Karen Carpenter Solo "Truly You"

[soundusty]

Hello, could someone name the show / broadcast that this picture comes from? I've seen some bits of amazing drumming from that session, and would love to track the source?

Lovely song this one.

[barriobajaj]

I've been a Karen Capenter/Carpenters fan since 1970 and so looked forward to buying this lp when it was released. For me it was a disappointment. Phil Ramone's arrangements and production made it sound dated. Her upbeat songs sounding like the Love Boat Theme and the ballads are second rate at best. I can see why Richard, Herb Alpert and A&M brass shelved the record though I so wanted Karen to succeed. I admire her for taking a risk. Sadly, she never lived to see her solo's release.

[Tracevidence1]

This song should have made the final cut. There are two or three unreleased songs that are better then songs that made her solo album. If Karen had gone back in the studio with Phil Ramone, to do a little more work on her solo album, she could of had a solid Gold, smash hit album on her hands. "Truly You" is too good a song to not have been released.

[Tracevidence1]

I love this song. It has a nice flow from start to finish. It needs to be released on a 2nd Karen Carpenter solo album (CD).

[TheSami1973]

this is a voice sent from heaven. I don't know one to match it to be honest.

[ritter89]

Wow, and Richard and co. thought this material was inferior the cheesy pap that The Carpenters were releasing during the late 70s/early 80s? Their last album was bargain bin materiel, a lame attempt at disco-lite. I'll admit that many of the tracks on this record are as offensive as the late Carpenters stuff but songs like this are stand outs. She could easily have struck out on her own at this point. Can't stand all the revisionism that goes on in that family

[improvguru]

@ritter89 I think her album was so superior to Carpenters last stuff. Richard would have stopped anything that Karen did on her own. He was afraid of her branching out on her own.

[CannedFunkMusic]

This definitely would have been a huge hit! It really strikes a chord in my back!!! I love the changes! It kind of reminds me of a Prince song.

[CannedFunkMusic]

This definitely would have been a huge hit! It really strikes a chord in my back!!!

[mnlght0snt]

ahhhh I miss this song :)

[improvguru]

It was time for Karen to break free from the clutches of her brother, who was starting to make increasingly weak song and arrangement choices by this point anyways. She needed to try other things. She was the true genius, as she did EVERYTHING well.

[FlyingMondongo]

@improvguru I completely agree with you. Karen was the engine, since the beginning, but Richard had the steering wheel. Richard not only was addicted to Quaaluds but to the Carpenters also. Karen noticed this and tried to open the tramp starting a solo career.

[SuperRoss007]

we will always love and miss you karen-the jupiter snails

[saltykrug]

Yeah I'd like to hear her full solo album. I never knew she was such a gifted drummer. Any fool can hear her voice is purely magic. She was also beautiful. It's sad she didn't feel like she was and it took her. My heart goes out to Richard who must cherish their music and also wince to know it's all in the past as well. Life...sigh.

[TheTokinbudZ]

Hahaha she makes most musicians since the late 90's look like untalented piles of garbage.

[engelcarta390]

They really need to release every song Karen Carpenter ever sang.

[chucklz2008]

Just the fact that she can sing low and then turn around and sing high is awesome! Not many singers can do that. Either way, she had a beautiful voice and was gone way before her time. She wasn't in my lifetime, but I enjoy listening to The Carpenters. She is truly an inspiration. I would love for their to be a solo album released of her amazing voice. I know I would surely by it.

[65ludwig]

me want the jelly bean vistalites......

[M0r3Lik3HERthanME]

This is definatly my favorite song from her solo album, this one and Makin Love in the Afternoon. I bet they could've been hits!

[ILoveABBA12]

I love this!!

[liljon71]

great as always.

[TheSami1973]

A voice that was truely heaven sent.  Beautiful.

[MILISA99]

Hearing this makes me realize how important Richard was to The Carpenters sound. It's a nice little song but it is not up to The Carpenters standards. The lack of vocal harmony is a glaring omission. Karen had the voice and Richard took care of the rest. It was a great partnership. It was a tragedy that it ended.

