No, I am NOT joking. This contains some cracking tracks, and because it was radically different than what we would have expected from this monumental talent the project was shelved. It remained shelved until 1996 when Richard Carpenter, along with fan pressure felt that it was time that the album was reappraised. Had this been released when recorded in 1980 there would have been a definite, positive, buzz. I love it when you hear soulful tracks from the most unlikely candidates. Goodness knows, my collection boasts some real soulful gems from the likes of Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sasha Distel, Eva Cassidy and skater-boy Leif Garrett to name a few! Produced by Phil Ramone, this album had input from some very, very familiar names. Oddly enough, these names pop up on my favourite songs!The opening song is an exercise on soulful jubilance. It's a very upbeat and positive song, with no added sugar! Written by the superb Rod Temperton, whom I consider to be one of the UK's finest exports, this midtempo breeze of a gem is so typical of his writing and arranging and this could almost be located on a Rufus album! Orchestration is by Bob James nonetheless, and a snazzy keyboard solo comes from Greg Phillenganes! If you love the horn arrangements of Seawind and Jerry Hey then look no further than "If I Had You", a sweet, summery West Coast number with a jazzy sax break courtesy of Michael Brecker and arrangements courtesy of Bob James. Rod Temperton adds a further stunning cut in the form of the warm ballad "If We Try". Vocally I have never been able to fault Karen Carpenter. She had the voice of an angel. Poor Richard must miss her like crazy. She sings like an angel on here, and the sympathetic orchestration from long-time Michael Franks associate Rob Mounsey takes her to stunning new heights. It is Rob that writes, arranges and conducts my final pick, "Guess I Just Lost My Head". Lovers of Michael Franks' early 80s work will want to snap this up. Such a lovely tune, and when all things considered this is a real must-have album.
