Karen Hangs Out With Michael Jackson
JayLumbee
29 Jun 2009
"The Wrap" blogger met Michael Jackson, and Karen Carpenter.
June 26, 2009, 8:48AM CDT
My 15th Birthday Present: Meeting Michael
By Gina Rugolo
When I was growing up, I was one of the biggest Michael Jackson fans ever. I went to all the L.A. concerts and would listen to all the Jacksons' records over and over.
For my 15th birthday in 1979, my dad (jazz arranger Pete Rugolo) called his friend Quincy Jones and asked him if he could introduce us. Quincy mentioned he was just starting to record an album with Michael called "Off the Wall" and invited me to spend the day with him at the recording studio.
I don't think I have ever been more excited to meet anybody in my life. Michael was so sweet to me. He knew I was a big fan and let me watch him record the song "Get on the Floor."
I had another big moment when he invited his friend Karen Carpenter to join us for a while. At the end of the day, he took the temporary cover of the album and signed it "To Gina, much love in the '80s." I was thrilled because I knew I could brag about it for a whole new decade.
I have stayed such a loyal fan even to this day that practically every good friend I had in high school and college called me today to check in and share a memory about him with me.
Source: http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/my-15th-...ng-michael_3944
June 26, 2009, 8:48AM CDT
My 15th Birthday Present: Meeting Michael
By Gina Rugolo
When I was growing up, I was one of the biggest Michael Jackson fans ever. I went to all the L.A. concerts and would listen to all the Jacksons' records over and over.
For my 15th birthday in 1979, my dad (jazz arranger Pete Rugolo) called his friend Quincy Jones and asked him if he could introduce us. Quincy mentioned he was just starting to record an album with Michael called "Off the Wall" and invited me to spend the day with him at the recording studio.
I don't think I have ever been more excited to meet anybody in my life. Michael was so sweet to me. He knew I was a big fan and let me watch him record the song "Get on the Floor."
I had another big moment when he invited his friend Karen Carpenter to join us for a while. At the end of the day, he took the temporary cover of the album and signed it "To Gina, much love in the '80s." I was thrilled because I knew I could brag about it for a whole new decade.
I have stayed such a loyal fan even to this day that practically every good friend I had in high school and college called me today to check in and share a memory about him with me.
Source: http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/my-15th-...ng-michael_3944
Goofus
29 Jun 2009
Well how jealous I could be. lol She gets to meet Karen and MJ when he was still young and cute? Its like a double birthday gift, not just one.
The only thing I wonder is I read 19 yr old MJ was too shy to really sing in front of small audiences, he asked some girl to close her eyes when she met him and asked him to sing a song during making The Wiz. So I wonder if MJ really would let a girl watch him record in a recording studio. That's odd, but lucky her.
The only thing I wonder is I read 19 yr old MJ was too shy to really sing in front of small audiences, he asked some girl to close her eyes when she met him and asked him to sing a song during making The Wiz. So I wonder if MJ really would let a girl watch him record in a recording studio. That's odd, but lucky her.
JayLumbee
30 Jun 2009
Michael, Jan. 1980 ..during his "Off The Wall" period
Olivia Newton-John & Michael Jackson
"Dreamgirls" Stage Play -after party
March 20, 1983 (1 month after Karen's passing)
Olivia Newton-John & Michael Jackson
"Dreamgirls" Stage Play -after party
March 20, 1983 (1 month after Karen's passing)
coco
03 Jul 2009
IT is strange. I was just thinking the other day that Karen was still the most famous person to have past away from complications from anorexia. I was reading some of Michael's reports, that facts that he had broken bones due to the CPR. the fact the he was bald was due to drug use and anorexia. This will probably come out with his toxicology. MJ also had the disease. He weight 112 lb and was 5 ft 11in. I read where Michael wanted the this body of a dancer. Surprisingly, I never knew the Karen and Michael were friends.
BlueBoy
06 Jul 2009
QUOTE (coco @ Jul 3 2009, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
the fact the he was bald was due to drug use and anorexia.
Don't forget the accident when his hair caught on fire....
goodjeans
07 Jul 2009
Karen's solo album and Michael's 'Off The Wall" have many similarities. Recorded around the same time I wonder if they may have planned a duet. Listen to "My Body Keeps Changing 
My Mind" and "It's The Falling In Love" and on and on...
My Mind" and "It's The Falling In Love" and on and on...
coco
09 Jul 2009
Here is something I read about the way Michael Jackson sang "She's out of my Life", the song written for Karen
Tom Bahler wrote the song three years prior about his break-up with Karen Carpenter but that it hadn't been released and Jones was waiting for the right person to sing it. In studio, Jackson and Jones tried it between eight and eleven times, and each time at the very end of the song, Michael's voice would crack at the emotional coda. Well, I'll let Q lay it down for y'all:
"And, - he cried at the end of every take, you know. We recorded about, I don't know, 8-11 takes, and everyone, at the end he just cried, and I said 'hey - that's supposed to be, leave it on there."
