Proposed DVC Expansion for Disneyland Resort?

With the smashing success of California Adventure 2.0 and Cars Land, it's no surprise that the Disneyland Resort is one hot property- and the Walt Disney Company is, once again,  finally realizing the resort's potential for future growth and profitability.

Prior to the remodel of Anaheim's second Disney park, it was well known in the company that Downtown Disney was the unqualified success of the expansion. Retail space is tight compared to that available in Florida, and so is space for additional hotels and Disney Vacation Club rooms.

What would additional construction look like? Well, here's a few renderings designed by one architect, Alex McCann. Has his firm been put to work by Disney? Probably not. Is he a fan of the resort, desiring to put his stamp on a cultural landmark. Probably. But take a glance at his detailed proposal here. It's worth a look!

(Art copyright Alex McCann.)

America Gives Thanks and The American Adventure

Thanksgiving Day 2014. There is much to give thanks for: home, friends, family, provision, and a country free under God.

On a Disney note, Imagineer Herb Ryman created this piece of concept art in 1979 for the American Adventure to be found in EPCOT Center. Its a beautiful piece, full of charm and drama, certainly a hallmark of Herb's best work.

So take a moment to give God thanks for all He has given you. It's one of the strongest exhortations in the Bible repeated so many times: "Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His Love Endures Forever!"

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Once More for Good Measure

Yes, once more,  this post by The Disney Times is 100% correct. As are others who reported something similar. I did post a series of pieces of concept art on the proposed Dubai Disneyland, and yes, I was contacted by Favilli Studio. A very nice request was made by the Director of Operations, Linus Sora, a very kind man, to have me take down the pieces- which I did as a courtesy. 

Why did they ask me to take them down? Easy, the proposed project is very real and very sensitive. The clients were upset the pieces made their way to the public  Imagine a Disneyland in the Middle East and everything that could mean and everything that could lead to. The area is already a world power, and we all know Disney is solely in the market to make money. Win / Win. 

Favilli also took their pieces down off the web, but you can still find a concept for Glacier Bay, a land once proposed for Tokyo Disney Sea.

No, you will not find Dubai Disneyland art on my blog any longer. But I will say this, look at your favorite list of Disney sites, and you will find the art. It's out there- plenty of it- on multiple sites. 

Carpenters: As Time Goes By Leads to Yesterday Once More

Earlier this year, As Time Goes By, the final album of new music by Carpenters first became available in the United States. Ten years ago. Ten years!

Time does indeed go by. I've been trying to write this article for a very long time, way back since March or so. The problem is, it has been written and rewritten so many times and from many different angles. Why? It's an incredibly personal album for me as well as one that covers many periods of time. I just haven't been able to get a handle on how to approach the review until this final attempt. Now that the direction is determined, it's time to continue on with this retrospective of the Carpenters albums. I began with Offering / Ticket to Ride years ago, so here goes...

After Lovelines in 1989, Karen's solo album finally being released in 1996, and a multitude of compilations since (including their first boxed set From the Top, which I will review later), Richard Carpenter was inundated by requests from fans for every drop of material ever recorded by the duo. Voices from the United States, England and Japan clamored for more. Who could blame them? With the one of a kind voice of Karen Carpenter and Richard's well-thought arrangements, the Carpenters were an act to last generation after generation. As evidenced from interviews with musical artists of every decade, each generation produced a new set of fans, spreading the influence of the duo well beyond the prime of their career.

Looking back on the year 2004, anyone could glance at the charts of Billboard magazine and see it was the year of urban music, headlined by Usher, Alicia Keys, and an upcoming young band fronted by The Voice's Adam Levine, Maroon 5. The music business had changed drastically, and A&M Records itself was a shell of its former glory. Being sold first to PolyGram and then to Universal Music Group which acquired the previous owner, the music industry was generally lost in transformation. The era of the personalized record company as designed by Herb Alpert was over. i-tunes only cemented it.

Under the current state of the business, artists began to view their career, sales opportunities, and musical output differently than in the past. Of course, with Karen's untimely death in 1983, Richard Carpenter had already weathered so much change in career, let alone his personal life.

His first solo release Time was not well received by the buying public in 1987. A pretty good lead single kicked things off, Dusty Springfield singing Something in Your Eyes, but the album tanked. The disc (particularly on vinyl version) would become a collectors item as it went off the charts and out of print rather quickly. (Richard's next solo project would come many years later, and in an odd course of direction, it would be an instrumental version of old Carpenters hits.) With the relative failure of Time in mind, Richard's must have concluded the fans wanted the duo, not really seeing him as a solo artist but instead just the brains behind his sister's focal point voice. With these thoughts in mind of the industry executives as well, new releases that only rehashed their hits continued. Richard eventually came near to the end of the releasable material.

