Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #51 - January, 1977

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Richard, Karen, Mom & Dad Carpenter, Fan Club Staff & EV sincerely wish for each of you a happy and most successful 1977.

1976 was an eventful year for Karen & Richard . Their TV special received excellent reviews and high ratings. (Nielson was # 6 nationwide for that week). They are hopeful of presenting another in 1977 but plans and schedules for this new year have not been completed. They will appear at HARRAHS club at Lake Tahoe February 19th through ??.

Silver, gold and. platinum records were delivered to their Downey home January 5th; nine for each of them. Denmark sent platinum ones for Now And Then and The Singles. The United Kingdom was presenter or the remaining seven, sending a silver for Please Mr. Postman, gold for Horizon and A Kind of Hush; and platinum for The Singles, Horizon and Now And Then. The A & M Hamlet label of the United Kingdom earned them a platinum record for their Ticket To Ride album. We have also been notified that the Ticket To Ride album hit gold in Holland.

Their European tour was a great success. There was a sellout of all concert hall tickets long before they were due to arrive in Europe. They presented 2 shows an evening and on one occasion, a third performance was given. It was Karen's idea to give a third show a benefit for needy children, and price admission tickets "a toy for a tot". This not only benefited needy tots, but also several thousand fans who had been unable to secure concert tickets because of the speedy sellout. One of their concerts was taped by England A & M and a Live in England album was on the English market several days after Karen & Richard arrived home. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the U.S. Any information concerning availability must be secured from A & M in England. Karen's terrific drum solo which she now performs in concerts, and Richard's beautiful rendition of the Warsaw Concerto have both been captured on this English album. There. is also a song by Karen, never before done by her on a record - Richard's beautiful arrangement of From This Moment On. Karen & Richard enjoyed the tour which went very smoothly and for a change was free of electrical problems in spite of the difference in electrical systems. My apologies to all for the lateness the newsletter. Extra Christmas chores deterred me from regular work and it was impossible to get a letter written. The newsletter will be sent alternate months beginning January and ending November each year.

After many disappointing delays, Karen has finally moved into her condominium. I've had no opportunity to see it yet, but have been told it's a beauty. Workers still go in and out making adjustments, adding final touches here and there and making last minute installations. Karen tries to work around them, placing beautiful gifts she's received and items she purchased on shelves or in drawers. Friends stop by to greet her and take the grand tour. Deliveries by various delivery men are numerous. The first ring of the doorbell each day ushers in instant bedlam, but Karen loves every minute of this new kind of excitement and even took time to bake some Christmas cookies in her new kitchen.

The beautiful Christmas cards you so thoughtfully sent were draped on Christmas ribbon and strung wall to wall, row upon row n the fan club office. When finally removed, they will be placed in their books of memories for future enjoyment Many thanks from Carpenters and staff for your thoughtfulness and for your years of loyalty and support.

For auto buffs interested in Richard's collection, here are a few more to add to the list published in newsletter # 50.

Cars which were repainted by prior owners will be restored to their original color. The Corvair, blue when Richard purchased it, has now been restored to its original white.

By popular request, more questions and answers.

Q. Will a single be released with Richard as soloist?
A. No plans for one in the near future.
Q. Who designs Karen's lovely new stage outfits?
A. Designers at Workroom 27 in L.A.
Q. Where does Richard keep all of his cars?
A. He has rented a storage garage near home but plans to build one of his own.
Q. Does he actually drive each one or are they just an investment?
A. They are an investment, but after complete restoration, he will drive each of them from time to time.
Q. Have either of them ever attended a high school reunion?
A. No. There's only been one of Richard's class and he was on tour at the time. Karen's class hasn't had one.
Q. What do they enjoy doing on a date?
A. They enjoy movies, a good stage play or concerts by their favorite artists.
Q. Has Richard ever tried to grow a mustache?
A. No.
Q. Do they watch All My Children, the TV "soap"?
A. Neither are in the "soaps" but Karen enjoys The Family. They both enjoy most of the sitcoms.
Q. Have either of them ever visited schools to discuss music with the students?
A. While vacationing in Connecticut a couple years ago, they stopped by Nathan Hale Elementary school which they both had attended, to visit former teachers; but no arrangement had been made for any discussions with the students. When Richard was attending Long Beach State College, he spent a couple hours with a class of kindergarten students in one of the elementary schools, playing piano for them. A few days later, Richard received, from the teacher, pictures drawn by the students expressing their feeling concerning his music. All pictures expressed love and appreciation of his renditions in one way or another. One youngster, when questioned by the teacher concerning details of his picture, explained it was a piano with bubbles foaming out. When she asked him if he didn't mean 'floating', he said "No, I mean foaming, because music was so light". He also served on a panel for an extension course at U.C.L.A. The course, "This Business of Music" was sponsored by BILLBOARD. Other panelists serving with Richard were Frank Zappa, composer and guitarist; John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf; Jackie DeShannon, singer and composer; and Quincy Jones, composer, arranger and producer. (Karen was there as part of the audience.)
Q. What is the last line from Boat To Sail
A. The last 4 lines when printed as a lyric, read:
All those letters mailed, from a
Boat to sail, away ah
We are riding in a boat to sail
We are riding in a boat to sail.
(Karen fades out singing "DeShannon is back", but this was not written as part of the song.)
Q. Who does the bass vocal in Boat To Sail?
A. Richard.
Q. Has Herb Alpert performed on any other Carpenters record other than Offering?
A. No.
Q. Did they ever record Cinderella Rockafella?
A. No. They only did this song in concerts.
Q. Have either of them ever contributed in any way to another artist's records?
A. No.
Q. Have they ever recorded any of their songs in French or Spanish?
A. No.
Q. Did you ever record the song You and Me Against the World?
A. No.
Q. What kind of piano does Richard play when recording and on tour?
A. Wurlitzer for electric and Baldwin for grand.

Karen & Richard left today for a week's vacation in Hawaii. They've been there several times to do concerts but could never stay long enough to enjoy the beauty of the islands. We all hope they enjoy their stay there, don't we?

NOTE: The live album they recorded in England is entitled Live at the Palladium.

Rap in March, EV.

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