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FAQ:
Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions I have recieved. Some are quite inforational, others - just for fun! If you have any question, please post it on the forum, or e-mail me!
QUESTIONS & Answers.
 
 
JAPANESE SINGLE BOX QUESTIONS:
1. You say in your Q&A section that there are 8 versions of Yesterday Once More. Which version is present on the 13th single in the Japan Single Box?
The version on the new Japanese box set is the SINGLE version, the version that was released on the first edition of the NOW & THEN album on CD and the version that was released on their first compilation "The Singles 1969-1973."
 
2. What's the difference between Merry Christmas Darling on the 6th and on the 17th single in the Japan Single Box. Are these different versions?
These versions are all the same version - the single version that was first released on the 1991 box set "From The Top."
 
3. What's the difference between Top Of The World on the 11th and on the 15th single in the Japan Single Box? Different versions? If not, would you know why this song has been released as a single in Japan twice?
The 11th single contains the 'album version' and the 15th includes the single reworked version.
 
4. The same goes for I Won't Last A Day Without You. This song is present on the 12th and on the 16 th in the Japan Single Box. No different versions, I guess? So what could have been the reason for the 16th release in the 1973 Now & Then era while this track is from the previous 1972 A Song For You album? I don't understand.
Surprisingly they felt the song would a hit in the midst of their NOW & THEN album.  Single 12 includes the "A Song For You" version while the 16th includes a 'reworked' version of it.  Vocals are the same, but this one uses more of moog instument.
 
5. Look To Your Dreams has been edited for a single release as the B-side to Make Believe. Is this edit present on the 32th single in the Japan Single Box? The album version is 5.14 minutes long.
Unfortunately the version presented in the box set is the complete album version: piano ending complete.
 
6. The 25th single in the Japan Single Box contains Can't Smile Without You as the Japanese B-side to Sweet Sweet Smile. Would this be the alternate lyric version of the song (which was the US B-side to Calling Occupants) or is it just the 1976 album version?
The version presented here includes the 'alternate version' that was first released on CD on the "Singles 1974-1978" Canadian import and the "Sweet, Sweet Smile" import.
 
7. You say in your alternative versions section on your site that the single edit of (Want you) Back In My Life Again is present in the Japan Single Box. I can't find this title in this box at all. Are there different versions of this Japanese single box set available or did you make a mistake here? 
"(Want You) Back In My Life Again" was not released as a single in Japan and is not on the set.  The edited version is available on the Netherlands 3-CD set "The Ultimate Collection."

Are the Carpenters TV Specials available for release?

This question is a hard one to answer.  I'll start by saying that neither "The 1st TV Special", "Space Encounters", "Music! Music! Music", nor the two Christmas specials are available in their entirity.  Only in part.

For example:  The DVD "Gold" has Top of The World from the 1976 "The 1st TV Special", and "Interpretations" has When I Fall In Love from "Music! Music! Music!" and Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft from "Space Ecounters".  So, we know that parts have been mastered digitally and would assume that the rest of them are as well.

Richard recently said that it would be hellish to try to get these for release, and that he has no plans of doing so (along with many other Carpenters unreleased gems).

Will we ever see these releases in the future?  Perhaps, but don't hold your breath.  Richard doesn't seem to take in fan input.

QUESTION by: Justin Livingston (27 March 2005)

WHAT PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED CARPENTERS CONCERTS HAVE BEEN FILMED.

There have been many professionally filmed concerts.  For example: Amsterdam, Budokan (released only in Japan), BBC London, New London Theatre (london), Australia (B&W), White House (parts filmed. B&W).  There are more as well.  I'm working on the list!  So far the only released concert is the Japanese release "Live at the Budokan".

Richard claimed on his website in 2004, that there were no other filmed or recorded concerts.  There is video footege to prove him wrong, I just can't seem to figure out why he responded this way!

ARE THERE ANY MORE CARPENTERS UNRELEASED SONGS?

This is a question asked by many.  Unfortunately most of their material that they have recorded from 1969-1982 has been released.  However, there are some recordings from the pre-Carpenters days.  For example, "Spectrum" songs (many are versions that were put onto "Carpenters" albums, and there are CSLUB songs ("And When I Die", "Creasant Noon", etc) that have not all been released.  It seems as though there are no otehr "full recordings".  That is not saying "work lead" stuff only, that's how we got "Nowhere Man" and "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again", and such.  Hopefully there is more, but I highly doubt it.

WHAT IS RICHARD CARPENTER CURRENTLY UP TO?

Richard is now retired.  However, he sometimes makes appearances for his Arts Centre. He has also been working on a Christmas album since 2002.
 

HOW MANY OFFICIAL CARPENTERS VIDEOS AND DVD'S ARE AVAILABLE? 5 "Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters" (VHS,DVD) "Yesterday Once More" (VHS), "Gold" (previously released as "Yesterday Once More") (DVD), "Interpretations: a 25th Anniversary Celebration" (VHS, DVD ), "Live at Budokan" (VHS {oop}, DVD {oop}, JAPAN ONLY!)

 
 

HOW MANY VERSIONS OF "YESTERDAY ONE MORE" are officially released?

1-Album Version ("Now & Then")
2-Remix Version (various compilations)
3-Short Version ("Now & Then" LP & Cassette only)
4-Live versions ("Live in Japan")
5-Perry Como Medley ("As Time Goes By")
6-Original Master Karaoke Version
7-Reprise ("Now & Then")
8- Super Audio Version ("Singles 1969-1981" SACD)
 
 
 
 

What are the official albums (not compilations) released?

"Offering", "Ticket To Ride" (Offering re-release), "Close To You", "Carpenters (self-titled)","A Song For You", "Now & Then", "Horizon", "A Kind of Hush", "Passage", "Christmas Portrait", "Karen Carpenter", "Voice of The Heart","An Old-Fashioned Christmas", "Time", "Lovelines" (includes "Karen Carpenter" tracks), "Pianist-Arranger-Composer-Conductor","As Time Goes By".
 
 
 

What are the OFFICIAL Live albums?

"Live in Japan" (1974) & "Live at the Palladium" (1976)
 
 
 

What is the latest Carpenters release?

"The Ultimate Collection" (UK and Asia)
 
 
 

How many Carpenters albums include Christmas songs?

"Christmas Portrait", "An Old-Fashioned Christmas", COMPILATIONS: "Christmas Portrait - The Special Edition", "From The Top" (4-CD Set), "Christmas Collection" (includes the "Christmas Portrait" and the "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" albums (2-CD's), "Christmas With The Carpenter" TIME LIFE (2-CD Set) {Remixed!}, and the "Readers Digest" (3-CD Set).
 
Also Richard included "Merry Christmas, Darling" on "Carpenters Perform Carpenter", "Gold - 35th Anniversary Edition", the Super Audio CD "Singles 1969-1981" and "The Japanese Singles Box."
 
 

IS THERE AN OFFICIAL FAN CLUB?
There was, but it unfortunatly disbanded in 1989.

 

IS "MORE OFFERINGS" an official release? No! It's a terrible bootleg, with horrible audio! Some rare songs, although!

 
 

Where is "As Time Goes By" released?

Finally it is available worldwide.
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