Carlene Carter (Unbreakable Heart by Benmont Tench)

One Midem (Cannes gathering of the music business every January), I met Ed Tichner. Shortly after I moved to California to develop the Chrysalis publishing companies (until then administered, although had the great song seeker and song plugger, Marv Goodman), which had a variety of names, and I got fed up with listing them all, so named them The Chrysalis Music Group USA, a name still used today. And on a different tack for a minute, really annoyed Jack Craigo (my nemesis at Chrysalis and the reason I resigned after trying to work for somebody, who as another well known publisher, Mike Stewart, said - just didn't like people!) as he thought that it was a better name for the record company.

Anyway, back to Ed and the party that Chrysalis in threw in 1978 to announce my appointment and the development of the publishing companies, which became one of the leading independents and his mentioning a singer/songwriter he managed, Carlene.

Yes, I responded I'd love to meet her. And after listening to some demos she and I had our first meeting, a lunch at the then incredibly successful Le Dome, managed and owned by Michel and Eddie, who and their staff always treated me so well, even tho' for the first year of using my expense account there, I only ever tipped 10% (that being the norm in the UK).

My first impression was of a beautiful sensual woman, with a golden aura, and she has the most stunning eyes. No I am not gay. A golden girl.

We did not stop laughing throughout the lunch, and a friendship started that lasted until 2003, with a few breaks when we didn't see each other.

Anyway, I signed Carlene because I believed she was a star and because I loved her songwriting. No, I did not know of her incredible music heritage, until one of our lawyers putting the contract together asked me how I had managed to sign someone from a legendary family so soon after arriving in LA. I negotiated the deal, but Terry Ellis, being Terry Ellis wouldn't let me sign that one - he had to, even though he'd had nothing to do with me finding her. He could be so full of himself sometimes!

Her first album for Chrysalis was "Too Proud", which I still have a cassette of. Not a great record for her and did not showcase her well, however, contains some excellent songs.

I needed to find a new apartment, and Carlene heard of this and invited me to become her room mate at the (at one time) infamous 1580 Queens Road (probably the title to my autobiography, should I ever get around to writing it!) and I moved in. The day I did, she left to go on the road and before leaving, advised me not to be afraid of the ghost, he was friendly! This together with a member of my staff who kept phoning me my first night and warning me to call the police if I heard any noises. Oh, and if I heard something to tell the police that I had a gun. Why, I asked? Well, if the police know you have a gun they respond more quickly, which made absolutely no sense to me, as I thought they'd act quicker to someone in danger without any defence. Silly of me! And he added that if I ever did get a gun and shot a person, I was to drag them into the house. Odd conversation for me to have and I didn't get much sleep that first night.

That house was so easy to get into, and one of my boyfriends (a guy from the Chrysalis mailroom, David, very attractive and a great tennis player) delighted in getting in and coming up behind me and startling the beejeebers out of me!

Anyway, Carlene and I had only a few months living there together as she was engaged to Nick Lowe and had decided to move to the UK! Great, I've signed a songwriter who is now not going to live in the US.

However, the house was always full of so many musicians and I never knew who I was going to meet as I came out of my bedroom, or home from work. Xene was one and I still can't remember whether I met Viggo Mortenson, who she was married to. Will kick myself if I ever get to meet that gorgeous and talented man, Viggo Mortenson and find out that I did, but don't remember!

So, now Carlene was in the UK and married to Nick Lowe (I missed their wedding at the famous Motel on Santa Monica, as I had already drunk too much to get there!) and writing songs with his and other British music influences. Also some pretty raunchy lyrics and as I told her on one of her trips back to LA, I wasn't going to be able to get a cover with Anne Murray for instance!

But back to the times we shared in LA. Like visiting the Rainbow Room late at night for something to eat. One time, the poor guy (we'd already eaten and he hadn't yet) had his pizza purloined, and Carlene and I drove off along Sunset laughing at our theivery! We always laughed so much together.

And I loved to come home and find CC at her beautiful black piano, in our huge curved ceiling sitting room, which you stepped down into. It was to the side of a beautiful curved top large window.

Can't leave out the first time I met her lovely daughter, Tiffany. It was early morning and I was sitting drinking tea, trying to wake up slowly and this small beautiful child appeared, put her hand on my knee and told me the story of her life to that date (think she was about 3-4) and how she missed her brother, Jackson.

