Hello Friends!

As this letter reaches you, many of you will have embarked upon your long summer vacation, and we're glad to hear you are making good use of your Made In America sun visors. We in southern California haven't had a chance to wear ours yet, as we've been socked in by heavy low clouds for several weeks now, but our turn will come!

As a result of additional time being spent on their forthcoming album, Richard and Karen will not be touring this summer. A fall tour however remains a possibility. Richard and John Bettis are also spending more time composing. having completed four songs as of this writing.

I hope some of you southern Californians caught and enjoyed the recent Special on KNOB/FM entitled These Are The Carpenters. The program featured two one hour segments embracing the musical history of the Carpenters, and an interview with Richard. It was super hearing all those nostalgic earlier Carpenters hits grace the airwaves once again. The Special is going in a national syndication in the near future, so keep an ear (or two) open to your local A/C (Adult Contemporary) stations for possible airing.

We understand many members have been unable to secure a copy of the single Those Good Old Dreams, so arrangements have been made for a limited supply, available to USA members only to obtain same from the fanclub for $X.XX each including shipping and handling.

Thank you for your interest in sending in questions for the newsletter which will be answered now.

Q. With all the wonderful and exciting moments Richard and Karen have experienced in the past 11 years of their career, has either of them kept a diary?

A. Unfortunately not, and they both deeply regret it.

Q. Where did Karen acquire that beautiful sweater she wore for the pose on the inner sleeve of the Made In America album?

A. From Alpha Cubic Boutique in Beverly Hills.

Q. Which Carpenters album was the most expensive to produce?

A. Made In America, followed by Christmas Portrait.

Q. Do Richard & Karen plan any Pay Television performances?

A. Not at present time. They do however feel it is an important medium, and will be involved in projects in the future.

Q. Who is Richard's current favorite pianist, and Karen's current favorite drummer?

A. Favorite pianist Oscar Peterson. Favorite drummer Steve Gadd, a well known American session drummer.

Q. If fan club response was great enough, could a song from an earlier Carpenters LP be released as a single for the first time?

A. Possibly, if coupled with same response from myriad radio stations.

Q. What song did K & R perform on the All American College show in 1969?

A. Ticket To Ride.

Q. On what tracks did Karen play drums on the Offering album?

A. All tracks.

Q. Why are there two different covers for the Song For You LP?

A. Actually there are three different covers.

1. The original release, using high grade stock with a flap featuring the original silhouette embossed. It also had a photograph of the Song For You heart and Carpenters logo taken at an angle, producing a shadow.
2. After the initial shipment or two, an executive at A & M felt the cover needed revamping to give it more "zing", and this resulted in the use of a bolder logo, bigger heart and wider border, and minus the flap. The decision to change the cover was unknown to Richard who, when seeing the new cover promptly "went through the roof". To Richard, the #2 cover looked like a mutant of the original. A discussion concerning the revised cover ensued, which produced cover #3.
3. The third cover was a return in most respects to cover #1. Richard had expected it to be exactly the same as the original cover. but when he received a copy of the newest one, the stock was not the same and no sign of the flap, so he decided to drop the matter.

Q. Were any Carpenters albums ever released on the old 4-track cartridges?

A. Not to our knowledge.

Q. Why doesn't Richard sing any more like he did on the earlier recordings?

A. Richard sings lead only when he absolutely feels a song lends itself to his sound, which usually isn't the case. (He is Karen's biggest Fan!). On the forthcoming album however, there will be at least two "cuts" that feature Richard's lead.

Q. As Richard and Karen performed at the White House during President Nixon's term of office, have they met him again during his residency in southern California?

A. No, they have not met him since, but they were very surprised to receive a copy each in the mail of his Memoirs with an accompanying hand written message "To The Carpenters. With appreciation for their superb performance at the White House on May 1, 1973. From Richard Nixon"". Dated June 18, 1978.

We'll be happy to answer more questions next time, and thank you for your interest.

Richard and Karen's Uncle Richard and Aunt Mary who live in London, England have a very special date to look forward to, they celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary August 15th. We all extend our warmest congratulations to them on such a rare occasion!

I would like to conclude this newsletter by sharing with you a favorite philosophy of our duo, written by Edwin Markham. It's entitled Destiny:

There is a destiny which makes us brothers
None goes on his way alone
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.

This may be particularly meaningful to our graduates.

Have a wonderful summer, and drive safely.

P.S. The Fan Club office will be closed for staff vacation during the month of September.

Until next time. God Bless. Rosina.

Last changed: Wed Sep 7 15:56:33 EDT 2005