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Post by abbafanusa on Feb 5, 2007 19:49:23 GMT -5
Yesterday I was at a record fair and there was an 'Offering' LP for $100. I've been watching how this album does on eBay for a few years and that is pretty much the going rate for it. This LP was in near Mint condition. I was so close to buying it, but I didn't have much to time to drive around and look for an ATM. Maybe I'll go back next month and see if they still have it. Has anyone ever seen one on cassette tape or 8-track?
PEPE
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 5, 2007 21:04:58 GMT -5
 Hi PEPE...
I have a copy of "Offering". I found my copy, of all places, in a thrift store for seventy five cents. I snatched it up right away. It's not in mint condition - but it is in pretty good condition. It's by all means worth more than the 75 cents I paid for it. I was totally excited when I found it.
I've never seen the original "Offering" on either 8-track or cassette. I did have the rereleased "Ticket To Ride" on 8-track which I bought back in 1973 at a Zody's store in Santa Ana, California.
Were you at the record fair held in Buena Park? |
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Post by wisejester7 on Feb 5, 2007 21:07:41 GMT -5
I'm sorry to say I don't own this album.
What is a record fair?
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Post by abbafanusa on Feb 5, 2007 21:28:06 GMT -5
A record fair is a place where different vendors get together and sell records. Like a swapmeet. Rick, ahh-Zody's. I remember it well & Fedmart. That's where I bought most of my records too. I went to the Record fair in Pasadena. Basically, most of the vendors at the Orange County one are there too. Last week at Orange County, my friend snatched up quite a few Japanese Carpenter 45's. I found a 45 that supposedly came as a bonus single on some Japanese compilation album. Does anyone know more about it? I also saw a similar 45 on eBay for "Goodbye To Love"  |
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Post by wisejester7 on Feb 5, 2007 23:46:33 GMT -5
Pepe, thanks for the information about record fairs.
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 6, 2007 10:08:45 GMT -5
A record fair is a place where different vendors get together and sell records. Like a swapmeet. Rick, ahh-Zody's. I remember it well & Fedmart. That's where I bought most of my records too. I went to the Record fair in Pasadena. Basically, most of the vendors at the Orange County one are there too. Last week at Orange County, my friend snatched up quite a few Japanese Carpenter 45's. I found a 45 that supposedly came as a bonus single on some Japanese compilation album. Does anyone know more about it? I also saw a similar 45 on eBay for "Goodbye To Love" I've heard of the one in Pasadena - but haven't been to that one yet. I have gone to the Orange County many times - but haven't for about five years. I've actually sold at the O.C. meet a few times - and made some pretty good money.
In 2001 I sold copies of "(Want You) Back In My Life Again", "Those Good Old Dreams", "Beechwood 4-5789" and "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" on seven inch single - none of them had picture sleeves - just the regular A&M sleeve - that's why I sold them. Now I wish I would have kept them. A guy wearing a Karen Carpenter t-shirt bought them. He told me about the new CD coming out in Japan - "As Time Goes By". Another time I sold an original copy of "An Old Fashioned Christmas" on vinyl album for $15.00 - I happened to have two copies. |
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Dave
Ultra Emissary 
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Feb 7, 2007 20:23:54 GMT -5
Funny you should mention "Old Fashioned Christmas".
My wife gave me a mission, which was to find that album so it would accompany her "Christmas Portrait" CD. Well...
EVERYONE here had "Portrait", but no one had "OFC". I had to special order the Christmas Collection from Circuit City, which made me wonder why Richard doesn't release it in wide circulation. Circuit City was the only place that even had it available, but it was worth it. Hearing my wife singing every song...priceless!
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 8, 2007 0:28:27 GMT -5
Funny you should mention "Old Fashioned Christmas". My wife gave me a mission, which was to find that album so it would accompany her "Christmas Portrait" CD. Well... EVERYONE here had "Portrait", but no one had "OFC". I had to special order the Christmas Collection from Circuit City, which made me wonder why Richard doesn't release it in wide circulation. Circuit City was the only place that even had it available, but it was worth it. Hearing my wife singing every song...priceless! Yes, at this point in time the only way to get "An Old Fashioned Christmas" is in the double disc "Christmas Collection" set. This is probably the best way to purchase the albums - as the CD release of "Christmas Portrait" does not contain all the songs originally released on the vinyl album - plus it has a slightly different mix of "Ave Maria".
