Richard used to always tell Karen, "the money's in the basement". I love her soaring higher register in this track. This would have been a huge hit had they released it when it was recorded.
There was a song or 2 that wasn't so great but you get that with any artist and any album, this album could have made the charts out of the gate with her vocals
Had it been given a chance it could have been a catalyst for Karen changing how she felt about herself. But, Richard didn't like it because he wasn't involved so...
Not quite everything. I would also like her to still be alive. I used to just listen to her music and enjoy it. Now, when I hear her voice, the pain of her tragic loss is so great that it is very difficult for me to enjoy her singing.
You can see the joy and happiness on her face during those dance routines. She’s clearly out of her element, but she doesn’t give a damn. She was having fun and enjoying the moment. I’m 55 and heard them all, but Karen just had an “it” factor in her ability, presentation, and commitment to her craft. Watch how she seamlessly transitions across the drums, effortless. It is a tragedy that she couldn’t find that small piece missing in her life to give her the happiness she desperately wanted and certainly deserved. Rest In Peace “Lead Sister”. You will never be forgotten and forgive us all for taking so much and giving so little back.
It's 2020 and I'm still enjoying and loving her songs! I believe I'll always love her and her music. Though I know that the video is not the music video for this particular song, it surprises me to see Karen's flair for dancing. She's a very gifted singer and a talented drummer. I will always cherish her.
Yes, I'm still enjoying her songs, too! Enough is NEVER enough, for me! I play them over and over again, and I love it more each time! What talent they both have!
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
All the good ones are dead that's why, not much real talent around now. We know KC had teal talent that's why we are still talking about her and watching her 38 years after her passing How many ahem "superstars" around now will you say that about years from now, not many I fancy
KC was a triple threat; great singer, danced liked Ginger Rogers and drummed ala Buddy Rich, incredible talent, awesome woman, that's our Lead Sister, :)
antij; If you have not already heard it, go to the Karen Carpenter Goldman radio interviews, Part 1 and 2, it's terrific, she gives some great insight, great radio voice and a genuine nice person, ck it out.
She is truly amazing! I do love the richness of her voice when she sings the low notes but I love her solo album. So sad her family blocked the release. This song would have been a number one hit!
Her family did not block the release of the album. A&M decided it didn't best represent the Carpenters' sound. But considering this type of music was in vogue, they should have just released it. We'll never know how high the song would have charted, but what's great is that they finally did release it. So, for her fans, anything featuring her vocal is a gift.
@@DavidHalChester it's just sickening. It was so ridiculous that this album was not released when it was supposed to have been. Even Quincy Jones himself came in to help Karen and Phil Ramone tweak it a little bit before the drop to try & make A&M happy, help Richard & whomever else feel good about it, and yet the A&M execs still pressured Karen not to release it. Less than 24hrs from its debut, A&M still made the final decision to not release it & pressured Karen to say it was her decision. Ugh. And she lost $400,000 of her own $$ on the deal. From what I've heard and read through the years, every source who was in earshot of what happened said she was devastated. Between Billy Joel's producer Phil Ramone, and Michael Jackson's (and countless others) producer Quincy Jones producing that album, she would have had at least one freaking hit! Probably several hits! Sigh. We'll probably never know all the reasons of why her album was shelved but some of them have got some answering to do, to pressure her and hurt her so badly like that. Granted, she was already having some health issues, but that was the blow that truly broke the camel's back and started her downward spiral. What the heck were they thinking? Instead of touring to promote her new album, she started dating a gold-digger within 3 months and then married him in another 3. Ugh. And that bad marriage was the final straw. She'd be dead in less than 3 years from the shelving of this album, broken-hearted, went thru a quicky marriage, kept financially bailing him out, went through a year of treatment, and died on the day she was supposed to sign her divorce papers. Ugh. Here's some interesting info on the it from Wikipedia: "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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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. 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!" [8] 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." Sigh. Could have changed the whole direction of her career and trajectory of her life, given her more determination to get herself well, and that doomed marriage to a gold-digger of hers would quite possibly have never happened. Ugh. Sigh. 😔
@@SayItAintSo4real As to whether we will ever know the exact truth, probably not. When I heard the album, I could see she was experimenting. She wanted to try something new. But the problem was: people were deeply in love with her deep rich alto. I was as big a fan of the Carpenters as anyone else here. I went to CSULB, where I studied with choir director Frank Pooler, who worked with Karen and Richard before they became famous. I went to their concerts, learned all their songs on the piano, played them everywhere I could. I was a diehard fan. But I will not lie: I did not think this album was great. I think it went in too many different directions. I applaud her for wanting to experiment, but the problem was, she was not "just a singer with a great voice" (i.e. Streisand); she was Karen Carpenter. Streisand, another amazing talent, could literally do Broadway, blues, pop, disco -- I mean, she just about sang it all. But Karen's voice worked best in the sort of pop/ballad world that Richard helped create. I think at the very least that they should have released a single to see how things would go. But I think that A&M MIGHT have been concerned that this album MIGHT have impacted future "Carpenters" sales. The business is very funny. They are risk-averse -- UNTIL someone has a HUGE hit out of nowhere, and then they'll happily jump on the band wagon. But until then, they will play it safe. The Carpenters were MASSIVELY successful. I don't think it was wrong for Karen to pursue different choices, but honestly, the album was not cohesive. It did not have a song that I would say was a distinctive hit. But nonetheless, the WORST thing that could have happened is that they released it and it didn't sell as many copies as they had hoped. ALSO, A&M should have fronted the money for it, since Karen was their cash cow. How she ever got it into her head that she should have put up 400K to do that album is beyond me. At any rate, we lost her far too soon and I can only imagine the amazing songs she would still be singing now.
@@DavidHalChester I agree on so many levels, David. I think more than anything she knew that they were going to have to keep up with the changing times. Both of them were burned out. It was so sad how hard they were worked. And that falls on the A&M execs and Management more than anything else. That is wonderful that you knew and went to school where they did and with Mr. Pooler. Wow! That is awesome. Thank you for responding and sharing that. And I 1000% agree that Karen should not have had to put $400,000 of her own money up towards that. If any of them would have been willing to work with her a little more, things may have gone much better for all of them. Idk how true it is, but it's said that she deliberately stayed away from her lower register for the solo album so as not to step on anyone's shoes invested in the "Carpenters" sound. She didn't want any false accusations thrown at her, but it seems that she was in a no-win situation regardless of what she did. To me she had a better vision of where the industry was going than any of the ppl around her calling all the shots by this time. They were not making the Top 5 or better hits consistently anymore since 1976. By now, disco was running it's course, but also duets were starting to air. Big names in the business were jumping on that bandwagon like Olivia, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks, Linda Rondstant, etc. Karen seemed to feel the direction music was headed better than the ones around her. Plus, they were still keeping their music basically "G" rated. Whereas it was the late 1970s by now, and Captain & Tennille were shooting to the top with "PG" rated "The Way That I Want To Touch You", "You Need A Woman Tonight", "You Never Done It Like That", "Do That To Me One More Time", and etc. The music was changing. It was getting a little more specific. Ha. "We've Got Tonight, Babe" another great duet. Anyhoo. I'd love to have heard Karen do a duet or two with several, both male and female singers, too. Gosh. So much began to go so wrong for her. It's, it still breaks my heart for her. I was lucky enough to come to Downey in 2017 and 2018, and then to the big one, the 2019 Carpenters 50th Anniversary, on tours where we were able to go inside the high school, see the band room, go to several of their favorite haunts, and meet ppl who knew them, and others who played music on the albums with them at the 50th. It was amazing! I'm so sad that you lost a classmate. She seemed so humble, and such a beautifully sweet and kind person. I was in a small group that got to meet Richard three different times, too. And his wife. Very nice, kind, good ppl. Karen was my idol from 11 years old. I started playing the drums because of her. That was so unusual for girls in her day, and for me, in 1970. I still adore her. And my heart hurts for whatever she must have been going through for her life to end so soon. Thank you so much for responding. Sometimes I do wonder if she would still be alive if she had walked away from it all for a few years, got her head and health back together, met someone whom truly loved her, they had a kid or two (or three), and she'd still be around. And quite possibly would have picked a couple of drumsticks back up, sat down in front of a microphone again, and blown the world's socks off yet again with her voice and music. Have a wonderful day. Thank you, David for your input. It's lovely hearing from someone who knew them. 😊 And P.S. here are the lyrics to a slow ballad on her solo album that did not make it to the final cut. It's beautiful and can be found now on TH-cam. This one had a potential for an Adult Contemporary hit, just like "Make Believe It's Your First Time". Switching to Country and/or Adult Contemporary could possibly have been a good move for them for awhile. Sigh. SOMETHING'S MISSING IN MY LIFE 5:52 am... I'm awake And thinkin 'bout my life 5:53... I can see I won't sleep a wink tonight 6 am... Where's my pen? I might as well get up and write a song And try to work out Why when everything seems right Why do I feel so wrong? Something missing In my life... Could it be you Could it be you and me? Something's missing in my life Aww, come and be Right where I need you to be For all my life... All my life... Got my house Got my fancy car Everything's going like I planned so far But something's not there That should be there I gotta find it somewhere Since the day you left my side I've torn myself apart And I still can't decide Is it you I need Or did you really hurt my pride? Something's missing in my life Maybe it's you Maybe it's you and me... If you're what's missing in my life Then baby come to me Come feel the need in me For all my life... Something's missing in my life Could it be you Could it be you and me? Something's missing in my life Aww, come and be Right where I need you to be... You're what's missing in my life Aww, come and be Right where I need you to be...