[steveatl40]

Not only that, this sound is a little too high for her range. She sounds like a little girl.

[RockDoctorLV]

@steveatl40 Like I said elsewhere, I can't believe that this song was written with her in mind. The harmony is thin, although the beat is solid.

[ritter89]

@MILISA99 I disagree. That classic lush Carpenters sound was growing stale by the late 70s as is evidenced by their cheese-filled final record. Touch Me When We're Dancing is a truly awful piece of musical schmaltz. that no amount of anal retentive studio tinkering could fix. Richard's a wizard in the studio but as a songwriter he's mediocre. Karen's voice deserved better near the end. This loosely arranged country rock was an interesting direction. It could have grown into something fabulous.

[improvguru]

@ritter89 Agree. Agree. Agree. Finally, somebody else who can't stand "Touch Me When We're Dancing."

[lairthehair]

I cant express in words how beautiful Her voice is..but..damn..she was a pretty good drummer too !

[blica1]

she's so pretty in that pic and has the voice of an angel..and i love and want that ludwig jelly bean vistalite kit !!!awesome !! great song too !!!

[b30307]

That was a really cool song. And this was never released? Shame.

[crmarcin]

wonderful singer, lovely.

[xanafanadu]

what's Karen Carpenter's vocal range?

[holywells]

Actually, whatever she wanted it to be.

[toonz1867]

I heard it was 4 octaves

[greg8698]

Karen could sing in three different registers and she was so talented that she cut many of her songs in one take. A classic example is the song Superstar. She cut Superstar in one take reading the lyrics off of a cocktail napkin. After she sang the song, Richard thought it was so good he didn't think she needed to make another cut and it was released as the finished product.

[238562376540178979]

It's ridiculous, I feel like I'm eighteen again..I am falling in love watching this!!!

It's very sad that such a wonderfully talented person had to die in such a tragic manner.

[bubblesandpickles]

Wow. I think is the unreleased Karen song with the most hit potential. But only if Richard reworks it and add his signature sound with the background vocals. Even if he doesn't do the other ones then at least this one.

[hooliamc2]

There will never be another Karen Carpenter!! I love her voice- always will

[mdmphd]

This is definitely unfinished - probably the first takes on tape. She even stops and starts over in several spots - that's the sort of thing that can be edited together for a whole demo but they decided not to put more work into it. Still, I'm a big Carpenters fan and I've never heard this so kudos to LH Bannister

[georgebur]

Another friendly song from Karen, that communicates to me like almost everything else she did. She has equal flair for melody and rhythm - plus that intimate and soulful quality. Taken together, I can not find the same thing elsewhere to this day.

[tomomiko202]

I agree. And today, all pop stars (even the guys) are expected to sound like Mariah Carey. Yuck. I want someone who can carry a tune, not flutter all over the place, never landing on a note for more than an eighth beat.

[Strumrr]

I completely agree on the "Pariah" Carey statement. I thought I was the only one who felt that way.

[drdardr]

No, these outtake songs are rough mixes. They are, however, from the same sessions the KC album came from. I'd love to hear the final mixes, but it's nice to hear more Karen.

[dickcamnitz]

If the "Solo" songs here are done by Mr. Phil, he got it so wrong. If they are the final mixes, they are weak and can't touch the sessions Richard produced. A & M was right not to release material that was wrong for Karens career and later her legacy.

[mdmphd]

I can still justify Carpenters songs to harder rock purists by pointing out Richard's production skills. Nothing sounded like that then and matched with Karen's talent, their fame was well earned. I would LOVE to hear this worked on by Richard...Again, thanks to LoveHoward for posting a diamond in the rough.

[kboyzrock]

Wow, great to hear her unreleased solos, singing and playing the drums another perspective to her wonderful talents. Thanks for sharing this.

[onjfan]

To the comment about 'cleaning the vault out' I can't picture that. The Carpenters recorded tons of material for each album and just chose the best out of all the sessions. There's still the Spectrum demos, the demo tape sent to H.A., the 11 sides of the Richard Carpenter Trio to put on cd. Rumour has it that Rich recorded all the live concerts that they've done. They could release a "Live" series. Radio interviews would be cool to hear. And wasn't there a list of unused songs on some book?

