Flashback 30 Years: 1979
JayLumbee
23 Jul 2009
Source:[/b] Official Carpenters Newsletter covering June, July, August 1979
[b]RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING ON THE BREAKUP OF "THE CARPENTERS" DURING KAREN'S SOLO RECORDING
The fan club has been inundated with anxious inquiries pertaining to the Carpenters latest movements. To dispel any rumors that the group has 'split up', Karen wishes to assure you this is not so. The reason for the temporary lapse in their recordings, is that after ten arduous years of concentrating on perfecting music to the Carpenters standards we expect, Richard felt the need for a long vacation which probably will extend into the New Year. Karen reaffirms they will resume work on their album whenever Richard feels ready. He is really enjoying the freedom from pressures, and we must not be selfish in denying him the time off he deserves.
In the meantime Karen has enjoyed her recording sessions in New York, and was happy to meet Billy Joel and Paul Simon. Her album is progressing well, and she anticipates it's release early in the New Year.
She returns to New York next month. All the material apart from one oldie will be original (No Disco!). Karen is unable to confirm at this time any information regarding a single from her eagerly awaited album, so keep your eyes and ears open!
(WHY DON'T WE HAVE A PIC OF KAREN and BILLY JOEL, or KAREN & PAUL SIMON)...arggh
KAREN WENT WITH HER PARENTS TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND & CT TO VISIT FAMILY
KAREN VISITED HER OLD SCHOOL IN CT
Mom Dad joined Karen in New York, then the trio drove to visit relatives in Baltimore and Connecticut, where they were introduced to two brand new members of the family: Cousin Betsy gave birth to an 8 pound 10 ounce daughter Shiloh, and cousin Paulie a 6 pound 9 ounce daughter Ashley.
Karen made a nostalgic return trip to her old school Nathan Hale, where the caretaker escorted her to her old classroom. I guess current students were sorry her visit coincided with vacation time!
--Who are Betsy and Paulie's parents? And how do we track them down?
Shiloh and Ashley should be 30 years old now.
RICHARD ENTERED SOME CAR CONTESTS.....And uhmmmm, REHAB
Richard entered his 1959 Chrysler 300E in the ninth annual Chrysler 300 Club Show at Champaign, Illinois, where his car was placed first in the 1958-1959 class, and tied for first place in "Best of Show" category. His personal appearance was a highlight of the show.
He also entered for exhibit only, five of his prestigious collection in recent charity event at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena in California.
One of his favorite pastimes lately, has been browsing through some rare record stores. He has also spent some time with friends in Kansas City ("friends = rehab) and Karen joined them for a week.
[b]KAREN WENT TO AN A&M HERB ALPERT PARTY
When Karen returned home recently she accepted an invitation to attend a party at A & M studios to celebrate the release of Herb Alpert's smash hit single Rise. (watch video)
-Rise,1979
She enjoyed meeting many friends in the music industry signed to the same label.
CARPENTERS DESSERT 'PEACH MABLE' APPEARED IN CELEBRITY COOKBOOK
INGREDIENTS
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 teaspoon almond essence
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 pint whipped cream
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 box vanilla wafers
2 cups peaches (canned & drained)
METHOD
Place wafers in plastic bag, half box at a time and crush with rolling.
Spread on bottom of baking dish (8 x 11) or something similar. Save some to sprinkle on top.
Mix butter, flavorings, salt & sugar in blender. Blend well. Add eggs and blend.
Mix gelatin with water quickly & blend with other ingredients.
Whip cream till stiff & fold into blended ingredients. Now fold in the drained & diced peaches.
Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
JAPAN RELEASES "CARPENTERS FIRST TEN YEARS", A 3-ALBUM SET
Alfa Records Inc. in Japan have received many inquiries about the special Carpenters albums released in Japan, and have very kindly given information on availability of same: Carpenters First Ten Years is a three-album compilation, containing thirty nine previously recorded songs, and features a gorgeous booklet. This is also available on cassette with twenty-four tunes. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE IN JAPANESE YEN. Retail price of album is Y4,500 plus shipping and handling Y3,0OO which totals 7,500 Yen which is approximately $35.00. Retail price of cassette is Y4,000 plus shipping and handling Y500 which totals 4,500 Yen
...and that was 30 years ago for the Carpenters
[b]RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING ON THE BREAKUP OF "THE CARPENTERS" DURING KAREN'S SOLO RECORDING
The fan club has been inundated with anxious inquiries pertaining to the Carpenters latest movements. To dispel any rumors that the group has 'split up', Karen wishes to assure you this is not so. The reason for the temporary lapse in their recordings, is that after ten arduous years of concentrating on perfecting music to the Carpenters standards we expect, Richard felt the need for a long vacation which probably will extend into the New Year. Karen reaffirms they will resume work on their album whenever Richard feels ready. He is really enjoying the freedom from pressures, and we must not be selfish in denying him the time off he deserves.
