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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jan 12, 2009 12:15:24 GMT -5
 I checked out the Carpenters "official" website today to see if Richard had answered any Fans Ask questions, or if he was keeping up with the website at all any longer. What I found was interesting. Basically, it stated at the top of Fans Ask, which has not been updated since 2006, it says, and the statement at the top was something like this: Contrary to what you may have read/heard - Richard is NOT looking for a new professional partner. Any autograph requests must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. I didn't get all the wording right - check it out yourself - just thought it was of note.
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Post by beaner on Jan 13, 2009 11:23:12 GMT -5
Actually, I'm glad that he's not looking for a professional partner. It wouldn't be the same, even though he said in the past that he would not want a "clone" of Karen. However, it just wouldn't be the same to see him on stage with someone other than Karen.
I figured as soon as people got wind of rumors that he might be looking for a duet partner again, there would be people out there wanting to be that person so they send in their music, etc. Geez.
I think he enjoys spending his time with his family as well as the business of the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, not to mention the CFF, etc. He has a lot to keep himself busy, especially with concentrating on any new cds he may want to put out there.
I get them whether they're raved about or not.
Beaner
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 13, 2009 22:17:07 GMT -5
 I agree with you Mary Ann... it wouldn't be the same and I don't think that at the age of 62 Richard is really interested in starting a whole new career. I think he is very happy raising his family and doing local concerts and occasionally traveling to Japan for a concert or two or three... and of course collecting the millions that come to him each year in royalties. I have read a lot of things throughout the internet from different sources and there are quite a few people misconstruing the short press conference Richard did a few months ago. Along with the one about starting a "new" Carpenters I've also heard people saying that Richard is going to do a tour of Japan, when in fact he mentioned he may play a few shows in Japan. Some people are saying that Richard is going to release a solo Christmas album toward the end of 2009 when in fact what he said is that he would like to release a Christmas album... he never said it was a for sure thing. The thing Richard is up against is the low demand for his solo works without Karen. Richard is good for selling something around 15,000 copies of a solo release in the U.S., which will not get him a contract in the U.S. In Japan he's probably good for selling around 20,000 - 30,000 and even that's a high guestimate. In the UK the numbers are even lower than what he could possibly sell in the U.S. My guestimate is a solo release by Richard Carpenter may fetch something like 60,000 - 70,000 sales worldwide... it's very slim that Universal, whom he's locked in with will find that a profitable business move. If Richard could break away from Universal and release his music on his own label or an independent label than the possibility of seeing a solo album would be very good as a small label would happily welcome sales of 15,000 copies of any disc. But, I believe the contract with Universal is iron clad. Just to see the correlation a Karen Carpenter solo release is good for U.S. sales of around 125,000 to 175,000 copies in a period of two or three years. That will not get her on the charts, but will generate a profit for the record company. Worldwide Karen solo is good for sales of just under 1 million. There's a big difference. In fact her solo album has sold 1 million copies worldwide. A new Carpenters compilation of their hits (which have been released and rereleased countless times) is still good for about 300,000 U.S. sales and more than 1 million worldwide sales. That's why we see so many compilation releases. I'm still waiting for the release of another album of unreleased material... there's probably enough music left to put together two full albums. I really enjoyed "As Time Goes By"... as choppy and uneven as it was. It did contain some real gems... "And When He Smiles", "Dancing In The Street", "I've Got Rhythm", "Rainbow Connection", Karen/Ella Medley" and "Leave Yesterday Behind" were all good to excellent. I also fancy Dizzy Fingers" quite a bit. My view on Richard Carpenter solo is that I'd like to see him get away from trying to be a "pop" master and trying do his solo version of Carpenteresque music and go back to his roots, his first love and do an instrumental jazz album... I'm willing to bet he could be successful in that arena. I would buy something like that in an instant. There is a strong market for the jazz-fusion type sounds he and Karen and his various musical partners were creating in the early to mid 60's. I really like their tasty version of "Caravan" and even better I like "Iced Tea"... great bass, keyboards and drums... a lot of good rhythm and it's somewhat obscure in it's sound. |
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Post by beaner on Jan 14, 2009 12:21:10 GMT -5
Oooh, I like the mention of an instrumental jazz album. That would be wonderful and just the thought of what he could come up with would be so great. I hope his ears are ringing and this helps to put some sonic waves his way.
Beaner
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Post by smoothie2 on Jan 14, 2009 23:55:56 GMT -5
I agree that there was only one partner which suited him perfectly and their work together continues to be very popular from the stats mentioned by you Rick.
If he does anything on his own surely it would be jazz. I know he enjoys his family and friends and he's very blessed to have them.
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Post by smoothie2 on Jan 15, 2009 0:01:38 GMT -5
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Post by wisejester7 on Jan 15, 2009 10:56:56 GMT -5
Richard loves Japan and Japan loves Carpenters. His visits there always seem to create some "buzz". I don't really expect anything new to come from it.
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