@@SayItAintSo4real Wow, I'm impressed with your knowledge about all that was going on. Yes, I think I heard the "missing in my life" song. Basically, she could do no wrong, but obviously some songs were better than others. Yes, the management and the record company should have been ashamed, because they worked K&R like they were a Top 40 band -- I mean, they were working constantly. I think what's important is that she was not really getting the acknowledgment she needed, and she also was self-conscious of her body, something that happens to people in the public eye. This went to an extreme and she didn't see herself in a healthy way. It's a tragedy and we all lost because of it. BTW, I was not her classmate. She was 2-4 years ahead of me, but because I was a fan, I knew they had gone to school at CSULB and I knew that the choir director was Frank Pooler. When I auditioned to get in, I was shocked that he accepted me. He was fantastic. All good memories.
Maybe not all, but at least some, of the songs she recorded solo make Karen's lovely voice and personality stand out, don't they? This "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" is definitely one of them. Her dances in the video quoted by the original poster do her loveliness and cuteness justice, too. No wonder the whole world has fallen desperately in love with her.
This song would have been a smashed hit had it not been for her controlling over bearing mother Agnes and brother Richard!! The story goes her mother was the one who wore the pants in the family and her brother Richard was her golden boy.
Karen's singing & drumming were always great. I just found this video & wanted share that Karen didn't always dance like this. If you see her early videos she moves/sways very timidly. Her stage presence was not good at all. She tended to turn her back on the audience during guitar solos. In 1975, she started dating Terry Ellis & he taught her about performing on stage & not just singing. He taught her about the importance of interacting with the audience, that they'd love that. Even though she didn't really understand the why's, she did what he suggested & just blossomed & won over even more fans. I love the dancing...he hired a choreographer & you can see the results here. And to think she was doing it in high heels!
+Andy M Yes, Karen did not see herself as Superstar, maybe she had been afraid that it could hurt Richard feelings. Anyway, that shiny, some time insecure little girl, with an amazing and sweet voice, build herself a place in the history of the pop music.
Adriano Me You have to remember that Karen never really took much of an interest in music til she was I think 15 & after trying several instruments (briefly) she did find she did o.k. with drums. Then Richard took notice & loving his kid sis...he asked her to play with his "group." Things began to evolve when the trio was (Richard) asked Karen to sing a song. She did & although rough around the edges...with some help from Richard...he found that "special key" that became the wonderful & most recognizable voice ever. I think yes...Karen never wanted to hurt Richards feelings. He was after all the musician in the family & she admired & respected all he could do. She often talked about the fact that yes, she fronted the band but it was Richard who did so much hard work to pull everything together & made it the Carpenters. She spoke publicly about the fact that Richard was too often overlooked yet he was the brains. Karen would have simply loved sitting behind her drums & really getting into the music. This was oh so obvious when you saw videos early on when she did the drumming. Those drums were often thought of as her security blanket but they really weren't. It was just that...they were her instrument & she was good at them. If you wanted to see a genuine smile come from Karen...watching her playing her drums. As Karen said many times..."I'm just a drummer who happens to sing." Were it today...with all the big screens showing the singer (Karen) playing the drums...Karen would have been in her glory & maybe...just maybe, the issue of having to "front" the group would have been a non issue. But that's "today." Sad but true...hindsight is 20/20.
I so know that Karen Carpenter was a beautiful singer💐💐, an outstanding drummer💐💐🥁, but I never knew until this video that she was also a 💐💐wonderful Dancer too!! Karen Carpenter also had a heart💛💛 and she loved Teddy Bears🧸🧸!! When I was a Child, I wish I could have met her, but she died when I was young and we lost a wonderful person. However, I believe Karen Carpenter is in Heaven singing💐, dancing💐, and drumming🥁 with the angels👼👼💛💛 🌻🌻 💐💐!! And I so LOVE this song 🎵🎶💖💖as much as her earlier songs🎵🎶 in the 70s😊😊💖💖!!!!
@@tudormiller8898 Carpenters production though, his fingerprint is all over this, and its not as if he's held back at all. If he was humoring her because of her illness , why would he put so much production value into it?
@GoTeam I think you might find the reason it has a Carpenters credit, will be due to business reasons rather than anything else. Which would you prefer Phil Ramone's name on it, who produced it originally. I think it was Alpert & Moss A&M who decided not to put it out
This is a great song. And Karen didn't abandon her traditional sound while adopting the new disco sound..should have been released. Would have been a hit single.
...this song would have been a smash hit. It would have opened eyes, changed a tired reputation and possibly much more. What a shame that it was not released in a timely fashion.
Totally agree....I think RICHARD, the control freak, family "Golden Boy," likely feared, if the public approved of her performances, sans 'Dick', his career would more than likely have ended then.....I mean, all these years after her death, he has not composed for other artists, or scored the movies he used to yammer about doing. Just remixes their old stuff and is living off the residuals. SOME GENIUS! SMDH. He was a complete creep and along with the nazi mother and spineless father, all were responsible for their daughter's feelings of being unloved and unapproved of. Damn shame!!!!!
Silly to assume because he hasn't worked on other music besides the Carpenters that he's A) Not asked to, B) not a musical genius. Despite any character flaws you have with him, the music of the Carpenters is proof he was. Maybe he's got enough money and just doesn't want to do anything else.
ionthetarget I agree there was nothing wrong with her solo album. it's dated ....but for 1980, it would have captured the flavour of the time well. Unfortunately richard was insecure and fearful of being upsurped.
THANK YOU for making this! I just discovered Karen’s solo work and even in 2017...I just LOVE this song! It’s so much fun. It just takes me away! It should have been a hit, especially when you look at what was a hit when it was recorded. Karen not being allowed her solo career is a travesty in music history.
Disco music was rapidly losing its popularity by the time this album's release was proposed. That may have had something to do with the album being shelved for many years also.
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
This song would have mostly certainly used in movies after it's release. From full on drama to animated movies. Sad she never got to that point. Love you Ms. Karen Carpenter
Love this song, Karen's voice just swept you off along with her....esp the part "And we fly together across the floor....." a very refreshed side of Karen that we hear here from the usual Carpenters songs.
They should have released her album when she was alive. It hurt her greatly when it was shelved which led to more disappointment. There is nothing wrong with the songs contained within, they were mature songs for a mature Karen. She was robbed at the time because it was her solo chance at something & they wanted her to fail. It was finally released years after her passing....have to ask, why did they wait....were they feeling guilty because she died! She could sing anything & her fans loved her for it. Sad she didn't live long enough to do more.
Karen was the one that actually decided to shelve the "can of worms" as she called it because of publicity problems. Karen was not wanting to leave the Carpenters or her brother or any of that. The idea started from Jerry Weintraub (Carpenters Manager) as Richard and Karen were both trying to take some time off, but with taking time off what was there for a manager to manage? Alpert and Moss were fine with the solo idea, but still, Karen wanted to take time off and do something different (which she did but...). Richard talked Karen into doing the album as it would be a chance for Karen to work with Phil Ramone and maybe Karen might learn some new tricks from Phil that maybe Karen and Richard could implement on the Carpenters' recordings. Richard also mentioned to Karen that Karen's voice was not suited to disco and with that challenge of "no disco" Karen was bound and determined to do something disco. But the possible publicity of releasing a solo album was why Karen shelved "the can of worms". Karen had done an interview on March 17, 1980 for Rolling Stone magazine that didn't get released, but because of that interview, Karen realized that if she released that album, every interview for the rest of her life would have started off with, "so you are thinking of leaving the Carpenters and going solo..." Karen did not want to leave her brother or go solo or any of that, so at the last minute, Karen pulled the plug on the release and Richard, uncle Herbie (Alpert), and Jerry (Moss) backed Karen's decision to shelve the "can of worms" that was Karen's solo album. Karen and I talked about this on June 12, 1981. I was also around Karen a lot from September 6, 1978 to June 22, 1979 which between May and June 1979 was when most of Karen's solo album was done.
@GoTeam actually what you just stated is not true. Karen and me talked on June 12, 1981 and Karen told me that she was the one who shelved it. Richard and Moss were talking about musical content (lack of hits) and Karen actually shelved it because after she did an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on March 17, 1980 Karen realized what a publicity mess that album would be if released. So Karen asked if she could shelve it and they said "yes" so she shelved it. Phil Ramone even mentioned why but apparently you've never bought Karen's solo CD to see the booklet inside where Phil stated that the album was shelved because Karen didn't want the media trying to spread false rumors about Karen and her brother. There's a lot of stuff your story is missing GoTeam. I was there when the album started and I was also there during the 100K meeting as well. Unfortunately because TH-cam doesn't allow me to post links in posts and posts can't be that large I can't fully answer your misinformed comment in the space provided.
@GoTeam First, show me your credentials where you are qualified to give such a diagnosis. With that being said, you're the one being delusional if you think that you, someone that never even met Karen, knows all there is to know about her and her life. I actually knew Karen (and several people remember) and even I know better to say that I knew everything there is to know about her. Here's a word you need to look up, projection. And honestly, GoTeam, the shrink profession does not have any programs in place to help those like yourself that try to project their own flaws onto others rather than face reality. The shrinks will gladly take your money though. But as others know, yes, I am actually Adrian, Karen's new manager and you sick people out there trying to accuse Karen of being in love with a married man. First name Adrian, not last. Me. You're still batting .000 GoTeam. Now since TH-cam asked for it by not allowing me to post web page links...
