Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Lovelines" has 12 Previously Unreleased Carpenter Songs, August 20, 2005
Released in 1989, 6 years after Karen Carpenter's heartbreakingly tragic death from anorexia nervosa complications, "Lovelines" is a collection of "most" of the previously unreleased songs of Karen Carpenter. Four of the songs were previously included on Karen Carpenter's solo album, but are remixed by Richard for this set.
The Tracks:
1. "Lovelines" the title track of this album was from Karen's solo album, produced in 1980, but never released because of pressure from A&M and Richard. The Carpenter mind-trust did not believe Karen's solo work with Producer Phil Ramone was on par with typical Carpenter standards.
2. "Where Do I Go From Here", was recorded in 1978 but never published. It is a lovely ballad performed with a perfect vocal interpretation by Karen.
3. "The Uninvited Guest" is a pop/country song that was recorded for original release in 1980 with the "Made In America" album, but missed the final cut.
4. "If We Try", another touching love song from Karen's solo album
5. "When I Fall in Love", recorded in 1978 for the Carpenter's "Space Encounters" TV special.
6. "Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night" was a love ballad for the 1980 "Made In America" album, that was never released.
7. "Remember When Lovin' Took All Night" is another selection from the solo album.
8. "You're The One" was recorded in 1977 for the "Passage" album. This song was featured in the made for tv movie, The Karen Carpenter Story.
9. "Honolulu City Lights" was recorded in 1978, and was an adaptation of a song Rich and Karen heard while vacationing in Hawaii.
10. "Slow Dance" was also recorded in the late 70's, but never made an album. It is a lovely ballad.
11. "If I Had You" is Richard's favorite selection from the solo album. Karen's vocals are absolutely astounding and she was quite proud of her effort (and rightfully so).
12. "Little Girl Blue" is the last song of the set and was featured in the TV special "Space Encounters".
From my perspective as a lifelong Carpenter fan, I think two gems are awaiting to please your ears on this album: "Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night", and the very touching "You're The One". The latter is perhaps the best song of the set.
I gave this album 4-stars. It is not the Carpenter's best album for sure, as it contains "reject" (interpretation: not quite good enough) songs that were never included on other albums. However, this is still a good solid pleasing Carpenter effort. Fans of Karen Carpenter will not be disappointed in the least by this album. I recommend it.
Jim "Konedog" Koenig
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A little bit of everything is in this CD, February 16, 2000
What a great CD.We get a little bit of everything the Carpenters have given us over the years. Four of Karen's songs from her own album are in this record. "If I Had You," is so much better in this CD then Karen's. Richard remixes the sound so much clearer,and he keeps the fantastic ending,with Karen's vocals going in all kinds of directions. I never heard a song end like this one in my life. I'm sure "If I had You " was released in 1980,the way Richard has it,not the way Phil Ramone produced it,this song would have been number 1. "Where Do I go from here," is my favorite.I first heard this song in "The Karen Carpenter Story." Anyone's that's lost a true love will love this song.It will break your heart.I played "Honolulu City Lights," when I went to Hawaii,and was laying on the beach in Maui. Anyone that's been to the Islands will cherish this song. You will not be dissapointed with the last record from the Carpenters.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SOPHISTICATED CARPENTRY, June 28, 2004
Succinctly stated, it is difficult for me to believe that any true fan of The Carpenters' music could fail to appreciate this offering. While this collection contains several slow ballads, they are offset by a couple of uptempo numbers that bop a bit harder than one is accustomed to hearing on a Carpenters record, and I feel that the album strikes a nice balance with its sequencing.
Four of the songs on this 1989 release were culled from Karen's (then unreleased) solo project produced by Phil Ramone, and they have occasionally been unfairly criticized as being a foray into "disco." Nothing here can be called disco in its basest sense (meaning rhythmically monotonous, banal dance music) but rather, it is finely polished, primarily horn-propelled, bouncy pop; all of it heightened in quality by some rather intricate arrangements and of course, that slightly smoky-edged, melancholy-tinged voice that was Karen Carpenter's art. Yes, the Ramone produced cuts stretched Karen into previously unexplored territory and the same "purists" who called out the dogs when Richard Carpenter released 'Goodbye To Love' with its electric guitar solo will likely balk at this "danceable sin" as well. But the fan who doesn't feel the need to keep this gifted artist in a creative straitjacket will simply smile and tap their toes!
The album bogs down a little with the too draggy standard, 'When I Fall In Love' and 'You're The One', but most of the ballads are comprised of beautifully lilting melodies that infiltrate the listener's mind only after multiple playings. The ears don't always "get it" all at once, but given enough time, you'll find yourself humming these tunes just as you would some of those fabulous radio hits that The Carpenters produced in the 1970's. A perfect example is 'SLOW DANCE', which initially struck me as being not much more than filler, but with multiple spinnings emerged as my favorite track - a wonderful showcase for the huskier timbre of Karen's uniquely sultry voice.
Nothing on this album is going to make you forget about 'We've Only Just Begun' and 'Superstar' any time too soon. Nevertheless, LOVELINES is a stylish affair (indicated by the classy black & white portrait on the cover) with 12 songs that - in terms of vocal arrangement, lyric content, and instrumentation - surpass in sophistication some of their earlier hits such as 'Sing' and 'Close To You.' I feel confident in saying that purchasing LOVELINES and then exercising a little patience with it will pay off nicely for most fans of this great pop duo. I really love the album, and with the exception of their greatest hits collection, SINGLES 1969-1981, this is the Carpenters' cd that I most frequently listen to. Need I say more?
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