Hi Fans:

Carpenters & Staff send sincere regrets to those of you who may have suffered losses, physical or material, from the devastating storms that lashed across our country. We in California were happy to see the rain after two years of drought, but once it started it forgot to stop! So here's wishing everyone a beautiful Spring, Summer and Fall.

Karen & Mom thank you all once again for remembering their birthdays, Karen's 25th birthday was spent opening with the group at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Mom & Dad flew there to help her celebrate it, and after the second show, they and everyone connected with the show met in Karen's dressing room to help devour the scrumptious birthday cake which had been specially baked by the hotel chef.

While Richard & Karen were in Tahoe last month, they donned their snow apparel and rode the lift to the ski area where they had fun learning to ski. It was their first opportunity to participate in any fresh air recreation this year. Since before Christmas, they have spent most of the time at A & M studios working on a Christmas album.

The new single Sweet, Sweet Smile is doing exceptionally well on the Country/Western charts, and are bulleted in all three trades.

For car buffs, here are the latest additions since last newsletter.

1977 Jaguar XJS

1955 Plymouth Belvedere

1972 Ford Ranchero 1/2 ton pick-up

1978 Dodge Diplomat

The Diplomat was a Christmas gift to Mom from Karen, Richard & Dad.

Time for a few questions and answers, so here goes.

Q. Is it true that Karen is going to do some movies?

A. Karen has had several offers for TV & movies, and would like to try her hand at acting, but is too heavily committed at the present time.

Q. What does Richard plan to do with his collection of cars?

A. He has no immediate plans, but has considered having a showroom to display them, but not until all cars are refurbished to mint condition.

Q. Does Karen have a collection hobby?

A. Not at the present time. She collected stuffed animals until she ran out of room then had to put many in storage. Her hobby now is needlepoint, the patterns of which she creates herself.

Q. Does Karen enjoy working any puzzles?

A. Yes indeed. She is a crossword puzzle fan & enjoys working at them when time permits, such as during breakfast. There are several crossword books in her bathroom magazine rack, including a toilet roll of puzzles.

Q. A British magazine stated that the Carpenters follow-up single to Ticket to Ride was Cinderella Rockafella. Is this true?

A. No. The Carpenters have never recorded Cinderella Rockafella as a single, but have sung it at concerts. The follow-up was Close To You.

Q. Are Carpenters singles or albums available through the fanclub?

A. The only record available through the club is the Christmas single. This year the single was The Christmas Song / Merry Christmas Darling. These sell for $X.XX to USA fans & $X.XX foreign fans. Prices include postage and handling.

Q. Did the Carpenters ever record You And Me Against The World? I saw the sheet music with Karen & Richard's picture on the cover, printed underneath was "As recorded by the Carpenters on A & M records".

A. Carpenters have never recorded You And Me Against The World and had nothing to do with their picture on the cover. It was an error made by the publishers.

Q. What is the Carpenters favorite single they have recorded?

A. They are both partial to Top Of The World.

Q. Did Karen take Home Economics in school?

A. Home Economics was a requirement in the Junior High School grades. She learned cooking and sewing. Now and then when time schedules permit Karen attends various gourmet cooking classes. She is an excellent cook and has a kitchen full of gadgets. A double oven, a microwave oven, a warming oven, and a barbecue custom built into her kitchen.

Q. Do Richard & Karen like escargot? (Edible snails)

A. Yes. They also enjoy all kinds of shell fish.

Q. Why is it that when recording their albums, the Carpenters don't use the same musicians as they do on the stage?

A. The Carpenters are a duo, not a group. The back-up musicians who travel with them were hired mainly for concert tours and personal appearances. When Richard & Karen record, studio musicians are hired through the local musician's union. If the back-up men are available, or if Richard needs them for special effects, they are hired along with the studio musicians.

Q. Where did Richard learn to arrange & orchestrate the songs Karen sings?

A. Orchestrating and arranging is a natural talent for Richard. Arranging is similar to repeating something you've heard, but giving it your own version. There are writers and/or storytellers who can, with words, make a beautiful story out of a report or article which was previously written as a gruesome event. Richard has the ability to transform harsh sounds into beautiful ones. Who else but Richard would play Beatles music on the church organ during offering and the opening and closing of church services? (And get away with it!)

Q. Did Richard write a song entitled Topsy?

A. No, but a member of the musician's union named Richard Carpenter may have written it.

Keep your questions rolling in for the next session. Don't forget, the charts are strongly influenced by the number of people who call the radio stations requesting performers songs, so keep bugging your local D.J's for the Carpenters latest releases. and help get them back to #1 where they belong:

We have some lovely new wallet pictures and posters, each a different pose taken from their latest photo session. Karen looks stunning in a red satin pantsuit, and Richard (sporting a super short haircut) in a cute stars and stripe outfit. Prices are the same as previously quoted on the current keepsakes list. Wallet pictures are $XX.XX each for U.S. members, and XX overseas members. The new poster is $X.XX each for U.S. members, and $XX.XX for overseas members. All prices include postage and handling.

We all wish you a very Happy Easter, and hope the weather helps you all to keep smiling that Sweet, Sweet Smile!

Rap in May. EV.

Last changed: Tue Jul 19 07:39:33 EDT 2005