@GoTeam The actual start of Karen's solo album (non fiction version) Karen had a mini stroke in late 1977 and one half of her face was paralyzed for a short while. On occasion, Karen's one side of her face would freeze up. Richard was worried about his sister and was trying to get away from touring and more into TV shows and such which were closer to home. Karen and Richard were both looking to try and get a break but things had been booked but only about a year in advance so they tried to lighten the load after Karen had a mini stroke and Richard had been shaking a bit here and there from his addiction to quaaludes. It started on September 4, 1978 in Las Vegas as after the show Richard had told Karen, "I quit" and Karen asked, "Do you mean it?" and Richard had said, "Yes. I can't do this anymore." So Karen snuck off and moved in with her step Cousin Wendy B in New York State on September 4, 1978. I met Karen on September 6, 1978 (but I did not know her as Karen Carpenter at the time). Around mid October 1978, Paul Williams showed up (and I found out she was Karen Carpenter) and Paul showed up to have Karen sign her and Richard's new recording contract with A&M Records. Karen and Paul talked and Karen did not sign the contract at that time. Karen did not tell Paul this, but there was a clause in that new contract about a 'new album' and with Richard 'quitting', how could there be a new album if Richard had quit? Well, actually, Christmas Portrait was going to be released, but Karen hadn't thought about that. Also, the single, "I Believe You" came out just after Paul and Karen met in mid October 1978 too. Paul left and the contract was not signed by Karen on that day. In the second full week of December (beginning December 11) 1978, Jerry Weintraub showed up in New York State with Richard too. Jerry had booked the Carpenters on "The Bruce Forsyth Show" for the Christmas Special. Richard was in no shape to perform. Richard was shaking so bad and he got a glass of water to take pills with and nearly the whole glass of water had shaken all over the floor before Richard took his pills. Richard left the room at one point. Jerry, Karen and I were standing there and I believe Jerry tossed a silver dollar into the air and it was called by Karen and if it was heads then Karen did the show without Richard and tails the show was cancelled. The coin fell off Jerry's wrist and Jerry picked it up off the floor and put it under his one hand and on his other wrist. Then Jerry said to Karen, "I'll make a deal with you. I'll give you anything you want if you'll agree that this coin is heads and you do the show." Karen then asked if Jerry would agree to let Richard have whatever time Richard wanted off to go to a rehab and get his quaalude addiction dealt with. Jerry said it was a deal and then Jerry pulled his hand away and the coin was on tails. Anyway, Karen took off for the week from her step cousin Wendy's and did the show but also, on December 12, Karen and Richard met in Topeka Kansas and Richard did the pre-admission to Meninger's clinic and then Richard went back to California and Karen flew back to London to finish taping the Bruce show. My nickname is Ace and during the show Karen asked Bruce to work in saying my name, Ace, which Bruce did to try and help Karen relax a little more as Karen wasn't so much nervous about doing the show without Richard, but Karen was nervous because Richard had been in such bad shape before Karen left to do the show and Karen was hoping her brother was going to be all right. Richard entered Meninger's clinic in Topeka Kansas on January 10, 1979. Karen was still primarily living with her step cousin Wendy in New York State. As noted in Karen's diary in red pen (as Karen was using a two-sided teacher's pen with black and red ink, and the black side had run out, so Karen was not one to waste anything and used the red side in her diary), 'confrontation about album'. Well, if you haven't noticed yet, there is not any discussion about a solo album as the idea for a solo album had not yet been thought of. So 'confrontation about album'? Well, it was over the phone (Karen in New York and Richard in Topeka) and it was about a discussion about that new recording contract. Jerry Weintraub had called Richard about the new contract not being signed and Richard called Karen about it and Karen brought it up to Richard about that "new album" clause and Richard was a bit upset but understood and told Karen not to worry about that new album clause and to sign the contract. This was on Wednesday January 24, 1979. I am pretty sure that I saw Jerry again on January 26, 1979 and on that day Karen signed the new contract in front of Jerry Weintraub and myself. Karen and I had a private joke about Jerry and we would sit there at times and just twiddle our thumbs in honor of how Jerry Weintraub kept complaining about being idle as a manager. During February 1979, Jerry read that new contract and came up with an idea of asking Karen to do a solo album. In the beginning around late March to early April 1979 there were 7 people that knew about Karen doing a solo album. Those 7 people in order of knowing were Jerry Weintraub, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Karen Carpenter, step cousin Wendy B------k, me, Richard Carpenter. Agnes Carpenter found out that Karen and Richard had an argument which was how Agnes (mom) became number 8. Then Eddie Kramer became number 9. Karen and Richard were both wanting to take time off from the music biz but what good is a manager "twiddling his thumbs" with nothing to manage? Weintraub came up with an idea for Karen doing a solo album and he presented the idea to Alpert and Moss (as the Carpenters were A & M's biggest sellers and A & M was looking for more product to sell and not 'time off'). Alpert and Moss were OK with it as it would possibly be more product and more money for A & M. So Jerry Weintraub mentioned it to Karen and Karen said NO!!! And cousin Wendy and then I got an earful. Karen wanted time off and Karen was busy doing something not music related and Karen was living in New York State (not the city) with her cousin Wendy and working weekdays with a couple week long vacations while staying with her cousin and working on her arrhythmia and anorexia problems. Karen was not wanting to go back to work before her 7 to 3 job ended on June 22, 1979. Karen said NO!!! to Jerry, Jerry, and Herb. Note also, Karen did not want her brother to actually 'quit' either and was hoping that Richard would do something instead. Jerry, Jerry and Herb next approached Karen again and said they had talked with Richard and Richard and Karen had a disagreement and Karen said NO!!! yet again and why should Karen give up her time off and Karen asked Jerry, Jerry and Herb why didn't Richard do a solo album or greatest hits album or such and why did it have to be on Karen's shoulders? Why did Karen have to sacrifice her time off especially since Karen was the one who sacrificed with the Bruce Forsyth show and such. Karen was livid and fuming. Mom found out that her son and daughter were having a disagreement and intervened. Richard was out getting groceries one day and mom called Karen up at Karen's work and mom had a talk with Karen about what was going on. I was in the room with Karen, so I heard this call. Anyway, mom asked Karen to do this as a favor for her brother ("whatever it was" as mom put it) and that mom would make sure that any favor that Karen asked for in return would be granted from Richard. Mom did not know that they wanted Karen to do a solo album. Mom only knew that Karen and Richard had a disagreement. Mom told Karen that Richard wanted time off as Richard had just started seeing Mary Rudolph and that was all it took for Karen to agree to do 'her' solo album. Karen was tired of her brother meeting all these "gold diggers" and Mary was an adopted cousin (not blood relation) and not a gold digger. Karen LOVED playing match maker. So Karen jumped on board for her solo album and the primary favor Karen asked for was that she finish her job until June 22, 1979.
@GoTeam And the rest of the start of Karen's solo from the guy that was there. The finishing job favor was kept (there was a problem in mid May 1979 and the favor was kept as Richard intervened and Richard got to meet me, the reason why Karen was wanting to finish her job. And Richard also kept me a secret as me was 14 years old at the time and Karen and I were spending time together but Karen and I had also agreed that we would wait till I got older as my age was a bit of a legal problem so Karen and I had a rule of no physical touching. And imagine the mess if the press got a hold of Karen around a 14 year old and Richard with his adopted first cousin. Yes, goody four shoes had some possible publicity problems at this time). I was around Karen and Karen was in the local hospital on one day, but that was the only day she missed on her job and Karen finished working that job on June 22, 1979. The other favors were between Karen and Richard (and the "we split the cost" favor was brought up between Karen and Richard a couple times and the end decision was between Karen and Richard themselves, but Richard was asked to pay half as it was only fair since Richard was the one that wanted time off to be with Mary, but Karen was almost to the point of "why don't you pay all of it Richard since you want the time off so bad?" but I am pretty sure Karen did stick with half as "that was fair" but Karen would write the check and Richard would put half of that amount in Karen's account [shhh]). Then they contacted Eddie Kramer... (And I was there when Eddie Kramer came out to New York State and talked with Karen and asked Karen to try someone else as Eddie was used to artists that did their own material and Eddie would feel like a "fish out of water" just like Karen would be a "fish out of water" without her brother (and Eddie and Karen were both Pisces) and Eddie mentioned that he usually inspired his artists to write their own material with the "raison d'etre" [reason of being, purpose] speech which was where Karen had the melody of "I wanna uh with you, uh, uh, uh, uh" pop into her head which later Rod Temperton and Karen turned into the "Rock with You" song in May 1979). Eddie was the one who recommended Phil Ramone as a producer. Another note here, Richard was the one that always wanted a music career. Karen liked having a music career too. When Richard said "I quit" in early September 1978 it caught Karen by surprise. Karen did not want her brother giving up on his dream. After agreeing to do the solo album, Karen was actually hoping the album would be bad enough that Richard wouldn't quit and would get back into music again after dealing with his addiction. So when Richard said something like "It sounds like sh*t" in May 1980, that was actually what Karen wanted to hear from Richard. Karen loved making music with her brother and all that they had accomplished together. Walls full of gold records (and for those that wonder, yes, according to Karen, gold records sound the same as regular records and just have a different color is all), three Grammys, Billboard Awards and all that. Maybe if Richard heard what a disaster Karen's career might be without him, Richard might not want to quit? Now, do you really think Karen was going to say all this to Phil and Itchie and Rod while trying to use them to make a 'sh*tty' album to try and get her brother to stay in music? OK, so, um, to get the story straight here, Karen was looking to leave her brother who had saved her life in a motorcycle accident in 1973, who she had won numerous awards (gold records, three Grammys, Billboard Awards, etc.) and someone who she trusted, for a guy who had trouble keeping a steady clientele because his client's names would get dragged through the tabloid mud to sell more records at the expense of their personal lives being ruined, had trouble keeping his stories straight and won one Grammy Award. Why doesn't this sound right? Even worst, why do some people believe this hogwash (hogwarsh as Karen would say), poppycock (Richard), nonsense (me) and bullsh*t (nearly everyone else)? OK, I get it. First, try and get a bunch of 'experts' that never met or talked with someone and have those 'experts' put their thoughts and words in the other person's head and mouth since the other person isn't around anymore and can't speak on her own behalf (shh, I'm not trying to be an expert on this but don't mention that all people make mistakes in a process known as learning and that 'experts' don't make mistakes because they know it all so therefore experts are actually just figments of their own imaginations, double shh). Try to minimize that these others never met this person too. Try to get half stories and such to try and bolster this false image too. Shh, um, leave out a bunch of stuff, like three Grammy Awards, so that hopefully the story sounds believable. Just mention Billy Joel, but keep away from what happened to Billy in the tabloids and how after the Grammy, Billy's life went downhill and the tabloid mess with him and his ex-wives and wife beater all that, shh. Stay superficial and don't dig too deep. You don't want to wreck a good selling story. But yeah, this was what actually happened to start all that solo album stuff from the guy that was there to know, Karen's new manager, Adrian. Richard didn't even know half of this stuff. The only ones that knew all of this were Karen and me. And furthermore, you don't break up or leave someone by doing an album with the same record company as the one you are breaking up with or trying to leave. Try using just a little common sense peeps. Karen was not looking to leave her brother or the Carpenters.
