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Neon light for Horizon? Would love to see that! Wonder if any still exist?Only great Billboards in Los Angeles. The big one facing Sunset Blvd next to the A&M Studios always had a fresh album cover of a new A&M release on it. The Tower Records store down the street had many huge billboards on the building exterior, advertising several new releases. I’m sure the labels paid plenty for space there. I loved driving by A&M on the way to Tower in the 70’s and 80’s, to see what new album they were featuring each month. We made the 100 mile drive about 2-3 times a month back then. Never saw any Carpenters ads on tv. Sometimes nice displays in record stores. The neon light for Horizon was the best, in 1975. Most of the Tower Records stores had one in California. Billboard magazine always had a full page color ad for new single and album releases too.
Mark writes: "when Horizon was released, the albums were front and center at the mall music store. A year later with Hush, they were down under the display table in the front of the same store. Something had clearly changed."
Mark, it seems to me that firing Neil Sedaka was more damaging to their career than anyone could have foresaw.
Of course, musical tastes had changed in 1976, but even that does not explain how fast the duo dropped out of radio play and sales.
Where were all of the existing fans-- who apparently did not purchase the Hush album ? Even if I had not heard the duo
over the radio in 1976, there was no way I was going to let a Carpenters' album get away from my purchase !
Though LP Hush is (imho) a nice album, I never did think it got the respect it deserves.
Goofus is a great album cut, surely a bold step for the times. Who else would have tackled that ?
I Need To Be In Love should have charted much higher, also. Nearly, a perfect pop love song.
Plus, not releasing a new studio album in 1974 probably didn't help either. I believe the time gap from "Singles" to "Horizon" in mid-1975 was a pretty long time back then for the pop music world.I've always thought that SINGLES 69-73 was the ultimate dividing line after which Carpenters declined in popularity. It was such a superb Greatest Hits album that many casual fans thought that was all they'd ever need in the way of Carpenters records.
Well there was Live In Japan, but that was only in international markets. Otherwise only 2 singles in 1974, and I think they were both released on November 1st of 74, so pretty late, although in time for Christmas.Plus, not releasing a new studio album in 1974 probably didn't help either. I believe the time gap from "Singles" to "Horizon" in mid-1975 was a pretty long time back then for the pop music world.