Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #87 - March, 1987
Hello Friends,
At long last here is Newsletter
#87. Here's what's new. Believe it or not, Richard is nearing
completion of his album. It is to be called Time and will be released
in June. Time contains eleven selections, nine of which are original
compositions. The project is produced and arranged by Richard who also
handles seven of the album's lead vocals, as well as all background
singing. Guest artists appearing on the album are Dusty Springfield,
Dionne Warwick, and Herb Alpert who plays flugel horn on a song Richard
wrote in Karen's memory entitled When Time Was All We Had. This
selection is 95% a cappella. Richard feels that his and Karen's
overdubbed harmonies were an integral part of the Carpenters' "sound"
and thusly wanted the tribute song to be almost purely vocal. The
cover, which features Richard with his 1962 Thunderbird Factory Sports
Roadster, was photographed by Larry Williams, who also photographed
Richard for the back of the Voice Of The Heart LP. A photograph from
this "shoot" will be available through the Fan Club in the fall of this
year. The album will be released simultaneously in long play, Compact
Disc and cassette format.
On October 11th, over thirty
friends and family members surprised Richard with a "40th" Birthday
Party. The event was personally coordinated by Mary, who made sure
there were many black balloons in addition to a delicious catered
dinner.
Richard was asked to be Grand
Marshall in the Downey Christmas Parade on December 7th. Mary appeared
with him. Five of Richard's convertibles were used for the event
including Harold's pride and joy, the 1965 Plymouth Satellite which was
purchased by the family in February of that year. He of course piloted
the automobile, with Agnes along for the ride.
Richard, Agnes, and Harold wish
to thank all those fans who sent Christmas greetings. The Carpenters
spent their Christmas holidays in Baltimore, Maryland visiting family.
They were hoping for a white Christmas but unfortunately, Christmas
1986 in Baltimore was just wet.
For the third time in as many
years, Richard performed with the United States Air Force orchestra at
Constitution Hall in Washington DC The concert took place on February
8th. In addition to his own program, Richard was asked to narrate an
extensive retrospective entitled "Those Nifty Fifties". Richard will
also perform with the same organization at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, on April 14th.
In all likelihood, Richard will
again be appearing on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon. The show
will air from 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Saturday May 30, until 3.00 p.m.
on Sunday May 31. This year the show originates live from Disneyland in
Anaheim, California.
The TV movie based on the
Carpenters is still in the works with a third draft having been
recently completed. We will keep you up-to-date on it's progress.
The Carpenters' Christmas Portrait song book is now being offered for sale through the Fan Club.
COMPACT DISC UP-DATE
The Carpenters' catalog in it's
entirety has been released (with the exception of Carpenters) in
Compact Disc format. Titles are as follows:
Ticket To Ride
Close To You
A Song For You
Now And Then
Singles 1969-1973
Horizon
A Kind of Hush
Passage
Christmas Portrait
Made In America
Voice of the Heart
Yesterday Once More
Major portions of Christmas
Portrait and An Old Fashioned Christmas were combined into one Compact
Disc entitled Christmas Portrait. The disc's playing time is
approximately 70 minutes.
In celebration of A&M's
25th Anniversary the company is releasing a series of anthologies, 25
volumes, in Compact Disc format only. The Series is called "Classics".
The Carpenters' "Classics" release is the Yesterday Once More album
repackaged featuring a photograph of Karen and Richard taken in 1980 by
Norman Seeff. This same photograph is being offered through the Fan
Club.
A&M's affiliate in Japan,
Canyon Records, is offering the entire Carpenters' catalog in Compact
Disc format. Canyon Records has also released a "Gold Series"
compilation package offered in all three formats (album, cassette, and
Compact Disc) for Japan only in two volumes.
Honolulu City Lights,
previously available only in the limited edition Anthology (Japan), has
been released domestically as a single in A&M's "Memories" series
(AM-8667) Flip side is I Just Fall In Love Again. The single has
received extensive "AC" airplay.
The Carpenter family wishes to
thank all those who continue to remember Karen with flowers and
letters. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Until next time, EV.
Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #88 (undated)
Hi Friends,
Two major releases took place this past August. First and foremost was
the birth of Richard and Mary's first child. Her name is Kristi Lynn
and she was born at 8:16 p.m. on August 17th at Downey Community
Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20 inches in
Length. Mary and Kristi are doing well and Richard is a most proud
Father. Mary delivered Kristi naturally with Richard present during the
birth, both having completed the Lamaze Prepared Childbirth class.
The second release took place on August 31th and was, (as we all know)
even longer in the making than Kristi Lynn. It is Richard's debut album
Time. The first single, Something In Your Eyes, has gotten quite a bit
of "AC" airplay and as of this writing appears to have peaked at 15 on
the Radio and Records chart. The follow-up will be Calling Your Name
Again / Time. Jon Konjoyan of A&M Records (single promotion) has
requested that each of you phone your local stations and request the
record. Richard and A&M Records would appreciate this very much.
An eight by ten color photograph quite like that an the album cover and
exactly like the single sleeve to Something in Your Eyes is now being
offered for sale through the Fan Club.
Richard has been busy promoting the album, having been interviewed for
articles in USA Today and People Magazine (October 16th, page 139) a
feature on Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and a trip to
London, England from October 10th to the 14th. In addition, a video has
recently been completed for - Something in Your Eyes featuring, of
course, Richard and Dusty. The video is now airing on Video Hits One.
On April 14th, Richard performed with the United States Airforce
Concert Band at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion in Los Angeles. The
concert was filled to capacity with an appreciative audience where they
heard Richard play the Carpenter Piano Fantasia.
Richard and Mary visited friends in Topeka, Kansas for a week in July
before heading to Orlando, Florida where Richard again played in
concert at EPCOT on the 18th and 19th. Perhaps some of you had the
opportunity to attend one of these performances. From Florida the
couple flew to Baltimore, Maryland where they enjoyed a week's visit
with Mary's family.
On August 1st Mary and 30 of her friends enjoyed a baby shower which
featured a lovely luncheon given by her sister-in-law and three close
friends.
September 11th, 12th, and 13th found Richard at Santa Monica beach
where he was guest artist at "Pops at the Beach 1987 - An American
Salute." He performed the Rhapsody In Blue and the Carpenter Fantasia
with the Los Angeles "Pop" Orchestra.
Future engagements include two Christmas concerts at the Don Wash
auditorium in Garden Grove, California on Saturday and Sunday, December
12th and 13th. Richard will be accompanied by the Garden Grove Symphony
Orchestra, conducted by a former high school classmate, Ed Peterson and
the University Choir from California State University Long Beach under
the direction of Frank Pooler. Richard will play and sing many holiday
favorites as well as perform the Carpenter Piano Fantasia and the
Rhapsody in Blue. He will also be joined by Scott Grimes whose debut
A&M album is now being produced by Richard and Herb Albert.
During the month of September a deluxe double "CD" set was released in
Japan. It is called Treasures and it features 28 of Richard's favorite
Carpenters' "album cuts" as well as one heretofore unreleased recording
Slow Dance. Nine of the songs where remixed for this set.
The Movie of The week of the Carpenters' story is progressing with
Barry Morrow presently working on the fourth draft of the script.
In plenty of time for Christmas, we have received a supply of the
Christmas Portrait music books. The price is $XX.XX each for both U.S.
and foreign fans.
You, the Carpenters fans, may be interested to learn that you are
responsible for the lovely stamp books that Richard now possesses.
Since 1970 foreign and domestic stamps have been removed from your
envelopes and placed in albums. Foreign stamps now occupy two large
albums which will soon be expanded into a third one. The stamps are
teachers of many subjects including geography, history, art, nature,
industry, transportation, sports, architecture, resources, national
holidays, animals, etc. The art work and colors are beautiful and the
subjects depicted give an insight into each wonderful country. Many
thanks to all of you for your contribution.
The Carpenters and their staff wish you the happiest of holidays. Until next time. EV,