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Public Broadcasting Exclusive: Carpenters The Complete Singles Release

KACE said:
Just wanted to comment that some stations are offering this package at different prices. I was able to order from WHRO (Norfolk, VA) the DVD and CD set for $144.
But there were others that had the same for as much as $212.

I used to live in the Norfolk, VA area; that is why I just happened to look up their gift donation.
Click to expand...

That's great, I'm sure others will want to know about this reduced pricing. They have a nice large photo of the duo on their website

http://whro.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25854:close-to-you

It's tricky navigating that website to find the gifts available but your right here is the link click on the radio button that says let me choose my gift and then click on all gifts and it shows.

https://members.whro.org/pledge.php?technique=OX

scroll down to see the DVD and both CD's for $12.00 a month pledge = $144.00

This makes it a little more affordable.
I hope it's ok to post this.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I wasn't sure about "linking" it. Thanks for doing so. On any of the pbs home pages, at the top, you can change the station that comes up. I did a search of about 5-6 stations
around the country, and my old home WHRO had the best price. And even though I no longer live there, it was no issue to put a different state in the contact address area of the form.

Forgot to say earlier I am ecstatic and enthusiastically looking forward to listening to this collection !!
 
In that Huffington Post GaryAlan linked to, there are large pics of the CD and DVD cover art:

2015-12-01-1448977683-2464409-CLOSETOYOUREMEMBERINGTHECARPENTERSDVDSLEEVEREVISED2015.jpg


2015-11-30-1448922359-1489843-CarpentersCompleteSinglescoverlowresreference.jpg
 
Hi all - - this Saturday is the big night - - millions and millions of homes remembering and discovering the Carpenters. Please pass on the word to support your local public tv station in any way you can. Here's a partial list of local air dates and times (check local listings).

WNED 12/5/2015 8pm Buffalo
WNETDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM New York
WNETDT 12/6/2015 10:30 PM New York
KCETDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Los Angeles
KOCEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Los Angeles
WTTWDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Chicago
WTTWDT 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Chicago
WHYYDT 12/5/2015 9:30 PM Philadelphia
WLVTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Philadelphia
KERADT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Dallas
KQEDDT 12/5/2015 7:30 PM San Francisco
KRCBDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM San Francisco
WFPTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Washington
WWPBDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Washington
WENHDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Boston
WGBHDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Boston
WGBXDT 12/6/2015 6:30 PM Boston
WGTVDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Atlanta
WPBADT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Atlanta
KUHTDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Houston
WEDUDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Tampa
KAETDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Phoenix
WTVSDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Detroit
WTVSDT 12/5/2015 9:30 PM Detroit
KCTSDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Seattle
KAWBDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Minneapolis
KAWEDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Minneapolis
WPBTDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Miami
KRMADT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Denver
KRMZ 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Denver
KRMZDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Denver

WVIZDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Cleveland
WUCFDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Orlando
KVIEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Sacramento
KVIEDT 12/5/2015 9:30 PM Sacramento
KETCDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM St. Louis
WNSCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Charlotte
WTVIDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Charlotte
WUNEDT2 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Charlotte
WQEDDT 12/5/2015 7:30 PM Pittsburgh
WQEDDT 12/5/2015 10:30 PM Pittsburgh
KOPBDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Portland
WUNCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Raleigh-Durham
WMPTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Baltimore
WIPBDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Indianapolis
WCTEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Nashville
WNPTDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Nashville
WOSUDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Columbus
KLRNDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM San Antonio
KCPTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Kansas City
KUEDDT 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Salt Lake City
WMVSDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Milwaukee
WCETDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Cincinnati
WKONDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Cincinnati
WNEHDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Greenvll-Spartan
WXELDT 12/5/2015 7:30 PM West Palm
WGVKDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Grand Rapids
WUNDDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Norfolk
WITFDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Harrisburg-Lancaster
WBIQDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Birmingham
WUNLDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Greensboro
WJCTDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Jacksonville
KNMEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Albuquerque
KRMUDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Albuquerque
WKPCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Louisville
WKNODT 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Memphis
WYESDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM New Orleans
WYESDT 12/5/2015 10:00 PM New Orleans
WSBEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Providence
KVPTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Fresno-Visalia
WVIADT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Wilkes Barre
KEMVDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Little Rock, AR
KETGDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Little Rock, AR
WEIQDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Mobile-Pensacola
WMHTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Albany-Schenectady
KRSUDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Tulsa
WGCUDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Ft Myers-Napls
WETPDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Knoxville
WKHADT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Lexington
WPTDDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Dayton
WKASDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Charleston, WV
WBRADT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Roanoke-Lynchburg
WBRADT 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Roanoke-Lynchburg
KUASDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Tucson
KUATDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Tucson
WCMUDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Flint-Saginaw
IPTV 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Des Moines
KSPSDT 12/5/2015 6:00 PM Spokane
KBINDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Omaha
WVERDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Burlington
WUNKDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Greenville-New Bern
KAFTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Ft. Smith, AR
WQPTDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Davenport, IA
WHMCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Myrtle Beach
WKMADT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Evansville
WPSUDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Johnstown-Altoona
KHNEDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Lincoln-Hastings
KNPBDT 12/5/2015 7:30 PM Reno
KAIDDT2 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Boise
WFSUDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Tallahassee
KCSDDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Sioux Falls, SD
KSINDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Sioux City
KOZJDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Joplin-Pittsburg
WABWDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Albany, GA
KYINDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Rochester, MN
WFSGDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Panama City
WUSIDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Terre Haute
WMEBDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Bangor
WOUCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Wheeling
WMAHDT2 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Biloxi-Gulfport
WSKGDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Binghamton
WVPBSDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Bluefield-Beckley
WUFTDT 12/5/2015 7:30 PM Gainesville
WUFTDT 12/6/2015 6:00 PM Gainesville
WNPBDT 12/5/2015 9:00 PM Clarksburg-Weston
KBHEDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Rapid City
KRNEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Rapid City
KLTLDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Lake Charles
WSKADT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Elmira
WPBSDT 12/5/2015 8:30 PM Watertown
WVPTDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Harrisonburg
KLPADT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Alexandria, LA
WNMUDT 12/5/2015 9:30 PM Marquette
KTEJDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Jonesboro
WKGBDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Bowling Green
KRMJDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Grand Junction
WMAWDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Meridian
KOABDT 12/5/2015 7:00 PM Bend, OR
WMAODT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Greenwood-Greenville
KCWCDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Casper-Riverton
KTNEDT 12/5/2015 8:00 PM Cheyenne, WY
 
