Chris
Well-Known Member
The album came out on 10/8/96. The only way I knew about it was because I'm a member of the Clinic for Obsessives Collectors, as well, and was tipped off by another member of the same clinic. LOL>>
That was also the day I was hired for a new job in Chicago. I bought "Entertainment Weekly" at Midway Airport after my interview at the airport coffee shop, and read the pathetic review of "Karen Carpenter" written by David Browne on the train. And I was royally pissed at his snide remarks about the album, and of the intentionally horrid picture they chose of Karen looking so damned thin during the sessions. They picked the absolute worst shot taken of her. Very tabloid-esque.
New York Times Magazine also did a fantastic, in-depth article on the story of the album, and there were a few blurbs in the papers, as well. Aside from that, NOTHING.
A&M produced a limited number of posters for the album (which are now very rare), and they put out a press kit. Richard did nothing to promote it, other than write the liner notes (which were far from complimentary). Phil Ramone also did a radio show in 1989 that was aired in certain markets to promote "Lovelines", but that show was more of a Carpenters tribute than anything else. I wouldn't call this very limited promotion much of an effort.
Thinking of Karen's solo album, I was reading this interesting thread again. So many good thoughts and points made by everyone.
I have to agree with A&M Retro that her album was barely promoted, if at all. Certainly not nationally. The only reason I heard it was to be released was through the circle of hardcore fans. Once it was out there, there was nothing indicating it had been released aside from that horrible article in "Entertainment Weekly", as A&M Retro mentioned. I was upset by the article as well and felt it was mean spirited. It was a very slanted review. I usually keep everything Carpenter related, but I threw the issue out.
Having written in to A&M Records at the time, asking for her solo album promo material, I received the poster and the press kit. I was thrilled with the lovely photo of her on the poster. Did anyone see the poster displayed in any music stores? I sure didn't. The only other mention of the album that I saw at the time was in a very small review in Tower Records magazine. It was a favorable one. When "Love Songs" was released I saw TV commercials for it frequently.
From what I could tell, the general public and casual fans of the Carpenters had no idea that her album came out, or that's she'd even made one. This was evidenced a couple of years ago during one of Randy's book signings in Dallas. This particular talk and signing drew a sizable crowd that appreciated the Carpenters' music since the signing had been promoted at the store ahead of time. When Randy talked about Karen's solo album, I could hear several people saying that they had no idea of its existence. "Where can we get it?", they asked. Of course the answer was, "It's out of print, but you can find it used."
So, just wanted to add my thoughts about the lack of promotion. That CD cover treatment certainly didn't help its cause. While I'm among those who wish the album had more consistently strong material, I still think it had so much going for it, but no one behind it to show it off properly. In the end, it got a half-hearted release to satisfy the fans who kept asking for it. The fact that some of its better tracks had been released by Richard on "Lovelines" years before, took more wind out of its sails. "If I Had You" did fairly well on the Adult Contemporary chart in '89. I only wish it would have coincided with the solo album release.