kenny
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Sharing horizons that are new to us....
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Post by kenny on Apr 21, 2009 18:41:37 GMT -5
Ok, don't get me wrong, I love love love The Carpenters music. Like many of the fans, I started buying the compilations that came out starting the year that Karen died, mainly the "Yesterday Once More" collection that was only available on TV. And then we had more. And then we had more. Then we had more, and more, and more, to where the compilations outnumber the studio output by at least 2 to 1.
Yes I received the 30th anniversary collection with the reprints of the original releases onto CD, which was mighty enjoyable and had a true "collectors" feel to it.
Then more compilations, more remixes, more compilations, and now there's news of the 40th anniversary.
When is it going to be enough?
The price of the new 40th anniversary set is around $350-$400 US and I don't believe that there's anything unreleased on it. Who's making the money off this? A&M? I doubt it.
I think there comes a time when you have to release the past & leave legacy to legacy. In my opinion, the nearly countless compilations - especially that don't offer anything new - don't equate to more than milking the consumer for the same penny they've already paid, some multiple times.....
Am out in left field by myself on this, or does it make sense and anyone agree with me? Curious!
Kenny
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 21, 2009 21:46:54 GMT -5
 Hi Kenny... I love it... your candor is refreshing. You know this endless stream of compilations is like a double edged sword. Yes, Universal Music Group reaps major benefits from the sales of Carpenters music. Obviously people are buying these compilations or they wouldn't bother releasing two or three every year, year after year. Richard Carpenter is also making some good royalties from these compilations as he does hold an interest in the music of Carpenters. He's listed as producer on more than half of their output and has written several of the songs which end up on compilations. There's a reason why (other than being popular hits) "Goodbye To Love", "Yesterday Once More", "Top Of The World", "Only Yesterday", "I Need To Be In Love" and "Those Good Old Dreams" end up on almost every single Carpenters compilation... Richard Carpenter gets a larger royalty with these songs since he co-wrote them all. It's a money game. Now on the other hand. Seeing that Karen is no longer with us... this is one sure fire way to keep her voice on the charts and in the minds of the public and garner new fans. Each compilation receives it's share of publicity and is marketed to different demographics. With each new compilation new fans discover the lovely voice of Karen Carpenter. They are curious about the voice and seek information on her and discover she also plays the drums and passed away at a young age... and from there they are hooked. As long as there is a demand for Carpenters the compilations will continue to be released... after all Carpenters still sell about 3 million units a year... that's a lot of discs. Some current day popular artists don't even sell that much. If Universal were to all together stop releasing compilations I think it would really slow up the passing down of the legacy from generation to generation. Yes, new generations would continue to discover Karen and the Carpenters... but not to the degree as when a new compilation is released and the media buzz is set by the promotion for the new release. I most likely will not buy the 40/40 Best release (which is the 2-disc set). I simply do not need it... it's useless to me. I will, though, purchase the 40 Anniversary 16-disc set because I would really love to have all the albums on the fantastic new SHM-CD edition. I'm really into technology and love to hear the crispness and newness of the music in a new format. When I first listened to my SACD edition of "Singles 1969-1981" on my 5.1 surround system i was in Carpenters Heaven, it sounded fantastic... especially the song "Only Yesterday'... it was like laser beams were shooting out of the layers of music. What I'd really like to see released is expanded editions of all their studio albums (or at least the classic five... those being "Close To You", "Carpenters", "A Song For You", "Now and Then" and "Horizon"). The expanded editions of these albums would include the original albums in full with all the songs in the sequence as they appear on the original albums along with bonus tracks such as alternate takes of some of the familiar songs and then maybe one of two outtakes which have never been released. I am more than sure that a few unreleased outtake exist for each one of the Carpenters albums going all the way back to the beginning. Such as "Tryin' To Get the Feeling again" is an outtake from the "Horizon" recording sessions and would make a great bonus track (although that song has already been released). It would be even better if these expanded editions were all released on the new SHM-CD format... especially "Horizon" as that is their most technologically advanced recording... I would just love to hear all those layers of music popping out at me. Another relase I like to see is a "Live In Las Vegas" disc. In 1974 Richard hired someone to record all their Las Vegas concerts. There's quite a bit in the vaults. the only problem is that the recordings are only partial and got just the lead vocals (thank goodness for that) and some of the music. This would mean that Richard would have to put long hours in the studio to add the missing music and some of the backing vocals. It wouldn't be true live... but it sure would be close and we'd be treated to some slightly different versions of our favorites songs... along with a new song or two. Kenny, I'd like to hear further views from you on this... and also from Tim and the others on the forum. What do you think of the never ending stream of Carpenters compilations? |
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timo
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Post by timo on Apr 23, 2009 1:13:48 GMT -5
How about 10 years from now on? CDs are probably history, all music is downloadable files or streaming in the internet - the greatest hits will surely still sell and play but will the concept of a song cycle (as created at the time of the LP's, in this case for example "Horizon") be gone forever from rock/pop music in general? Everything you listen to is just "greatest hits"??
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Post by wisejester7 on Apr 23, 2009 8:05:57 GMT -5
There is a place for comps, as they provide a launching point for the uninitiated. They also provide what is sometimes the only source to a song or two, but overall (for the long term fan) they are not worth the price.
Most of the songs are the same old, same old.
I know Richard is sitting on recordings that we would be interested in ... even partial recordings could serve the true fan ... if he would take the time to give us the background information on each piece.