In the meantime Karen has enjoyed her recording sessions in New York, and was happy to meet Billy Joel and Paul Simon. Her album is progressing well, and she anticipates it's release early in the New Year.
She returns to New York next month. All the material apart from one oldie will be original (No Disco!). Karen is unable to confirm at this time any information regarding a single from her eagerly awaited album, so keep your eyes and ears open!
(WHY DON'T WE HAVE A PIC OF KAREN and BILLY JOEL, or KAREN & PAUL SIMON)...arggh
KAREN WENT WITH HER PARENTS TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND & CT TO VISIT FAMILY
KAREN VISITED HER OLD SCHOOL IN CT
Mom Dad joined Karen in New York, then the trio drove to visit relatives in Baltimore and Connecticut, where they were introduced to two brand new members of the family: Cousin Betsy gave birth to an 8 pound 10 ounce daughter Shiloh, and cousin Paulie a 6 pound 9 ounce daughter Ashley.
Karen made a nostalgic return trip to her old school Nathan Hale, where the caretaker escorted her to her old classroom. I guess current students were sorry her visit coincided with vacation time!
--Who are Betsy and Paulie's parents? And how do we track them down?
Shiloh and Ashley should be 30 years old now.RICHARD ENTERED SOME CAR CONTESTS.....And uhmmmm, REHAB
Richard entered his 1959 Chrysler 300E in the ninth annual Chrysler 300 Club Show at Champaign, Illinois, where his car was placed first in the 1958-1959 class, and tied for first place in "Best of Show" category. His personal appearance was a highlight of the show.
He also entered for exhibit only, five of his prestigious collection in recent charity event at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena in California.
One of his favorite pastimes lately, has been browsing through some rare record stores. He has also spent some time with friends in Kansas City ("friends = rehab) and Karen joined them for a week.
[b]KAREN WENT TO AN A&M HERB ALPERT PARTY
When Karen returned home recently she accepted an invitation to attend a party at A & M studios to celebrate the release of Herb Alpert's smash hit single Rise. (watch video)
-Rise,1979She enjoyed meeting many friends in the music industry signed to the same label.
CARPENTERS DESSERT 'PEACH MABLE' APPEARED IN CELEBRITY COOKBOOK
INGREDIENTS
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 teaspoon almond essence
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 pint whipped cream
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 box vanilla wafers
2 cups peaches (canned & drained)
METHOD
Place wafers in plastic bag, half box at a time and crush with rolling.
Spread on bottom of baking dish (8 x 11) or something similar. Save some to sprinkle on top.
Mix butter, flavorings, salt & sugar in blender. Blend well. Add eggs and blend.
Mix gelatin with water quickly & blend with other ingredients.
Whip cream till stiff & fold into blended ingredients. Now fold in the drained & diced peaches.
Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
JAPAN RELEASES "CARPENTERS FIRST TEN YEARS", A 3-ALBUM SET
Alfa Records Inc. in Japan have received many inquiries about the special Carpenters albums released in Japan, and have very kindly given information on availability of same: Carpenters First Ten Years is a three-album compilation, containing thirty nine previously recorded songs, and features a gorgeous booklet. This is also available on cassette with twenty-four tunes. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE IN JAPANESE YEN. Retail price of album is Y4,500 plus shipping and handling Y3,0OO which totals 7,500 Yen which is approximately $35.00. Retail price of cassette is Y4,000 plus shipping and handling Y500 which totals 4,500 Yen
...and that was 30 years ago for the Carpenters
newvillefan
28 Jul 2009
QUOTE (JayLumbee @ Jul 23 2009, 08:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
She returns to New York next month. All the material apart from one oldie will be original (No Disco!). Karen is unable to confirm at this time any information regarding a single from her eagerly awaited album, so keep your eyes and ears open!
What's strange with this is that Karen's sessions were already underway and by this time they had obviously settled on the final tracks that would make the album, since the 'one oldie' would be 'Still Crazy After All These Years'.
So why do they insist on the emphatic line 'No disco!', when it's plainly obvious the album had several up tempo disco style (Lovelines, My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, etc)?
