The Serious Side of Karen Carpenter

This photograph of Richard and Karen Carpenter seems like one that has been used for their Lovelines disc in 1989. But look again. This one has a shot of Karen without a smile. Although it is a very nice shot, she looks much, much older than 30 or 31 when this photo was taken. By this point in time, anorexia had taken its toll on the much loved woman with the golden voice. There's a wedding ring, but her marriage to Tom Burris was not the great hit he promised it would be.

Photographer Norman Seeff captured them at an interesting time in their careers and in their personal life.

As seen at the top of this article, the serious pose seems even more pronounced when viewed in black and white. Karen is looking into our souls even if we appear to be gazing right into hers. Richard is contemplative. It's a stark contrast to their sunny All-American image.

With 1981's lackluster sales and airplay of their comeback album Made in America, the duo was forging ahead. Something would connect for Carpenters. They'd had too many hits and too much of a worldwide fan base for it not to. But time was not on Karen's side...

(Photograph by Norman Seeff.)

Top Ten Carpenters Albums - 2020 Edition

Have you ever noticed how your taste changes over the years? Mine sure has! This has happened with foods I like, television shows I watch, movies I love, books and music, and even Disney theme park attractions that I would list as my favorites. 

Today, I'm focusing on a reassessment of my favorite Top Ten albums by Carpenters. That Richard and Karen Carpenter are my favorite duo is one thing that definitely has not changed. But the list of my favorite albums by them has changed over the years. Which ones have moved up or down the list since the last time I did this in 2012?

Compilations, boxed sets, solo, live or Christmas albums are not included.  At the bottom of each album's description and ranking is a link to my original review as well as one for my "Revisited / Fresh Look" reviews done years later. (I'm only finished with those through 1973's Now & Then album.) Here we go...

(11.) “Offering / Ticket to Ride”- 1969 album. Varied in style and approach. The disc has a very 60's rock / pop sound, making in an also ran for me. Super ambitious. Karen's voice has flashes of what we've come to expect. The album is much different than their breakout hits and romantic sounds that came in the following decade. Standouts: "Ticket to Ride" (though the definitive reworked version came in 1973), “All of My Life” (featured in The Karen Carpenter Story), "Don't Be Afraid", "Turn Away", “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”.
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

 10. “Made in America” – Their 1981 "comeback" album. They were striving for a hit, and it unfortunately shows. Seems stripped of the ambition mentioned above. To be fair, there are some pleasant songs, but it's much too soft. As usual, Karen sounds great, but her voice is generally higher, softer, and too far in the background.  Richard's arrangements rule. Standouts: “Touch Me When We’re Dancing” (their last Top Twenty single), “Strength of a Woman”, "When It's Gone", “Somebody’s Been Lying”. 
Original review here.  

9. “Passage”- Daring 1977 album. Totally unexpected in every way. Bold and sassy. Confident. Each cut is very different than the one before. Standouts: the exceptional “Bwana She No Home”, the underrated single “All You Get From Love is a Love Song”, “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina”, “Sweet, Sweet Smile”. Grammy nod for Richard's arrangement on "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft".  
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

8. “Now and Then” - Most interesting album layout. Stuffed with hits but mostly oldies from a decade earlier. Great fun but lower ranking given for few original songs. Standouts: “Our Day Will Come”,  the incredible“This Masquerade”, and the Richard Carpenter / John Bettis classic “Yesterday Once More”.
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here. 

7. “A Kind of Hush”- The title track is a guilty favorite to this day, and although the album is beautiful to look at, the songs inside were very out of touch with what was on the radio back in 1976. There are still some absolute gems here. This is also the album I got to discuss for Randy L. Schmidt's Carpenters: An Illustrated Discography book.  Note: When I reach this collection for my "Revisited / Fresh Look" review, I'll share my full interview notes that I submitted to Randy for consideration. Standouts: There's A Kind of Hush (All Over the World)", “Boat to Sail”, “I Need to Be in Love”, “One More Time”, “I Have You”.
Original review here.  

6. “Voice of the Heart”- First posthumous album released just months after her passing. Due to that fact, it's a sad but sentimental favorite. Varied styles affirm their ability to serve any genre well, but beware of the overuse of the chorale. Stunning cover photo of Karen and wistful back cover pic of Richard.  Standouts: my favorite Carpenters song of all time “Ordinary Fool”, “Now”, the instant classic but under appreciated  “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore”, “Look to Your Dreams”, “At the End of a Song”. 
Original review here. 