Although the song doesn't get me like "Never Can Say Goodbye," (one of the most arresting songs about heartache performed by a 13 year old - I'm not alone) nor make me smile like "Human Nature", "She's Out of My Life" is definitely one of those songs that forces me to tell people to shut up while it's playing. Besides being beautiful, more than anything, I consider this song to be a mystery. With a career filled with great dance and maudlin political songs, this is the only time I thought I got a sense of a complex person. I guess we'll never really know now, but who was Michael crying for at the end of this song?
Edited by coco, 09 July 2009 - 07:47 PM.
Tom Bahler wrote the song three years prior about his break-up with Karen Carpenter but that it hadn't been released and Jones was waiting for the right person to sing it. In studio, Jackson and Jones tried it between eight and eleven times, and each time at the very end of the song, Michael's voice would crack at the emotional coda. Well, I'll let Q lay it down for y'all:
"And, - he cried at the end of every take, you know. We recorded about, I don't know, 8-11 takes, and everyone, at the end he just cried, and I said 'hey - that's supposed to be, leave it on there."
Although the song doesn't get me like "Never Can Say Goodbye," (one of the most arresting songs about heartache performed by a 13 year old - I'm not alone) nor make me smile like "Human Nature", "She's Out of My Life" is definitely one of those songs that forces me to tell people to shut up while it's playing. Besides being beautiful, more than anything, I consider this song to be a mystery. With a career filled with great dance and maudlin political songs, this is the only time I thought I got a sense of a complex person. I guess we'll never really know now, but who was Michael crying for at the end of this song?
Edited by coco, 09 July 2009 - 07:47 PM.
Summer
09 Jul 2009
I knew the story of the song but, Coco, you're right...it wasn't personal to Michael, so why did it make him cry? What/who did it make him think of?
What I'm thinking is...MJ reportedly has a huge vault of unreleased material. AND, according to the article in this thread, he was in a recording studio at least once with Karen Carpenter.
What if....
I mean, even if they were just fooling around with something that was never meant to be a song, or just her voice saying "hi", or one of her funny giggle noises in the background...anything!
MJ's estate or something would own those rights. Not Richard.
Really...WHAT IF ???
Edited by Summer, 09 July 2009 - 09:47 PM.
What I'm thinking is...MJ reportedly has a huge vault of unreleased material. AND, according to the article in this thread, he was in a recording studio at least once with Karen Carpenter.
What if....
I mean, even if they were just fooling around with something that was never meant to be a song, or just her voice saying "hi", or one of her funny giggle noises in the background...anything!
MJ's estate or something would own those rights. Not Richard.
Really...WHAT IF ???
Edited by Summer, 09 July 2009 - 09:47 PM.
BlueBoy
10 Jul 2009
QUOTE (Summer @ Jul 9 2009, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What if....
That's a very interesting possibility!
JayLumbee
13 Jul 2009
LYRICS: "She's Out Of My Life" (by Tom Bahler)
VIDEO
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
And I Don't Know Whether To Laugh Or Cry
I Don't Know Whether To Live Or Die
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life
It's Out Of My Hands
It's Out Of My Hands
To Think For Two Years She Was Here
And I Took Her For Granted I Was So Cavalier
Now The Way That It Stands
She's Out Of My Hands
So I've Learned That Love's Not Possession
And I've Learned That Love Won't Wait
Now I've Learned That Love Needs Expression
But I Learned Too Late
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
Damned Indecision And Cursed Pride
Kept My Love For Her Locked Deep Inside
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life
Edited by JayLumbee, 13 July 2009 - 01:59 PM.
VIDEO
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
And I Don't Know Whether To Laugh Or Cry
I Don't Know Whether To Live Or Die
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life
It's Out Of My Hands
It's Out Of My Hands
To Think For Two Years She Was Here
And I Took Her For Granted I Was So Cavalier
Now The Way That It Stands
She's Out Of My Hands
So I've Learned That Love's Not Possession
And I've Learned That Love Won't Wait
Now I've Learned That Love Needs Expression
But I Learned Too Late
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
Damned Indecision And Cursed Pride
Kept My Love For Her Locked Deep Inside
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life
Edited by JayLumbee, 13 July 2009 - 01:59 PM.
Goofus
13 Jul 2009
Entertainment Tonight has their 1st interview with Michael Jackson posted right now. It was February of 1983 and Michael actually says his biggest influences for music were in the 60's and says "Motown, The Beatles and the Carpenters".
I didn't know he was a Carpenters fan to that extent but that's great.
MJ's first interview
I didn't know he was a Carpenters fan to that extent but that's great.