BREAKING NEWS!! I AM WEAK, SO WEAK. I FINALLY GAVE IN...

So here I was tonight watching the PBS special, and I had to make that donation and buy that CD package! My original plan was not to buy this package because I reasoned that I already had every song featured, but (1) I've bought other compilations that duplicated my collection of songs, and (2) I've been reading all the glowing reviews here of the CD set and its packaging. So count me in as someone who couldn't resist this set, once I saw the TV program. I'm sure I'll be happy with this decision. :)
 
Jamesj75 said:
BREAKING NEWS!! I AM WEAK, SO WEAK. I FINALLY GAVE IN...

So here I was tonight watching the PBS special, and I had to make that donation and buy that CD package! My original plan was not to buy this package because I reasoned that I already had every song featured, but (1) I've bought other compilations that duplicated my collection of songs, and (2) I've been reading all the glowing reviews here of the CD set and its packaging. So count me in as someone who couldn't resist this set, once I saw the TV program. I'm sure I'll be happy with this decision. :)
Click to expand...

Same here. Justifying it by virtue of getting the single versions of "Occupants" and "Can't Smile...", which I only have on vinyl, and for the segue-free versions of other songs. Plus, yeah, I watch PBS a lot and don't usually contribute. No better time, for sure.
 
I'm not sure how all the broadcasts did this but on my broadcast last night they showed Richard twice and both times only briefly on video (it looked pre-recorded from a PBS studio) and both times he spoke only lasted about 1 min so maybe 2 or 3 mins tops and he was not shown the entire time while he talked it was overlayed with photos so he appeared on video maybe 1 min total in both segments. The 2 times he spoke it was basically to help callers make pledges and support PBS, he did not mention the gifts. I found it kinda odd that he would not have mentioned the Singles Set and how it was put together just for this event or something about the Singles set but on my broadcast he did not mention any of the Carpenters gifts being offered. This made me wonder if this was a current appearance by Richard or was this recorded years earlier on prior appearance. I really am not sure. I was hoping for maybe a live call in or some kind of tie in from him to these newly released gifts (the Singles Collection and newly expanded DVD)

Still, I'm happy to have purchased the set by early advance.
 
Rick-An Ordinary Fool said:
I'm not sure how all the broadcasts did this but on my broadcast last night they showed Richard twice and both times only briefly on video (it looked pre-recorded from a PBS studio) and both times he spoke only lasted about 1 min so maybe 2 or 3 mins tops and he was not shown the entire time while he talked it was overlayed with photos so he appeared on video maybe 1 min total in both segments. The 2 times he spoke it was basically to help callers make pledges and support PBS, he did not mention the gifts. I found it kinda odd that he would not have mentioned the Singles Set and how it was put together just for this event or something about the Singles set but on my broadcast he did not mention any of the Carpenters gifts being offered. This made me wonder if this was a current appearance by Richard or was this recorded years earlier on prior appearance. I really am not sure. I was hoping for maybe a live call in or some kind of tie in from him to these newly released gifts (the Singles Collection and newly expanded DVD)

Still, I'm happy to have purchased the set by early advance.
Click to expand...

