Karen Carpenter Duets...

During her time Karen Carpenter did not duet with many other singers,  though thanks to the Carpenters' television specials and her solo album we were treated to a few great duets with a variety of singing partners...

Karen Carpenter and John Denver

The Carpenters Very First Television Special aired on ABC television on December 8, 1976. John Denver was one of the guest stars (Victor Borge the other).

In this television special Karen duetted with John twice. One of the duets was a short reprise in which Karen and John are shown ballroom dancing and they are singing a tune "Got To Cut Away To A Commercial" then they cut away to a commercial. This is a fun comical piece.

The other duet was a great medley featuring the songs "Coming Through The Rye" and "Good Vibrations." "Coming Through The Rye" is a poem written in 1782 by Robert Burns. The words were later put to the melody of a Scottish Minstrel, "Common' Frae The Town." "Good Vibrations" is the classic Beach Boys song which reached #1 in 1966 and was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. (As a side note in the same year Karen Carpenter sang the line "Brian Wilson songs are never left behind" in the song "Boat To Sail" featured on Carpenters' 1976 album "A Kind Of Hush).

"Coming Through The Rye/Good Vibrations"

Karen Carpenter and Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers appeared on The Carpenters' 1978 television "Space Encounters." In this program Karen and Suzanne team together to perform a flirtatious and somewhat comedic rendition of "Man Smart, Woman Smarter." The song originally appeared on Carpenters' 1977 album "Passage," for this program they omitted the extended instrumental toward the end of the song and add a verse not found in the studio recording.

"Man Smart, Woman Smarter"

Karen Carpenter and John Davidson

John Davison appeared in two Carpenters television specials; "1978's "Space Encounters" in which he sang a cover of Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and a duet of "The Old Fashioned Way" with Karen. "The Old Fashioned Way" was originally a hit for Charles Aznavour in 1973. The song is the English version of Aznavours 1972 hit "Les Plaisirs Demodes."

In 1980 Davidson appeared in "Music, Music, Music" the Carpenters' fifth and final television special. In this special John performed "You'll Never Know," a song which was written by Hank Warren and Mack Gordon and was first introduced in  the film "Hello Frisco, Hello." Dick Haymes took the song to #1 in 1944 and Shirley Bassey had a UK Top 10 hit with it in 1961. Karen and John duetted on the tune "You're Just In Love" a Irving Berlin song first performed by Ethel Merman and Russell Type in the 1950 musical comedy "Call Me Madam." Perry Como and The Fontane sisters took the song into the Top Five later in the year, while a recording by Ethel Merman and Dick Haymes reached #30 in 1951.

"The Old Fashioned Way"

"You're Just In Love"

Karen Carpenter and Peter Cetera

Shortly after Karen Carpenter solo album experience, Peter Cetera whom up to this point was known for being a lead singer for the band Chicago (as well as songwriter and bass player) decided to go solo and release his own albums along with making guest appearances on albums by Paul Anka, Agnetha Faltskog and Cher. But it was with Karen Carpenter that Cetera first dipped his toes into the waters of becoming a solo artist (Yes, a year earlier Cetera provided backing vocals on Billy Joel's "My Life" but his contribution was very small and limited).

during the time of which Karen's album went into production Peter Cetera was in the studio recording, the Phil Ramone produced album, "Chicago 13." Ramone decided to invite Cetera to work on Karen's album and commissioned him to write a song for Karen. Cetera ended up writing a sunny summer tune called "Making Love In The Afternoon" for her, this is the only song he has written completely by himself for another musician to record. Peter not only wrote the song but also composed the musical arrangement. This was very much Peter Cetera's song as it was Karen Carpenters'. 

Once it came time to record "Making Love In The Afternoon" it was decided the Peter would sing backing and harmony vocals on the song. This was the first song in which Karen's voice was backed by a well known singer outside the Carpenters circle. 

