📣 News Carpenters: "The Vinyl Collection"

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Simon KC1950

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Hi,
I wrote to Richard in September. One thing I asked was are there any plans for the 50th. He replied to me a few weeks later. He said "At the moment there are no plans for the 50th but I'm certain that there will be in the next couple of years"
and here's the exciting part..
"A Vinyl box set containing all of our Studio Albums will be released in the near future"

this is huge news and very exciting. I have been waiting for 6 months now and still haven't heard any news. Does anyone have any news? Will "As Time Goes By" or the Solo albums be included"

*the quote is a section of the letter and is copied and not edited
 
While this is good news, I wonder what kind of price-tag they'll put on something like this. If it's just the main 10 studio albums: OFFERING through VOICE OF THE HEART, at today's prices for vinyl that could retail for about $250 to $260.
Add in LOVELINES and AS TIME GOES BY, plus the two Christmas albums, and you can up that by at least $100 more. Add in their most popular compilation, SINGLES 1969-1973 and maybe the two live albums (one a double) and we're up another $100 or so. The three solo albums would tack on another $80 or so.

It'll remain to be seen just how comprehensive the set will be and how many albums it will include. Anyway, future buyers need to start saving their pennies for a rainy day...
 
Harry,
my savings have begun ! So far I'm at £100. It'll be good to see what's included. Could "As Time Goes By" be released on vinyl? Would it all fit on one record, Wouldn't it have to be a double album? But, yes the price will be high!
 
I have mixed feelings about a vinyl set. I would imagine that all of the tracks will be original mixes, and that's exactly what I already have on my original vinyl. So just what would I be gaining from such a set? Cleaner vinyl? Maybe - that depends on the pressing plant chosen and how good *they* are. Will the vinyl be anything special? Audiophile quality, colored vinyl, picture-discs, etc.?

If some CD-only albums make it to vinyl, THOSE might be intriguing to me. I'd like to have KAREN CARPENTER and AS TIME GOES BY on vinyl. PACC? Maybe... I already have TIME on vinyl.
 
Harry, I would also be thrilled to get some cd albums on to vinyl. I hope they use some good designs and include a huge book the size of the vinyls. Your point of the mixes, I imagine it would be originals, I also wouldn't mind remixes. Would Richard go to the effort of remixing all albums for this set? Maybe we might see (2017 remix) added to the reading resource. ☺
 
I wonder what else might be planned for the 50th. Unreleased tracks added to the original albums- those that were recorded during the same time but never released? Something. Anything.

Wonder if the boxed set would be offered through the PBS delivery method.
 
For those who are audio specialists on here well know that everything has to be perfect for a vinyl album to sound good. Once I knew a person who claimed that vinyl was the solution to listening but then found out they were listening with a novelty player from Target claiming audio perfection. I can't even imagine listening to any media on it, so I was really taken back. Now, the stylus, the balance, the weight, the specs, the isolation, the speed accuracy, etc, is just the beginning to good vinyl sound. I chased every ability to hear better sound through the years, VHS-HiFi, LaserDisk, CD/DVD,Blueray then all the amps from tube amps to great transistor amps, then the Dolby encoding, etc. and I can't imagine going back to vinyl. Now I had a music friend show me the difference on the most expensive equipment through the years and the warmth can be heard, but it can almost be duplicated with higher fidelity in higher priced Denon or better equipment with a good digital to analog converter on equipment as above and to listen without scratches or pops is heaven to me. Now, I don't want to discourage anyone, and I have to admit there is a certain romance with a high priced turntable/cartridge/stylus, but to me, I'd rather have some of the unreleased material on good quality CD/DVD/Blueray, so I can play in it the highest fidelity possible. Besides, the years are quickly coming to an end for most fans from the 70's, and I want to hear all I have craved since then with the best fidelity possible. (Unashamedly, I used to dream of seeing them record in the studio back in the day with songs I could not remember when I woke up in the morning.) Most of my vinyl I have bought at least 4 per album when turntables were our best source, for I wore them out. My CD, DVD, and now iTunes collection fare better and are heaven sent to me. The remastered classics are still my favorites along with the SACD. Now that is a magic medium to me...SACD is multiple pleasure. Hi-Fidelity must be man's most expensive toy, for one can never spend enough. There is always something better and easier. Besides, good digital quality is easier to carry around.

Craig
 
I'd be interested for an "Offering" that reproduces the original jacket...and vinyl of "Karen Carpenter" and "Lovelines". Beyond that, I HAVE all the original vinyl records and kept most in pretty good condition, so a boxed set would be a tough call without some premiums -- can't see such a reissue containing any unreleased tracks, so there would have to be some seriously good booklet or new sleeve notes...
 