Admittedly, I was laughing a bit because I've heard that Richard doesn't exactly like scripted stuff. There was one point during the advertising spots where he said something along the lines of, "The ringing of phones is also great music for the station". You could kinda see how fast he was talking during the whole thing, scripted indeed sir :laugh:
 
...Christmas Portrait shot to number 20 on ITunes today.
Is there a way to calculate sales from this PBS Special?
Will it reflect on Billboard charts?
Oops #22
 
Harry said:
Orlando is rerunning the show in prime time on this Sunday evening.

And I note that Amazon has two Carpenters entries in their top sellers. At the moment, CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT is sitting at number 31 and GOLD is at 56 - in all of music.
Click to expand...
LOL! That's awesome!
 
Those two were still hovering around the same places today and a third one, I think it was LOVE SONGS, was hanging around the #99 slot. Looking now, LOVE SONGS has dropped off, and both of the others are lower on the list.

That's the power of television, when even one market (though there might have been more), can elevate an album on the Amazon rankings.

Harry
 
Actorman said:
In many cases, this is actually more of a business strategy than an artistic one. The b-sides of singles are often used as way to generate songwriting royalties if the artist didn't write the a-side. That's been a standard practice in the business forever and even has a slang term that I can't remember off the top of my head ("free riding" or something like that).
Click to expand...

Looks like my memory was right on! Here's a quote from a recent Paul Williams interview:

Paul Williams: For the record, our first single with the Carpenters was the B side of "Close To You," a song that had been in contention called "I Kept On Loving You." So Roger [Nichols] and I got a free ride on the back of a Burt Bacharach and Hal David song.
 
Rick-An Ordinary Fool said:
I'm not sure how all the broadcasts did this but on my broadcast last night they showed Richard twice and both times only briefly on video (it looked pre-recorded from a PBS studio) and both times he spoke only lasted about 1 min so maybe 2 or 3 mins tops and he was not shown the entire time while he talked it was overlayed with photos so he appeared on video maybe 1 min total in both segments. The 2 times he spoke it was basically to help callers make pledges and support PBS, he did not mention the gifts. I found it kinda odd that he would not have mentioned the Singles Set and how it was put together just for this event or something about the Singles set but on my broadcast he did not mention any of the Carpenters gifts being offered. This made me wonder if this was a current appearance by Richard or was this recorded years earlier on prior appearance. I really am not sure. I was hoping for maybe a live call in or some kind of tie in from him to these newly released gifts (the Singles Collection and newly expanded DVD)

Still, I'm happy to have purchased the set by early advance.
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that they really didn't plug the complete singles set the way I thought they would. However I would bet that most people watching PBS wouldn't know the difference between an original or a remix etc. I guess they chose to keep it simple so not to confuse the audience watching it. I wonder what kind of numbers the stations did with this set.
 
scottb said:
...I wonder what kind of numbers the stations did with this set.
Click to expand...

scottb, all I can tell you is that I called to place my order during the broadcast, with my eye intently fixed on the show. I received an automated message that they were "experiencing a high volume of calls" and offered to call me back when it was my turn. I chose to do that; the return call was about 15 minutes later...
 
It would be really nice if @TJL would drop in here again to report some success numbers. I would love to know how many CD sets were moved; if they had to do a second pressing; stuff like that.

Of course, I also wouldn't want to pry into the inner workings of someone's business. My mama taught me not to ask such questions.

Harry
 
I thought it was interesting that the PBS program's live promo sections did not give the Singles package a QVC kind of hype, with detailed discussion of the contents, etc, (like we discuss in this forum) but rather rode the emotion of the Close to You video project. I am sure they are in the business of knowing what to do for high call volume! It was a beautiful treasury series presentation. It seems the soft sales pitch paid off, with the focus of emotional value and memories.

In the back of my mind, I can't help but think that even in the height of sales in the days of "sales a go-go" in 1970-1975, it was never enough. The pressure of the business had to be more than any of us can wrap our minds around, to think that even while at the top, its not enough. Then add personal commitment, goals, and sacrifice to the mix its amazing anything was left to create these timeless musical jewels. Thankfully, as we have learned, in many instances, Karen was able to record her voice in one take. The Carpenters talent combined with precision to task while recording gave us this music for enjoyment today.

And even though this is not part of this discussion, I ran across this because of this topic, so I will just give this tidbit of observation. As I was listening to other versions of singles in my collection, anticipating the Singles collection of the PBS project, I noticed that on the 40/40 Collection, the 2004 version of Superstar is amazing. It gave me the chills of the original version as I first heard it, with crystal clear clarity on each vocal overdub cascading in perfect choral harmony. I guess I am programmed from the old days of AM Radio. When something new from an artist comes out, the old favorites get played more too!
 
I PVR'd the special off of the HD feed, and it looks alright---but of the 20 minutes I've watched so far,everything was upconverted 480i, which makes sense for a documentary made in 1997. It would've been shot on SD videotape, and the 60's and 70's footage looks alright for such old video.
 
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