[michaelransom]

beautiful. nice and sparce. 12string is great. a good song to cover as is with perhaps a slide solo. perfect feel for both pop and country.i love this sort of music.

[suenomotel]

I hope Richard comes out with another "Carpenters" project, so that we can continue to enjoy their magical music. They belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.

[LoveHowardBanister]

I requested him to release more songs. Truth is, he has cleaned the vault out. There's nothing left, so he can't release any more CDs. Though he may release a Christmas one soon. Maybe.

[deadkennedy22]

You reckon Karen was palying the drums on this one?

i do :P

[NostalgiaBob]

It is my understanding that Richard owns the master tapes to the solo stuff. My guess is he must have everything from those sessions. These tunes apparently surfaced when A&M closed their doors around 2000. I'm sure Richard was beyond thrilled....either way, I'm glad we got to hear them, as this project was so important to Karen.

[tullyallen]

I think some of these track shoul have been chosen be great if they were released as a cd I'd be there to buy it!! Thanks for sharing these m8

[agnethaeponine18]

never heard this song! It's really great!

[carpenterfreak2007]

how did you get these tracks? i love these tracks. i hope her brother will someday release these.

[Blackstone1955]

This is not one of her best efforts. I love The Carpenters, especially their earlier albums, but Karen's attempt at a solo album was misguided. The results are almost embarrassing. Sorry if I offend but sometimes the truth hurts.

[Yummer1]

I disagree - I think there were some really good songs on the solo effort and the unreleased tracks. I would like to hear songs like this one in finished, mastered form, though.

[LoveHowardBanister]

I agree. I have a friend, Robin, who is friends with Richard. Maybe she could request Richard to finish them and release a CD. Oh, and I meant to Thumbs Up your comment, and my accident I pressed thumbs down. I'm sorry.

[Blackstone1955]

What does Richard do now? Weren't these tracks recorded in NYC when Karen was in treatment there? Who produced them? They just seem so rough. Does Richard own these tracks? It would be nice to hear them after he's worked his magic on them.

[LoveHowardBanister]

Karen recorded it during her solo album recording in 1979. Phil Ramone produced it. I don't think Richard owns them, even though he released the CD in 1996. I can ask Robin to ask him to maybe think about releasing the unreleased tracks after re-mixing them if you'd like.

[sweetgirl4JC]

How do you get these?

[LoveHowardBanister]

A user on here, branvan619, has them on his site. Everyone's more than free to download them as long as they're only for private use. :) They're great, aren't they? I'd love for Richard to release them, too.

[tilyae]

Hi From Seattle! Did you ever hear any feedback from Richard if he's interested in releasing these Songs in Finished Form? Granted they're not "Carpenters" type material but I think they are important as they are Karens last efforts in Studio, with the exception of the song "NOW" which was wonderfully produced by Richard.

[LoveHowardBanister]

No, I haven't spoken to him. But if you talk to Robin, who is user BestKACFan on here, you can ask her to ask him. She speaks with him quite often if I'm not mistaken.

[LoveHowardBanister]

Oh, sorry, it's BestKacFan, not BestKACFan.

[kraftyjohn]

i think these songs should be released as a tribute to karen as i think it was part of made her more ill when this album was shelved and shed spent so lond working on it

[LoveHowardBanister]

Yes, I do agree that perhaps she might have lived longer if she could have lived the happiness of seeing her solo album in record stores, but Richard won't release the unreleased songs. It's not that he doesn't like them, it's that he wants to keep Karen's legacy as it is today, and not release anything that would in any way make her legacy any different. These songs, though wonderful, aren't "Carpenters" type quality enough, and as some have commented, they don't portray Karen at her best.

[whokeithmoon]

@LoveHowardBanister your an idiot. claming that he albums success was her downfall, she had issues, and it wasnt from the music industry. dumb ass......

[sweetgirl4JC]

I've never heard this one before....I wish Richard would release the songs that are left unreleased.

God bless him.