Nor can I miss out Carlene's effect on men! Ones that did, usually were left speechless, and I clearly remember going into a 7-11 and bumping into two managers, John Woodruff and Ray Hearn of Icehouse an Australian band (led by Iva Davies) we signed to Chrysalis. These two usually talkative (particularly John) were awed into nonsensical speech! And another, many years later in London looking for a deal for her, when we were visiting Chris Briggs at his office when he worked for A & M. He came back from lunch with one of the Police's engineer, Pete (and I cannot remember his last name), who was struck speechless altogether!

And I remember the time we travelled to New York together, via Chicago for some reason,] where she got off the plane with one of The Stones and I completed the next bit of the trip without her!

The first time meeting her parents!! Was at a dinner, in an Italian restaurant and other guests included Steve Martin. At this time I had moved to New York, and Johnny and June were in New York, Carlene had "C'est ci bon!" out on CBS (I won't mention Frank Deleo's behavior, but it was pretty not good and I'll say no more) and I was (while also being Senior VP of Chrysalis under the awful Craigo) managing her - needless to say I could not find any real evidence thatFrank did much promoting of the album.

After the dinner, Johnny wanted to meet this woman who was taking care of his daughter, and I was summoned to lunch! Trembling like a shy child, I turned up at an ice cream parlour on Central Park South. Johnny was truly a delight and so easy to be with. And I was approved of.

One Christmas (1983 I think), June was in town with Carlene and probably Tiffany and she heard that I had nowhere to go for Christmas, so she literally dragged me off at short notice to go to Nashville with them. We were late for the plane as we walked through a JFK terminal with so much baggage! Got on the plane late, and there was an announcement, "sorry for the delay, however, we had some late baggage to load". To which June responded, "see, there was no reason for rushing", not thinking that the luggage in question was ours!

What an amazing Christmas (except that Johnny was in hospital). They celebrated Christmas Eve and June arranged the seating. Told Rodney Crowell to sit next to me, which was immediately countermanded by Roseanne insisting he did not, but came next to her. Funny woman, and not one of my favorite people.

Not like Rosie, Carlene's beautiful half sister, who sadly died the same year as Carlene's long time partner, Howie Epstein, June and Johnny. She delighted me by showing me around the circular house (which I constantly got lost in, as it was not only circular but went down on different floors depending where you were!) and telling me of the time Prince Charles asked her out for lunch.

June was a great collector of four poster beds and the house was filled with them. Carlene and I shared this huge room with two of these, as well as racks of clothes. Think that was the first time I ever visited a Wal Mart, which is a store I never use because I don't appreciate their treatment of staff! Didn't know that at the time.

Remember going to visit Johnny (a bit reluctantly as I thought he probably had enough visitors without adding me) in hospital and saying hello, then moving to his side guest room. He popped in to get a cola out of the fridge, and I said you seem surrounded by women - he just sheepishly grinned and agreed.

Then there was the trip when Carlene moved back to Nashville to live in her grandmother, Maybelle Carter's house. What a lovely house and CC loved to ride around on the electric lawnmower. Would never let me have a go!!

Which brings me back in time to our trip to Jamaica, just after I left Chrysalis in 1985 and had only recently returned from a 3 week trip to Australia. We missed the flight! Not uncommon for CC, and sometimes me. Partly my fault, as Bill Aucoin and JP Bommel organized a leaving party for me (I was leaving New York) and that went on late into the night and I clearly remember John Waite phoning me at 6 am to apologize for not making the party, but there was someone there he didn't want to be around. Couldn't he have waited just a bit longer to tell me this!

Anyway, it was the days of white powder and CC had this enviable ability to sleep regardless, which she did promptly on boarding the plane. I, on the other side, spent the entire journey awake worrying! And when I arrived at the other end, was glad that only June showed up to collect us. Seeing Johnny for the first time at their beautiful home in Rose Bay, I couldn't speak, just mumbled and said I needed to sleep. Remember waking up at one point with a flying cockroach walking across my face and I was too tired to do anyting other than brush it off. Oh, and I was in another 4 poster bed, as was CC on the other side of the room. She was there to appear with Johnny and June at a benefit for the children's home they supported and we tacked a 2 week vacation on to it.
The first night we had dinner; and that was in a dining room completely wood panelled with no windows; and first one cockroach flew across above our heads, followed by another, and after the 12th, we all fled the room - very funny, I promise.