5. “Carpenters (aka The Tan album)” – Can't miss album with "For All We Know", "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Superstar".  Beautiful and melancholy. Does contain the worst of all Carpenters tunes,  “Druscilla Penny”. Standouts: the three single releases plus “Let Me Be the One”, “Hideaway”, “Sometimes”, “Bacharach Medley”. 
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

4. “Lovelines” - Strongest posthumous release. A mix of four selections from Karen's solo album, previously unreleased songs, and leftover tunes from Made in America- some of which are far better than those placed on that album. Standouts: The "Should have been a single, it's so good" outtake “Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night”, the Michael Jackson meets Karen “Lovelines”, smooth jazz “If We Try”, a moody remake of Barry Manilow's “Where Do I Go From Here?”, the classic “When I Fall in Love”, “If I Had You”. 
Original review here.  

3. “A Song For You” - Almost a greatest hits album on its own. Great singles like "Top of the World" (original mix) . Standouts: "Road Ode", “Hurting Each Other”, “Goodbye to Love”, "Bless the Beats and Children".
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

2. “Horizon”- Best visual presentation of Karen and Richard as real people. Ultra polished collection but with real backbone, Elegant, classy, best recorded sound of Karen’s voice ever. A couple of songs too short, but flawless. Perfect for late night FM radio. Standouts: my favorite modern single of the duo, “Only Yesterday”, the definitive version of “Desperado”, Neil Sedaka's dramatic “Solitaire”, “I Can Dream Can’t I?”, bookends “Aurora/Eventide”, “Love Me For What I Am”. 
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

1. “Close to You”- Back to the top of my rankings. The album that  cemented my love affair with Karen's voice. Fresh. Energetic. Brilliant in every way. Standouts: Wedding song “We’ve Only Just Begun”, the could have been third single “Baby It’s You”, "Reason to Believe", “Love is Surrender”, “Maybe It’s You”, "Crescent Noon" “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”, "Another Song". 
Original review here.  Revisited / Fresh Look review here.

Will these stay in this order in another ten years? Stay tuned...

Michael Bublé Returns with Love

As one of the most gifted singers in this era, Michael Bublé returns to music in a big way. His new album Love comes out next month and includes the Nat King Cole classic When I Fall in Love as well Unforgettable, and a personal favorite of mine, I Only Have Eyes For You.

It's nice to see him back and happy. After his son's diagnosis with cancer a few years ago, things look good for his eldest son and his family continues to grow. He and wife Luisana Lopilato have recently added a new daughter to their now family of five. Check out the interviews with him as he discusses the cancer battle and its impact on his views of life and what makes him happy.

Back to the album. With great songs to be sung, it's a reunion of sorts with David Foster, the mega-star producer who first brought Michael to the limelight. Michael's warm tones and choice of vintage material bring just the right flavor for the coming holidays, much like Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard did in the 70's- who also happened to record the Nat King Cole classic found on their album Lovelines. Wouldn't it be great to have someone create a virtual duet?

Welcome back, Michael! You were missed!

Unseen Karen Carpenter

Given she had such a short life, Karen Carpenter was constantly at the end of a photographer's camera. Here's a photo I had never seen before from Norman Seeff, a man known for his more rock and roll clientele. 

The year was 1981, and she and her brother Richard Carpenter were nearing completion on their new album, Made in America. The beloved duo had not had a non-Christmas album since 1977, so their public seemed to be ready for something new. The disc was better received over in the U.K. and in Japan than it was at home, but the first single Touch Me When We're Dancing was a pretty solid return to the charts, making the Top Twenty for four weeks. 

Smaller but in color.

This photo and others in similar clothing from the session didn't make the cut. But they were used for the 1989 release of Lovelines, coming on the heels of the Karen Carpenter Story. In two years, A&M Records will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carpenters first release, Offering (later renamed Ticket to Ride). Maybe we'll see more unseen Karen then. And hear more unheard recordings as well. Until then, the new Vinyl Collection presents the major Carpenters releases in album form. A treat for collectors.

(You can read about Karen's last days here.)

(Photograph copyright Norman Seeff.)