Making Love In The Afternoon

Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald

Two legendary singers on one stage. It just does not get music better than this. Karen and Ella sang together in the 1980 television special "Music, Music, Music." The program joins together two of the world's finest interpreters of song. Ella's energetic voice combined with Karen deep and dark tones creates an irresistible pair of voices that are instantly recognizable which in their distinctive styles are well suited to each other.

Karen and Ella sang together on a medley of seven tunes, mostly songs that had been recorded boy Ella. The medley opens with the dark and smoky "This Masquerade," a Leon Russell penned song which Carpenters recorded for their 1973 album "Now & Then." The song begins with Karen's mournful vocals and shortly works into a trade-off with Ella Fitzgerald handily taking the lead. The rest of the selections are songs Ella recorded (some feature Karen's lead others Ella takes the lead and a few have Ella and Karen sharing the lead); "My Funny Valentine" (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart), "I'll Be Seeing You" (Sammy fain/Irving Kahal), "Someone To Watch Over Me" (George and Ira Gershwin), "As Time Goes By" (Herman Hupfeld), "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Duke Ellington/Bob Russell), "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart" (Duke Ellington/Irving Mills).

Karen's and Ella's vocals were recorded at different times and in different studios. Karen recorded her vocals, in one take, before the special at A&M Recording studios, while Ella recorded her vocals live at the ABC Television studio. During the taping of the television Karen's pre-recorded vocals were precisely synced to Ella's vocals and the result was pure magic.

Karen/Ella Medley

For those that love Karen's progressive minded solo album please check out:

The Karen Carpenter Solo Album Resource Center (Click Here)

KAREN CARPENTER DUETS

Karen Carpenter Lead Sister T-Shirt...

We love you Karen Carpenter!!!

Show your love wearing one of these Lead Sister t-shirts!!!


Tank Top

Link to tank top: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01A74CU1A/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Shout Karen Carpenter in style with this rolled sleeve t-shirt :) :) :) 

Link to t-shirt: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01A74VXTU/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Even the young at heart can show their love for Karen Carpenter with this casual wear! :)

Link to shirt: 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01A748DHU/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Why not throw a cap into the mix...

Link to cap: 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019Y37I08/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

LEAD SISTER

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - I Do It For Your Love

"I Do It For Your Love"

Hello my wonderful friends!!! I really hope you've been enjoying this series on Karen's unreleased song. It's been tons of fun putting it together for you!

“I Do It For Your Love” was written by music legend Paul Simon. This is one of two Paul Simon songs Karen recorded; the other is of course the classic “Still Crazy After All These Years.”  As we know “Still Crazy After All These Years” was released as a single by Paul Simon in March 1976 with “I Do It For Your Love” as the b-side. Could it be that Karen may have been planning to release her version of “Still Crazy After All These Years” as a single with the non-LP track “I Do It For Your Love” as it’s b-side? We can only speculate on that – but that would have made a nice single.

Simon’s original recording of “I Do It For Your Love” is done in a fantastic story telling pop style with a hint of folk feel to it. Karen maintained that same sort of style including the folksy feel along with an extra-added New York City sheen to it as which for Phil Ramone was ever so famous. Simon's recording includes Bob James electric piano and Steve Gadd on drums , both of which play the same instruments on Karen Carpenter's recording. This was Karen's (and Phil Ramone's) way of paying tribute to the legend Paul Simon. By the way Phil also produced Simon's recording of the song.

“I Do It For Your Love” takes a somewhat cynical look at marriage and love. Karen does extremely well with these type of “story songs,” it’s a shame she didn’t have the opportunity to do more. She could have hit the ball out of the park with a song such as “Cat’s In The Cradle,” with a few lyrical changes possibly.

The following is an essay I found on the internet written about the song “I Do It For Your Love”. It is written in the male point of view as the song was written by Paul Simon though if we want to think of Karen Carpenter as the narrator we can change the “man” to “woman” and the “he to “she.”

Here, we find a man musing on his wedding day and early living arrangements with his bride. Aside from the lousy weather, the ceremony was less than romantic, and possibly presided over by a justice rather than a clergyman: "We signed the papers and we drove away." Then their apartment was moldy and leaky. Then they both got sick and, not being able to afford medicine, simply "drank... orange juice," hoping that mega-doses of vitamin C would do the trick.

