Outtakes of Karen Carpenter From Her Only Album “Karen Carpenter” in 1980

Karen Carpenter is the only solo album by singer/drummer Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters, recorded between 1979 and 1980 and released by A&M Records in 1996.

On February 2, 1980, Karen was pictured in a stylish and glamorous photo shoot in New York for her solo album. The album, now fully recorded, was in the finishing mixing processes and Karen embarked upon her most mature photo session for the album’s artwork, aged 29.

French photographer, Claude Mougin, who has also worked with Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner and Diana Ross amongst others, captured the shots during the two hour session. Karen’s hair was done by Joe Tubens C.H.D., her stylist was Paul Posnik, fashion coordination by Phyllis Posnik and make-up by Henriquez.

As quoted in Randy Schmidt’s Little Girl Blue, Karen looked at the photos with an astonished look and exclaimed to her friend Karen Ramone “Will you look at these? I look pretty, I actually look pretty.”