The story goes Richard Carpenter listened to this and told Karen “You have stolen the Carpenters sound.” I read that thinking “Uh, she was the Carpenters sound.” With all due respect to the man’s talents, he sincerely believes he was the one who made their success happen. Since then, he has composed and produced music for various artists, but none of it has come close to the Carpenters’ success. If his name wasn’t associated with Karen’s, most listeners would have no idea who he was at all.
Thank you, NedNickerson 2010 for this! The sound is SO much better than some of the others who have shared this, because the mid-range and the highs are in balance, and you can actually hear everything! I truly appreciate and enjoy this so much more than I would have otherwise, had I not stumbled across it. I know it takes precious time to share these things, especially when you take the time to do it properly as you did. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks for posting this! Nice song.Love Karen's voice.The dancing is what I love and wanted a clip of just that from their t v. Special Music Music Music.Thanks!!!
Great dancing, even greater song. God has blessed the Carpenters and crews with truly great talent. I know it might have been difficult to place Karen's voice and casting when singing directly to the gentleman. Great try. This can be overlooked by the overwhelming great performance!
Great Try? Makes it sound like she missed the mark, when she can sing better than almost every other female vocalist I have ever heard, which is a considerable amount in my half century + lifetime! What makes you think her voice was hard to place? With her vocal talents, she could, and did sing songs from a variety of genres successfully and very beautifully, all of which are treasured by those who fully appreciate the rare gem that is Karen Carpenter.
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris >
I just love the way people think that just because they read the 2 books written by strangers and watching the tv movie thinks that they know everything about this classy brother and sister duo. People should go and listen to an interview of John Bettis (who cowrote many of the Carpenters song with Richard) by Chris May here on TH-cam. It's quite an eye/ear opener when he talks about Karen and Richard.
Yes, that is an excellent interview. As I recall ,John Bettis offered an excellent perspective on why A&M cancelled Karen's Solo album that did not involve Richard's so-called "jealousy".
Also Richard has always been very open and candid in interviews. And still is. Both of them spent their careers trying to fight off the image that the media and tv & record company executives were always pushing. Also Richard knew better than anyone else how to bring out the best in Karen's voice.
I thought "Making Love In The Afternoon" could have worked so well on Olivia Newton-Johns album right along with one she recorded "Have You Ever Been Mellow." They both have the same feel to their composition, in my opinion.
Richard will never admit to it, but he was afraid Karen might have a successful solo career without him calling the shots. Instead he grabbed A&M Records boss Herb Albert to pull rank with Karen and they deep-sixed her solo album. Producer Phil Ramone and his wife said Karen was the happiest they've ever seen her as she stayed with them in NYC making the album while Richard was recovering from addiction.
She could have been a great contestant on Dancing With The Stars. Hey, you never know. Incidentally, Is that John Davidson being a smooth operator on Karen? LOL.
this song and her album solo did would be a success. Karen was a great singer and a beautifull woman, and she did will make more and more if she living today ... I miss her ...
Richard had more than 30 years to finish these wonderful songs - and didn't give * * * * about CARPENTERS "LEGACY" or even more so The Karen Carpenter Legacy - these songs have been orphaned on the internet for years - THANK YOU DENNIS !!! Why would I ever want to buy a "new" Philharmonic" LP with Karen's vox???? please please
Cont: Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
Most Carpenter fans prob know there are at least 50 or more songs Karen recorded solo in '79 which to this day lie in a vault somewhere belonging to A&M Records. Some of these songs need post-production work and remain unfinished. I assume these songs are now the property of Richard Carpenter. Since this is the 40th anniversary of Karen's passing, no other songs have been released thus far besides her solo album recorded in '79. Richard was always against outside influences messing with the so-called patented "Carpenters Sound" where he had Karen sing in a lower key and the "Doo- Wah" choruses made famous by the duo. If Richard has his say, most likely these songs will stay in the vault.
Nope. Rod was in the control booth while recording it and probably arranged a little bit of it, but not a Rod tune like Always and Forever, Boogie Nights, Rock With You, Off The Wall, and so forth and so on... I got to talk to Rod over the phone twice and see Rod once around May to June 1979. Great guy.
My wandering soul, how it aimlessly dwells Among darkened hills, amidst its unseen spells, And in the distance all that I hear: the summoning of bells. Far above me, the high boughs they are bending, The once hidden moon now slowly ascending And as it sings to the world its sleep song, I sit in its shadow and await my ending.
Keeping in line with my wish to pilot a go-kart around the Isle of Man, I'd love to see Karen performing the drums with AC/DC on "Thunderstruck ". She'd be wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and a leather bikers vest.
Richard and the executives didn't think it was good enough but I believe Richard didn't want it released cuz he was afraid she would be a hit on her own
Whatever the genre, she got such soul but His bro never accept that she works with R&B disco pro infering that she was selling her soul for commercial reason although the album was made during the demolition campaign late 79/80!!! Like mixing sugar and salt, rythm and sweetness melt in that prod is an original trademark signature from Karen. Congratulation to Leslie Pearl.w
I think with the right publicity back in the day alongside with Barbra Streisand and Donna Summers and shares huge disco hits this would have taken off as well
I think they all were rough on Karen with this album. Yes, we knew her singing those mellow old songs, but times had changed and Karen knew she had to move forward. I think the song was perfect for times.
FROM HIDING BEHIND HER DRUM KIT > TO THIS! OMG.....HAPPPY HEALTHY KAREN W/SOLO ALBUM IN THE MAKING W/PHIL RAMONE & QUINCY JONES WANTED TO PRODUCE HER FROM HERE ON, BECAUSE 'A&M' DID NOT WANT ANY OF HER SOLO ALBUM TUNES & RICHARD WAS NOT WARM TO IT EITHER! SO....KAREN OPTED OUT AT THAT TIME > NO SURPRISE THERE > BROKE HER HEART!
I hope she knows now how much she is loved and missed.
Richard used to always tell Karen, "the money's in the basement". I love her soaring higher register in this track. This would have been a huge hit had they released it when it was recorded.
Karen had the magic voice. It's always clearly Karen, in the basement or on the second floor.
There was a song or 2 that wasn't so great but you get that with any artist and any album, this album could have made the charts out of the gate with her vocals
@@monilaninetynine3811 Or the Penthouse.....
Had it been given a chance it could have been a catalyst for Karen changing how she felt about herself. But, Richard didn't like it because he wasn't involved so...
I agree
this song it's perfect and i wish there was a ten hours album of karen carpenter singing chill disco songs. i love this woman so much
I absolutely love this song. Karen was everything you'd want a singer to be.
Indeed she was.
But she had stiff competition from Joni Mitchell and Carole King.
@@tudormiller8898 Joni Mitchell and Carole King were so-so, but Karen Carpenter was LIGHT YEARS above an beyond them, and every other female singer!
@@tudormiller8898 I'd hardly call Joni Mitchell or Carole King stiff competition for Karen, vocally speaking.
Not quite everything. I would also like her to still be alive. I used to just listen to her music and enjoy it. Now, when I hear her voice, the pain of her tragic loss is so great that it is very difficult for me to enjoy her singing.
You can see the joy and happiness on her face during those dance routines. She’s clearly out of her element, but she doesn’t give a damn. She was having fun and enjoying the moment. I’m 55 and heard them all, but Karen just had an “it” factor in her ability, presentation, and commitment to her craft. Watch how she seamlessly transitions across the drums, effortless. It is a tragedy that she couldn’t find that small piece missing in her life to give her the happiness she desperately wanted and certainly deserved.
Rest In Peace “Lead Sister”. You will never be forgotten and forgive us all for taking so much and giving so little back.
It's 2020 and I'm still enjoying and loving her songs! I believe I'll always love her and her music. Though I know that the video is not the music video for this particular song, it surprises me to see Karen's flair for dancing. She's a very gifted singer and a talented drummer. I will always cherish her.
Yes, I'm still enjoying her songs, too! Enough is NEVER enough, for me! I play them over and over again, and I love it more each time! What talent they both have!
Drums, sings, acts, hosts, dances, plays ball. That’s our Karen. ❤️
When dancing in this video, Karen is smiling like a rose in full bloom. She was truly a gorgeous woman.
She looked absolutely happy.
She is actually a hermaphrodite haha like Herme's or Baphomet their God
She never really found true happiness and that's so sad 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁 I think she looks absolutely gorgeous in this video...God Bless Her!!
She was a very beautiful woman. I don't think Karen Carpenter realized that she was georgous.
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
Ze looks scary skinny in this video.
Love the way this video somewhat coordinates with the beat of this awesome song! Karen is so delightful dancing!
One of the greatest voices of the 20th century.And all time
Why don’t we have more performers like this today..........
All the good ones are dead that's why, not much real talent around now.
We know KC had teal talent that's why we are still talking about her and watching her 38 years after her passing
How many ahem "superstars" around now will you say that about years from now, not many I fancy
KC was a triple threat; great singer, danced liked Ginger Rogers and drummed ala Buddy Rich, incredible talent, awesome woman, that's our Lead Sister, :)
+mstrunn Not to mention she showed great promise as an actress/comedienne.
antij1 And not to mention could have been an excellent Talk Show Host.
***** The list goes on and on.
antij; If you have not already heard it, go to the Karen Carpenter Goldman radio interviews, Part 1 and 2, it's terrific, she gives some great insight, great radio voice and a genuine nice person, ck it out.
***** I've heard the first one. I will check out the second one, too.
WOW i am 63 almost 64 and I just heard this song yesterday. And i love it.