Even the rug the husband buys for his young wife-- a splurge, no doubt, even if it did come from a thrift store-- turned out to be a less-than-pretty addition to their abode, as they colors ran together before he could get it home. This luckless pair reminds one of the couple in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi."

And yet there is an affection for this time. Again and again comes the line "I do it for your love." It was OK. The sacrifices were worth it. Instead of saying "one day we'll look back at this and laugh," it seems that they were laughing at the time. Because, despite the lack of physical comforts, there was an emotional comfort. A sense that they as a couple, were building something together. Maybe out of noisy pipes and blurry rugs, but a home.

And then... the breakup. "Love... disappears." Wait, when did that happen? In the space of three lines, the relationship dissolves. What has withstood such an uninspired start and such wretched living conditions succumbs to "the sting of reason." One would think that living in a musky hovel would mean that the couple was dealing with reality and surviving despite it.

But no. The reality they get "stung" by is not physical. It is emotional. While living in a physical netherworld, they were emotionally dwelling in fantasyland. They are two "hemispheres." They can meet, but not merge.

The clue is in the color imagery. From "The leaves that are green turn to brown" to the all-black rainbow of "My Little Town," color has been an important metaphor for Simon, but perhaps never more so than in this song.

Even at the outset, the colors are wrong: "The sky was yellow and the grass was gray." Then, they both tried being the same color... by filling themselves to bursting with "orange." That didn't work.

So then we have "the colors ran/ the orange bled the blue." Now, the colors are intermingled, but in an unappealing way, resulting in what today we might call "co-dependency." Each one is relying on the other for his or her identity... and the "fabric" of their relationship is a mess.

Another interpretation of the rug-color imagery is the colors themselves. Orange is a sunny, hopeful color, while blue is the color of sadness (as in "the blues"). The orange person is making the blue one "bleed," in this case, or perhaps dilute his or her identity and sense of self.

Surely, a sad person would not mind losing his sadness and have it bled off by sunniness? Yet we know from experience that, if someone is baseline serious and somber, having a Pollyanna for a roommate could become oppressive in its own way.

The suddenness of their realization is felt in the word "sting," but also reflected in the abrupt change of imagery from concrete to abstract. Aside from the surreal colors of Nature on their wedding day, the first two verses and the bridge are full of bold, realistic images.

Then comes the last verse, with its abstractions ("reason" instead of "pipes" and "papers"), synecdoches ("tears" for "sadness"), and metaphors ("hemispheres" for "personality types"). Poetically, the frozen "north" is traditionally associated with seriousness and the sunny "south" with passion).

The uncomfortable reality of their "room" made them feel a sense of solidarity, as in the lyric, "You and me against the world." This misery kept them together, but also distracted them the real, tectonic problem of their whole planet. A couple should, after all, share more than a "cold."

So what is the "reason" for the "tears"? To paraphrase: "North is north, and south is south-- and never the twain shall marry."

Well, they might. But they might ultimately regret it and part ways. Still, even this painful parting is done out of care for the other. "I am not right for you," each says, "But, because I care for you, I want you to have the chance to find the one who is. Even leaving you is something I do... for your love."

Please sign the petition to get Karen's unreleased solo songs completed and released: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/urge-richard-carpenter-to-complete-and-release

I Do It For Your Love

I Do It For You Love (Lyrics)

We were married on a rainy day

The sky was yellow

And the grass was gray

We signed the papers

And we drove away

I do it for your love

The rooms were musty

And the pipes were old

All that winter we shared a cold

Drank all the orange juice

That we could hold

I do it for your love

Found a rug

In an old junk shop

And I brought it home to you

Along the way the colors ran

The orange bled the blue

Found a rug

In an old junk shop

And I brought it home to you

Along the way the colors ran

The orange bled the blue

The sting of reason

The splash of tears

The northern and the southern

Hemispheres

Love emerges

And it disappears

I do it for your love

I do it for your love

Lyrics written by Paul Simon

If you have not yet purchased Karen's solo album it is well worth it... here's a link to purchase it at amazon. com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008E00706/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Don't Try To Win Me Back Again

"Don't Try To Win Me Back Again"

* Note from Rick Henry: This is my favorite song from Karen's unreleased solo recordings!!! I love this song!!!