Interesting, Dave, that you were only able to find "Christmas Collection" at Circuit City - here in So Cal it's a popular commodity and can be found in almost every music store during Christmas. It's also very popular on Amazon.com.
Here's the Amazon.com link to the disc:
CLICK HERE to see Christmas Collection
Glad to hear your wife is enjoying this wonderful collection of Christmas music.
Does anybody else, here, have the original "Offering" album? what are your thoughts on the album cover? |
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Dave
Ultra Emissary
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Feb 8, 2007 11:28:30 GMT -5
Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, and Target all had racks dedicated to "Christmas Portrait" and nothing else! Richard would've been proud to have seen the half-empty displays. I thought that it was pretty neat, and indicative of how many still feel after all these years...or perhaps there is a new generation that is only now appreciating what we already know.
But no one knew of "Christmas Collection", and so I printed out the order page and strolled into Circuit City.
Like I said, it was absolutely grand to hear my wife singing...when she didn't know I was listening, she even bent her voice to sound just like our Karen! I do voice imitations sometimes, but I can't sing like that!
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Feb 8, 2007 12:58:16 GMT -5
 No, Rick - unfortunately, I do not have the Offering Album. I do want it, however, and have been keeping an eye out for it. We have many second hand shops here in town that always have a slew of LP's. Many times, I can find things (it just takes a bit of patience and about an hour to hunt through all the records) that are either rare or are at least collectible in some fashion. I hope to someday run across an original Offering LP, and I'd love to sort of accidentally find t he magiclamp label with Karen's release on it, and I've got a Billy Joel LP that I want, which is the original Cold Spring Harbor LP which was recorded and pressed at the wrong speed, and makes Billy sound like a chipmunk. Please tell us YOUR thoughts on the Offering album!!! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole thing. Thanks, Tim 
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 9, 2007 0:42:25 GMT -5
No, Rick - unfortunately, I do not have the Offering Album. I do want it, however, and have been keeping an eye out for it. We have many second hand shops here in town that always have a slew of LP's. Many times, I can find things (it just takes a bit of patience and about an hour to hunt through all the records) that are either rare or are at least collectible in some fashion. I hope to someday run across an original Offering LP, and I'd love to sort of accidentally find t he magiclamp label with Karen's release on it, and I've got a Billy Joel LP that I want, which is the original Cold Spring Harbor LP which was recorded and pressed at the wrong speed, and makes Billy sound like a chipmunk. Please tell us YOUR thoughts on the Offering album!!! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole thing. Thanks, Tim Thank you very much for asking. I love this album - it's one of my most played by Carpenters. I like the freshness and eagerness of the music. This collection was cutting edge - can you think of any other album out at that time that sounded like "Offering"? In my mind "Offering" is an acquired taste - kind of like Bob Dylan - you miss a lot of what's really being said and done if you only listen on the superficial level. You have to dig a bit deeper to really get this album. "Offering" explores several musical genres. I can't think of many other albums at that time which were bold enough to mix the musical genres Carpenters did right from the very start (and they continued to do so with each subsequent release).
The album ranges from a Capella choral music with a multi-tracked choir in which Karen and Richard perform all the vocal parts. There are a few classic rock/folk tunes such as "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" and "Get Together". The upbeat perfect pop tune "Don't Be Afraid" works into the upbeat lazy Herman's Hermits type pop tune; "What's the Use". Then there's the classic ballads "Someday" and "All Of My Life" - both which were predecessors to the classic Carpenters sound. My favorite is the spunky odd-timed avant-garde jazz tune "All I Can Do" - Karen plays a mean drum in this one. Most exciting is the beautifully dark and intricate "Eve" - quite a sophisticated tune for such a young band. And finally a complete reworking of the Beatles classic "Ticket To Ride". such a reworking that you almost don't recognize it from the original. The Carpenters did the impossible - they took a Beatles tune and made it their own. I wouldn't say they did a better rendition than the Beatles - but they certainly took the song and did an original rework worthy of praise.
