Notes & Personnel Info |  | Karen Carpenter recorded her only solo album in 1979 and 1980 with members of Billy Joel's backing band. It remained unreleased until 1996. | | Personnel includes: Karen Carpenter, Peter Cetera (vocals); Michael Brecker (saxophone); Bob James, Greg Phillinganes, Rob Mounsey, Richard Tee (keyboards); Steve Gadd (drums); Airto Moreira (percussion). | | Recorded at A&R Recording Studios, New York, New York; A&M Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California; Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California between May 2, 1979 and 1980. Includes liner notes by Richard Carpenter and Phil Ramone. | | All tracks have been digitally remastered. | | Karen Carpenter's only solo album, recorded in New York in 1979 with producer Phil Ramone but unreleased until 1996, was also the only album she ever recorded with a producer other than her older brother Richard. The difference is immediately obvious. Ramone, whose biggest client was Billy Joel, prefers a looser, more spacious sound than Richard's note-perfect, almost-antiseptic orchestral pop. | | Not to take anything away from Karen and Richard's endless string of classic pop singles, but it is refreshing to hear Karen's near-perfect voice, a dusky, melancholy alto with bell-like clarity, in a more relaxed and jazz-influenced setting. Arrangements are by jazz greats Bob James and Rod Temperton, and accompaniment includes most of Joel's backing band. The clear highlight, a sensuous yet melancholy version of Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years," is easily among the best things Karen Carpenter ever recorded in her short career. |
Musical Guests | | Peter Cetera | | Airto Moreira | | Greg Phillinganes | | Bob James | | Michael Brecker | | Rob Mounsey | | Steve Gadd | | Richard Tee |
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