MJ's first interview
coco
14 Jul 2009
I know that Michael sang 'She's out of my life' Karen was alive and well. I was thinking about how nobody knew why Jackson was crying. I was looking at Jane Fonda's blog. Her relationship with Jackson was also mainly in the early 80's. This is what she had to say about Jackson.
I have been in a wash of images and feelings about Michael Jackson. I knew him as well as one could know him during the time before he did “The Whiz” and up through “Thriller.” I couldn’t pretend to understand him. There were so many complicated signals. Did he want me to be his ‘older women’ friend. He gravitated to older women. For solace? Succor? A beard? Did he want me to teach him the ropes? I never could quite figure it out. But I remember one day he was visiting me at my ranch north of Santa Barbara. It was the first time he had been in that region but he must have liked it because later he bought his ranch in that same area. Anyway, as we walked around the ranch which was perched right at the edge of the mountain overlooking Goleta, I pointed to a spot where I told him I wanted to be buried. Michael had a melt down right then and there when he heard this. He shrieked and bent over and said “no, no, no!” “ What’s the matter,” I asked. “Don’t ever talk about your dying,” he answered. “Don’t ever think about it.”
I think about death all the time. I rehearse my death. I think that’s a healthy thing to do. Death, after all, is what gives life meaning the way noise gives meaning to silence. Ooooh, I thought to myself, Michael will have a hard time of it as he ages. He will spend all his energy trying to flee what is inevitable. And now it’s happened. I like the fact that it was quick. Massive heart attacks that you don’t recover from are quick. You don’t know what hit you. That’s probably the kindest death for Michael. It’s hard to imagine him being happy as he aged. One more demon to try and evade. I like to think he’s happy now, free of his demons. Free and floating and knowing how his art continues to be revered and celebrated by all of us all over the world. It will continue.
I have been in a wash of images and feelings about Michael Jackson. I knew him as well as one could know him during the time before he did “The Whiz” and up through “Thriller.” I couldn’t pretend to understand him. There were so many complicated signals. Did he want me to be his ‘older women’ friend. He gravitated to older women. For solace? Succor? A beard? Did he want me to teach him the ropes? I never could quite figure it out. But I remember one day he was visiting me at my ranch north of Santa Barbara. It was the first time he had been in that region but he must have liked it because later he bought his ranch in that same area. Anyway, as we walked around the ranch which was perched right at the edge of the mountain overlooking Goleta, I pointed to a spot where I told him I wanted to be buried. Michael had a melt down right then and there when he heard this. He shrieked and bent over and said “no, no, no!” “ What’s the matter,” I asked. “Don’t ever talk about your dying,” he answered. “Don’t ever think about it.”
I think about death all the time. I rehearse my death. I think that’s a healthy thing to do. Death, after all, is what gives life meaning the way noise gives meaning to silence. Ooooh, I thought to myself, Michael will have a hard time of it as he ages. He will spend all his energy trying to flee what is inevitable. And now it’s happened. I like the fact that it was quick. Massive heart attacks that you don’t recover from are quick. You don’t know what hit you. That’s probably the kindest death for Michael. It’s hard to imagine him being happy as he aged. One more demon to try and evade. I like to think he’s happy now, free of his demons. Free and floating and knowing how his art continues to be revered and celebrated by all of us all over the world. It will continue.
BlueBoy
14 Jul 2009
QUOTE (JayLumbee @ Jul 13 2009, 01:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
LYRICS: "She's Out Of My Life" (by Tom Bahler)
Thanks for the lyrics.
betossantana
14 Jul 2009
QUOTE (coco @ Jul 14 2009, 05:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I know that Michael sang 'She's out of my life' Karen was alive and well. I was thinking about how nobody knew why Jackson was crying. I was looking at Jane Fonda's blog. Her relationship with Jackson was also mainly in the early 80's. This is what she had to say about Jackson.
I love Jane Fonda, what's the URL to her blog, please?
QUOTE (coco @ Jul 14 2009, 05:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Did he want me to be his ‘older women’ friend. He gravitated to older women. For solace? Succor? A beard? Did he want me to teach him the ropes? I never could quite figure it out.
Like Diana Ross, I think his early plastic surgerys made him look like her!!! And I thought it was meant like that!! Am I crazy??
QUOTE (coco @ Jul 14 2009, 05:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But I remember one day he was visiting me at my ranch north of Santa Barbara. It was the first time he had been in that region but he must have liked it because later he bought his ranch in that same area. Anyway, as we walked around the ranch which was perched right at the edge of the mountain overlooking Goleta, I pointed to a spot where I told him I wanted to be buried. Michael had a melt down right then and there when he heard this. He shrieked and bent over and said “no, no, no!” “ What’s the matter,” I asked. “Don’t ever talk about your dying,” he answered. “Don’t ever think about it.”
Michael Jackson visited your ranch??? May I ask you who are you?? Are you famous?? So exciting!
