Voice Of The Heart

Catalogue Number: A&M SP-4954; CD 4954; 82839 4954 2
Date of Release: 10/17/83
Chart Position: U.S.: #46; U.K.: #6; JAPAN: #41
Album Singles: “Make Believe It’s Your First Time”/”Look To Your Dreams”
“Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore”/”Sailing On The Tide”
Medium: Vinyl/Cassette/CD/8-track

Track Listing:

1. Now 3:46 (Nichols/Pitchford)
2. Sailing On The Tide 4:21 (Peluso/Bettis)
3. You’re Enough 3:46 (Carpenter/Bettis)
4. Make Believe It’s Your First Time 4:07 (Morrison/Wilson)
5. Two Lives 4:32 (Jordan)
6. At The End Of A Song 3:42 (Carpenter/Bettis)
7. Ordinary Fool 3:40 (Williams)
8. Prime Time Love 3:10 (Unobsky/Ironstone)
9. Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore 3:51 (Weiss)
10. Look To Your Dreams 4:28 (Carpenter/Bettis)

Album Credits:

Produced and Arranged by Richard Carpenter
Lead vocals: Karen Carpenter
Recorded at A&M Recording Studios
Engineered by: Roger “Mingo” Young
Assistant Engineer: Robert De La Garza
Mixed at A&M Recording Studios, Capitol Recording Studios and The Village Recorder
Mix-down Engineer: Roger Young
Assistants: Robert De La Garza, David Cole, Robin Laine
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Recording Studios
Look To Your Dreams arranged by Peter Knight
Concertmaster: Jimmy Getzoff
Contractor: Jules Chaikin
The O.K. Chorale – under the direction of Ron Hicklin
Conducted by Dick Bolk
Special thanks to Ron Gorow, John Bettis, Roger Young, Don Hahn, Mimi Thomas, all the guys in the shop: Ken Gary, Bill, Karl; Werner Wolfen, Herb, Jerry and the entire A&M family.
Art Direction: Chuck Beeson
Photography:
Front Cover: Claude Mougin
Back Cover: Larry Williams
Innersleeve: Annie Leibovitz
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Dedication:

February 4, 1983. On that day I lost my sister, a dear friend, and my professional partner. The world lost a beautiful spirit. Karen had not only a voice that was heaven-sent, but a personality that warmed the lives of everyone who had met and known her. She was with us only 32 years. Though my family and I will never get over losing her at such an early age, we can take comfort in the marvelous legacy she left us all. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss gave us the opportunity to record and due to that opportunity Karen’s voice touched and will continue to touch the lives of millions. That was a privilege she was very proud of… as I am proud of her. She is greatly missed. – Richard Carpenter

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VOICE OF THE HEART was released in 1983, some eight months after Karen’s passing. She’d worked on one recording session for their next album that included “Now” and “You’re Enough”, and the rest of the album was compiled by Richard from the leftover tracks from prior albums.

Surprisingly, some of these “leftovers” turned out to be pretty good, and one wonders why they were left behind in the first place. “Ordinary Fool” and “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” are among the favored tracks by fans, along with the poignant “Now” and “Look To Your Dreams.”

Original promotional ad for this album:

Billboard VOTH Promo Ad Oct 29 1983