53 here and I just learned of its existence!
Just the most feminine, classy, beautiful, lovely, amazing singer and person.........what a gift from God
She is truly amazing! I do love the richness of her voice when she sings the low notes but I love her solo album. So sad her family blocked the release. This song would have been a number one hit!
Her family did not block the release of the album. A&M decided it didn't best represent the Carpenters' sound. But considering this type of music was in vogue, they should have just released it. We'll never know how high the song would have charted, but what's great is that they finally did release it. So, for her fans, anything featuring her vocal is a gift.
@@DavidHalChester it's just sickening. It was so ridiculous that this album was not released when it was supposed to have been. Even Quincy Jones himself came in to help Karen and Phil Ramone tweak it a little bit before the drop to try & make A&M happy, help Richard & whomever else feel good about it, and yet the A&M execs still pressured Karen not to release it. Less than 24hrs from its debut, A&M still made the final decision to not release it & pressured Karen to say it was her decision. Ugh. And she lost $400,000 of her own $$ on the deal. From what I've heard and read through the years, every source who was in earshot of what happened said she was devastated. Between Billy Joel's producer Phil Ramone, and Michael Jackson's (and countless others) producer Quincy Jones producing that album, she would have had at least one freaking hit! Probably several hits! Sigh. We'll probably never know all the reasons of why her album was shelved but some of them have got some answering to do, to pressure her and hurt her so badly like that. Granted, she was already having some health issues, but that was the blow that truly broke the camel's back and started her downward spiral. What the heck were they thinking? Instead of touring to promote her new album, she started dating a gold-digger within 3 months and then married him in another 3. Ugh. And that bad marriage was the final straw. She'd be dead in less than 3 years from the shelving of this album, broken-hearted, went thru a quicky marriage, kept financially bailing him out, went through a year of treatment, and died on the day she was supposed to sign her divorce papers. Ugh. Here's some interesting info on the it from Wikipedia:
"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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
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.
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!" [8] 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."
Sigh. Could have changed the whole direction of her career and trajectory of her life, given her more determination to get herself well, and that doomed marriage to a gold-digger of hers would quite possibly have never happened. Ugh. Sigh. 😔
@@SayItAintSo4real As to whether we will ever know the exact truth, probably not. When I heard the album, I could see she was experimenting. She wanted to try something new. But the problem was: people were deeply in love with her deep rich alto. I was as big a fan of the Carpenters as anyone else here. I went to CSULB, where I studied with choir director Frank Pooler, who worked with Karen and Richard before they became famous. I went to their concerts, learned all their songs on the piano, played them everywhere I could. I was a diehard fan.
But I will not lie: I did not think this album was great. I think it went in too many different directions. I applaud her for wanting to experiment, but the problem was, she was not "just a singer with a great voice" (i.e. Streisand); she was Karen Carpenter. Streisand, another amazing talent, could literally do Broadway, blues, pop, disco -- I mean, she just about sang it all. But Karen's voice worked best in the sort of pop/ballad world that Richard helped create.
I think at the very least that they should have released a single to see how things would go. But I think that A&M MIGHT have been concerned that this album MIGHT have impacted future "Carpenters" sales.
The business is very funny. They are risk-averse -- UNTIL someone has a HUGE hit out of nowhere, and then they'll happily jump on the band wagon. But until then, they will play it safe. The Carpenters were MASSIVELY successful. I don't think it was wrong for Karen to pursue different choices, but honestly, the album was not cohesive. It did not have a song that I would say was a distinctive hit.
But nonetheless, the WORST thing that could have happened is that they released it and it didn't sell as many copies as they had hoped. ALSO, A&M should have fronted the money for it, since Karen was their cash cow. How she ever got it into her head that she should have put up 400K to do that album is beyond me.
At any rate, we lost her far too soon and I can only imagine the amazing songs she would still be singing now.
@@DavidHalChester I agree on so many levels, David. I think more than anything she knew that they were going to have to keep up with the changing times. Both of them were burned out. It was so sad how hard they were worked. And that falls on the A&M execs and Management more than anything else. That is wonderful that you knew and went to school where they did and with Mr. Pooler. Wow! That is awesome. Thank you for responding and sharing that. And I 1000% agree that Karen should not have had to put $400,000 of her own money up towards that. If any of them would have been willing to work with her a little more, things may have gone much better for all of them. Idk how true it is, but it's said that she deliberately stayed away from her lower register for the solo album so as not to step on anyone's shoes invested in the "Carpenters" sound. She didn't want any false accusations thrown at her, but it seems that she was in a no-win situation regardless of what she did. To me she had a better vision of where the industry was going than any of the ppl around her calling all the shots by this time. They were not making the Top 5 or better hits consistently anymore since 1976. By now, disco was running it's course, but also duets were starting to air. Big names in the business were jumping on that bandwagon like Olivia, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks, Linda Rondstant, etc. Karen seemed to feel the direction music was headed better than the ones around her. Plus, they were still keeping their music basically "G" rated. Whereas it was the late 1970s by now, and Captain & Tennille were shooting to the top with "PG" rated "The Way That I Want To Touch You", "You Need A Woman Tonight", "You Never Done It Like That", "Do That To Me One More Time", and etc. The music was changing. It was getting a little more specific. Ha. "We've Got Tonight, Babe" another great duet. Anyhoo. I'd love to have heard Karen do a duet or two with several, both male and female singers, too. Gosh. So much began to go so wrong for her. It's, it still breaks my heart for her. I was lucky enough to come to Downey in 2017 and 2018, and then to the big one, the 2019 Carpenters 50th Anniversary, on tours where we were able to go inside the high school, see the band room, go to several of their favorite haunts, and meet ppl who knew them, and others who played music on the albums with them at the 50th. It was amazing! I'm so sad that you lost a classmate. She seemed so humble, and such a beautifully sweet and kind person. I was in a small group that got to meet Richard three different times, too. And his wife. Very nice, kind, good ppl. Karen was my idol from 11 years old. I started playing the drums because of her. That was so unusual for girls in her day, and for me, in 1970. I still adore her. And my heart hurts for whatever she must have been going through for her life to end so soon. Thank you so much for responding. Sometimes I do wonder if she would still be alive if she had walked away from it all for a few years, got her head and health back together, met someone whom truly loved her, they had a kid or two (or three), and she'd still be around. And quite possibly would have picked a couple of drumsticks back up, sat down in front of a microphone again, and blown the world's socks off yet again with her voice and music. Have a wonderful day. Thank you, David for your input. It's lovely hearing from someone who knew them. 😊
And P.S. here are the lyrics to a slow ballad on her solo album that did not make it to the final cut. It's beautiful and can be found now on TH-cam. This one had a potential for an Adult Contemporary hit, just like "Make Believe It's Your First Time". Switching to Country and/or Adult Contemporary could possibly have been a good move for them for awhile. Sigh.
SOMETHING'S MISSING IN MY LIFE
5:52 am...
I'm awake
And thinkin 'bout my life
5:53...
I can see
I won't sleep a wink tonight
6 am...
Where's my pen?
I might as well get up and write a song
And try to work out
Why when everything seems right
Why do I feel so wrong?
Something missing
In my life...
Could it be you
Could it be you and me?
Something's missing in my life
Aww, come and be
Right where I need you to be
For all my life...
All my life...
Got my house
Got my fancy car
Everything's going like I planned so far
But something's not there
That should be there
I gotta find it somewhere
Since the day you left my side
I've torn myself apart
And I still can't decide
Is it you I need
Or did you really hurt my pride?
Something's missing in my life
Maybe it's you
Maybe it's you and me...
If you're what's missing in my life
Then baby come to me
Come feel the need in me
For all my life...
Something's missing in my life
Could it be you
Could it be you and me?
Something's missing in my life
Aww, come and be
Right where I need you to be...
You're what's missing in my life
Aww, come and be
Right where I need you to be...
@@SayItAintSo4real Wow, I'm impressed with your knowledge about all that was going on.
Yes, I think I heard the "missing in my life" song. Basically, she could do no wrong, but obviously some songs were better than others.
Yes, the management and the record company should have been ashamed, because they worked K&R like they were a Top 40 band -- I mean, they were working constantly.
I think what's important is that she was not really getting the acknowledgment she needed, and she also was self-conscious of her body, something that happens to people in the public eye. This went to an extreme and she didn't see herself in a healthy way. It's a tragedy and we all lost because of it.
BTW, I was not her classmate. She was 2-4 years ahead of me, but because I was a fan, I knew they had gone to school at CSULB and I knew that the choir director was Frank Pooler. When I auditioned to get in, I was shocked that he accepted me. He was fantastic. All good memories.
Maybe not all, but at least some, of the songs she recorded solo make Karen's lovely voice and personality stand out, don't they? This "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" is definitely one of them. Her dances in the video quoted by the original poster do her loveliness and cuteness justice, too. No wonder the whole world has fallen desperately in love with her.
This song would have been a smashed hit had it not been for her controlling over bearing mother Agnes and brother Richard!! The story goes her mother was the one who wore the pants in the family and her brother Richard was her golden boy.
I think Richard was afraid she would be more successful so in his own jealously manipulated her awfully
So sad... Karen really needed unconditional love and support from her family. So tragic.
Karen was still at the top of her game , both singing and dancing as well as playing the drums ,she still had it all1
Karen's singing & drumming were always great. I just found this video & wanted share that Karen didn't always dance like this. If you see her early videos she moves/sways very timidly. Her stage presence was not good at all. She tended to turn her back on the audience during guitar solos. In 1975, she started dating Terry Ellis & he taught her about performing on stage & not just singing. He taught her about the importance of interacting with the audience, that they'd love that. Even though she didn't really understand the why's, she did what he suggested & just blossomed & won over even more fans. I love the dancing...he hired a choreographer & you can see the results here. And to think she was doing it in high heels!
+Andy M Yes, Karen did not see herself as Superstar, maybe she had been afraid that it could hurt Richard feelings.
