The Claw's Corner with guest Randy Schmidt - Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection.

[@lesliegmn3927]

Glad that Randy Schmidt credited the great contributions made by Karen Carpenter’s closest friends. Karen Ichiuji Ramone and Frenda Franklin had never been interviewed before they spoke to Schmidt. Their remarks were, for me, the most insightful highlights of Schmidt’s book, “Little Girl Blue,” which was published in 2010.

[@Tmcgraw79q]

This was great to listen to. I’ve read Randy’s book three times.

[@therenazone]

Loved his book. I can't wait to see the documentary. Great conversation

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

Thank you very much! Part 2 comes out next Sunday

[@vpwb]

Good interview! Thanks!

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Can you believe that today Karen would be 74 years-old?! Happy Birthday Karen Anne Carpenter - miss you and your marvelous singing and drumming so much!😢

[@artistbrindle]

The documentary is breathtaking btw. Hearing so much of the story in Karen’s voice really hits.

[@kathypellette2509]

Great great interview! Randy you really have a great way with words and your perspective. Its always interesting to listen to you. I do have Little Girl Blue which is excellent.

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

I am so glad that you enjoyed it.

[@gregman1715]

Really Great Video 👍

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

Thank you very much for the great feedback. I had so much fun interviewing Randy. I also learned a lot. He will be coming back sometime soon.

[@lesliegmn3927]

@@richcyr-theclawscorner6814 Currently doing a deep dive into Carpenter Studies. This interview was my introduction to you. I’ll be back for more!

[@alexarmendariz7763]

There's Karen Carpenter and then everybody else rip Karen Carpenter

[@richardvergara]

Funny that Agnes should think she killed Karen. Which tells us, “Yeah…you did.”

[@louisbodin2381]

Agnes contributed to her daughters death.

[@artistbrindle]

We have a house in Cape Cod as well, and I have to say that every time we drive through New Haven, I think of Karen and Richard. Along with the Frank Pepe billboard….

[@marywilk3936]

Karen's soilo album was a huge threat to All involved, It was like losing the goose that laid the golden egg. Yes Richard was very very talented but without Karen there was no magic. Richard could have made it as a movie music arranger or whatever.

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

Exactly. He and their mother knew that. Randy and I discuss all of this and more in our interview

[@shanemcaleer8582]

I agree 100%. You can see the guilt in his face..

[@artistbrindle]

I totally agree! The solo album was a huge threat to the Carpenter inner circle (Richard and Hagness). Without Karen, there was nothing.

[@krh2307]

The mother seemed to resent that Karen was more famous and admired than Richard and seemed to actively want to sabotage her life. IMO.

[@marywilk3936]

I think Richard had a stick in the mud type of personality. Too serious. Karen was a bit more fun loving and willing to do something different

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

I met Karen’s friends at Cafe Nine in New Haven, Ct at a screening of her documentary. They confirmed exactly what you said.

[@lesliegmn3927]

@@richcyr-theclawscorner6814 I’ve been struck both by Richard’s hostility and what appears to be extreme social awkwardness. He appears to completely lack Karen’s playfulness, and her ability to poke fun at herself. It’s very likely that having achieved stardom at 19 and 22, both Carpenters missed some typical developmental stages of early adulthood-going away to uni, sharing cheap apartments. Tom Nolan’s 1974 Rolling Stone Carpenters profile was very revealing.

[@KarenSteelMusic]

Where can I see the full documentary. Randy, why the title, " Little Girl Blue?"...Thank you!

[@lesliegmn3927]

Randy’s 2010 book is titled, “Luttle Girl Blue.” His 2023 documentary, “Starving for Perfection,” about Karen Carpenter’s eating disorders, is now streaming. I watched it yesterday on Amazon Prime.

[@MsBackstager]

Even if Karen had met the "right" guy and tried to get pregnant, I doubt that she had regular periods with her low weight and body damage.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@frankmancini3121. It was documented in a magazine article many years ago.

[@KarenSteelMusic]

PS. What kind of dog? So cute!

[@glasshalffull8471]

I don't know if Agnes could sing but it may have worked out better if she and Richard formed a duo, the constant nagging etc likely contributed to Karen's ailments, 1972 to 1982 must have been hell for Karen with that workload.

[@artistbrindle]

Unfortunately she did sing a little, which probably made her even more envious of her daughter :(.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Randy Schmidt and the interviewer in this great discussion of the Carpenters, their music and their personal lives, gets at least one story wrong - it was not Phil Ramone (and not over the phone) but was actually Herb Alpert that Karen said to, when she entered his office at A&M Records and sat on his lap, about her solo album, "That album's f_ _ _ _ _g great!".

[@frankmancini3121]

Randy L. Schmidt did not get the story wrong. Phil Ramone himself has described that Karen called him the night before she died, asked if he would mind if she "used the F word," and what was said. This has been well documented in several different sources. She did not say this sitting on Herb Alpert's lap, even if she should have.

[@krh2307]

Phil Ramone was not a good choice for Karen. I feel that he could not get past the Carpenter records. Karen needed a stronger producer like Barry Gibb or Quncy Jones. IMO.

[@katiegrundle9900]

I think karen and agnes got to get richard to break up with maria, and karen fired her, probably orders from agnes

[@bluebear107]

I,listened to her solo album. It was too of a fast tempo for her voice. She is better with ballads , show casing her voice. The songs didn’t do her Justice. I’m not a producer but I even know that wouldn’t work for her .

[@richcyr-theclawscorner6814]

I thought it was great! She sounds good singing the phone book. It was nice to see her do something different. Unfortunately, she was too worried about what Agnes and Richard thought.

[@bluebear107]

@@richcyr-theclawscorner6814 my favorite song is….Dont be afraid. From her very first album. From the first line….i was memorized.

[@Canyon2023]

I was a teenager when the Carpenters were at their peak, and they were in fact incredibly square. Even today their style is incredibly square. Some of their ballads are the most beautiful songs, but the majority of songs on their albums were not good to listen to - and were incredibly square too, haha!

[@artistbrindle]

I’m sure you’re the last word on what’s hip….

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@frankmancini3121. It is also documented that Karen went into Herb Alpert's office at A&M Records, sat down on his lap and said of her solo album, "That album's (or record's) f _ _ _ _ _ g great"!