After Johnny and June left to return to the US, Carlene and I moved into the nearby hotel. This was cheaper (and also paid for by the charitable foundation) than hiring security for us to stay in the house, although we could drive to it using the golf carts, as there was a course between that and the hotel. But she'd never let me drive the cart, not once! And our bar bill was enormous, because although all kinds of alcohol was much cheaper, our choice for dinner was wine, which was very expensive! My paying a sum of $2000 remains firmly in my brain

It was really amusing to watch the men in business groups staying at the hotel see Carlene, some of whom dared to speak with us, until their wives appeared on the horizon and they were off like a shot.

Smoked quite a lot of pot there, and that makes me giggle at everything for a while then fall into a peaceful sleep, however, Carlene would get in her bed and start to read to me. Throughout the two weeks we spent there, we never ever had a morning without listening to "The Boys of Summer"! It still reminds me of a lovely vacation, with much laughter and fun. And hearing her singing as she walked around the hotel floors.

After returning to the UK in 1985 for a while, I stayed with Carlene, Tiffany and Nick at their great three floored house in Chiswick (had stayed there on previous business trips to the UK, including one when I fled New Yorkand Craigo (arrived and looked in the mirror and I had travelled the entire journey with black streaks of mascara down my face), fully intending to resign, but was persuaded not to by Doug D'Arcy and promises never kept by TCE), when she was starring in Pump Boys and Dinettes with Kiki Dee and Paul Jones. I used to have to find all the quickest short cuts to get her to the theatre on time.

Around this time Nick and Dave Edmonds broke up their group, Rockpile, on their way to the airport to do a show in Scandanavia.

The house was always full of musicians and songwriting, a parrot, Nelson (became my aunt's and uncle's when Carlene moved back to the US) and a cat and a lot of alcohol was consumed! Plus Tiffany would practice a clarinet, I think early in the morning and it was a race between which of Carlene or I would ask her please to stop.

John Hiatt came for Sunday lunch and Nick got it into his head to get up early and put the beef in, which meant that Carlene and I who had both had a good night's drinking had to hurry up preparing the rest of the lunch. Think it took her an hour to make mashed potatoes and cheese! John arrived (nice man), I had one martini (Nick came from a "proper" English family) a little food, then disappeared to my room for a long sleep.

Another time, Clem Burke came to stay when he was working with Dave Stewart (who I knew from my days at Elton's and Bernie's Rocket Records) producing Bob Dylan. Clem is a lovely guy and he'd got into what I think remains a keep fit regime for him, so was eating properly, taking vitamins, running and turning up for his sessions properly dressed! A far cry from the Blondie band member I first got to know.

I won't mention the name of another drummer who stayed one night and came down the stairs and surprised the au pair and me as he was completely naked. A lovely guy, however, very tall and it was hard to keep ones eyes at a different level. She and I ended up backed into a corner in the long kitchen with our eyes still raised to the ceiling!

Nick and Carlene separated, and she was so heartbroken, it was sad to witness and to help her pack up her belongings the same. We did share an apartment she rented in another part of London until she decided to move back to LA.

And Carlene met Howie Epstein, and with Howie she realized her full potential as an amazing country singer/songwriter with edge. I lent her my last 2000 sterling to do some recordings with him. Which lead to her being signed to WB (I was fortunate enough to know Jim Ed Norman head of the Nashville label and a fine gentleman) I negotiated the deal with a really good business affairs guy (whose name I wish I could remember) in LA, and I know it was a good deal for her, still have a copy of it and I am also still proud of what I provisions I succeeded in getting her, particularly her right to re-record any of the songs she recorded for WB and later Giant..

Won't write too much about the relationship with Chrysalis US, now being managed by Tom Sturges, except to say that I was able to negotiate a $25,000 advance out of him, the release of Carlene from the Chrysalis publishing agreement I originally negotiated and the settlement of all songs she still owed the company down to 2 and 1/2 on her album "I Fell In Love". I will, however, repeat part of the angry telephone conversation he and I had, when he called me, absolutely furious as the album came out and the first single started climbing the charts rapidly and reviews were amazing (album was nominated for a Grammy), that we had not offered him a chance to re-sign her. We had each tried separately to reach him several times!!!! He ended up yelling that he was going to make sure that he got one of her songs used for a tampon ad, to which I responded, any cover would be good - thank you!

It was too difficult to manage Carlene and remain in the UK, and I didn't have the money to fly backwards and forwards. So we tried a co-management arrangement, which didn't work. And in the end she signed with Bill (cannot remember his name, however, he was one of the best) for the USA and Australia (the latter pissed me off, since the reason she was known there was partly due to my work on her behalf) and I was supposed to continue for the rest of the world. But that didn't really work out, although WB UK and I worked out a great marketing plan for her to promote her album in the UK - she just could never find the time.

