  
Dedicated to my brother Richard with all my
heart.
- Karen Carpenter
For personal reasons, which have been
chronicled in other sources, I needed and decided to take a leave of absence from
our career in 1979. Karen, who was not interested in remaining idle during my
hiatus, elected to record a solo album. To produce the album, Herb Alpert
suggested Phil Ramone, a highly-talented and successful producer who had enjoyed
both critical and commercial success with such artists as Paul Simon, Billy
Joel, et al. Phil signed on and on April 30, 1979, Karen left LA for New York,
with a first session commencing on May 2. Due to some scheduling conflicts, the
album was not delivered until early 1980. Upon completion of the playback,
reaction of A&M executives and others, including me, was lukewarm. The result was that on May 5, 1980, Karen decided to shelve the
album.
As time passes and events unfold, one's
perspective on certain matters can change, as has mine regarding this album.
Karen was with us precious little time. She was a great artist. This album
represents a certain period and change of approach in her career.
As such, it deserves to be heard, in its
entirety, as originally delivered...plus one bonus track.
-Richard Carpenter
To completely understand the love and
adventure of Karen's solo project, people should know that we made a conscious
decision to experiment with music and styles that were not in the Carpenters'
albums. We wanted their fans, as well as a new audience, to hear one of the
greatest voices in a different surrounding. We knew some things were trendy and
that the intimate songs would express her love of all music.
It was inconceivable to those of us
involved with the project that a rumor might spread regarding the end of the
Carpenters. That truly was beyond the realm of possibility: Karen loved Richard
and the music they made together. I've always related to Richard's arrangements
and composing with deep admiration and we remain friends.
The love of Billy Joel's band - Rod
Temperton and the other players, who had the best time working with her - gave
Karen Carpenter's work in New York a sparkle that can be heard on this album.
Karen and the rest of us who worked on this project understood the decision to
wait on the release.
As years passed, both Richard and I
wondered when it might be released. Together we stand proud as this was a piece
of work that meant so much to Karen; it was truly a labor of love.
I have not remixed or done anything to the
tapes. These mixes, the material and style are the way Karen approved them. The
bonus track is unmixed and was one of several that might have been finished.
I miss her terribly - but I know she's
watching with a smile.
To Richard:
Thank you for letting me borrow your sister
for this album.
- Phil Ramone
Lovelines 5:06
(Rod
Temperton) Rodsongs, adm. by Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Rod Temperton, Orchestrated by Bob James
Keyboard
solo by Greg Phillinganes
All Because of You
3:31
(Russell
Javors) WB Music Corp./Javors Music Company,
adm. by WB
Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Bob James
If I Had You 3:54
(Stephen
Dorff, Gary Harju, Larry Herbstritt) Careers
BMG Music
Publishing, Inc. (BMI)/BMG Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Bob James, Orchestrated by Jerry Hey
Saxophone
solo by Michael Brecher
Making Love In The Afternoon
3:57
(Peter
Cetera) BMG Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Peter Cetera
Vocal duo
performed by Karen Carpenter & Peter Cetera
Saxophone
solo by Tommy Cappello
If We Try 3:47
(Rod Temperton)
Recordings, adm. b Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Rod Temperton, Orchestrated by Rob Mounsey
Remember When Lovin' Took All Night
3:50
(John Farrar,
Molly Ann Leiken) John Ferrar Music (BMI)/Chappell & Co.,
and Hot Cider Music,
adm. by Chappell & Co.
(ASCAP)
Arranged and
Orchestrated by Bob James
Keyboard
solo by Bob James
Still In Love With You
3:15
(Russell James) WB Music Corpl/Javors Music Company
adm. by WB
Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Arranged by
Le` Band
Guitar solo
by David Brown
My Body Keeps Changing My Mind
3:46
(Leslie Pearl) Careers - BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (BMI)
Arranged by
Rod Temperton, Orchestrated by Jerry Hey
Make Believe It's Your First Time
3:12
(Bob
Morrison, Johnny Wilson) Music City Music, Inc. (ASSCAP)
Arranged and
Orchestrated by Bob James
Guess I Just Lost My Head
3:36
(Rob Mounsey)
Flying Monkey Music (ASCAP)
Arranged and
Orchestrated by Rob Mounsey
Keyboard
solo by Rob Mounsey
Still Crazy After All These Years
4:17
(Paul Simon)
Paul Simon Music (BMI)
Arranged and
Orchestrated by Rob Mounsey
Guitar solo
by David Brown
Last One Singin' The Blues
3:24
(Peter
McCann) EMI Blackwood Music, Inc./McCann Music/Hal Music,
adm. by EMI
Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)
Produced by Phil Ramone
Vocal acrobatics by Rod Temperton
Engineered by Jim Boyer, Glenn Berger,
James Guthrie & Ray Gerhardt
Engineering associates: Bradshaw Leigh,
Chaz Clifton, Dave Iveland, Ralph Osborne, Randy Pipes & David Croather
Production Associates: Ed Sulzer, Michele
Slagter, Laura Loncteaux & Karen Ichiuji
Recorded at A&M Recording Studios, Los
Angeles, CA and Kendun Recorders, Burbank, CA
Remixed by Phil Ramone and Jim Boyer in
M.E.S.M.
Originally mastered at Sterling Sound by
Ted Jenson
Mastered at A&M Mastering Studios by Dave
Collins
Recorded by:
Guitar: David Brown, Russell Javors, Eric
Johns-Rasmussen, David Williams
Bass: Doug Stegmeyer, Louis Johnson
Drums: Liberty DeVitto, John Robinson,
Steve Gadd
Percussion: Ralph McDonals, Airto Moreira
Keyboards: Bob James, Greg Phillinganes,
Rob Mounsey, Richard Tee
Peter Cetera appears courtesy of Columbia
Records
Bob James appears courtesy of Tappan Zee
Records
Michael Brecker appears courtesy of Arista
Records
John Robinson appears courtesy of MCA
Records, Inc.
Special thanks to: Roberta Kleine, Nancy
Sorkow, David Alley, Billy Jones/Ardel Travel
Art Director: Chuck Beeson
Design: Rebecca Chamlee and Chuck Beeson
Photo Colorist: Amy Nagasawa
Photography: Claude Mougin
Conceptual Stylist: Paul Posnik
Fashion Coordinator: Phyllis Posnik
Hair design: Joe Tubens C.H.D.
Make-up: Henriquez
®
& © 1996 A7M Records, Inc. P.O. Box 118, Hollywood, CA 90078
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