Thankfully, there were enough odds and ends left to consider a rarities disc, and As Time Goes By slowly began to take shape. Seeing the disc as the final one, Richard poured his heart into this project, believing this A&M Records release to be "just for the fans". If there is any truth to the catchphrase "labor of love", this certainly was it.

I had heard of this disc being released in Japan a few years prior, and I bought it as an import when it seemed the release was doomed to not find its way to the States. Just in case. At this point in my life, I was still a life-long fan, but other than a disc with something rare, I wasn't about to buy just another compilation. The money wasn't there. Four teens filled my house and filled my life.

For almost a decade, my AT&T career was now a thing of the past as I had chosen to focus on serving my community as a career choice. Certainly the pay was far less, but the satisfaction of doing something which put my faith in Christ in action made the trade off worth it. Some believed it a mid-life crisis, but my wife and I knew that this career was the right choice for all of us. A very personal note here: When this collection was released, our family was in the middle of a personal crisis which would change us forever. One we thought we would never recover from. Today, looking backward, I can tell you the Lord Jesus really does work out all things for good if we are truly his followers, but it did take some time for us to gain our balance.

Sans logo- a beautiful shot!

Checking the mail everyday, I waited and waited until the package arrived from Japan. In the new century, it wasn't very often a fan of the duo would get to open up a disc with new material. I tore open the mailing envelope very carefully. Disc in hand, I was thrilled (and still am) by the beautiful cover photo by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Full version of the Rolling Stone cover is a collector's item,

and for a decent image, only this truncated version is on the web.

July 4th, 1974 issue of the magazine.

Annie's work graced the Rolling Stone cover of Karen and Richard in years prior. In hindsight, this new and previously unseen photograph is powerful, even moreso than her earlier Rolling Stone cover. Although it's taken during the same sessions in 1974, there's something very different in approach here. Almost prophetic: first a sleeping Karen, exhausted, thin, and finally at rest. Then there's a disgruntled, perhaps angry, Richard looking elsewhere, deep in thought. Some have suggested he's looking after her legacy, ever watchful, and as always, not the focus of the duo.

The best I could do with Photoshop...

Once I got past the cover, I discovered As Time Goes By fills the air with a varied look at the Carpenters' career. There's a mix of early unreleased songs, music from television specials, duets with iconic celebrities from generations past, and bits and pieces which help a fan understand a bit more what went wrong with their career in the late 1970s. Or perhaps why they seemed to have stalled out.

Originally, or should I say, in the first several attempts at this article, my plan was to review each song in the order in which it appears on the disc. It wasn't until several attempts later that I decided I would do so by chronological order of each song's recorded date. This would present a unique view of the disc, bringing it in line with Richard's liner notes encouraging the buyer to look at this as a "one CD boxed set". For better or worse, it would also result in the longest Carpenters album review ever written by me, as I would go into quite a bit of their history and how it effects the selections found on the disc. With that in mind, let's start "From the Top". 

Strangely colored photo from the time with Annie in May 1974.

Was it distorted for the poorly overlooked official Carpenters website?

Both California Dreamin', originally by the Mamas and the Papas, and Nowhere Man by the Beatles would be first on the disc when looked at in order of recorded date. The year was 1967. The duo's first album, Offering, was not yet released nor was our duo even signed to A&M Records. They were recording in bassist Joe Osborn's garage studio. These were the formative years.

The first song displays great ambition by both Karen and Richard. The arrangement is stellar. The cut would be very fitting if it were placed in either album- on Offering (renamed later as Ticket to Ride) or even on Close to You, in the place of the equally creative and ambitious Another Song. Although Karen's voice is young, it's strong and impressive, giving the listener only the vaguest idea of what would lie ahead. Richard's arrangement is one of the best of his earlier work, giving the song its powerful lift. Particularly when compared to the original version.

In contrast to the first tune, the next cut shows covering the Beatles is almost never a good idea. Even for Karen and Richard. Ticket to Ride may be the exception of where it worked in their favor. Not so with Nowhere Man. Once the listener gets past the harmonica intro, the arrangement feels very similar to their first single release, yet not nearly as much a revelation or as successful. It's a bit draggy both in arrangement and in the vocal performance. Ticket is just a better recording all around, even in its original 1969 version versus the exceptional newly recorded one found on The Singles 1969-1973. It is good to have this recording of Nowhere Man if you are a completist (and I am). Please note that there is a version floating around the internet that is "unsweetened". It's very interesting to compare the two, a simple and perfect performance and then the one here enhanced with strings and additional production especially for this release. 

