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Here is a 1976 marching-band performance, followed by Carpenters version.
"Road Ode - 1976 Seneca Optimists Drum Corps and Carpenters comparison"
This fact begs the question of who the F was booking them at this time. Why in the heck would they book them into smaller venues? It's almost as if those responsible for booking them were concerned they might not "sell out" which of course can be bad news - for promotional purposes.
So, this rubbish about too much touring is simply that--rubbish.
I would have given anything to attend a concert.
I already have heard everything "recorded"....I want a LIVE experience. That means TOURING.
There are examples of bands that did not tour.... one of the most famous is probably The Alan Parsons Project, which never toured during their heyday (mid 70s to mid 80s). But touring was an important part of the package for sure.I tend to agree with GaryAlan in his comment above. Back in the Carpenters heyday, bands had to tour to promote their albums.
There are examples of bands that did not tour.... one of the most famous is probably The Alan Parsons Project, which never toured during their heyday (mid 70s to mid 80s). But touring was an important part of the package for sure.
It's even more important today. In fact I wonder how their "sound" would have differed if they were a today artist rather than a '70s artist?
Hey, that was my first show at ECU's Minges Colosseum In Greenville NC I think April 13 th. I was only five years old and obviouly my first and only show, And when I say first, it was my first concert ever. I'd probably drop some Benjamins to have that on disc, My memories are so vague it's hard to believe I shared the same air with the best singer to ever grace a microphone. I eventually developed production skills and it turned out to me my living all because Carpenters!!! Thanks Richard and Karen plus all the other dedicated staff for changing my life. My vinyl and CD collection has to be one of my most cherished. I actually landed back in earlier nineties, I landed a sealed copy of offering. I think I got it for like $150. Good price for a never played LP. I love this site as it helps me to bring attention to things I may have missed though the years Good Times indeed
But it's not primarily about record sales anymore. Sales of CDs have fallen off a cliff, and sales of digital files have fallen even more. The only format which is increasing in sales is vinyl LPs, but that is still a very small, niche market. The majority of music (especially among younger generations) is consumed via streaming, and it takes a heck of a lot of streams before an artist actually makes any money. More than ever, touring, and merchandise sales at concerts, is where artists make the majority of their income. Why do you think so many artists let you listen to their music (even complete albums) for free on places like YouTube? To promote their live shows.But with social media and videos and such to promote I would think that touring is much less essential to record sales today, wouldn’t it?
Hey, that was my first show at ECU's Minges Colosseum In Greenville NC I think April 13 th.
Well it was just about a week later at the Philadelphia concert. Here's "Help" recorded live at that concert at the Academy Of Music (11:30 show!)
But it's not primarily about record sales anymore. Sales of CDs have fallen off a cliff, and sales of digital files have fallen even more. The only format which is increasing in sales is vinyl LPs, but that is still a very small, niche market. The majority of music (especially among younger generations) is consumed via streaming, and it takes a heck of a lot of streams before an artist actually makes any money. More than ever, touring, and merchandise sales at concerts, is where artists make the majority of their income. Why do you think so many artists let you listen to their music (even complete albums) for free on places like YouTube? To promote their live shows.
It’s also why nowadays you see so many older artists re-recording or recording live concerts and releasing them on CDs or compilations or streaming, as they can get a higher royalty cut on their new recordings, but their original record company only wants to stick to the royalty rate in the original contract from whenever (which in, say, 1970 a royalty rate of one-fifth of a cent for 45 copy sold would pay more than it would today).Hadn’t thought about that. I have no musical talent and I’m kind of glad I don’t because I’d hate to tour and perform live non-stop and have to make up for all the sale loss on albums. It’s almost like you can’t be an introverted singer today who’d prefer to just record because you wouldn’t have a commercially viable career.
^^I am as much a "fan" as anybody for their "recorded" output....
Be that as it may, it was VITAL that they tour to promote their product and their sound.
You DO NOT sell records without touring. To see the duo and to hear Karen "LIVE" was extremely VITAL to their continued success,
otherwise their LEGACY would not be nearly as strong: no one would remember if Karen was as vocally great "LIVE"
or always lip-syncing (as on those TV shows). In fact, it is only after they drastically reduced tour schedule
and cut radio interviews that SALES took a downturn in the USA.
The heaviest touring was done while they were still in their prime and in their YOUTH.
So, this rubbish about too much touring is simply that--rubbish.
I would have given anything to attend a concert.
I already have heard everything "recorded"....I want a LIVE experience. That means TOURING.
I tend to agree with GaryAlan in his comment above. Back in the Carpenters heyday, bands had to tour to promote their albums. It was a given...
The only exception seems to have been The Beatles who walked off the stage at Candlestick Park in 1966 and straight into the studio for good. And their popularity and record sales only got stronger.
The fact that Karen physically fell apart by 1974 is a fact.
Karen was in fine form in 1974 - it wasn’t until late 1975 that things started to go wrong.
David A., please read the entire Rolling Stone article, you will find that there were many other things bothering the duo
and these had nothing to do with touring.
Stephen is absolutely correct, Karen's dramatic health decline started sometime in 1975, not 1974.
For example, she appears beautiful and healthy in the Perry Como Christmas special.
August 1976 People Mag: " But they have toured as many as 250 days a year along the way, and their lives were not as silky or upbeat as their art. They were hardly immune from the debilitating, disorienting effects of the road. “Several years went by,” as Richard put it, “and we lost contact with any personal life—it all become professional, and we were losing our identity.” “It was sickening,” adds Karen.
“Suddenly it wasn’t fun anymore.” Last year it finally all got to her.
Source: people.com/archive/cover-story-brother-sister-act-vol-6-no-5/
July 1974, Rolling Stone:
What would happen if the group took things at a slower pace?
“I don’t know,” he said (RC) as if he had never given it thought. “It wouldn’t affect record sales or anything.
The part we’d have to cut down – which we are, bein’ we cut the summer four – is the concerts.
We can’t cut down on recording. We only come out with one album a year anyway, so . . . That’s what it would have to be."
Source: The Carpenters: Up From Downey