“Don’t Try To Win Me Back Again” was first recorded in 1978 by disco singer Vicki Sue Robinson, you may remember her mega-hit “Turn The Beat Around” from 1976. Vicki included “Don’t Try To Win…” on her 1978 album “Half and Half’ and used it as the b-side to her single “Trust In Me.”

Written by Carlotta McKee and Gordon Gordy, who wrote several songs together. Carlotta has written songs recorded by the soul/disco groups Change, Zinc, Irene Cara and Silence (a group in which Gordon Gordy was a member). Gordon Gordy has written several songs for Vicki Sue Robinson as well as for Irene Cara and disco/R&B artists such as Lemon, Viola Wills, Joe Thomas, Charme, Meco, Brit Ekland, June Pointer and his own group Silence.

Karen Carpenter took this song along with Phil Ramone and turned it into a scorching dance-rock tune much in the same style as Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”  Rod Temperton went all out in creating the vocal arrangement and vocal mix (which in some parts is similar to the vocal arrangement in the song “If I Had You”). A few years later Temperton made this vocal style famous with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

"Don't Try To Win Me Back Again"

Please sign the petition to get Karen's unreleased songs completed and released 

(Click Here)

Don't Try To Win Me Back Again (Lyrics)

Don't try to win me back again

Although you know how much I wanna come

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spend

Don't try to win me back again

Although you know how easily I'd come

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spare

It's not that I don't care

Or don't want you by my side

It's more than I care, much to much

I tried too hard last time

Baby, don't you try to win me back again

Although you know how much I wanna come

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spend

Don't try to win me back again

Although you know how easily I could

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spare

It's not that I want you less

Than I ever did before

Matter of fact, the truth is

That as each day passes, I need you more

Every night...

Baby, don't you try to win me back again

Although you know how much I wanna come

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spend

Don't try to win me back again

Although you know how easily I could

Please don't do that again

Unless you got time and love to spare

Lyrics written by Gordon Grody​

If you have not yet purchased Karen's solo album it is well worth it... here's a link to purchase it at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008E00706/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

DON'T TRY TO WIN ME BACK AGAIN

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Something's Missing (In My Life)

"Something's Missing (In My Life)"

“Something’s Missing (In My Life)” – Written by Jay Asher and Paul Jabara, the song was recorded by Paul Jabara and Donna Summer and was included on his 1978 album “Keeping Time.” It also appeared on the 1980 soundtrack for the movie "Inside Moves" performed by Lady Sylvia. Paul Jabara also wrote or co-wrote the classic tunes “Last Dance” for Donna Summer, “Enough is Enough (No More Tears)” recorded by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand, “The Main Event” a Streisand hit and “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls. “Something’s Missing (In My Life)” was recorded by several people in 1979-1980 including Marcia Hines, the Europop group Patchwork and jazz musician Ahmad Jamal. Marcia Hines took the song to #9 in Australia in late 1979.

Here’s a little trivia on Paul Jabara he was in the 1978 film "Thank God It's Friday," he played the role of Carl, the lovelorn and nearsighted disco goer, and he also contributed as a singer on two tracks on the original soundtrack album.

Karen Carpenter fans especially love this song for it’s dark somber feeling and Karen’s use of her famed lower voice. Many have said this song should have ended up on Karen’s album and could have been a huge hit. This song particularly touches fans as there was much missing in Karen’s life and she communicated this very well in this song.

Songwriter, Jay Asher, has gone on record saying Karen Carpenter’s recording of the song is his favorite version.

Please sign the petition to get Karen's unreleased songs completed and released (Click Here)

"Something's Missing (In My Life)"

Something's Missing (In My Life) (Lyrics)

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 alone?