I remember so clearly flying into Nashville to see Carlene perform at a show during whatever they call the country equivalent of NARM. I sat in the first row and cried. Her voice was so very beautiful. Seeing her after the show, she was furious! I asked why - she'd had no stage sound through her ear piece so had to sing using her voice in her head, a rare talent to be able to keep in key without stage monitor sound.

Our last few years together as friends were intermittent visits. It was too hard for me to see her in such a state. And much of those years she was often public news. I visited her in Santa Fe on my 50th (persuaded by a mutual friend that her life was in danger), then didn't see her again for quite a while, until sometime in 2002 she asked me to manage her again and we were in touch by phone while she was back living with Johnny and June.

Sadly, Howie died in February 2003. He was one of the kindest men I've even known as well as one of the saddest. He and I were good friends and I have always treasured that, as he didn't choose many. We had had dinner maybe 1 or 2 years earlier, one night at the Hamburger Hamlet (off Sunset Blvd on Doheny) just the two of us. He told me quite a lot about himself, including his sadness about his family and that his brothers only ever wanted things from him. As well as his concern for Carlene's health.

Anyway, I flew to Nashville immediately, and the horror started - Howie's brothers letting themselves into the Santa Fe home Howie and Carlene loved so much, taking whatever they could. Fortunately, Howie had a guest staying who called and I was able to speak to the Sherriff who had been called in. It took some explanatation, however, I think yet again my English accent gave me some advantage and he accepted that as Carlene was co-owner of the property, the brothers should not be allowed to take anything, although that didn't quite work out and certain things could not be found by the time Carlene and I arrived there there the next day.

What a completely crazy time that was, although being in that house with the beautiful scenery somewhat made up for it. But visits from the police about there possibly being bodies buried on the land, were to say the least worrisome.

Carlene had to leave me there to go and do something, and I was left alone with three dogs, two german shepherds, one of them Anita and the other a small male mixture, called Pup. Anita never messed with Pup, but she was definitely an alpha female and the other german shepherd had to bow down somewhat. It was really amusing sleeping with Pup, since he preferred whatever pillow I chose, and we had to fight over it for me to win!

Being warned by the police of all the drug activities and dealers that had been suspected of being on the property from time to time, one of them being someone they also suspected of being a murderer, I got the electric gates fixed. Did have a lovely Native American guarding me a few nights, until I thought about it and learned how a 38 works. Wasn't worried for me, but for the dogs. Anyway, there were always odd visitors popping up there, and just after the gates were fixed a car drove up (how did he get through the gate!). I felt no fear because I had two german shepherds, and Anita immediately went up to his car window and greeted him. I asked his name - aha, the man the police had been making inquiries about and there's one of the dogs I hope will protect me all lovey dovey with him! How I kept a straight face and a calm voice, I don't know, but was very, very glad when he left. If the Pope had turned up next, I would not have been surprised.

During the time Carlene left, we heard that the two brothers had broken into Howie's and Carlene's LA home and I was driven in 6 hours in pouring rain to join her there. And they'd taken her grandmother's guitar. It was a truly awful time for both Carlene (obviously far more devastating for her) and me. I moved in with, then June died and Carlene went back to Nashville. That night, Anita gave birth to 8 puppies all over Howie's shoes!

The first lawyer we chose did not do a good job, and we were only able to get back certain items they'd taken as Carlene had seen them in the brothers' car as we arrived for a meeting with them and the lawyer. Those were Carlene's linens. They gave those back.

Carlene remained in Nashville and I did the best I could, including representing her at court to try and stop an eviction notice. I only succeeded in getting more time. Also negotiated a deal for her with The Chieftains (a band I'd worked with at Chrysalis) for Bandit of Love, as a duet with them.

Carlene arrived back a few days before eviction and we had a very short time span to move her belongings. I do not know if she ever found all her beautiful stage clothes. She'd managed to get some stuff stored at a friend's warehouse for musicians. And some of her stuff fitted into my storage.

The lawyers fired themselves, and I found another, who I dealt with for a little while, until Carlene took over. So I still don't know if she ever got anything out of the Santa Fe house I worked so hard at trying to keep for her.