Moving on, the next selection is from September of 1971. And When He Smiles is an interesting piece of work. It's found on a DVD release of BBC's televised concert of the Carpenters first UK television special. By this point in time, the duo were very well known. With several hits in the United States under their belt, it was time to conquer Europe, and they certainly did.

On Smiles, the vibe here is early 70's cool a la A&M. Karen sounds totally relaxed but still perfect. The arrangement brings to mind Love is Surrender as well as sections of the Bacharach Medley found on their Tan album which was released earlier in the same year. The video of the song comes across just as well. There's a playfulness and a joy among all the members of the band. It was clear they were enjoying the work and the success of their labor.

The Perry Como Christmas Special was finally released on DVD in 2013.

The next selection comes a few years later. By 1974, Richard and Karen were established superstars at the top of the charts. With gold records, Number One albums and singles, sold out concerts, and legions of fans all over the world, it was hard to imagine they could go any higher or be under pressure to follow one hit after another. At this point in time, Karen was as her peak vocally, and Richard showed his versatility by the varied textures found on their studio albums. The Singles 1969-1973 had just become one of the best selling albums ever, both in the States and in the United Kingdom. Their next album, the yet-unnamed landmark Horizon, was several months away, eventually finding its release date in the following year. 

To hold fans and radio over, a rehash of an earlier hit from A Song For You was released. It was a testament to their popularity that a song from 1972 would be a hit in 1974, especially when millions of fans had already purchased it on an album, and there had been another new collection, Now & Then,  released in between. 

I was expecting a single from a new album in the Fall of '74, not a Christmas single, but a stunning version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town was put out for the season. That song would end up as part of their appearance on the television special hosted in December of that year by Perry Como, one of Karen and Richard's favorite crooners.

Perry himself was a fan of the duo, having recorded early Carpenters hits, Close to You and We've Only Just Begun, for his album of the same year as his smash single It's Impossible in 1970. In preparation for the show, they would all perform together, singing segments of each other's hits. It was an incredibly good idea as both Karen and Perry had voices in the same timbre; both were very likable and highly respected for their pure, warm tones. Although many songs were put together for the medley, the clear centerpiece is Karen's effortless reading of It's Impossible. The warmth, the yearning, the tenderness in her performance makes it a standout. Had Perry's take on the song not been a hit just a few years earlier, it would have made quite the fitting addition to the music eventually found on Horizon. 

As with Nowhere Man, another version of the medley can be found on the internet. Richard's liner notes in this disc give a full and detailed explanation of why there are two.

The next selections on this package reveal a turning point in the Carpenters success on the charts, but more importantly, they signal a change in strategy regarding their career. Chronologically, they also fall about in the middle of the selections on this disc.

Screenshot from Lyricist Phil Cody's book, Beyond Words and Music.

Most music critics would label 1975's album Horizon as the duo's most sophisticated effort. It sold very well, especially in the United Kingdom, but it did not have the staying power on the charts of previous releases. The final single release from the disc, the incredible Solitaire, fell shy of the Top Ten.

Rare photo of the Carpenters with Neil Sedaka.

Neil Sedaka was not only the man behind the composition of Solitaire (along with Phil Cody), he also became a thorn in the side of Richard. As their most recent opening act, Sedaka stole the show with his high energy hit-filled performance and violated professional courtesies, causing Richard to have him fired. 

A great pairing for concert goers, a disaster for the duo.

For the first time, bad press came for something more than Karen and Richard's music or image. With less than expected sales of Horizon and its singles, the Sedaka incident, and just being exhausted, both Karen's anorexia and Richard's pill addiction grew even deeper roots. It was time for a change. And this change brought about the next few selections found on As Time Goes By.

Karen with music executive boyfriend Terry Ellis in 1974.

Perhaps it was this changing tide in their sales that made Richard and Karen rethink their direction. This thought process advocated some wholesale changes to their concerts and rethinking their career. They came to fruition after many conversations but most particularly with Karen's then boyfriend, music executive Terry Ellis. He loved Karen, had befriended Richard, and was a force to be reckoned with in the music business. The search began to replace long-time manager Sherwin Bash.

Not sure Jerry Weintraub did them any favors in the long run.