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,
baby 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…..

Lyrics written by Paul Jabara

If you have not yet purchased Karen's solo album it is well worth it... here's a link to purchase it at amazon. com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008E00706/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Jimmy Mack

"Jimmy Mack"

“Jimmy Mack” – Of course Karen Carpenter had to put her solo mark on a Motown tune. With Carpenters she had previously enjoyed huge success with the Motown classic “Please Mr. Postman” and gave a spirited vocal performance.

Karen put a fun spirited upbeat early 80’s spin on “Jimmy Mack” very much in the same vein as Manhattan Tranfer’s “The Boy From New York City” or Diana Ross’ “Why Do Fools Fall In Love.”

"Jimmy Mack" was originally a Top Ten hit in 1967 for Martha and the Vandellas. Just a year earlier Karen (with her brother Richard) recorded a full length studio version of another Martha and the Vandellas hit, "Dancing In The Street," for an album that was to be released in 1979. But due to Richard's stay at Mennengers in Kansas - to treat his addiction to quaaludes - the album was scrapped and was never released. Carpenters' recording of "Dancing In The Street" was fully pop while Karen's solo recording of "Jimmy Mack" contained underlying hints of R&B in both the music and Karen's vocal performance.

"Jimmy Mack"

Jimmy Mack (Lyrics)

Jimmy Mack Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back.
Jimmy Mack Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back.

My arms are missing you,
My lips feel the same way too.
I tried so hard to be true, like I promised to do.
But this boy keeps comin' around,
tryin' to wear my resistance down.

Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.

He calls me on the phone about three times a day.
Now my heart's just listening to, what he has to say
But this loneliness I have within,
Keeps reaching out to be his friend

Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.
Need your loving, need your loving.

I wanna say I'm not getting any stronger,
I can't hold out very much longer
Trying hard, to be true,
But, Jimmy he talks just as sweet as you.

Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.

I wanna say I'm not getting any stronger,
I can't hold out very much longer...

Lyrics written by Eddie Holland (and Lamont Dozier)


If you have not yet purchased Karen's solo album it is well worth it... here's a link to purchase it at amazon. com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008E00706/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20


Please sign the petition to get Karen's unreleased songs completed and released: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/urge-richard-carpenter-to-complete-and-release

JIMMY MACK

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Truly You

"Truly You"

“Truly You” was written by Russell Javors but has remained unreleased to this day.

Karen was obviously impressed with Russell's talent as a musician, arranger, producer and songwriter as she chose four of his songs to record. "Room At The Top" is one of the four, though it's unsure whether or not she recorded it. She also recorded Javors' songs "All Because of You" and "Still In Love With You," both of which made it on to the album. Javors spent more time in the studio than the other Billy Joel band members. He took the time to help Karen learn her vocal parts on the songs he wrote as well as shaping the musical parts of those songs.

"Truly You"

Truly You (Lyrics)

Love when I'm feeling like this
You make me feel alive
You get that look in your eyes every time
And if you find a better way
Have to say that any way you want to play will be alright

Oh it's truly you
Ooh it's truly you
You for me
And it's me for you

Well I was weak and I lost my patience
I put the love on the line
You've got that love on your mind, so do I
It's to the way it seems
I have to say that you're the same
And if you're looking for a fight

Oh it's truly you
Ooh it's truly you
You for me
And it's me for you

If it's too new
Give it time
Yes, it's too soon
Tell the truth
We've got the rest of our lives

Well, I believe that a star will guide us
But there's a star inside
And I've been looking for a light in my life

If you turned and walked away
I'll have to say that if you stay
I'm gonna make it worth your while

Oh it's truly you
Ooh it's truly you
You for me
And it's me for you

Oh it's truly you
Ooh it's truly you
You for me
And it's me for you

Oh it's truly you
Ooh it's truly you
You for me
And it's me for you

Lyrics written by Russell Javors​


If you have not yet purchased Karen's solo album it is well worth it... here's a link to purchase it at amazon. com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008E00706/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - It's Really You

"It's Really You"

“It’s Really You” – It’s easy to figure out how this song came to Karen. The song was part of the A&M Records catalog of which Karen had complete access during her solo album sessions.