Billboard Magazine Ads for Carpenters

Thanks to my friends over at A&M Corner, my chronological album reviews of music by Karen and Richard Carpenter now include a set of ads placed in Billboard magazine. The images can be very stunning, such as the one above, celebrating the release of the Carpenters self-titled album. While these ads announce each new release, they also reveal the clear problem A&M Records executives had in promoting the brother and sister duo. Regardless, they are a fascinating piece of music history for anyone who appreciated the most gifted vocalist of the 20th century and her incredibly talented brother who produced, arranged, and even wrote many of their hits. Just looking at the ads, it's Yesterday Once More.

Top Ten Carpenters Albums to Date

Right from the A&M Corner- I couldn't resist. No compilations or Christmas albums included...

(11.)    “Ticket to Ride”-  Adventureous first album.  Standouts: title song, “All of My Life”, “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”

10.   “Passage”- When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s bad, it’s awful. Standouts: “Bwana She No Home”, the underrated “All You Get From Love is a Love Song”, “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina”, “Sweet, Sweet Smile”

9.   “Made in America” – Same as above. Really- At first listen, I despised the “Wedding Song” long before I knew the behind the scenes story. No love for the Broadway style. Standouts “Strength of a Woman”, “Somebody’s Been Lying”, “Touch Me When We’re Dancing”.

8.    “Now & Then” -  Mixed bag. The Oldies did not wear well over time. Standouts: “This Masquerade”, “Yesterday Once More”, “Our Day Will Come”.

7.  “A Song For You” -  Great singles mixed with toss away tracks (“Intermission”, “Crystal Lullaby”, “Piano Picker”) which move it lower in ranking. Standouts: “Hurting Each Other”, “Goodbye to Love”, the title song.

6.   “Voice of the Heart”- Sentimental favorite. Would be ranked higher if not for chorale vocals. Gorgeous photo of Karen.  Very tasteful presentation under the circumstances. Standouts: my favorite Carps song of all time “Ordinary Fool”, “Now”, “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore”, “Look to Your Dreams” (an exception to the Broadway rule), “Sailing on the Tide”.

5.    “Carpenters” – Warm, by the fireplace music. Would rank higher if not for the barrel bottom “Druscilla Penny”. Standouts: the three single releases plus  “Let Me Be the One”, “Hideaway”, “Sometimes”, “Bacharach Medley”.

4.    “Lovelines” -   Strong and Weak. Standouts: “Lovelines”, “If We Try”, “Where Do I Go From Here?”, “When I Fall in Love”, “Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night”, “If I Had You”.

3.      “A Kind of Hush”- Best overall package, music and art. Very soft but beautiful. Second place for “Worst Carpenters song: Goofus”. But it comes with the award for “Happiest Personal Memories Associated with an Album”. Standouts: “Boat to Sail”, “I Need to Be in Love”, “One More Time”, “I Have You”, plus the title song is my ultimate guilty pleasure.

2.      “Close to You”- the one that started it all for me.   Still stunning after 40 years.  Standouts: “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Baby It’s You”, “Love is Surrender”, “Maybe It’s You”, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”.

1.     “Horizon”- elegant, classy, best recorded sound of Karen’s voice ever.  Standouts: “Only Yesterday”, “Desperado”, “Solitaire”, “I Can Dream, Can’t I?”, “Aurora/Eventide”, “Love Me For What I Am”.

This is part of a continuing series on the albums of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews and then my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

Carpenters Lovelines: A Bittersweet Release

By 1989, it had seemed like years since there had been a new Carpenters release. The many compilations aside, there had still been a good amount of previously unreleased material put out to the public. There was "Voice of the Heart", "An Old Fashioned Christmas", and Richard Carpenter's poorly received solo album, "Time".  All this new Carpenters product - including video releases - was great, but Richard had unintentionally primed his fans for one album after another. 

The television broadcast of "The Karen Carpenter Story" earlier in January had the fan world buzzing with brief clips of two new tunes, "You're The One" and "Where Do I Go From Here?", as well as the  beautifully remixed "All of My Life". The show was an unexpected smash, and I am sure many people went to the local music store looking for the latest compilation or album to find these songs. Much to their dismay, the songs were no where to be found. Chalk it up to the Carpenters popularity once again being underestimated by the A&M Records executives and publicity machine.

On the home front, the year was one of great change for us. In an unexpected turn of events, AT&T transferred me from Northern California to Portland, Oregon, and six weeks later, my young, growing family was sent off to Denver, Colorado.  It was quite the change from the warmth of the California sun with winters much cooler but still without snow. Colorado was gorgeous, but the first snowfall of the year on Labor Day weekend shocked my system, making me miss our life in Southern California. 