I never tire of this album and although it may sound dated - it's a sound which has aged well and has retained it's unique freshness.
As for the original cover - I love it - and I think they should have kept it when they repackaged the album and renamed it "Ticket To Ride". |
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Feb 9, 2007 13:19:11 GMT -5
I concur with most of the assessments about the ambitious and varied selections on the album "Offering/Ticket to Ride." Respectfully disagreeing, however, I feel the repackaging of "Offering" into "Ticket to Ride" constitutes a vast improvement. The original image for "Offering" looks very dated in terms of fashion, static in terms of overall composition, and unflattering in terms of a low camera angle that emphasizes their mid-sections and legs rather than their faces. The sunflowers, motley-colored ribbon, leaf-strewn stairways, and permanently-pressed tops and flare pants look like an awkward cross between New Age, psychedelic and suburban influences of the times. In contrast, the dynamic and sporty image for "Ticket to Ride" is more timeless. One who might be "judging a book by its covers" is less inclined to ponder about the relevance of the contents to the current music scene. The focus on "Ticket to Ride" by the Beatles, one of the Carpenters' musical influences, is very appropriate and challenges would-be listeners to hear this tune with "new ears" to its very different treatment as a ballad here. After all, this is the Carpenters' first single, which is a significant departure from what was typically heard before from the Fab Four as well as other groups who were geared more toward hard rock at the time. Even the B&W close-ups of Karen and Richard with their friendly smiles on the back cover of "Ticket to Ride" works well! |
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Post by Carps1000 on Feb 9, 2007 14:19:14 GMT -5
I Have never seen the Offering album in shops & would love to own an original copy. One of my best friends in London has a copy & I did try & sneak it out of the door when visiting but he caught me & set his cat on me. I was only taking it outside to see it in proper light..honest guv! Im still tryin to trace 1st pressings ( UK) of N & T with the mustard label also 69 -73 with the mustard label as after 20 years have only managed 2 get copy with the booklet in it but it was a USA copy. Does any 1 know if the early copies of 69 -73 in the UK had the booklet with em ?? or was it just USA early copies. Just would like the 1st pressings thats all me being a late Cs fan and that. Ken carps1000
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Post by abbafanusa on Feb 9, 2007 23:13:02 GMT -5
Carps1000, have you tried searching on www.gemm.com for the UK pressings? I just checked and there are lots of Now & Then LP's with the sellers located in the UK. You could probably email them to verify the label colour. Another good source for vinyl is www.musicstack.comPEPE |
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Post by abbafanusa on Feb 9, 2007 23:18:44 GMT -5
I tend to agree with GoodOldDreams about the 'Offering' cover. It is a rather hideous photo. But, since it is part of their history, I do think the original cover should have been included when they remastered 'Ticket To Ride'. Perhaps design it so the buyer could choose which photo they wanted to be in the front of the jewel case.
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 9, 2007 23:57:01 GMT -5
I do agree that as far as marketing goes the new "Ticket To ride" cover is much better. It looks inviting and refreshing - and the new cover does fit the album quite well. Though, I love the original cover because it has personality. Where as the new cover is "timeless", the original cover is a "gem". It's very much indicative of the styles and fads of it's day, it's like a "time capsule" of sorts. The cover has a "Californian Autumn" feel to it with the leaves strewn on the steps. This cover also fits the music on the album quite well. If I had to chose one song it fits most I would say it's "Eve". While the TTR cover fits better with the songs "Ticket To Ride" and "All Of My Life". The new cover, though is also one of my favorites of Carpenters album covers, I like both equally.
I feel in the repackage the original cover should have been included as an inside picture. And as PEPE (abbafanusa) commented, it would be nice if in a future reissue-remaster of "Ticket To Ride" both the original and new cover are included so the consumer can chose which cover to use. This is what was done with the remastered reissue of David Bowie's first album "Space Oddity". |
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