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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The BEST of the Carpenters!, January 27, 2001
This review is from: Yesterday Once More: Memories of the Carpenters and Their Music (Paperback)
This is one of the finest books I have ever read on the Carpenters. I saved a stack of clippings myself over the years, but none cover the depth of what this book does. It is a "must" for all fans of Karen and Richard, and will surely serve to introduce future generations to the history and magic of the Carpenters music. It's also a great keepsake for fans because it includes rare articles, interviews, and writings about the duo from the 1970s to present. In addition to 16 full-page photos (some I'd never even seen before), "Yesterday Once More" assembles so many great pieces of writing on the Carpenters. The book begins with a fascinating overview of the Carpenters lives and careers by Paul Grein, who has always been known as a Carpenters supporter - and one of the few they had among the press world. There are several album reviews but one of the most impressive aspects has to be the placement of concert reviews (most are from Variety) throughout the book. It is quite interesting to follow the transformation from "opening act" in Vegas through to the record-breaking Palladium appearances. There is even a 1997 review of a concert performed by Richard Carpenter in Long Beach, California. There are other pieces you might consider to be "landmark" Carpenters articles: "On The Road With The Carpenters" by Digby Diehl, "The Choral Sound Of The Carpenters" by Frank Pooler (I have been trying to track down a copy of this one for years) and "Soft Rock & 14 Gold Records" from Saturday Evening Post. The highlight of these would have to be Ray Coleman's 1975 "Middle America Personified?" piece from Melody Maker - it's a mammoth work, interviewing Karen and Richard on separate occasions and offering much information not available in other dialogues. The last two sections of the book deal with Karen's death, Richard's activities since that time, and the resurgence in Carpenters popularity in the 1990s. I am especially fond of Daniel Levitin's "Pop Charts" article, which covers Richard's practices as an arranger, and the review of Karen's solo record (recorded in 1979 and released in 1996). "Yesterday Once More" definitely succeeds at showing the Carpenters from many views. Get this one!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Sadly disappointing -- a collection of press clips, totally lacking value, September 29, 2007
This review is from: Yesterday Once More: Memories of the Carpenters and Their Music (Paperback)
If you ask my wife, I border on obsessive compulsive regarding the Carpenters. Karen's voice is (sadly, WAS), in my mind, without peer... before her and since. Always on pitch; filled with wonderful color, texture and interpretation. She was wonderfully showcased by Richard's (undervalued) arrangements. That said: I LOVE the Carpenters. Always have.
That said, this book was a huge disappointment. The author --er, EDITOR, has simply amassed a mismash collection of short reviews (complete with heavyhanded industry jargon-babble), interviews and short articles. With very little structure and no value added insight, it's a dusty old scrapbook of meandering, repetitive and, therefore, quickly forgettable material.
I just think the Carpenters, especially Karen, deserve much better. She was that great.
That said, in my hunt for everything Carpenters, I do highly recommend the DVD: CLOSE TO YOU, REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS. Of all the DVDs available (mostly lip-synching "videos") this has a lot of live material and insight that will satisfy the most obsessive Carpenters fan.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do not look for a review that does not exist!, December 4, 2002
This review is from: Yesterday Once More: Memories of the Carpenters and Their Music (Paperback)
"Yesterday Once More" by Randy Schmidt, an accomplished music teacher, has most of the more important published articles on the Carpenters. Their full text is printed in order, from 1970 to 1998. There are positive, as well as negative articles, on Karen and Richard Carpenter. The book does not have 1975 "Rolling Stone" piece; "The Family That Plays Together", (which can be purchased over the internet). The book also has Karen saying she was sorry for her comments on Mott the Hopple, but, the reader is not given any idea what the comments were. In the 1989, ratings topping, CBS made-for-television movie: "The Karen Carpenter Story", made by Richard Carpenter; the film shows Cynthia Gibb reading an review, which describes Karen as "chunky" and/or "chubby". According to Randy Schmidt-No Such Review Ever Existed! It was just "Hollywood" poetic licence! A friend of Karen's also told VH-1, Karen read a review that referred to her hourglass figure, and Karen flipped! Again, there is no evidence that anyone wrote a article that discussed Karen's weight, execpt to say how, after 1975, she was much too thin in appearance. The Carpenters were probably the best-selling U.S. music act of the 1970's, and their recordings will be played forever! Karen was a great, pioneer woman drummer/singer; and "Goodby to Love", (1972), by Richard Carpenter, (Tony Peluso on guitar), was the first "power ballad". This is an important, informative, intelligent book well worth reading and owning.
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