The release of "Lovelines" in the Fall of that year brought a piece of normal life and old times back to me. I had received a promotional copy in the mail from A&M executive Jon Konjoyan, a true music lover, a devout Carpenters fan, and just a very generous man. We had struck up a conversation or two via a mutual friend. One of the delights of that year prior to leaving California was a personal tour of the A&M Records offices and studios with him- complete with a private look at a well hidden cardboard pressing of Karen's unreleased solo album jacket. The time with Jon there remains one of the great thrills in my life up until that point- and I thank him, again, for making that possible. 

Pulling the disc out, I liked what I saw. Why is it that the art directors at A&M only seemed to get how to market the Carpenters mostly only after Karen's passing? Ironic and frustrating. The elegant photo made for a cover almost as good as that of "Horizon".

On to the music. As always, a package from Jon meant delights were to be found inside! Much to my surprise, it was a Carpenters album. I did not know it had been released. My schedule immediately changed, and as was my custom, I blocked out the world by putting on my very expensive headphones, settling into my favorite "stereo chair". I was unprepared for what I was about to hear.

The title track was sumptuous- sleek, sexy, and very contemporary. Karen's voice was as incredible as always, but the arrangement and instrumentation sounded like something from "Smooth Jazz Radio" and outtakes from my favorite Michael Jackson album "Off the Wall".  It was only later that I would find there were reasons for this comparison, including the work of Rod Temperton and Phil Ramone, the "East Coast Quincy Jones". I was instantly smitten by Karen's voice and talent as if it were the first time I had ever heard her sing. 

With an opening like that, I was prepared for the next song to be a let down. But it wasn't at all! "Where Do I Go From Here?", a Barry Manilow classic from the television broadcast, sounded even better than I had remembered. Barry's "Even Now" is his best album, in my opinion, and to this day, I can only imagine an engineered duet a la Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond's classic "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". Richard's arrangement and Karen's moving performance are every bit as spine tingling as the version I first heard. "Chill Factor", indeed! And quite in synch with how I felt about winter coming.

Being this album was made up of outtakes and rarities, I expected some change in flavor. "The Uninvited Guest" came next, and it is not a song I particularly enjoy. Neither when I first heard it or almost 25 years later. Granted, it is from the "Made in America" sessions, when Richard worked hard to bring them a comeback hit, and when Karen's voice was encouraged to be lightweight and pushed more in the background to create a different over all feel- something I did not appreciate. Additionally, I tend to really listen to lyrics, and "victim" songs generally do not appeal to me. I'll admit to a few exceptions, however. "The Uninvited Guest" is not a throwaway cut, as I can hear the work that went into it, but it is a song I tend to skip most of the time. 

"If We Try". Ah, what can I say? I love this song. Everything about it just grips me. Smooth, fresh, and invitingly warm. Of the four cuts from Karen's solo album, this one is my most favored. Give me a saxophone, and more likely than not, I will find it to be something I like. As with "Lovelines" before it, Karen sounds great. (Oh, those low notes!) There's an effortlessness to her vocals on this track that I find on some early Carpenters songs. It's entirely different in most every way from "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" from the "Close to You" album, but I am still reminded of it in some manner. (Can any of you reading musicians tell me why?) Had the solo album seen release when initially intended, in my mind, this would be the FM radio cut to off play the Top 40 single "If I Had You". Four songs into the album, and I was pleasantly surprised for a bunch of outtakes.

I knew what was coming next, and I was very excited. "When I Fall in Love" is one of the greatest songs of all time and Karen's version one of the best ever. The Carpenters' television specials mostly suffered from too much sugar and cuteness. "Music, Music, Music" stood out from the pack to good result. Listening to this selection off the television, I was certain there was a full length version. Remembering it was a song that was supposed to be on their aborted 1978 studio album, I couldn't wait to give it a listen. Not a shred of disappointment, just a sadness that Richard and Karen never cut a full disc of these timeless songs. Greatness in three minutes!

When Karen coos, singing a lyric like "Serenade me by the light of the moon", I'm instantly captivated. There's this romantic element that I have always loved in Carpenters' music, starting way back with the song that hooked me, "We've Only Just Begun". A hopeful innocence, an unexpected sensuality, that is much more appealing to me than the raunchy lyrics and posing by some of today's female superstars. "Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night" is another "Made in America" outtake. Had it been included, it would have been a stronger, more successful single than "Touch Me When We're Dancing".  With a great melody, tons of backing vocals, and a stunning guitar solo by Tony Peluso, this little song is one I never skip over- and it is easily in my top ten list of favorite recordings by the duo. Why has it not gained more exposure by being placed on the various compilations?

