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Hi Fans!
TV taping is completed for "CARPENTERS SPACE ENCOUNTERS". Richard & Karen's new TV Special which will air May 17. John Davidson, Charlie Callas & Suzanne Somers will be their guests. John & Suzanne as outer space people will transport Richard & Karen to an outer space night club show as perform by creatures from outer space. Bob, Doug, Danny. Tony & Cubby will appear creatures from another planet. They donned bald-head gear with tufts of hair protruding here & there, so you may have difficulty identifying them! Several midgets were hired to play the part of robots-and wait 'til you see these 'robots' dance. You'll laugh as these little creatures, dressed in tu-tus dance to The Stripper. There is a lot of dancing in the show, which includes a lovely number by Karen & John. While taping this segment, they were confined to a limited area so they would not dance out of camera range John got so carried away with the dancing, he forgot to watch the limitation so Karen elbowed him a number of times to get him back. It took several jerks before he realized why he was being elbowed, and they both had a good laugh about it when the scene was finally wrapped.
The show is based on the lives of Richard & Karen. You will see them rehearsing in a garage, playing for a dance in a school gym, & finally recording songs in a professional studio. In the garage you will hear them play Goofus & Little Girl Blue. At the high school dance they will play Do Ron Ron, Fun, Fun, Fun and End Of The World, & Karen & Charlie will do a drum duet to Dancing In The Streets. Richard renders a piano solo of the combined themes from Star Wars & Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He calls the combination Close Wars & performs it on a beautiful 'see-through' Lucite piano. Many of the songs from the Carpenters latest album Passage were used in the Special, including Man Smart, 'Woman Smarter sung by Karen & Suzanne. Special effects were fantastic. Along with great lighting, smoke fire & a laser were used to give the impression of outer space. Richard danced in the finale. An amusing moment occurred when one of the robot's 'head' flew open & costuming had to close it for him.
Though they worked 12 to 15 hours a day to film this special. K & R said it was fun work because of the great crew who worked with them at the ABC studios. The guest stars were a pleasure to work with. Suzanne is a delightful person, quite unlike Chrissie, the girl she portrays on Three's Company; Charlie Callas is a riot - a very funny man; John Davidson is a real sweetheart. Karen says he is even more handsome in person than he is TV! Wow! Richard & Karen acknowledge, & are grateful for the outstanding talents of Bill Belew the costume designer, Bob Thompson the choreographer, Bill Larkin & Steven Sphers the writers, Kathy the hairdresser, Jackie Eifert the dresser (wardrobe), Peter Knight, who with Richard selected and arranged all the orchestration, and Bob Henry the producer & director. Jerry Weintraub was executive producer, and Frank Brill coordinator.
For several years K & R have been invited to participate in a top German TV show called Star Parade. Until now they have been unable to accept the invitation due to prior commitments. This year's schedule enable them to participate. They will fly to Germany in time for a rehearsal May 10 & taping May 11. An engagement for a show in Paris is tentatively set for May 12. There may also be an appearance in London. but as this letter goes press, negotiations are not completed. These engagements will be performed without the group. K & R will lip synch to a record, so it will not involve transportation of several tons of sound equipment.
When they return to the States they will make some changes-in their stage show, then rehearse for their engagement at Harrah's Club, Lake Tahoe June 2 through June 15. The end of June (29th) will find them once again at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas through July 12, with David Brenner as opening act.
Good news for all you fans who have been begging since 1971 for a Christmas album! There will be one this year. It will include a variety of Christmas music-pop, religious & traditional Carols. There have been numerous inquiries concerning a song Karen sang so beautifully on their Christmas special last year. It is called Christ Is Born & was written by Bartolucci & Charles. We believe Perry Como was the only recording star to record this song which features on his Perry Como Christmas Album number LSP 4016. Richard used the song from this album, and rearranged it for Karen. At present time they are busy mixing this long awaited album in readiness for marketing during the 1978 Christmas Season.
They have also been busy working with a newcomer B.L. Mitchell, who was introduced to Richard by Joe Osborn some time ago. Bob also sings in the Kellogg's Raisin Bran commercial. K & H are sponsoring Bob. Richard will be the producer, Karen, associate producer of a B.L. Mitchell album. Bob's first single to be released very soon. will be Where I Want To Be / Venus.
When the Christmas album, and Bob's album have been completed, Richard & Karen will begin work immediately on another album of their own.
Richard has passed on the information relating to numerous inquiries concerning the songs he & Karen recorded on the Magic Lamp label.
Through a friend at Cal State Long Beach, Richard & Karen met and auditioned for Joe Osborn. Joe and a partner owned Magic Lamp Records. The partner financed, and Joe chose the artists and produced. Other artists on the Magic Lamp label included Johnny Burnette, Vince Edwards (Ben Casey), and more. Jan & Dean's last album on J & D Records was distributed by Magic Lamp. All Magic Lamp releases were recorded in Joe's garage studio. None of the releases were successful. due for the most part, to lack of distribution.
Karen recorded Looking For Love, I'll Be Yours, Parting Of Our Way, and one other. The only record of Karen's released was Looking For Love / I'll Be Yours in the summer of 1966.
The musicians on that record were Richard at piano and the Chamberlain Music Master, Karen on drums, Joe Osborn on electric bass and Joe Jacobs on stand up bass. Richard's favorite is Looking For Love.
Most people who heard the record preferred I'll Be Yours, which he didn't like as much, because it was a variation of another tune he wrote called You'll Love Me, which he liked more. Approximately 500 records were pressed.
While Richard & Karen keep busy with recordings, Mom & Dad keep busy collecting more cars for Richard. For those of you compiling a list of same the following are seven additions since the last newsletter.
The Willys and Frazer were once part of Mr. Harrah's auto collection in Sparks, Nevada. Richard flew a representative up there to bid for him durning a recent auction. The rep drove the Brazer home, and Mom & Dad flew up a few days later to pick up the Willys. Driving back, they got as far as Stockton when the brakes locked. While the master cylinder was being replaced in a local garage, they browsed the local area. Richard's collection now numbers seventy, and the search goes on for others he wants.
You who are dog lovers might be interested to learn Richard has adopted a Samayed puppy. Though he is not related to Karen's "Mush", he looks exact like her. Richard named him "Ollie" after one of the guests on their Christmas Special. (Remember Kukla, Fran & Ollie?)
Mom & Dad enjoyed a very happy Wedding Anniversary with their family a close friends at their favorite seafood restaurant. Congratulatory messages and floral bouquets were in abundance.
I'm sorry I didn't make it clear in the last newsletter that there is only one new poster. and one new wallet picture. They will be referred to on the keepsakes list as "Poster S" and ;Wallet Picture #2. The fanclub staff will appreciate your cooperation in using the official order form when placing orders for merchandise, thank you.
We wish you all safe, sun & fun filled vacations this coming Summer.
Rap in July, EV.
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Last changed: Tue Jul 26 14:58:33 EDT 2005