Karen was bringing tapes home on a regular basis for them to hear the progress, and we know this because Agnes herself objected to her daughter singing lines like 'I remember the first time/I laid more than eyes on you'. The warning signs were there from the early days that this probably wouldn't go over well with the Carpenters inner circle. By saying 'no disco!', it almost comes across as a veiled threat to Karen, saying to her 'you had better not be!'. Or maybe they were trying to downplay any acknowledgement that she was in fact doing disco with some tracks. It almost smacks of Richard writing this bit himself.
Edited by newvillefan, 28 July 2009 - 01:02 PM.
Song for You man
28 Jul 2009
Has anyone ever made the dessert from the newsletter?? Just wondering....
Jonathan
Jonathan
LeadSister
29 Jul 2009
QUOTE (newvillefan @ Jul 28 2009, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What's strange with this is that Karen's sessions were already underway and by this time they had obviously settled on the final tracks that would make the album, since the 'one oldie' would be 'Still Crazy After All These Years'.
So why do they insist on the emphatic line 'No disco!', when it's plainly obvious the album had several up tempo disco style (Lovelines, My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, etc)?
Karen was bringing tapes home on a regular basis for them to hear the progress, and we know this because Agnes herself objected to her daughter singing lines like 'I remember the first time/I laid more than eyes on you'. The warning signs were there from the early days that this probably wouldn't go over well with the Carpenters inner circle. By saying 'no disco!', it almost comes across as a veiled threat to Karen, saying to her 'you had better not be!'. Or maybe they were trying to downplay any acknowledgement that she was in fact doing disco with some tracks. It almost smacks of Richard writing this bit himself.
So why do they insist on the emphatic line 'No disco!', when it's plainly obvious the album had several up tempo disco style (Lovelines, My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, etc)?
Karen was bringing tapes home on a regular basis for them to hear the progress, and we know this because Agnes herself objected to her daughter singing lines like 'I remember the first time/I laid more than eyes on you'. The warning signs were there from the early days that this probably wouldn't go over well with the Carpenters inner circle. By saying 'no disco!', it almost comes across as a veiled threat to Karen, saying to her 'you had better not be!'. Or maybe they were trying to downplay any acknowledgement that she was in fact doing disco with some tracks. It almost smacks of Richard writing this bit himself.
That's true... strange they would put the no disco comment in there. Maybe it was in Richards mind that he was going to shoot the album down and had inside knowledge about A&M in california shooting it down. NY was excited about it but Ca didnt want it released.
NedNickerson
31 Jul 2009
Actually the "oldie" would have been "Jimmy Mack" which was recorded in 1967 by Martha and the Vandellas.
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu4Wna0YPx0
Karen Carpenter - Jimmy Mack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUJcxto5N8
Edited by NedNickerson, 31 July 2009 - 10:25 AM.
newvillefan
01 Aug 2009
QUOTE (NedNickerson @ Jul 31 2009, 05:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Actually the "oldie" would have been "Jimmy Mack" which was recorded in 1967 by Martha and the Vandellas.
I'm not so sure. There's surely no way they could have conceivably included that song on the album, given the other material? It jars completely and doesn't suit Karen's voice at all.
NedNickerson
01 Aug 2009
The newsletter said she had recorded one oldie, but wasn't talking about what finally showed up on the album.
"Jimmy Mack" was originally recorded in 1967 by Martha and the Vandellas. (Martha and the Vandellas also recorded
"Dancing In The Street" in 1964). Karen began recording her album in 1979 and the newsletter appeared in 1979. "Jimmy Mack" was at that time, a 12-year-old song.
"Still Crazy" was originally recorded in 1975 (just 4 years prior) by Paul Simon for his album "Still Crazy After All These Years." That album also included "I Do It For Your Love," another song Karen recorded.
"Jimmy Mack" was originally recorded in 1967 by Martha and the Vandellas. (Martha and the Vandellas also recorded
"Dancing In The Street" in 1964). Karen began recording her album in 1979 and the newsletter appeared in 1979. "Jimmy Mack" was at that time, a 12-year-old song.
"Still Crazy" was originally recorded in 1975 (just 4 years prior) by Paul Simon for his album "Still Crazy After All These Years." That album also included "I Do It For Your Love," another song Karen recorded.
BlueBoy
03 Aug 2009
QUOTE (NedNickerson @ Aug 1 2009, 10:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
"Still Crazy" was originally recorded in 1975 (just 4 years prior)
Good point.
