1996 Karen Carpenter – Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter is the only solo album by singer/drummer Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters, recorded in 1979-80 and released by A&M Records in 1996. It has sold around 1 million copies worldwide.
The album was recorded in New York with producer Phil Ramone in 1979 and 1980, during the time that her brother Richard was being treated for an addiction to Quaaludes. Some of the songs from the album were later featured on the Carpenters’ 1989 compilation Lovelines and later releases. In the liner notes, Karen dedicated the project to her brother “To Richard, with all my heart.” The liner notes (including comments from Richard Carpenter and producer Phil Ramone) include Richard’s explanation for shelving the album in 1980, and his later decision to release it as Karen approved it. Karen was backed by various New York and Los Angeles studio musicians, including Steve Gadd, Greg Phillinganes, Louis Johnson and members of Billy Joel’s band.
Tracks
1 Lovelines (Rod Temperton) 05:05
2 All Because Of You (Russell Javors) 03:30
3 If I Had You (Gary Harju; Larry Herbstritt; Steve Dorff) 04:06
4 Making Love In The Afternoon (Peter Cetera) 03:56
5 If We Try (Rod Temperton) 03:44
6 Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night (John Farrar; Molly Leiken) 03:50
7 Still In Love With You (Russell Javors) 03:14
8 My Body Keeps Changing My Mind (Leslie Pearl) 03:45
9 Make Believe It’s Your First Time (Bob Morrison; Johnny Wilson) 03:11
10 Guess I Just Lost My Head (Rob Mounsey) 03:36
11 Still Crazy After All These Years (Paul Simon) 04:16
12 Last One Singin’ The Blues (Peter McCann) 03:28
Media
Musicians
| Bass | Doug Stegmeyer |
| Bass | Louis Johnson |
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Drums | Liberty DeVitto |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Guitar | David Brown |
| Guitar | David Williams |
| Guitar | Eric Johns |
| Guitar | Russell Javors |
| Keyboards | Bob James |
| Keyboards | Greg Phillinganes |
| Keyboards | Richard Tee |
| Keyboards | Rob Mounsey |
| Percussion | Airto Moreira |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Vocals | Karen Carpenter |
Other Musicians
1 Lovelines
| Keyboards (solo) | Greg Phillinganes |
3 If I Had You
| Sax (solo) | Michael Brecker |
4 Making Love In The Afternoon
| Sax (solo) | Tim Cappello |
| Vocals | Peter Cetera |
6 Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night
| Keyboards (solo) | Bob James |
7 Still In Love With You
| Guitar (solo) | David Brown |
10 Guess I Just Lost My Head
| Keyboards (solo) | Rob Mounsey |
11 Still Crazy After All These Years
| Guitar (solo) | David Brown |
Liner Notes
Producer – Phil Ramone
Arranged By – Rod Temperton (Tracks 1, 5, 8)
Arranged By – Bob James (Tracks 2, 3, 6, 9)
Arranged By – Peter Cetera (Track 4)
Arranged By – Le’ Band (Track 7)
Arranged By – Rob Mounsey (Tracks 10, 11)
Engineer – Glenn Berger, James Guthrie, Ray Gerhardt, Jim Boyer
Mastered By – Dave Collins
Mastered By (Originally) – Ted Jenson
Orchestrated By – Bob James (Tracks 1, 6, 9)
Orchestrated By – Jerry Hey (Tracks 3, 8)
Orchestrated By – Rob Mounsey (Tracks 5, 10, 11)
Remix – Phil Ramone, Jim Boyer
Art Direction, Design – Chuck Beeson
Artwork – Amy Nagasawa
Design – Rebecca Chamlee
Photography By – Claude Mougin
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Mastered At A&M Mastering Studios
Recorded At A&R Studios
Recorded At A&M Studios
Recorded At Kendun Recorders
Remixed At M.E.S.M.
Phonographic Copyright (p) A&M Records, Inc
Copyright (c) A&M Records, Inc