“It’s Really You” was written by Alan Tarney, Tom Snow and Trevor Spencer and was originally recorded by The Tarney/Spencer Band for their 1976 A&M Records album “Three’s A Crowd.” The song was released as a single by The T/S Band and it was a moderate hit reaching #86 on Billboard’s US Singles chart. This makes one wonder if there were other songs from the same album that Karen may have considered recording.

"It's Really You (Karen Carpenter Solo Unreleased)

It's Really You (Lyrics)

Did you ever have a plan, a dream
And think it would be right for you

For a moment in your life, believe
That Heaven would decide for you

That a feeling deep inside will guide you

To a love you'll treasure it's you and I forever
If you will believe

It's really you, It's really me,
We're all the things we ever wanted to be
The time is right and you're here tonight
So hold my hand and know that you'll understand

If there is something on your mind, a need
And you feel you want to shake it

Let it go let it fall, leave it
You don't have to chase it

'Cos there's a new world all around you that's so good
Darling and it's made for you ther's nothing more you need to do
If you would believe

It's really you, It's really me,
We're all the things we ever wanted to be
The time is right and you're here tonight
So hold my hand and know that you'll understand

Our love, love that I've tasted
Now there is love and I aint gonna waste it
Like I did before
Now I know it's really you it's me

It's really you it's me

It's really you it's me

It's really you
Ah you

Lyrics written by Alan Tarney

KAREN CARPENTER

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Love Makin' Love To You

"Love Makin' Love To You"

“Love Makin’ Love To You” is another Evie Sands song. Obviously Karen had a liking for Evie. Evie co-wrote this song for her 1974 album “Estate of Mind” with Ben Weissman and Richard Germinaro. The song is originally titled “I Love Making Love To You,” Karen changed the title slightly. Evie released the song as a single in 1975 and reached #50 on the US Billboard Top 200 singles chart. Evie’s version is a slower (somewhat) funk and blues sound with a muttled vocal and musical arrangement. It sounds more like a demo than a finished recording. Karen took the song and changed the tempo a bit and added more instruments for a fuller sound including some high stepping horns really giving the song a dark and sultry New York City sound.

Evie Sands had been part of the A&M Records roster from 1968 through 1970. she recorded two singles for the label in 1969 and then recorded her one A&M album "Anyway That You Want Me" at the same time as Carpenters were recording their "Close To You" album. Evie and Karen had many opportunities to meet each other. Karen became a big fan of Evie's music and sound at this time. I feel that early on Karen had this yearning to be a different sort of singer and/or record a different type of music than what was being presented to her.

Love Makin' Love To You - Lyrics

Feel so fine every time

Oh I love makin' love to you

Anywhere, I don't care

Oh I love makin' love to you

Oh the fire in your eyes

Makes my loving temperature rise

Honey sweet ecstasy

Oh I love what your doin' to me

Give me more like before

Oh I love makin' love to you

Makes me feel life is real

Oh I love making love to you

When your heart touches mine

Starts to feel like a natural rhyme

Such a sweet melody

Oh I love when you sing it to me

And there's the lightening and thunder

Any set of wonders

Party on with what you've got

Keep it up forever

No one does it better

Baby get it while it's hot

Oh, I think I'm in love, gonna lose control

Oh I want you to fill me with your soul

When your heart touches mine

Starts to feel like a natural rhyme

Such a sweet melody

Oh I love when you sing it to me

And there's the lightening and thunder

Any set of wonders

Party on with what you've got

Why'd you keep it up forever

No one does it better

Baby get it while it's hot

Lyrics written by Evie Sands

Please sign the petition to get Karen's unreleased songs completed and released (Click Here)

LOVE MAKIN' LOVE TO YOU

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Midnight (Never Lets You Down)

"Midnight (Never Lets You Down)"

“Midnight (Never Lets You Down)” written by Rod Temperton specifically for Karen Carpenter while he was staying in Phil Ramone’s guest house during the time of the recording and production of Karen’s solo album. At this same time Karen was living in Phil main house therefore Rod and Karen were seeing each other on a daily basis. Rod came to know Karen very well and was able to write songs for her that fit her personality and mood at that specific time in her life. “Midnight” reflects the smokey and dark jazz side of Karen’s voice and musical interests.

