Rating: 
Summary: Do not look for a review that does not exist!
Review: "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.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Piano Picker, Not Enough Superstar
Review: A noble effort to be sure, but in the end it seems as uneven as, well, a Carpenters album. There are highlights - primarily interviews with Karen and Richard - but too much of it is facile music-biz hackery or P.R. puff pieces that keep covering the same territory. (For example, the say-nothing music tabloid concert reviews become particularly numbing after awhile, as do the constant references to the fact that in an age of hippy sloppiness, the Carpenters showered.) Ultimately, the points that the book proves are probably not the ones the editor intended: a lot of industry journalism is pure dreck and there was any number of small-town John Simons out there who used their pieces about the Carpenters to demonstrate just how bitchy they could be. The most frustrating thing about the book, however, is what's missing. Major pieces from Rolling Stone, People, etc. are conspicuously absent (as is an interview where Karen apparently dissed Mott the Hoople - several pieces mention that she was sorry for what she said but we maddeningly never get to learn what that was!).
Rating:
Summary: Just the facts please!
Review: Being a 30 year Carpenters fan I admit that its hard to introduce anything new to me. There's little that I've never seen nor heard. But, Randy Schmidt has managed to introduce several gems in his book that even the diehard collector fans can enjoy for the first time. The book is paced just right, and will be a delight to new and seasoned fans alike. What I love most about Randy's book is that he doesn't present a POV (point of view) like the other recent Carpenters books. He doesn't tell me which tunes to like or dislike. He makes no judgements. He puts the facts out there in the words of Karen and Richard and the reviewers and writers who encountered them on their 70's turf. It's wonderful to take a trip back into time and read the wild review from legendary (and now deceased) rock critic Lester Bangs, the well written intro by veteran pop writer Paul Grein, or to lament the musings of an adult Karen and her need for personal satisfaction along with success. Randy has written this book not only for the diehards, but for those new fans who have heard the hits and are curious about the people behind the often brooding songs. Here they are folks, Karen and Richard as they were/are. A classy good read from start to finish. I expected no less from Randy and his friends and associates who assisted him in this endeavor!
Rating:
Summary: Too Much Piano Picker, Not Enough Superstar
Review: Hats off to Mr. Schmidt for this delightful collection of article, reviews, etc. on the Carpenters. Obviously Mr. Schmidt has devoted much time and effort into compiling this wonderful insight into their wonderful musical arrangements and rich vocals that were produced by Richard and Karen. A must-read for everyone who recognizes their familiar sound still popular after all these years. As entertaining as it is informative, it is a window into the lives and efforts of The Carpenters!
Rating:
Summary: Yesterday Once More - Memories of the Carpenters Music
Review: Hats off to Mr. Schmidt for this delightful collection of article, reviews, etc. on the Carpenters. Obviously Mr. Schmidt has devoted much time and effort into compiling this wonderful insight into their wonderful musical arrangements and rich vocals that were produced by Richard and Karen. A must-read for everyone who recognizes their familiar sound still popular after all these years. As entertaining as it is informative, it is a window into the lives and efforts of The Carpenters!
Rating:
Summary: This is a great one !
Review: I met Randy in the summer of 1999 in Downey CA. He is a very dedicated Carpenters fan and is extreemly knowledgeable about their lives and career. The book is filled full of information and interviews/articles on the great Carpenters. You don't want to miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great one !
Review: I met Randy in the summer of 1999 in Downey CA. He is a very dedicated Carpenters fan and is extreemly knowledgeable about their lives and career. The book is filled full of information and interviews/articles on the great Carpenters. You don't want to miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: A "must-have" for every Carpenters fan
Review: I've been a fan of the Carpenters from day 1. Being an avid collecter of "everything" - including articles - that I could get my hands on, I was pleasantly suprised to find stuff I had never read before. Most interesting were the interviews with Karen and Richard. Randy's collection of these articles, interviews and reviews was certainly a labor of love.
Rating:
Summary: A "must-have" for every Carpenters fan
Review: I've been a fan of the Carpenters from day 1. Being an avid collecter of "everything" - including articles - that I could get my hands on, I was pleasantly suprised to find stuff I had never read before. Most interesting were the interviews with Karen and Richard. Randy's collection of these articles, interviews and reviews was certainly a labor of love.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have For Every Carpenters Fan
Review: Kudos to Randy Schmidt for putting this fantastic book together. Filled with great articles, interviews and reviews it's a delightful read that I only wish there was a volume 2!!!!Instead of the usual biographies Randy opts for a collection of articles, interviews and reviews from various sources. It's like having your own collection of Carpenters articles without going through the effort of finding all these gems. The book is laid out with great thought and care and definately was a labor of love. This one is not to be missed!!!!!
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