leaked onto the internet in 2000. Two of the unreleased songs, "I Love Makin' Love to You" and "Truly You" were finished, while the remaining tracks were work leads only and in different stages of completion.
While the album was being prepared for release, an individual at A&M copied Carpenter's unreleased and unfinished material on a cassette tape and distributed it via a fan club on Yahoo! through the mail. The songs were leaked onto the internet in 2000. Two of the unreleased songs, "I Love Makin' Love to You" and "Truly You" were finished, while the remaining tracks were work leads only and in different stages of completion.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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| length2 = 3:31
| length2 = 3:31


| title3 = [[If I Had You (The Carpenters song)|If I Had You]]{{ref|a|[a]}}
| title3 = [[If I Had You (Karen Carpenter song)|If I Had You]]{{ref|a|[a]}}
| writer3 = {{hlist|[[Steve Dorff|Stephen Dorff]]|Gary Harju|Larry Herbstritt}}
| writer3 = {{hlist|[[Steve Dorff]]|Gary Harju|Larry Herbstritt}}
| length3 = 3:54
| length3 = 3:54


Line 91: Line 117:


==Unreleased tracks==
==Unreleased tracks==
The following are a list of songs that Karen Carpenter recorded that never made it onto the album; however, they all circulate via bootlegging circles in studio quality.
The following are a list of songs that Karen Carpenter recorded that never made it onto the album;<ref name=am/> however, they all circulate via bootlegging circles in studio quality.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! No.
! No.
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|-
|-
|1.
|1.
|"I Love Makin' Love to You"
|"Love Makin' Love to You"
|[[Evie Sands]], [[Ben Weisman]], Richard Germinaro
|[[Evie Sands]], [[Ben Weisman]], Richard Germinaro
|3:22
|3:22
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|-
|-
|7.
|7.
|"I'd Do It for Your Love"
|"I Do It for Your Love"
|[[Paul Simon]]
|[[Paul Simon]]
|3:37
|3:37
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|-
|-
|9.
|9.
|"Last One Singin' the Blues"
|[[Peter McCann]]
|3:31
|-
|10.
|"It's Really You"
|"It's Really You"
|[[Alan Tarney]], [[Tom Snow]], [[Trevor Spencer]]
|[[Alan Tarney]], [[Tom Snow]], [[Trevor Spencer]]
Line 170: Line 191:
* [[Michael Brecker]] – saxophone solo (3)
* [[Michael Brecker]] – saxophone solo (3)
* [[Timmy Cappello]] – saxophone solo (4)
* [[Timmy Cappello]] – saxophone solo (4)
* [[Rod Temperton]] – arrangements (1, 8)
* [[Rod Temperton]] – arrangements (1, 5, 8), vocal arrangements (all)
* [[Jerry Hey]] – orchestration (3, 8)
* [[Jerry Hey]] – orchestration (3, 8)
* [[Peter Cetera]] – backing vocals (4), arrangements (4)
* [[Peter Cetera]] – backing vocals (4), arrangements (4)
Line 186: Line 207:
* Photo colorist – Amy Nagasawa
* Photo colorist – Amy Nagasawa
* Liner notes – [[Richard Carpenter (musician)|Richard Carpenter]] and Phil Ramone
* Liner notes – [[Richard Carpenter (musician)|Richard Carpenter]] and Phil Ramone

<ref>https://www.discogs.com/Karen-Carpenter-Karen-Carpenter/release/1072749</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 197: Line 216:


[[Category:Karen Carpenter albums]]
[[Category:Karen Carpenter albums]]
[[Category:1996 albums]]
[[Category:1996 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums published posthumously]]
[[Category:Albums published posthumously]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Phil Ramone]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Phil Ramone]]

Latest revision as of 14:17, 22 November 2024

Karen Carpenter
Studio album by
Karen Carpenter
ReleasedOctober 7, 1996
RecordedMay 2, 1979 – January 1980
GenrePop, soft rock[1]
LabelA&M
ProducerPhil Ramone
Singles from Karen Carpenter
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[2]

Karen Carpenter is the only solo album by singer/drummer Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters, recorded between 1979 and 1980 and released by A&M Records in 1996.[3]

Background and recording

[edit]

The album came about when Richard Carpenter, Karen's older brother and musical partner, announced in 1979 that he wanted to take the year off while being treated for an addiction to Quaaludes putting Carpenters on a temporary hold. Karen on the other hand was eager to work and decided to pursue a solo record.[4]

The album was recorded in New York with producer Phil Ramone in 1979 and 1980. Karen was backed by various New York and Los Angeles studio musicians, including John "JR" Robinson,[5] Steve Gadd, Greg Phillinganes, Louis Johnson and members of Billy Joel's band.

Out of the twenty-one songs recorded, only eleven were chosen for the album. The songs on the album were mixed according to Karen Carpenter's instructions.

The production of the album cost $400,000 of Carpenter's own money and $100,000 fronted by A&M Records. The $100,000 fronted by A&M was offset against Carpenters' future album royalties.

