Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #47 - February, 1976

Hi Fans,

The new single was released February 12 and it's a beauty! In less than a week it was on the charts and on KHJ Hitbound. I'm referring to There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World), a very lovely song first done in 1967 by Herman and the Hermits. Richard has written three new songs for the new album and if there are no unforeseen setbacks, it was be released in April.

Karen has made a full recovery from her recent illness and is her old vivacious self again. She is sincerely grateful for all the flowers cards, gifts and letters she received and the many prayers offered in her behalf by fans and friends. She sends special thanks to the Japanese fans for the thousands of paper cranes folded for her with infinite patience and love. Both she and Richard are looking forward to their forthcoming Japanese tour which will begin mid-MARCH and extend through mid-April.

Their new manager is Jerry Weintraub, a well known and much liked Hollywood personality who has handled many celebrities in the entertainment field. K & R will do the Dinah Shore show but no date has been set for the taping. There is a strong possibility that it will not be taped until after their return from Japan. Recording the new album and rehearsing for the Japanese concerts will keep them busy right up to departure time.

They have a brand new concert program which was very well received when they performed it for the first time at the Sahara Tahoe at Christmas time. on a screen. they flash pictures of K & S as infants, toddlers and youngsters. Needless to say, the audience loved it. A new version of Close To You rendered by the group in the style of the late Spike Jones, is hilarious. K is given the opportunity to leave the stage for a change of costume during Richard's beautiful rendition of the Warsaw Concerto, complete with a huge mirror slanted down above him so the audience can watch his hands as the flair beautiful and effortlessly over the keyboard.

The beautiful weather they were enjoying at Tahoe during their engagement there suddenly turned wintry and nearly prevented them, from returning hone. A heavy snowfall grounded all planes and prevented incoming planes from landing. K & R already booked on a PSA flight were expected in L.A. at noontime, but a call from Bear at Tahoe advised us of a delay. "About three hours" he said, but it was more than six hours later when a weary R & K arrived home. They had been bussed from Tahoe to Reno, Nevada where the weather and snow conditions were less severe. PSA, an exclusive California airline which normally does not fly outside of California, was given the O.K. to land at Reno airport to pick up their scheduled passengers. K & R will return to the Sahara Tahoe on March 5th for a three day engagement and are hopeful that the weather will not be a replay of their prior homecoming.

Valentine's Day was just another workday for K & R. They were at the studio by noon and worked into the wee hours of the following day, on their new album. They send thanks to you for the lovely valentines they received which made an otherwise routine day very special. If you visit the Kennedy Music Canter in flew York this year, be sure to look for R & K's gold records for the album Close To You. Both records were placed on display the first of the year and will remain there the remainder of this Bicentennial year.

By popular request, here is another question and answer session:

Q. Who designed Karen's dress that she wore at the American Music Awards?
A. Bob Mackie. (He designs many of Carol Burnett's outfits, too.)
Q. In which foreign countries have Karen and Richard performed?
A. Europe, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.
Q. Is it true they were mentioned in the Congressional Record of Congress?
A. Yes. it was February 3, 1971.
Q. What constitutes a platinum album?
A. When a million dollars worth of albums is sold, that constitutes a gold record, but when a million albums are sold, this constitutes a platinum record. This may vary from country to country according to the size and population.
Q. On which songs did Karen play bass?
A. Eve and All of My Life on the Ticket to Ride album.
Q. Do K & R read comics?
A. Yes, they enjoy "Mama", "BC", "Wizard of Id", "Tumbleweed" and "Doonesbury".
Q. Would Richard like to conduct a symphony orchestra sometime?
A. Richard, like many other musicians, would like the opportunity to do so, but most do no have the time to devote to the special training required.
Q. How many hours do K & R put in an average work day when recording?
A. Ten to sixteen.
Q. Which songs did K & R & Wes Jacobs record for RCA which were never released?
A. There were four. Strangers in the Night, Every Little Thing, Flat Baroque, and I've Never Been In Love Before.
Q. What is their opinion of the new disco music sound?
A. As in all other types of music, some they like; some they don't. Richard likes The Hustle, Get Down Tonight and Fly, Robin, Fly.
Q. What is their favorite song written by Richard?
A. Yesterday Once More.
Q. What are some of their spare time activities?
A. Watching TV, attending an occasional movie, shopping (Richard likes to shop for new albums), K likes to cook and bake and both like to listen to music. On nice days they enjoy motorcycle or bicycle riding. swimming or just plain relaxing poolside.
Q. Will they ever do a totally nostalgic album?
A. R says no plans for one have been made.
Q. Will they play baseball this year?
A. Probably not. They will not be touring as extensively as prior years and may not be in one place long enough for practice. There is no tour schedule set up for the U.S.
Q. Have any songs been released in foreign countries that have not been released in the USA?
A. The Live in Japan album released in Japan by King Records contains some songs that K & R have done in concert only and have never recorded on U.S. records.
Q. Which song was on the flip side of each of their singles?
Ticket To Ride / Your Wonderful Parade
Close To You / I Kept On Loving You
We've Only Just Begun / Maybe It's You
For All We Know / Maybe It's You
Merry Christmas Darling / Don't Be Afraid to Love
Rainy Days and Mondays / Mr. Guder
Superstar / Saturday / Bless the Beasts and Children
Hurting Each Other / Maybe It's You
It's Going to Take Some Time / Flat Baroque
Goodbye to Love / Crystal Lullabye
Sing / Druscilla Penny
Yesterday Once More / Road Ode
Top of the World / Heather
I Won't Last a Day Without You / One Love
Please Mr. Postman / This Masquerade
Santa Claus is Coming to Town / Merry Christmas Darling
Only Yesterday / Happy
Solitaire / Love Me For What I Am
There's A Kind of Hush / I'm Caught Between Goodbye and I Love You
Q. Are Carpenters still the top selling artist of A & M Records?
A. YES.

That's all for now. Will rap later. Ev.

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Last changed: Mon Jun 20 22:39:33 EDT 2005