Songs My Father Taught Me

Description

Songs My Father Taught Me is the solo debut album by Kim Carmichael (a.k.a. Carol Parks, née Carol Celeste Carmichael; November 30, 1949 – October 21, 2010), released on Light Records in 1970. All songs written by Ralph Carmichael, Carol “Kim” Carmichael’s father.

A follow-up album entitled Songbook was released on Light Records in 1972, credited to Carol Carmichael (who this time around wrote all the songs herself).

RALPH CARMICHAEL TRIBUTE #32
– KIM (CAROL) CARMICHAEL: “SONGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME”
(An expanded version of our original 2017 posting.)

A truly special recording project brought together Ralph and his daughter Carol (she went by “Kim” for this recording). Carol seemed destined to have a musical career – first, being named Carol Celeste; and secondly, having such great musical parents as Ralph and Evangeline Carmichael. Carol’s singing seemed to come naturally and soon she was invited to be part of a professional group, the Jimmy Joyce Children’s Choir and performed with such artists as Ann-Margret and Art Linkletter among many others. It wasn’t long before Ralph began talking to Carol about creating a recording of her singing some of his songs. It took a bit of persuading, and it didn’t happen overnight – in fact, it took two years to complete the project. This father-daughter album featured Kim singing ten of her dad’s compositions – songs and arrangements that were designed to connect with kids of that generation. Ralph, as you would expect, did the arranging and conducting for the sessions.

He commented: “When Kim (she’s still ‘Carol to me) recorded the first few of these songs, the last batch had not yet been composed. Now that’s certainly not the way to make an album.” Ralph was thrilled to be part of this special project: “No use trying to hide it. Of course I’m proud of her. Her pitch and rhythmics just knock me out. She can sing my songs any time because I think kids will listen and if they do, they’ll hear that Christ loves them and gave His life so they can have a full and complete life, as He intends for us to have.” Carol and Ralph created memorable renditions of: «Love Is Surrender», «A Living Circle», «The Man», «The Heart Is A Rebel», «Like A Lamb Who Needs The Shepherd», «I Looked for Love», «Pray», «All My Life», «Reach Out to Jesus», and «Land Without Tears». The LP was released in 1970 on Ralph’s Light Records label. Kim/Carol would go on to write a number of her own songs – she released some of those tunes on an album called ‘Carol Carmichael Songbook‘, also produced for Light Records. On that LP she did everything from writing the songs and arranging the music, to hiring the musicians, etc. Kim/Carol was part of Ralph’s numerous “Young People” choral albums and was also an accomplished studio singer. Her career as a studio singer was broad and successful, performing as back up on numerous recordings, commercials, TV shows and movies. She also showed her talents as a producer and musical contractor, plus sharing her knowledge through workshops. Sadly, she died in 2010 at the young age of only 60.

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Love Is Surrender” – 3:00
A2. “A Living Circle” – 3:00
A3. “The Man” – 2:49
A4. “The Heart Is A Rebel” – 3:19
A5. “Like A Lamb Who Needs A Shepherd” – 4:17

Side Two
B1. “I Looked For Love” – 2:49
B2. “Pray” – 4:17
B3. “All My Life” – 2:58
B4. “Reach Out To Jesus” – 2:55
B5. “Land Without Tears” – 3:05