Anyway, that shiny, some time insecure little girl, with an amazing and sweet voice, build herself a place in the history of the pop music.
Adriano Me You have to remember that Karen never really took much of an interest in music til she was I think 15 & after trying several instruments (briefly) she did find she did o.k. with drums. Then Richard took notice & loving his kid sis...he asked her to play with his "group." Things began to evolve when the trio was (Richard) asked Karen to sing a song. She did & although rough around the edges...with some help from Richard...he found that "special key" that became the wonderful & most recognizable voice ever. I think yes...Karen never wanted to hurt Richards feelings. He was after all the musician in the family & she admired & respected all he could do. She often talked about the fact that yes, she fronted the band but it was Richard who did so much hard work to pull everything together & made it the Carpenters. She spoke publicly about the fact that Richard was too often overlooked yet he was the brains. Karen would have simply loved sitting behind her drums & really getting into the music. This was oh so obvious when you saw videos early on when she did the drumming. Those drums were often thought of as her security blanket but they really weren't. It was just that...they were her instrument & she was good at them. If you wanted to see a genuine smile come from Karen...watching her playing her drums. As Karen said many times..."I'm just a drummer who happens to sing." Were it today...with all the big screens showing the singer (Karen) playing the drums...Karen would have been in her glory & maybe...just maybe, the issue of having to "front" the group would have been a non issue. But that's "today." Sad but true...hindsight is 20/20.
@@andym3603 She was an accomplished and award winning jazz drummer and voted drummer of the year in 1975, little better than Ok!
I so know that Karen Carpenter was a beautiful singer💐💐, an outstanding drummer💐💐🥁, but I never knew until this video that she was also a 💐💐wonderful Dancer too!! Karen Carpenter also had a heart💛💛 and she loved Teddy Bears🧸🧸!! When I was a Child, I wish I could have met her, but she died when I was young and we lost a wonderful person. However, I believe Karen Carpenter is in Heaven singing💐, dancing💐, and drumming🥁 with the angels👼👼💛💛 🌻🌻 💐💐!! And I so LOVE this song 🎵🎶💖💖as much as her earlier songs🎵🎶 in the 70s😊😊💖💖!!!!
Why the hell did the record company pull this album from release, great tune
Well I think they just wanted her to sing the same old stuff, rather than sing new exciting songs like this one.
I think Richard was afraid it would "ruin" the image they worked so hard to Per-Fect I actually love this song!
@@tudormiller8898 Carpenters production though, his fingerprint is all over this, and its not as if he's held back at all. If he was humoring her because of her illness , why would he put so much production value into it?
Richard didn't want her to succeed without him. He only released it after she was gone and he could rework it and claim producer credit.
@GoTeam I think you might find the reason it has a Carpenters credit, will be due to business reasons rather than anything else. Which would you prefer Phil Ramone's name on it, who produced it originally. I think it was Alpert & Moss A&M who decided not to put it out
She didn't need Richard-------Richard needed her
No one could ever highlight Karen's angelic voice better than Richard through his genius arranging/writing/producing. They needed each other.
@@oriturin so true they were a symbiosis
This is a great song. And Karen didn't abandon her traditional sound while adopting the new disco sound..should have been released. Would have been a hit single.
Karen I can only cry for for soul 😢you were so beautiful and time had a purpose for you ❤I miss you but only time will tell
Karen is FABULOUS!!! she had a magic in her that was from another world! such an amazing woman!!
...this song would have been a smash hit. It would have opened eyes, changed a tired reputation and possibly much more. What a shame that it was not released in a timely fashion.
Yeah well her sexist, jealous, controlling brother put a kabash on that. Not to mention her overbearing, bitchy mother and her spineless father.
Totally agree....I think RICHARD, the control freak, family "Golden Boy," likely feared, if the public approved of her performances, sans 'Dick', his career would more than likely have ended then.....I mean, all these years after her death, he has not composed for other artists, or scored the movies he used to yammer about doing. Just remixes their old stuff and is living off the residuals. SOME GENIUS! SMDH. He was a complete creep and along with the nazi mother and spineless father, all were responsible for their daughter's feelings of being unloved and unapproved of. Damn shame!!!!!
I saw the movies....they were 3 a-holes.
Silly to assume because he hasn't worked on other music besides the Carpenters that he's A) Not asked to, B) not a musical genius. Despite any character flaws you have with him, the music of the Carpenters is proof he was. Maybe he's got enough money and just doesn't want to do anything else.
ionthetarget I agree there was nothing wrong with her solo album. it's dated ....but for 1980, it would have captured the flavour of the time well. Unfortunately richard was insecure and fearful of being upsurped.
THANK YOU for making this! I just discovered Karen’s solo work and even in 2017...I just LOVE this song! It’s so much fun. It just takes me away! It should have been a hit, especially when you look at what was a hit when it was recorded. Karen not being allowed her solo career is a travesty in music history.
Karen would have had a hit with this song in 79' or '80. It sounds like it could be from Xanadu.
Disco music was rapidly losing its popularity by the time this album's release was proposed. That may have had something to do with the album being shelved for many years also.
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
This song would have mostly certainly used in movies after it's release. From full on drama to animated movies. Sad she never got to that point. Love you Ms. Karen Carpenter
I never get tired of hearing her beautiful voice.
Love seeing that big smile. She looked so happy to be out there❤❤
Just amazing, can't help but to sway to this fine song!
Love this song, Karen's voice just swept you off along with her....esp the part "And we fly together across the floor....." a very refreshed side of Karen that we hear here from the usual Carpenters songs.
I rediscovered this song and it instantly puts me in a happy mood.! Love Karen...
Beautiful
They should have released her album when she was alive. It hurt her greatly when it was shelved which led to more disappointment. There is nothing wrong with the songs contained within, they were mature songs for a mature Karen. She was robbed at the time because it was her solo chance at something & they wanted her to fail. It was finally released years after her passing....have to ask, why did they wait....were they feeling guilty because she died! She could sing anything & her fans loved her for it. Sad she didn't live long enough to do more.
Karen was the one that actually decided to shelve the "can of worms" as she called it because of publicity problems. Karen was not wanting to leave the Carpenters or her brother or any of that. The idea started from Jerry Weintraub (Carpenters Manager) as Richard and Karen were both trying to take some time off, but with taking time off what was there for a manager to manage? Alpert and Moss were fine with the solo idea, but still, Karen wanted to take time off and do something different (which she did but...). Richard talked Karen into doing the album as it would be a chance for Karen to work with Phil Ramone and maybe Karen might learn some new tricks from Phil that maybe Karen and Richard could implement on the Carpenters' recordings. Richard also mentioned to Karen that Karen's voice was not suited to disco and with that challenge of "no disco" Karen was bound and determined to do something disco. But the possible publicity of releasing a solo album was why Karen shelved "the can of worms". Karen had done an interview on March 17, 1980 for Rolling Stone magazine that didn't get released, but because of that interview, Karen realized that if she released that album, every interview for the rest of her life would have started off with, "so you are thinking of leaving the Carpenters and going solo..." Karen did not want to leave her brother or go solo or any of that, so at the last minute, Karen pulled the plug on the release and Richard, uncle Herbie (Alpert), and Jerry (Moss) backed Karen's decision to shelve the "can of worms" that was Karen's solo album. Karen and I talked about this on June 12, 1981. I was also around Karen a lot from September 6, 1978 to June 22, 1979 which between May and June 1979 was when most of Karen's solo album was done.
@GoTeam actually what you just stated is not true. Karen and me talked on June 12, 1981 and Karen told me that she was the one who shelved it. Richard and Moss were talking about musical content (lack of hits) and Karen actually shelved it because after she did an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on March 17, 1980 Karen realized what a publicity mess that album would be if released. So Karen asked if she could shelve it and they said "yes" so she shelved it. Phil Ramone even mentioned why but apparently you've never bought Karen's solo CD to see the booklet inside where Phil stated that the album was shelved because Karen didn't want the media trying to spread false rumors about Karen and her brother. There's a lot of stuff your story is missing GoTeam. I was there when the album started and I was also there during the 100K meeting as well. Unfortunately because TH-cam doesn't allow me to post links in posts and posts can't be that large I can't fully answer your misinformed comment in the space provided.
@GoTeam First, show me your credentials where you are qualified to give such a diagnosis. With that being said, you're the one being delusional if you think that you, someone that never even met Karen, knows all there is to know about her and her life. I actually knew Karen (and several people remember) and even I know better to say that I knew everything there is to know about her. Here's a word you need to look up, projection. And honestly, GoTeam, the shrink profession does not have any programs in place to help those like yourself that try to project their own flaws onto others rather than face reality. The shrinks will gladly take your money though. But as others know, yes, I am actually Adrian, Karen's new manager and you sick people out there trying to accuse Karen of being in love with a married man. First name Adrian, not last. Me. You're still batting .000 GoTeam. Now since TH-cam asked for it by not allowing me to post web page links...
@GoTeam The actual start of Karen's solo album (non fiction version)
Karen had a mini stroke in late 1977 and one half of her face was paralyzed for a short while. On occasion, Karen's one side of her face would freeze up. Richard was worried about his sister and was trying to get away from touring and more into TV shows and such which were closer to home. Karen and Richard were both looking to try and get a break but things had been booked but only about a year in advance so they tried to lighten the load after Karen had a mini stroke and Richard had been shaking a bit here and there from his addiction to quaaludes.
It started on September 4, 1978 in Las Vegas as after the show Richard had told Karen, "I quit" and Karen asked, "Do you mean it?" and Richard had said, "Yes. I can't do this anymore."
So Karen snuck off and moved in with her step Cousin Wendy B in New York State on September 4, 1978. I met Karen on September 6, 1978 (but I did not know her as Karen Carpenter at the time).
