Karen Carpenter - Karen Carpenter [Remastered] (CD 2003)

Karen's voice lifts this from a 3* rating to a 4* but as a stand alone CD it is a bit dated now.

That said, it is a worthwhile purchase for Karen fans and there a couple of really great tracks and no real stinkers.

The background is that, in 1979, Richard was struggling with a drug problem and Karen decided to do a solo album while he was sorting himself out and this was the result.

Richard and the record company were not happy with the album because it was too far from the usual Carpenters sound and the album was not released until 1996.

Karen was looking for a more contemporary sound for this album which was partly achieved but, of course, makes large parts of it sound very dated. On most of tracks you can hear where Karen is heading stylistically but struggling to get there. My feeling is that if she had continued with a solo career then she really would have relaxed enough and got away from 'The Carpenters' sound to do something that really would stand alone but it would have taken another album or two.

Of course, one of the great things about the Richard and Karen sound is that it is so distinctive that, by contrast to this album, it really never dates.

The styles on the album range from disco to light rock (with a country feel) to light jazz. The lyrics are a *little* more risque than normally you would expect.

There are three tracks produced by Rod Temperton who worked with Michael Jackson and they are good disco tracks, very catchy (especially 'Lovelines') but very dated.

Of the two Bob James tracks, 'Make Believe It's the First Time' is a great simple ballad. The second, 'Remember When Lovin' Took All Night' is less sucessful and frustrating because there are times when you wish Karen would really cut loose and go for a full jazz vocal but is too restrained.

The stand-out track is a great version of Paul Simon's 'Still Crazy After All These Years'. Karen sounds really relaxed and this is a great country-tinged vocal.

The bonus track 'Last One Singing the Blues' and is also great with another relaxed performance from Karen.

The other tracks are all OK too although 'Making Love in the Afternoon' would have made a good Carpenters song but is very average rock-lite.

So, don't expect a lost masterpiece but do expect an interesting album with some great tracks and some interesting pointers to 'what might have been' if Karen had pursued a solo career.