All good points. There are two sides to every story, but all indications lead to the fact that Richard was threatened (big time) by the whole IDEA of a solo album. He's openly admitted the idea of Karen going Top 5 with a solo hit would 'make me feel badly'. Knowing what we know now, the album was doomed BEFORE that L.A. playback session. They reacted out of fear and uncertainty, and Herb and Jerry supported Richard and 'Carpenters' as a unit. It would rock the A&M boat too severely to have a 'new' Karen out there.
There's no way they could sit there hating every moment of the album. That's insane. It's not a perfect album, but it's damned good. It was far more contemporary and hip than any of the stuff Richard produced a year later for MIA.
There's no way they could sit there hating every moment of the album. That's insane. It's not a perfect album, but it's damned good. It was far more contemporary and hip than any of the stuff Richard produced a year later for MIA.