Around mid October 1978, Paul Williams showed up (and I found out she was Karen Carpenter) and Paul showed up to have Karen sign her and Richard's new recording contract with A&M Records. Karen and Paul talked and Karen did not sign the contract at that time. Karen did not tell Paul this, but there was a clause in that new contract about a 'new album' and with Richard 'quitting', how could there be a new album if Richard had quit? Well, actually, Christmas Portrait was going to be released, but Karen hadn't thought about that. Also, the single, "I Believe You" came out just after Paul and Karen met in mid October 1978 too. Paul left and the contract was not signed by Karen on that day.
In the second full week of December (beginning December 11) 1978, Jerry Weintraub showed up in New York State with Richard too. Jerry had booked the Carpenters on "The Bruce Forsyth Show" for the Christmas Special. Richard was in no shape to perform. Richard was shaking so bad and he got a glass of water to take pills with and nearly the whole glass of water had shaken all over the floor before Richard took his pills. Richard left the room at one point. Jerry, Karen and I were standing there and I believe Jerry tossed a silver dollar into the air and it was called by Karen and if it was heads then Karen did the show without Richard and tails the show was cancelled. The coin fell off Jerry's wrist and Jerry picked it up off the floor and put it under his one hand and on his other wrist. Then Jerry said to Karen, "I'll make a deal with you. I'll give you anything you want if you'll agree that this coin is heads and you do the show." Karen then asked if Jerry would agree to let Richard have whatever time Richard wanted off to go to a rehab and get his quaalude addiction dealt with. Jerry said it was a deal and then Jerry pulled his hand away and the coin was on tails. Anyway, Karen took off for the week from her step cousin Wendy's and did the show but also, on December 12, Karen and Richard met in Topeka Kansas and Richard did the pre-admission to Meninger's clinic and then Richard went back to California and Karen flew back to London to finish taping the Bruce show. My nickname is Ace and during the show Karen asked Bruce to work in saying my name, Ace, which Bruce did to try and help Karen relax a little more as Karen wasn't so much nervous about doing the show without Richard, but Karen was nervous because Richard had been in such bad shape before Karen left to do the show and Karen was hoping her brother was going to be all right.
Richard entered Meninger's clinic in Topeka Kansas on January 10, 1979. Karen was still primarily living with her step cousin Wendy in New York State.
As noted in Karen's diary in red pen (as Karen was using a two-sided teacher's pen with black and red ink, and the black side had run out, so Karen was not one to waste anything and used the red side in her diary), 'confrontation about album'. Well, if you haven't noticed yet, there is not any discussion about a solo album as the idea for a solo album had not yet been thought of. So 'confrontation about album'? Well, it was over the phone (Karen in New York and Richard in Topeka) and it was about a discussion about that new recording contract. Jerry Weintraub had called Richard about the new contract not being signed and Richard called Karen about it and Karen brought it up to Richard about that "new album" clause and Richard was a bit upset but understood and told Karen not to worry about that new album clause and to sign the contract. This was on Wednesday January 24, 1979. I am pretty sure that I saw Jerry again on January 26, 1979 and on that day Karen signed the new contract in front of Jerry Weintraub and myself.
Karen and I had a private joke about Jerry and we would sit there at times and just twiddle our thumbs in honor of how Jerry Weintraub kept complaining about being idle as a manager. During February 1979, Jerry read that new contract and came up with an idea of asking Karen to do a solo album.
In the beginning around late March to early April 1979 there were 7 people that knew about Karen doing a solo album. Those 7 people in order of knowing were Jerry Weintraub, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Karen Carpenter, step cousin Wendy B------k, me, Richard Carpenter. Agnes Carpenter found out that Karen and Richard had an argument which was how Agnes (mom) became number 8. Then Eddie Kramer became number 9.
Karen and Richard were both wanting to take time off from the music biz but what good is a manager "twiddling his thumbs" with nothing to manage? Weintraub came up with an idea for Karen doing a solo album and he presented the idea to Alpert and Moss (as the Carpenters were A & M's biggest sellers and A & M was looking for more product to sell and not 'time off'). Alpert and Moss were OK with it as it would possibly be more product and more money for A & M. So Jerry Weintraub mentioned it to Karen and Karen said NO!!!
And cousin Wendy and then I got an earful. Karen wanted time off and Karen was busy doing something not music related and Karen was living in New York State (not the city) with her cousin Wendy and working weekdays with a couple week long vacations while staying with her cousin and working on her arrhythmia and anorexia problems. Karen was not wanting to go back to work before her 7 to 3 job ended on June 22, 1979. Karen said NO!!! to Jerry, Jerry, and Herb. Note also, Karen did not want her brother to actually 'quit' either and was hoping that Richard would do something instead.
Jerry, Jerry and Herb next approached Karen again and said they had talked with Richard and Richard and Karen had a disagreement and Karen said NO!!! yet again and why should Karen give up her time off and Karen asked Jerry, Jerry and Herb why didn't Richard do a solo album or greatest hits album or such and why did it have to be on Karen's shoulders? Why did Karen have to sacrifice her time off especially since Karen was the one who sacrificed with the Bruce Forsyth show and such.
Karen was livid and fuming. Mom found out that her son and daughter were having a disagreement and intervened. Richard was out getting groceries one day and mom called Karen up at Karen's work and mom had a talk with Karen about what was going on. I was in the room with Karen, so I heard this call. Anyway, mom asked Karen to do this as a favor for her brother ("whatever it was" as mom put it) and that mom would make sure that any favor that Karen asked for in return would be granted from Richard. Mom did not know that they wanted Karen to do a solo album. Mom only knew that Karen and Richard had a disagreement.
Mom told Karen that Richard wanted time off as Richard had just started seeing Mary Rudolph and that was all it took for Karen to agree to do 'her' solo album. Karen was tired of her brother meeting all these "gold diggers" and Mary was an adopted cousin (not blood relation) and not a gold digger. Karen LOVED playing match maker. So Karen jumped on board for her solo album and the primary favor Karen asked for was that she finish her job until June 22, 1979.
@GoTeam And the rest of the start of Karen's solo from the guy that was there.
The finishing job favor was kept (there was a problem in mid May 1979 and the favor was kept as Richard intervened and Richard got to meet me, the reason why Karen was wanting to finish her job. And Richard also kept me a secret as me was 14 years old at the time and Karen and I were spending time together but Karen and I had also agreed that we would wait till I got older as my age was a bit of a legal problem so Karen and I had a rule of no physical touching. And imagine the mess if the press got a hold of Karen around a 14 year old and Richard with his adopted first cousin. Yes, goody four shoes had some possible publicity problems at this time). I was around Karen and Karen was in the local hospital on one day, but that was the only day she missed on her job and Karen finished working that job on June 22, 1979.
The other favors were between Karen and Richard (and the "we split the cost" favor was brought up between Karen and Richard a couple times and the end decision was between Karen and Richard themselves, but Richard was asked to pay half as it was only fair since Richard was the one that wanted time off to be with Mary, but Karen was almost to the point of "why don't you pay all of it Richard since you want the time off so bad?" but I am pretty sure Karen did stick with half as "that was fair" but Karen would write the check and Richard would put half of that amount in Karen's account [shhh]).
Then they contacted Eddie Kramer... (And I was there when Eddie Kramer came out to New York State and talked with Karen and asked Karen to try someone else as Eddie was used to artists that did their own material and Eddie would feel like a "fish out of water" just like Karen would be a "fish out of water" without her brother (and Eddie and Karen were both Pisces) and Eddie mentioned that he usually inspired his artists to write their own material with the "raison d'etre" [reason of being, purpose] speech which was where Karen had the melody of "I wanna uh with you, uh, uh, uh, uh" pop into her head which later Rod Temperton and Karen turned into the "Rock with You" song in May 1979). Eddie was the one who recommended Phil Ramone as a producer.
Another note here, Richard was the one that always wanted a music career. Karen liked having a music career too. When Richard said "I quit" in early September 1978 it caught Karen by surprise. Karen did not want her brother giving up on his dream. After agreeing to do the solo album, Karen was actually hoping the album would be bad enough that Richard wouldn't quit and would get back into music again after dealing with his addiction. So when Richard said something like "It sounds like sh*t" in May 1980, that was actually what Karen wanted to hear from Richard. Karen loved making music with her brother and all that they had accomplished together. Walls full of gold records (and for those that wonder, yes, according to Karen, gold records sound the same as regular records and just have a different color is all), three Grammys, Billboard Awards and all that. Maybe if Richard heard what a disaster Karen's career might be without him, Richard might not want to quit?
Now, do you really think Karen was going to say all this to Phil and Itchie and Rod while trying to use them to make a 'sh*tty' album to try and get her brother to stay in music?
OK, so, um, to get the story straight here, Karen was looking to leave her brother who had saved her life in a motorcycle accident in 1973, who she had won numerous awards (gold records, three Grammys, Billboard Awards, etc.) and someone who she trusted, for a guy who had trouble keeping a steady clientele because his client's names would get dragged through the tabloid mud to sell more records at the expense of their personal lives being ruined, had trouble keeping his stories straight and won one Grammy Award. Why doesn't this sound right? Even worst, why do some people believe this hogwash (hogwarsh as Karen would say), poppycock (Richard), nonsense (me) and bullsh*t (nearly everyone else)? OK, I get it. First, try and get a bunch of 'experts' that never met or talked with someone and have those 'experts' put their thoughts and words in the other person's head and mouth since the other person isn't around anymore and can't speak on her own behalf (shh, I'm not trying to be an expert on this but don't mention that all people make mistakes in a process known as learning and that 'experts' don't make mistakes because they know it all so therefore experts are actually just figments of their own imaginations, double shh). Try to minimize that these others never met this person too. Try to get half stories and such to try and bolster this false image too. Shh, um, leave out a bunch of stuff, like three Grammy Awards, so that hopefully the story sounds believable. Just mention Billy Joel, but keep away from what happened to Billy in the tabloids and how after the Grammy, Billy's life went downhill and the tabloid mess with him and his ex-wives and wife beater all that, shh. Stay superficial and don't dig too deep. You don't want to wreck a good selling story.