Yeah, for me it would be all about any bonus content - perhaps a CD with a new track or a new remix. Or perhaps even that new track on a vinyl 45. That could push me over the edge towards a purchase. But just a vinyl set? Been there, done that, and have all but the box.

I too am of the opinion that good vinyl *can* be great, but the simplest click or pop just ruins the experience. My aged ears aren't what they used to be. I can still discern some differences in mixes, but the super high-frequencies just aren't there anymore, so a well mastered CD is all I need.
 
Yeah, for me it would be all about any bonus content - perhaps a CD with a new track or a new remix. Or perhaps even that new track on a vinyl 45. That could push me over the edge towards a purchase
.
now that would be special!
 
Wonder if the boxed set would be offered through the PBS delivery method.
I certainly hope not. PBS charged $72 for the Christmas DVD, so imagine what a vinyl box set would cost. I'd have to sell a kidney to afford it!

My guess is it'll only be sold in Japan... I don't think a kidney would cut it, more like my immortal soul. That ain't gonna happen... although, if it contained Karen's solo album, with the original cover that Mark saw at A&M...

Get behind me Satan!
 
I guess I'm the only person disheartened by this news. I was quietly hoping that in 2 years a new compilation would come out in which Richard would slip a couple of new remixes and 2 or 3 of the unreleased tracks he's happy with.

Now that the anniversary's being marked by this release, I guess off floats the final hope.
 
this is NOT to mark the 50th. No plans made yet been made for that as of 9/13/16. I think this box set will be released sometime this year.

as for the speculation about where it will be released, I'm sure it will be released internationally. Richard knew I live in Britain when he wrote to me, why would he bother telling me about a release exclusive to Japan or PBS? It's becoming more and more popular now for artists to release a vinyl box set. I believe this will be an international release and have nothing to do with the 50th anniversary. I asked him about the 50th and he stated no plans yet but this box set will be released in the near future.
 
this is NOT to mark the 50th. No plans made yet been made for that as of 9/13/16. I think this box set will be released sometime this year.

as for the speculation about where it will be released, I'm sure it will be released internationally. Richard knew I live in Britain when he wrote to me, why would he bother telling me about a release exclusive to Japan or PBS? It's becoming more and more popular now for artists to release a vinyl box set. I believe this will be an international release and have nothing to do with the 50th anniversary. I asked him about the 50th and he stated no plans yet but this box set will be released in the near future.

Gotcha Simon. . . .crossed wires.
 
It's a well known fact that Richard hated most of their album covers, especially the early ones.... maybe to make this vinyl set unique and collectible, they could put the albums in new covers approved by Richard. Since Karen isn't available for new photos, paintings could be used if suitable photos can't be found.

I know purists would have a coronary if this idea came to pass, but it'd definitely make for a special set.
 
I'd be interested for an "Offering" that reproduces the original jacket...and vinyl of "Karen Carpenter" and "Lovelines". Beyond that, I HAVE all the original vinyl records and kept most in pretty good condition, so a boxed set would be a tough call without some premiums -- can't see such a reissue containing any unreleased tracks, so there would have to be some seriously good booklet or new sleeve notes...

loveliness was issued on vinyl, I have it. I will surely be frosted if offering will be included, I have rejected several offers to sell mine.
 
I certainly understand why those of you who were smart enough to maintain your original Carpenters vinyl in good shape or were lucky enough to find some used C's vinyl in good shape, would find this release a bit of a drag (hey, did I just used a 70's pejorative? *wink*) but for those of us who didn't have that foresight or - as in my case - have a mother who decided to have a garage sale while I was in college and sold almost all my vinyl stuff (she sent me the money, thinking I'd be happy to have the cash) - this would be something I'd buy in a heart-beat, irrespective of price. I would hope that it was all original, as well - not versions Richard tooled with later on.

If something new were included, that would be icing on the cake for me.
 
For the life if me why would I buy my umpteenth vinyl copy of this catalog? Cuz it's a new release bringing back those nostalgic wisps of memory when a new single or lp or new fan club treat brought imminent joy.
 
personally I think it's a great idea for Richard to put together this set. Not only for the fans who would like to replace their own vinyls / don't have them but, for the new young fans like me. I'm 16 and have 10 of their studio albums on vinyl, they are mostly all old and tatty so would love to get some new ones. Also the other young fans who may have never owned a vinyl before maybe even touched a vinyl. Before the Carpenters I never had any vinyl's and they're coming back especially here in Britain so it's a great opportunity for Richard.
 
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