JayLumbee
04 Aug 2009
Source: The Ledger (Lakeland, FL) -July 16, 1979 - Mon, Vol.73, no.266 (page 2)
PEOPLE PAGE:
July, 1979 - Karen attends Olivia Newton-John's July 4th party
"One of Australia's leading citizens celebrated the Fourth of July and Bastille Day combined at her marvelous Malibu house overlooking the Pacific and all. That's Olivia Newton-John, who put on a tremendous display of fireworks for those she loves the best, including producer Lee Kramer, her steady, who lives on the premises.
After a barbequed and apple pie dinner came disco. Olivia's cliff-top retreat sports a new built-in dance floor next to the swimming pool, where everyone moved to the beat of disco artists "Franklin and Friends". The movers included the Rod Stewarts, Karen Carpenter, Andy Gibb, David Frost, who was there with Carol Lindley, Glen Campbell and his wife Sarah, Susan George, and like that." (?huh?).
HERE and THERE
"How come Beach Boy Dennis Wilson was at the Bee Gees concert in Los Angeles at the same time the Beach Boys were performing live in Detroit?
He wasn't the only celeb at Dodger Stadium that night. Among the 56,000 people there were Barbra Streisand and her son Jason, and Jon Peters, Olivia Newton-John with Karen Carpenter (whatsa matter girls, no dates?), Richard Carpenter with a female friend, the screen's new heart throb, Dean-Paul Martin, all the Jacksons except Jermaine, Bobby Lamm (from the group Chicago), and Andy Gibb, the Bee Gees' younger brother, who has always worked solo.
Photos at Bee Gees concert:
(1)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=166
(2)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=167
(3)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=235
(4)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=236
Edited by JayLumbee, 04 August 2009 - 12:39 PM.
PEOPLE PAGE:
July, 1979 - Karen attends Olivia Newton-John's July 4th party
"One of Australia's leading citizens celebrated the Fourth of July and Bastille Day combined at her marvelous Malibu house overlooking the Pacific and all. That's Olivia Newton-John, who put on a tremendous display of fireworks for those she loves the best, including producer Lee Kramer, her steady, who lives on the premises.
After a barbequed and apple pie dinner came disco. Olivia's cliff-top retreat sports a new built-in dance floor next to the swimming pool, where everyone moved to the beat of disco artists "Franklin and Friends". The movers included the Rod Stewarts, Karen Carpenter, Andy Gibb, David Frost, who was there with Carol Lindley, Glen Campbell and his wife Sarah, Susan George, and like that." (?huh?).
HERE and THERE
"How come Beach Boy Dennis Wilson was at the Bee Gees concert in Los Angeles at the same time the Beach Boys were performing live in Detroit?
He wasn't the only celeb at Dodger Stadium that night. Among the 56,000 people there were Barbra Streisand and her son Jason, and Jon Peters, Olivia Newton-John with Karen Carpenter (whatsa matter girls, no dates?), Richard Carpenter with a female friend, the screen's new heart throb, Dean-Paul Martin, all the Jacksons except Jermaine, Bobby Lamm (from the group Chicago), and Andy Gibb, the Bee Gees' younger brother, who has always worked solo.
Photos at Bee Gees concert:
(1)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=166
(2)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=167
(3)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=235
(4)http://www.leadsister.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=236
Edited by JayLumbee, 04 August 2009 - 12:39 PM.
JayLumbee
04 Aug 2009
I also found an article which says the Carpenters were to appear in Heavenly Valley, CA for ABC-TVs "The Second Annual John Denver Celebrity Ski Tournament", which will be taped February 21-25 (1979) for a March 25 air date".
Others scheduled were Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Tiegs, Donny & Marie Osmond, John Davidson, Barbara Mandrell, & Leif Garrett & Willie Nelson.
Don't know if this aired or not, but doubt the Carpenters appeared.
But, the April, 1979 Carpenter newsletter gives us this:
Hi Friend!
I hope the personal message of gratitude from our mutual idols will help soften the blow of the disappointing news I must flow convey to you. It is with deep regret Richard and Karen have been forced to suspend all recording activities for the time being, resulting in the anticipated new album being put in limbo.
Karen felt the time was right to proceed with the second and final operation on her left ear. The surgery was a complete success, and her hearing is better than anticipated!
By a strange coincidence Dad's ear must have been in sympathy with his daughter's when they became fellow in-patients at the same hospital, and surgery was scheduled for both on the same day!
Richard decided to take a well earned extended vacation, and is enjoying driving and visiting old friends. He has spent some time with his buddy Wes Jacobs in Michigan which has been a pleasant change for him.
He and Karen were bitterly disappointed they were unable to mark the occasion of their tenth anniversary with the arrival of a new album. They had to cancel their television special too, which ironically was to have embraced the story of their first decade in the recording industry.