Cancellation

[edit]

A&M executives in New York approved the material, but the executives in Los Angeles, including label owners Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, responded negatively. Ramone recalls that Carpenter broke down in tears. Devastated, she accepted A&M's urging not to release the album.[6] It was officially announced in May 1980.[3]

Richard Carpenter later said that the decision not to release the album was Karen's, who respected the opinions of A&M executives and others—including him.[7] Several musicians who worked on the album have said that Carpenter very much wanted her album to be released and that it was not her idea or decision to shelve it.[8]

An episode of E! True Hollywood Story profiling Karen Carpenter claims that Herb Alpert called the album "unreleaseable". Quincy Jones championed releasing the album to Derek Green, an A&M Records vice-president, but Alpert, Moss and Green insisted the album had to be canceled.

On February 3, 1983, the day before Carpenter's death, she called Ramone to discuss the album; according to Ramone, Carpenter said, "I hope you don't mind if I curse. I still love our fucking record!"[9][3]

Posthumous release

[edit]

The song "Make Believe It's Your First Time" was re-recorded by Carpenters during the sessions for Made in America, but it remained unreleased until the inclusion on Voice of the Heart in 1983.[10]

Four songs from the album ("Lovelines", "If I Had You", "If We Try" and "Remember When Lovin' Took All Night") were later rearranged by Richard Carpenter and included on the Carpenters' 1989 album Lovelines. However, the "If I Had You" single released the same year was credited as Karen Carpenter's solo.[11]

Two additional songs, "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" and "Still Crazy After All These Years", were featured on Carpenters 1991 box set From the Top.

The album in its original intended form remained shelved until the release in 1996 — thirteen years after Karen Carpenter's death. The reason behind the release was partly due to renewed interest in Carpenters music in the mid 90s and the success of the If I Were a Carpenter tribute album.[4] The liner notes of Karen's album included comments from Richard Carpenter and producer Phil Ramone about the later decision to release it the way Karen approved it. The resulting release included additional twelfth bonus track, "Last One Singin' the Blues".[7]

While the album was being prepared for release, an individual at A&M copied Carpenter's unreleased and unfinished material on a cassette tape and distributed it via a fan club on Yahoo! through the mail. The songs were leaked onto the internet in 2000. Two of the unreleased songs, "I Love Makin' Love to You" and "Truly You" were finished, while the remaining tracks were work leads only and in different stages of completion.[citation needed]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lovelines[a]"Rod Temperton5:06
2."All Because of You"Russell Javors3:31
3."If I Had You[a]"
3:54
4."Making Love in the Afternoon" (with Peter Cetera)Peter Cetera3:57
5."If We Try[a]"Temperton3:47
6."Remember When Lovin' Took All Night[a]"
3:50
7."Still in Love with You"Javors3:15
8."My Body Keeps Changing My Mind"Leslie Pearl3:46
9."Make Believe It's Your First Time"
3:12
10."Guess I Just Lost My Head"Rob Mounsey3:36
11."Still Crazy After All These Years"Paul Simon4:17
12."Last One Singin' the Blues"Peter McCann3:24
  • ^[a] appeared on the Carpenters album Lovelines

Unreleased tracks

[edit]

The following are a list of songs that Karen Carpenter recorded that never made it onto the album;[3] however, they all circulate via bootlegging circles in studio quality.

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Love Makin' Love to You" Evie Sands, Ben Weisman, Richard Germinaro 3:22
2. "Don't Try to Win Me Back Again" Carlotta McKee, Gordon Gordy 4:38
3. "Something's Missing (In My Life)" Jay Asher, Paul Jabara 4:43
4. "Keep My Lovelight Burnin'" Evie Sands, Ben Weisman 3:10
5. "Midnight (Never Lets You Down)" Rod Temperton 4:13
6. "Jimmy Mack" Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier 3:30
7. "I Do It for Your Love" Paul Simon 3:37
8. "Truly You" Russell Javors 3:10
9. "It's Really You" Alan Tarney, Tom Snow, Trevor Spencer 3:21

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • Producer – Phil Ramone
  • Engineers – Glenn Berger, Ray Gerhardt and James Guthrie
  • Remixing – Jim Boyer and Phil Ramone
  • Recorded at A&R Studios (New York, NY); Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA); A&M Studios (Hollywood, CA)
  • Original mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
  • Remastered by Dave Collins at A&M Mastering Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Art direction – Chuck Beeson
  • Design – Chuck Beeson and Rebecca Chamlee
  • Photography – Claude Mougin
  • Photo colorist – Amy Nagasawa
  • Liner notes – Richard Carpenter and Phil Ramone

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  2. ^ Browne, David (1996-10-11). "Karen Carpenter Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c d "Karen Carpenter". onamrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  4. ^ a b Crowe, Jerry (August 31, 1996). "Karen Carpenter's 'Lost' LP". latimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  5. ^ Dmitry M. Epstein (December 2015). "Interview with John Robinson". Let It Rock. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Coleman, Ray. The Carpenters: The Untold Story. HarperCollins, 1995, page unknown.
  7. ^ a b Liner notes, Karen Carpenter, by Richard Carpenter
  8. ^ Henry, Rick; Economou, Irene (30 January 2015). The Carpenters Online Interviews. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1507772676.
  9. ^ Ramone, Phil. Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music. Hyperion, 2007, page unknown.
  10. ^ Havers, Richard (October 11, 2023). "'Voice Of The Heart': Karen Carpenter's Beautiful Swan Song". Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Sexton, Paul (January 13, 2024). "The Carpenters' 'Lovelines': A Posthumous Tribute To Karen Carpenter". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
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