Richard Carpenter’s New Album: Piano Songbook

Richard Carpenter’s new album PIANO SONGBOOK, which is scheduled for US release in January 2022, has been released in Japan.

These early copies can be had through the usual Japanese retailers that do mail order to other countries.

The Japanese version contains an obi, of course, and comes with a special postcard with the album’s artwork on it.

Our discussion of the album has been taking place on the A&M Corner Discussion Forum, Join us!

New offical book on Carpenters: The Musical Legacy

CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY

By Mike Cidoni Lennox & Chris May with Richard Carpenter

The definitive biography of one of the most enduring and endeared recording artists in history—the Carpenters—is told for the first time from the perspective of Richard Carpenter, through more than 100 hours of exclusive interviews and some 200 photographs from Richard’s personal archive, many never published.

After becoming multi-million selling, Grammy-winning superstars with their 1970 breakthrough “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” Richard and Karen Carpenter would win over fans worldwide with a record-breaking string of hits including “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Top of the World” and “Yesterday Once More.” In Carpenters: The Musical Legacy, Richard Carpenter tells their story with candor, heart and humor, chronicling the ups and downs of the duo, whose work remains the gold standard for melodic pop.

CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY is coming to bookstores on November 16th. Pre-order your copy today: Carpenters

Join in our discussion of this exciting new book on our A&M Corner Forum.

50th Anniversary of Carpenters “Close To You” single

Fifty years ago, on May 15th, 1970, A&M Records released Carpenters second single for the label. After the middling success of their prior attempt at a hit with “Ticket To Ride”, this one rode all the way to the top of the charts. Come visit the A&M Corner and discuss your first experience with “(They Long To Be) Close To You”.

By this time, A&M was pretty much all stereo with most of their singles. Pictured here is the rare mono promotional single issued to AM radio stations.

Randy Schmidt’s CARPENTERS: AN ILLUSTRATED DISCOGRAPHY Released

Out now is an exciting new book for Carpenters fans, a lushly illustrated discography by forum member and longtime Carpenters fan Randy Schmidt. This coffee-table presentation is chock-full of pictures, some never-before seen, interviews and facts about the discography of our favorite duo. Check it out at bookstores everywhere, or use this handy Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Carpenters-Illustrated-Discography-Randy-Schmidt/dp/1643073214/

Then, join in the discussion at the A&M Corner Forum: https://forum.amcorner.com/threads/carpenters-an-illustrated-discography-new-book-by-randy-schmidt.16715/