But yeah, this was what actually happened to start all that solo album stuff from the guy that was there to know, Karen's new manager, Adrian. Richard didn't even know half of this stuff. The only ones that knew all of this were Karen and me.
And furthermore, you don't break up or leave someone by doing an album with the same record company as the one you are breaking up with or trying to leave. Try using just a little common sense peeps. Karen was not looking to leave her brother or the Carpenters.
The story goes Richard Carpenter listened to this and told Karen “You have stolen the Carpenters sound.” I read that thinking “Uh, she was the Carpenters sound.” With all due respect to the man’s talents, he sincerely believes he was the one who made their success happen. Since then, he has composed and produced music for various artists, but none of it has come close to the Carpenters’ success. If his name wasn’t associated with Karen’s, most listeners would have no idea who he was at all.
Quincy Jones...you were right all along
Get it Karen! She was a great singer and very talented! If only she were still here!
Lovely smile and a beautiful voice who wouldn't love her? RIP
Thank you, NedNickerson 2010 for this! The sound is SO much better than some of the others who have shared this, because the mid-range and the highs are in balance, and you can actually hear everything! I truly appreciate and enjoy this so much more than I would have otherwise, had I not stumbled across it. I know it takes precious time to share these things, especially when you take the time to do it properly as you did. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
God took Karen way too soon i really miss her beautiful voice and songs. I wonder whqt kind of songs she would being singing right now. Love you Karen
thank goodness for audio reproduction. i used to work for one of the companies that duplicated the masters into records, tapes and videos...
I think she looks great in this and looks very happy. I just have to say I love how KC'S face lights up when she's playing the drums 🥁
A duo with Olivia Newton-John was screaming to be made. What were those execs thinking to shelve this stuff?
Just before this song, I heard Still In Love With You for the first time and I was thinking: "This sounds like something Olivia would've done"
A great singer of all times.
Thanks for posting this! Nice song.Love Karen's voice.The dancing is what I love and wanted a clip of just that from their t v. Special Music Music Music.Thanks!!!
Great dancing, even greater song. God has blessed the Carpenters and crews with truly great talent. I know it might have been difficult to place Karen's voice and casting when singing directly to the gentleman. Great try. This can be overlooked by the overwhelming great performance!
Great Try? Makes it sound like she missed the mark, when she can sing better than almost every other female vocalist I have ever heard, which is a considerable amount in my half century + lifetime! What makes you think her voice was hard to place? With her vocal talents, she could, and did sing songs from a variety of genres successfully and very beautifully, all of which are treasured by those who fully appreciate the rare gem that is Karen Carpenter.
Lovely tribute. THANKS.
I love the way this video was put together. I've been watching it every day lately. Terrific song.
Beautiful gorgeous Angelic voice. Love Karen. May she be at Peace. 3/2]21. Still listening.
Wonderful video and music;great job from a great fan of Karen ;thanks a lot!!! :)
beautiful......
Karen's "HAPPY / HEALTHY" Solo Album 1980 (released 1996) = 13 yrs. after passing away, it went Platinum (1M sales) because it was great > despite lack of support! Ramone & Quincy Jones loved it & tried to get A&M & Richard to release it then > Karen was HAPPY beyond words, per friends! Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris >
I just love the way people think that just because they read the 2 books written by strangers and watching the tv movie thinks that they know everything about this classy brother and sister duo. People should go and listen to an interview of John Bettis (who cowrote many of the Carpenters song with Richard) by Chris May here on TH-cam. It's quite an eye/ear opener when he talks about Karen and Richard.
Yes, that is an excellent interview. As I recall ,John Bettis offered an excellent perspective on why A&M cancelled Karen's Solo album that did not involve Richard's so-called "jealousy".
Also Richard has always been very open and candid in interviews. And still is. Both of them spent their careers trying to fight off the image that the media and tv & record company executives were always pushing. Also Richard knew better than anyone else how to bring out the best in Karen's voice.
She's amazing! Her voice is immortal!
I love all her songs, but this one is my favorite ! !
I haven't ever seen her dancing. She was amazing
Eine wundervolle Sängerin, nie wieder wird es eine solche Intertainerin ihres gleichen geben...RIP.. viel zu früh von uns gegangen 😥
Love it!
Hearing this song....what a wonderful thing would've been to have her and Olivia Newton-John sing a duet.....
Just before this song, I heard Still In Love With You for the first time and I was thinking: "This sounds like something Olivia would've done"
Olivia was so mad when she knew that Richard and the manager didnt wanted to drop the album! She saw KC a potential great solo performer.
I thought "Making Love In The Afternoon" could have worked so well on Olivia Newton-Johns album right along with one she recorded "Have You Ever Been Mellow." They both have the same feel to their composition, in my opinion.
Richard will never admit to it, but he was afraid Karen might have a successful solo career without him calling the shots.
Instead he grabbed A&M Records boss Herb Albert to pull rank with Karen and they deep-sixed her solo album.
Producer Phil Ramone and his wife said Karen was the happiest they've ever seen her as she stayed with them in NYC making the album while Richard was recovering from addiction.
Bingo.. she would have done great
I'll never understand why Richard and A&M disliked the album. It would've been a success had it been released on time
@@alfonsotaton5293 me either
it woulda been a hit!!! 😢❤️
BEST FEMALE SINGER OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING
...gorgeous. And what a smile. Wish that one of those handsome dancers would have proposed to Karen.
Bela música, saudades eternas....
love this song what a hit it would have been
Great job Nick, thanks!
god i miss karen she had such a good voice.
The Carpenters performed at my hometown junior college TSC, Texas Southmost College, Brownsville Texas in the 70s!
One of my favourite running songs.
She could have been a great contestant on Dancing With The Stars. Hey, you never know. Incidentally, Is that John Davidson being a smooth operator on Karen? LOL.
CosmicRey She probably would have been better off with John than the creep she married.
this song and her album solo did would be a success. Karen was a great singer and a beautifull woman, and she did will make more and more if she living today ... I miss her ...
Richard had more than 30 years to finish these wonderful songs - and didn't give * * * * about CARPENTERS "LEGACY" or even more so The Karen Carpenter Legacy - these songs have been orphaned on the internet for years - THANK YOU DENNIS !!! Why would I ever want to buy a "new" Philharmonic" LP with Karen's vox???? please please
Karen sounds great here!!! I love this song!
Karen got the the natural perfect pitch, voicing and singing... Awesome and gracious.
What a wonderful song...
Cont: Karen never would have even dated Tom Burris > if involved with Solo Album & Shows & becoming her own Healthy Woman, while Richard took off 1979! Then a 2nd Meteoric Rise would have launched “CARPENTERS” Together Again! How Sad it never happened while she was still with us.
They were my Mom's favorite!! I love her voice!!
The greatest voice of the 20th Century.
This song is fucking FANTASTIC and I don’t know how it is I only just heard it for the first time very recently, thanks to Spotify’s DJ!
great song!
Love Karen in this, she looks fabulous and full of life.
Most Carpenter fans prob know there are at least 50 or more songs Karen recorded solo in '79 which to this day lie in a vault somewhere belonging to A&M Records.
Some of these songs need post-production work and remain unfinished.
I assume these songs are now the property of Richard Carpenter.
Since this is the 40th anniversary of Karen's passing, no other songs have been released thus far besides her solo album recorded in '79.
Richard was always against outside influences messing with the so-called patented "Carpenters Sound" where he had Karen sing in a lower key and the "Doo- Wah" choruses made famous by the duo.
If Richard has his say, most likely these songs will stay in the vault.
Richard didn't want her transitioning into Disco, she did and she did a great job til she passed.
This has gotta be a Temperton tune
Nope. Rod was in the control booth while recording it and probably arranged a little bit of it, but not a Rod tune like Always and Forever, Boogie Nights, Rock With You, Off The Wall, and so forth and so on... I got to talk to Rod over the phone twice and see Rod once around May to June 1979. Great guy.
My wandering soul, how it aimlessly dwells Among darkened hills, amidst
its unseen spells, And in the distance all that I hear: the summoning of
bells. Far above me, the high boughs they are bending, The once hidden
moon now slowly ascending And as it sings to the world its sleep song, I
sit in its shadow and await my ending.
The sound and video quality of this one are SUPERIOR to the homemade karaoke one!
Great dance song.
🤗🤗
Keeping in line with my wish to pilot a go-kart around the Isle of Man, I'd love to see Karen performing the drums with AC/DC on "Thunderstruck ". She'd be wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and a leather bikers vest.
She's a fabulous dancer can't take my eyes off her why didn't they release Karen's solo album?
Richard and the executives didn't think it was good enough but I believe Richard didn't want it released cuz he was afraid she would be a hit on her own
I love this song to much
Whatever the genre, she got such soul but His bro never accept that she works with R&B disco pro infering that she was selling her soul for commercial reason although the album was made during the demolition campaign late 79/80!!! Like mixing sugar and salt, rythm and sweetness melt in that prod is an original trademark signature from Karen. Congratulation to Leslie Pearl.w
I think with the right publicity back in the day alongside with Barbra Streisand and Donna Summers and shares huge disco hits this would have taken off as well
Fab 🕺
I think they all were rough on Karen with this album. Yes, we knew her singing those mellow old songs, but times had changed and Karen knew she had to move forward. I think the song was perfect for times.
1979 and 1980, Elton John rod Stewart Cher Donna Summer Barbra Streisand and yes Karen Carpenter with all of succeeded in the Disco during that time
TOP....Muito Bom......
FROM HIDING BEHIND HER DRUM KIT > TO THIS! OMG.....HAPPPY HEALTHY KAREN W/SOLO ALBUM IN THE MAKING W/PHIL RAMONE & QUINCY JONES WANTED TO PRODUCE HER FROM HERE ON, BECAUSE 'A&M' DID NOT WANT ANY OF HER SOLO ALBUM TUNES & RICHARD WAS NOT WARM TO IT EITHER! SO....KAREN OPTED OUT AT THAT TIME > NO SURPRISE THERE > BROKE HER HEART!