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 23, 2009 8:12:50 GMT -5
There is a place for comps, as they provide a launching point for the uninitiated. They also provide what is sometimes the only source to a song or two, but overall (for the long term fan) they are not worth the price. Most of the songs are the same old, same old. I know Richard is sitting on recordings that we would be interested in ... even partial recordings could serve the true fan ... if he would take the time to give us the background information on each piece. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 23, 2009 8:25:41 GMT -5
How about 10 years from now on? CDs are probably history, all music is downloadable files or streaming in the internet - the greatest hits will surely still sell and play but will the concept of a song cycle (as created at the time of the LP's, in this case for example "Horizon") be gone forever from rock/pop music in general? Everything you listen to is just "greatest hits"?? |
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timo
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Post by timo on Apr 23, 2009 11:10:25 GMT -5
The album "Horizon" as with all Carpenters albums is available in MP3 format as an entire album and can be downloaded that way. Eventually we will also be able to purchase the album artwork, inner sleeves and liner notes along with the music itself to assemble our own hard copy. I love albums with a concept, introduced to rock music from Sgt Pepper onwards (and even earlier by jazz musicians and artists like Sinatra), like Horizon. I'm just afraid - and I hope I'm wrong - that the artists and their labels start to play it safe and not release songs like "Aurora" or "Eventide" because no-one will download (or listen to) them anyway for the same price. But at the same time I wish the "hard copy" will remain at least for ambitious artists! I have nothing against compilation albums by the C's or anyone else - I usually make my own compilations of my fave tracks of the moment - not the same tracks all the time...  |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 23, 2009 21:01:29 GMT -5
The album "Horizon" as with all Carpenters albums is available in MP3 format as an entire album and can be downloaded that way. Eventually we will also be able to purchase the album artwork, inner sleeves and liner notes along with the music itself to assemble our own hard copy. I love albums with a concept, introduced to rock music from Sgt Pepper onwards (and even earlier by jazz musicians and artists like Sinatra), like Horizon. I'm just afraid - and I hope I'm wrong - that the artists and their labels start to play it safe and not release songs like "Aurora" or "Eventide" because no-one will download (or listen to) them anyway for the same price. But at the same time I wish the "hard copy" will remain at least for ambitious artists! I have nothing against compilation albums by the C's or anyone else - I usually make my own compilations of my fave tracks of the moment - not the same tracks all the time... |
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Post by enigma on Apr 28, 2009 9:56:20 GMT -5
Let me just add something to this thread this packaged box set album release is not unique to the Carpenters almost all classic artists mare releasing discographies or greatest hits repackages every few years if record/entertainment companies can make a quick buck from doing this they will continue to do so it seems a better way to make money than make the CDs available all the time. Often back catalogs get discontinued and more discography box sets are being issued. Unfortunately it will never stop unless there is no demand for the music. I do like Ricks idea of expanded versions of the Carpenters record many artists do this in their box sets whether it be a demo version of a song an alternate take or a song dropped from the track list for a record. I believe all artists record more that the songs that make it to the final albums during the recording sessions for an album and the Carpenters are no exception but for reasons only known to Richard these songs have not been released.   |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 28, 2009 21:52:09 GMT -5
Let me just add something to this thread this packaged box set album release is not unique to the Carpenters almost all classic artists mare releasing discographies or greatest hits repackages every few years if record/entertainment companies can make a quick buck from doing this they will continue to do so it seems a better way to make money than make the CDs available all the time. Often back catalogs get discontinued and more discography box sets are being issued. Unfortunately it will never stop unless there is no demand for the music. I do like Ricks idea of expanded versions of the Carpenters record many artists do this in their box sets whether it be a demo version of a song an alternate take or a song dropped from the track list for a record. I believe all artists record more that the songs that make it to the final albums during the recording sessions for an album and the Carpenters are no exception but for reasons only known to Richard these songs have not been released. |
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kenny
NEW TO THE FAMILY
Sharing horizons that are new to us....
Posts: 16
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Post by kenny on Apr 28, 2009 21:57:45 GMT -5
I'm glad to see such great conversation about this.
I have to say, you are all quite persuasive in your arguments because now I want to go buy a compilation, lol.
The compilations that I never got to purchase are a few that I REALLY would like to get. Isn't there one with a gold-ish cover, (not Singles II), maybe a photo frame....I just don't remember the name. I think the main distinct thing about it to me was that it had a remixed version of "Honolulu City Lights" or "Slow Dance" (I think Slow Dance) and was released some time inthe early 90's?
Your points on how the compilations keep bringing the music to newer generations were well made on your parts and well missed on my entire mindset when I originally wrote. That makes absolutely perfect sense - and I can't say why it slipped my mind.
I would definitely be more inclined to buy the very special releases, like the 4 disc box set "From The Top" came out - that was the closest thing to a new Carpenters album I'd seen in a long time and the unheard material at that time was pure magic. Maybe Richard should hold a contest for we long-term fans and let a group of us decide which ones are the best to expose to the masses, so to speak? What a great idea.
Anything rare makes a huge appeal to me, especially in music, and I'd gladly spend the money sight unseen when it comes to that & the C's. What would be really awesome is definitely the idea of the expanded CD's - those I'd buy in a flash as well, even though I have them on LP & CD & CD again!
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on May 1, 2009 16:53:38 GMT -5
 I'd have to say this - I'm with you Rick, and you E - I'd LOVE to hear anything from any album sessions that haven't been released. I would be interested in ANYTHING, from any point in time that Carpenters recorded. I'd purchase the compilations IF there was ANY NEW PIECE on them. I'm kinda not interested any longer in those with the same songs rearranged, or done in a different recording manner - just want to hear anything new. Interesting topic. Oh....and like you Timo and you, Rick - I have made my own compilation albums for years. I love to do that because then you get to your faves and don't have to mess with those that are just okay. Great stuff! |
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Post by Rick Henry on May 1, 2009 21:23:30 GMT -5
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