Carpenters album question

[Craig Klose]

Hello,
I am new - just found this site today! I am an avid vinyl collector & Carpenters fan. Here is my question. I have two slightly different versions of the Close to You album as follows:

First version:
silvery gray background color
no A&M logo on front cover
inner sleeve is black A&M advertising (solid, no hole)
back cover: After credits list is the sentance, "Write for a free full color A&M record catalog"
RIAA (Recording Industry Assoc of America) logo appears lower right corner
A&M logo center, bottom (back cover still)

Second version:
dull gray background cover
Small A&M logo in upper right corner
inner sleeve is plain white with center hole
back cover: no "Write for a free catalog' line
No RIAA log
A&M logo far right, bottom
number that does not appear on the version mentioned above:
R1 12516A (lower left corner back cover)

Does anybody know what this is all about? Was one of these versions the first edition? the other, a later? If anyone knows I would be grateful to hear from you. Many thanks for reading.

Craig Klose

[Rick Henry]

Hi Craig... Welcome to the forum!!!

Sounds like the first one you listed is original edition. The second listing sounds like it may be a Canadian or British release.

An original edition of a Carpenters album can go for around $3.00 to $6.00 depending on it condition. If it's sealed or in near mint condition it will go for around $9.00 to $11.00. Unfortunately Carpenters vinyl does not capture a high dollar amount due to the fact that there were tons of them sold in their day.

There is an edition of "The Singles 1969-1973" pressed on red vinyl which is rare and can get as much as $300.00 to $600.00.

"An Old Fashioned Christmas" generally goes for more than other Carpenters albums only because it went out of print so quickly. I seen copies of the original edition of this album (used) going for $12.00 to $15.00 and (brand new) for up to $20.00.

There are Quadraphonic releases of "Close To You", "Carpenters", "A Song For You", "Now And Then" and "Horizon" these can fetch up to $25.00 - $30.00 if in near mint condition. I own a copy of "Horizon" in Quad and it sounds great.

Also the original "offering" album released in 1969 (with Karen holding the sunflower on the cover) goes for $20.00 in good condition and up to $50.00 to $60.00 in near mint condition. If you can find a sealed copy of this it would probably capture $100.00. I have a used copy of this one and it's one of my most treasured pieces.

[smoothie2]

;DHi Craig...welcome! Very glad you found the site here!
:DWhat an interesting question! Good info. Rick.
I have the Close to you vinyl one of my very first albums of
any kind! Mine has a light gray cover and nothing mentions
about a record catalog. You may really have a rarity. The inside
sleeve of mine is white.
Rick knows lots and many others around our cyber place...so,
you may get some interesting info.
again welcome...


smoothie

[Carps1000]

Hi there. Its probarbly an orig UK album as far as I can tell probarbly a very late pressing as I have an original 1st pressing & the A&M logo on cover is large & was large on all the early albums til A song 4 U when it was a little logo. I do so love all these little trivia things about the Cs as each day I learn a little more history about em & the records etc.... Ken carps1000

[Rick Henry]

admin said:

Hi Craig... Welcome to the forum!!!

Sounds like the first one you listed is original edition. The second listing sounds like it may be a Canadian or British release.

An original edition of a Carpenters album can go for around $3.00 to $6.00 depending on it condition. If it's sealed or in near mint condition it will go for around $9.00 to $11.00. Unfortunately Carpenters vinyl does not capture a high dollar amount due to the fact that there were tons of them sold in their day.

There is an edition of "The Singles 1969-1973" pressed on red vinyl which is rare and can get as much as $300.00 to $600.00.

"An Old Fashioned Christmas" generally goes for more than other Carpenters albums only because it went out of print so quickly. I seen copies of the original edition of this album (used) going for $12.00 to $15.00 and (brand new) for up to $20.00.

There are Quadraphonic releases of "Close To You", "Carpenters", "A Song For You", "Now And Then" and "Horizon" these can fetch up to $25.00 - $30.00 if in near mint condition. I own a copy of "Horizon" in Quad and it sounds great.

Also the original "offering" album released in 1969 (with Karen holding the sunflower on the cover) goes for $20.00 in good condition and up to $50.00 to $60.00 in near mint condition. If you can find a sealed copy of this it would probably capture $100.00. I have a used copy of this one and it's one of my most treasured pieces.

To add to this list of Collectible Carpenters recordings.

A very good copy of the Karen Carpenter single "Looking For Love" with "I'll Be Yours" on the b-side goes for around $1,500.00. This single was released in 1966 on the Magic Lampr Label catalog number #704. A mint copy of the single can go for as much as $2,000.00

A promo release copy of the Karen Carpenter CD single of "If I Had You" released in 1989 goes for $75.00 to $100.00