On the album version of the collection, this ended Side One. At half-time, I'd conclude this to be a very successful and cohesive collection. Side Two? Easily a disappointment with a few highlights.

In a jarringly stark contrast to "Kiss Me", I regularly skip over the one following it. The song that opens the second side is everything I hate about most of the current music scene. "Remember When Lovin' Took All Night" crosses too many lines in lyric and vocal arrangement. Olivia Newton-John's black leather persona meets Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby". Ugh- and I really like both Olivia and Donna. Karen deserves better than this John Farrar song, and the fact that she chose it to be included on her solo collection tells me she was too desperate to break out of her good two shoes image once and for all and obviously ready to compromise to get a hit. It's an inappropriate way to begin "Side Two" of the disc, as it is not nearly as enjoyable or cohesive as the first five songs.

The next song is somewhat of a rebound. "You're the One". Another "Karen Carpenter Story" cut. It was also recorded by Jane Oliver, a woman with a delicate and lovely voice. It's a beautiful song, but there's a part of me that checks out beyond the catching opening line. Maybe there's just too much drama in it. The bridge of the song is too over the top for the rest of it, and I find the simplicity I enjoyed at the start is lost by the end. 

The Hawaiian inspired "Honolulu City Lights" is this album's musical equivalent of "Sandy" on "A Kind of Hush". Pretty sounding fluff that is entirely passable, entirely forgettable. The introduction to the song seems uninspired, with Richard phoning it in and Karen herself seeming very disinterested. This selection fit well when it first appeared on the Japanese "Anthology" collection as an outtake, but it seems out of place here. 

Covering a song by Jimmy and Kristy McNichol seems like a bad idea to anyone familiar with 70's sitcoms and a heart for good music. They were annoyingly sweet, sugary, and presented to the public as All-American, white bread, bland, performers. Sound familiar? Certainly, following in their footsteps should be the kiss of death to a music career. Yet, somehow, in spite of all the reasons not to, Richard decided he and Karen needed to cover their song, "Slow Dance". I'll be the first to admit the lyrics are young for Karen, but if you can get past that piece, the recording is actually very much akin to "Touch Me When We're Dancing". Innocently sensual with an arrangement that draws you in and makes you listen to the flourishes along with Karen's vocals. It's not a masterpiece, but it isn't "Druscilla Penny" either- and much better than the album's previous selection. 

Time for a Karen solo number- and just in time. "If I Had You" ranks among her best without Richard. There lyrics sound convincingly autobiographical. The music feels fresh with a challenging arrangement and lots of vocal play. Would it have been Top 10 if released when it was intended to be? Most likely but still a question mark. My bet is by 1979 or 1980, the Carpenters had gone too far into no man's land for Karen to score a solo hit with this. But it could have primed radio for another selection. Especially with a new sound and without Richard on it. Truth is, this very fact could have been what really scared A&M executives and Richard himself: a hit without Richard would have effectively been the end of the Carpenters. Too bad, we will never know for sure.

Closing out the album with the 1978 outtake "Little Girl Blue" leaves a very sour taste in my mouth, even after all these years. Beautifully arranged and sung, but it is ultimately just another downer cut that kills the freshness of the first half of the album. I routinely skip it. 

Far worse, at first listen it reminded me of the bitter truth: Karen was dead, and her life was a long  and lonely struggle against the demons of anorexia. The fight she didn't win. It's not the way I wanted to remember her, and by placing this at the end of a disc, Richard really only reinforces the sad story of her demise. That in itself is a contrast compared to "Voice of the Heart" where the closer is "Look to Your Dreams".  This left me sweetly melancholy but hopeful. My guess is Richard was settling into his new reality when putting together "Lovelines", and good and bad, the disc was still a bittersweet reminder of a duo whose career was also cut short when Karen's life ended.

The end of the 80's brought a new decade of changes for me as well... and Karen and Richard's music would be just as impactful and present, just not in ways I ever expected. Where do I go from here?
-------------

2025 Note: This is part of a continuing series on the music and lives of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews, the more extensive articles than my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings and focus on various aspects of the individual disc's creation, promotion, and public reaction.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By