50th Anniversary Fan Gathering

Carpenters fans from all over the world are gathering in Thousand Oaks, California to see the sites, intermingle with each other, and enjoy panel discussions with some Carpenters “Insiders”. Learn more at http://www.carpenters50th.com/index.html

And join in the discussion on A&M Corner where details and photos are sure to emerge:
https://forum.amcorner.com/threads/50th-anniversary-celebration-west-coast.15873/

 

 

Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Carpenters are getting the royal treatment. Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is set for release worldwide December 7 by A&M/UMe. Featuring timeless hits and favorites, the album pairs Carpenters’ original vocal and instrumental tracks with new orchestral arrangements from Carpenter, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) at Abbey Road Studios. It is available now for preorder in digital, CD and 180-gram 2LP vinyl LP formats. The LP set will be released February 8.

LOS ANGELES and LONDON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Carpenters are getting the royal treatment. Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is set for release worldwide December 7 by A&M/UMe. Featuring timeless hits and favorites, the album pairs Carpenters’ original vocal and instrumental tracks with new orchestral arrangements from Carpenter, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) at Abbey Road Studios. It is available now for preorder in digital, CD and 180-gram 2LP vinyl LP formats. The vinyl set will be released February 8.

With their 1970 chart breakthroughs of “(They Long To Be) Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun,” Richard and Karen Carpenter set a new standard for melodic pop that has never been surpassed. With over 100 million in sales, Carpenters are among the all-time most successful artists in recording history. The long hit list also includes “Rainy Days And Mondays,” “Top of the World,” “Yesterday Once More” and “Superstar.”

On the heels of RPO successes with Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and The Beach Boys, Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra marks the first time the series has the actual artist playing key roles in the recording process. Richard Carpenter served as the album’s producer, arranger and conductor.

“I think that’s what makes it very special: the fact that it’s his music and he knows it and that he was there from the start,” says Royal Philharmonic orchestral manager Ian Maclay. “It’s not somebody else interpreting, which is what normally happens.”

The fusion of Richard’s production genius, the duo’s harmonies and Karen’s immortal vocals make Carpenters both endearing and enduring.

In 2016, Carpenters returned to the UK album charts, climbing to No. 2 with the compilation The Nation’s Favourite Carpenters Songs. 2017 saw the release of the best-selling 12LP Carpenters Vinyl Collection. And, stateside alone, nearly six million watched last month’s season opener of “American Horror Story: Apocalypse,” which prominently featured The Carpenters’ 1977 global hit, “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day).”

Starting today, the first two tracks from Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, “Yesterday Once More” and “Merry Christmas, Darling,” are available for streaming and immediate download with digital-album preorder. On November 16, “Ticket To Ride” will become available. Preorder Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra here.

Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Track List: [CD, 180g LP]

  1. OVERTURE
  2. YESTERDAY ONCE MORE
  3. HURTING EACH OTHER
  4. I NEED TO BE IN LOVE
  5. FOR ALL WE KNOW
  6. TOUCH ME WHEN WE’RE DANCING
  7. I BELIEVE YOU
  8. I JUST FALL IN LOVE AGAIN
  9. MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING
  10. BABY IT’S YOU
  11. (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU
  12. SUPERSTAR
  13. RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS
  14. THIS MASQUERADE
  15. TICKET TO RIDE
  16. GOODBYE TO LOVE
  17. TOP OF THE WORLD
  18. WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

 

Carpenters fans awaiting new Royal Philharmonic collaboration

Richard Carpenter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Richard Carpenter and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are melding their talents to create a new album in the Carpenters canon. Richard recorded the orchestra over in Abbey Road studios and has undertaken the task of melding those recordings with the original Carpenters tracks to create an exciting new product. Join our forum discussion as we await this album, expected to be a December release.