It's hard to pinpoint the musicians that worked on this song but my guess would be that Rod composed both the musical and vocal arrangements for the song as arrangements were one of his specialties plus he did do the arrangements for the other two songs he wrote; "Lovelines" and "If We Try."

"Midnight (Never Lets You Down)"

Midnight (Never Lets You Down) Lyrics

Used to spend my evenings
Waiting for the sun in the morning
Frightened by the dark
I would always leave lights on to sleep
But darling, I've left all that behind
And nowadays I find

That midnight on
It's a magic moment everyday
When you hold me in that special way
And midnight always comes around
Telling me that I don't need to be blue
Lovin' you

Just a simple girl
But I always seat the world on my shoulder
Life and all its worries
Come tumblin' down on me
From above
But baby
When evening starts to fall
I forget them all

Cause midnight never lets you down
There's a magic moment everyday
When you hold me in that special way
And when midnight always comes around
Telling me that I don't need to be blue
Lovin' you

Hold me warm inside your love
Don't ever let me go
Cause we can ride a dream until tomorrow
And drift upon a star into the sky, tonight

Darlin' I've left all that behind
And nowadays I find

That midnight on
It's a magic moment everyday
When you hold me in that special way
And midnight always comes around
Telling me that I don't need to be blue
Lovin' you

Cause midnight never lets you down
There's a magic moment everyday
When you hold me in that special way
And when midnight always comes around
Telling me that I don't need to be blue
Lovin' you


Lyrics written by Rod Temperton

Karen Carpenter: The Unreleased Solo Songs - Keep My Lovelight Burning (1980)

"Keep My Lovelight Burning"

“Keep My Lovelight Burnin’” was written by Evie Sands and Ben Weissman and is included on Evie’s 1979 album “Suspended Animation.” Evie released the song as a single but failed to chart with it. Sands did an all-out disco recording of the song while Karen Carpenter took the song and added heavy electric guitar and a funk styled bass line turning it into a scorching rocker similar to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.” 

"Keep My Lovelight Burning"

"Keep My Lovelight Burning" (2015 Remix)

Keep My Lovelight Burnin' Lyrics

Every night’s the same

Come home feelin’ down

After you’ve been out 

Chasin’ all over town

Do you think that I’ll sit around while you play

If you don’t feed the fire there ain’t no flame

Party lights, empty nights won’t keep my lovelight burin’

I need your body heat next to me

To keep my lovelight burin’

You’ve got to keep my lovelight burnin’ yeah

Used to be we’re out makin’ love in the rain

Come on to me like a hurricane

Now it seems our love isn’t getting’ enough

Baby it much to weak to fill my cup

Party lights, empty nights won’t keep my lovelight burin’

I need your body heat next to me

To keep my lovelight burin’

Party lights, empty nights won’t keep my lovelight burin’

I need your body heat next to me

To keep my lovelight burin’ yeah

keep my lovelight burnin’ yeah

You’ve got to keep my lovelight burnin’

Party lights, empty nights won’t keep my lovelight burin’

I need your body heat next to me

To keep my lovelight burin’ yeah

You’ve got to keep my lovelight burnin’

You’ve got to keep my lovelight burnin’

Lyrics written by Evie Sands 

Karen Carpenter Photos

Please enjoy these photos of the one and only 

Miss Karen Carpenter...

1965

1967

1968

1969

1970

1970

1970

1970

1971

1971

1972

1973

1973

1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

1975

1975

1976

1976

1976

1977

1977

1977

1977

1978

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

We Love You Karen Carpenter!