And sadly, as one of her song titles, "Love Goes Without Saying Goodbye". The last time I saw my one of my two very best friends, and someone I regarded as my sister, was when she and her husband to be, came to take that out of my storage space. I still hold a grudge against Joe for the way he moved my stuff all over the place and in instances far too high for me to reach! Carlene talked to me and said she owed me an explanation. None has been forthcoming.

However, Carlene will always remain in my heart and I will always remember her as a golden child.

Stevie Wonder, and Innervisions and The Rainbow, London

I just decided to see whether my totally and unbelievably scratched 1973 original CD release of Innervisions actually still plays.
Did give it a wash and it played perfectly all the way through!!
Innervisions was such a part of my early history in the music business. I cannot think how many times I listened to it. It encapsulated so many emotions and feelings for me.
I was fortunate enough to be invited by a journalist friend to go to the Rainbow Theatre in North London when Stevie Wonder did two shows in one evening. Probably around 73/74 or maybe 72 - I know I should look it up!
We arrived and I found myself first row, centre seat. Turned in complete disgust to my journalist friend and said what awful seats, the sound is going to be awful!!
It absolutely was not. I was virtually on the stage with Mr. Wonder and his band and he was probably about 6' - 7' away from me. By the end I was completely high (no, no substance involved) and on the way out saw the head of Motown UK talking with Paul McCartney. Who I very rudely interrupted and started speaking to John. But was making no sense as all my words were inverted and muddled. He'd never seen me like that, normally a reasonably sane woman and a very capable conversationalist. Asked me to slow down! I managed to get out a plea to stay for the second show, which he gladly granted me, one because he was a good man, and two he could get back to talking to Mr. McCartney.
Throughout my career I have been to many, many shows. Saw the Beatles in a small theatre in North London, and U2 at Radio City, and many other great acts. Also saw Stevie Wonder when he played Rock the Vote, and when he played one of Joni Mitchell's songs (again only a few feet away from where I sat at a table at either a BMI or ASCAP Awards, with a Tribute to Joni Mitchell as the highlight).
Amazing, amazing performer.
And he is only one of only two celebrities that I didn't know and actually walked up to (we were passing each other at LAX airport) him and with a grumpy looking minder glaring at me, told Mr. Wonder how amazing his Rainbow show was. He was delighted and kept repeating "you were at the Rainbow". A treasured moment.

Selling my CDs on Amazon.com -v- half.com (E Bay's)

Well, it was really, really hard to let go of my 1200 + collection of vinyl albums. A large majority of which, are in great condition and each contained a memory. However, Ed Eckstein had recommended Freak Beat Records (after I had ventured into Amoeba and encountered an extremely rude young man, who treated Savoy Brown with disdain as well as myself - and I shall never ever shop at Amoeba again!) and a lovely man, Tom arrived at the hopefully temporary housing I live in (tho' it's been 2 years now).
We'd probably met when I was running Chrysalis Music Group, and he was at Gem Records. Certainly must have been in the same places at the same times, or as Dr John might say right time, wrong place.
As we went through my collection I realised how many albums I bought. A lot from Tower Records. I highly respected the man who started it, even if his name will not come to me just at the moment. Solomon? Met him at a club in New York and found him to be a really good guy.
Most of them were in great condition because, who had time to listen to your own personal collection, when you had so many demos and the music you represented, to listen to.
That was always a great thing about working in LA. With the various distances you had to drive, you could always listen to music while doing so. No cell phones in those days!
Anyway, Tom and I chatted and I think it took 3 hours for us to go through the albums. I think he got a good deal. However, I am not complaining about what I got. I could have done my homework better.
Hard to let go of Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, brown vinyl limited signed edition, which I was given when I worked for Elton and Bernie. And there are certain ones I have kept back.
Now as I go through about 600 + CDs, I find that most of them are in excellent order as well. And many are original releases. Again, many of them not played, because they were either in storage (as were my albums) for years, or for other reasons.
And selling on Amazon.com is a continuing learning process. Probably would have helped if I had read the "instructions", however, as Eddie Izzard says in his stand up routine about computers, when he gets a new Mac, he picks up the instructions and THROWS THEM AWAY!
I could compare it to black jack. You put a price, then someone else lowers theirs to beat yours, and so on and so forth. And obviously I am competing with people who sell on Amazon for a living, whereas I am selling mine to raise money for my art.
Certainly would recommend Amazon to anyone selling their CDs, whereas half.com, E-bay's company, where I listed about 20 has produced exactly zero results!