Enter Jerry Weintraub. Superstar manager whose clients included Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, and John Denver, among many others. Richard and Karen were ready for change, and Jerry was ready to move in and take over. Convincing them they had already reached their sales peak, as he felt most acts normally do over time, Jerry talked them into doing their first television special which would air in the Fall. It did well in the ratings, but at times, it also represented them in a less than favorable light.

The newest album released just a few months after Karen and Richard hired Weintraub, A Kind of Hush was even softer and more Adult Contemporary than anything the Carpenters had put to vinyl in the past. Although it contained some beautiful leads by Karen, plenty of background vocal layers, and the heartbreakingly autobiographical I Need to Be in Love, this lone album single handedly tossed away any credibility they'd won with Rock and Roll fans while revealing how out of touch the Carpenters were with the record buying public. In the gravest of errors to represent this body of work, someone chose to put out a novelty tune from the 30's as a single. Whether or not it was intentional, this became career sabotage. The disc sold less than Horizon and only produced two solid hits, each ranking lower than those on the previous album.

By the time work started on the television special, it was decided to focus on the best loved hits, interestingly excluding the two found on Hush. This resulted in two medleys, both found on this "one CD boxed set".

Switching places. Both Richard and Karen look terrific here.

The Superstar/Rainy Days and Mondays medley is a studio recording. It's a nice piece with added harmonica and strings. Yet, it feels like more a collector's item as it only magnifies how incredible the original versions of these singles are, especially when you consider Karen and Richard were both in their very early twenties when these were first recorded. (Interestingly, in an interview with Huffington Post to promote 40/40, Richard shares he never liked the production on the original Superstar.)

The second recording found on this disc is the Hits Medley '76. If you have seen the Carpenters in concert from the release of Hush or if you've purchased Live at the Palladium, you're familiar with this one. I was blessed to be able to see them live, so this medley is a favorite, live or in studio. As some of the singles represented in the live version were already performed on the show, the line-up is a bit different but just as powerful. Tony Peluso's blazing guitar work on Goodbye to Love is audio gold. In this writer's opinion, including the hits medley on the television show, instead of bringing in new material or the latest singles, communicated to the audience that Karen and Richard had peaked. It was a story they never intended to tell.

Jerry Weintraub may have been at the management helm, but Richard was still the main creative force for the duo. Deciding material, style, and production was still left up to him. As often admitted, the pressure on them to come up with the next hit, self-induced but always hinted at by the company, left Richard almost unable to make a decision.

The next several selections on this disc reveal either the Carpenters versatility and interests or Richard's inability to decide on a direction. My belief is it was the latter as the songs have no consistent thread in style or content.

When the Carpenters finally released the first single of 1977, the excellent All You Get From Love is a Love Song, it was their first lead single not to break the Top Twenty since Ticket to Ride, eight years earlier. Had the single been released in 1974 through 1976 there is no doubt it would have hit hard. On the heels of Goofus from Hush, this was not a good sign.

Once leading the pack and determining the musical landscape, now Karen and Richard were led by it. The current culture was dominated by Star Wars, disco hits, and country styled rock of the Eagles. The spacey, symphonic, majestic Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft made it to their next disc, but the live show and the television special that came next showcased a selection embracing the popularity of the hot science fiction/ fantasy genre in movies.

The Close Encounters / Star Wars medley finds Richard front and center, doing what he loves. If for Karen the drums were always a pleasure, the same can be said for Richard and the piano. It's a beautiful piece, and I only wish it were free of the association with the movies so listeners could here it as the art it is.

In 1978, Leave Yesterday Behind, was cut as was Dancing in the Street. Both looked to the past. Leave was composed by the team that wrote For All We Know, and the similarities between the two are obvious. Still, it's a lovely song but certainly not singles material.

Heading in an even different direction compared to the last two recordings, Dancing in the Street returns the duo to the oldies format which worked well for a season (Now & Then album; Please Mr. Postman single) but soured later by being repeated too often. The Carpenters and this song go way back in the history of the duo.

Dancing in 1968

Dancing in the Street has been covered by so many artists, that it's no wonder that the Carpenters were also won over by its charms. It's also popular with fans, being recorded by everyone from Mick Jagger and David Bowie to KC (of Sunshine Band fame) and Terri DeSario. In a bit of confession, let me say there isn't a version of this song that I don't like. Karen and Richard first recorded the classic Motown hit in 1968 in an entirely different style than what we hear on As Time Goes By.

They must have loved this song. It was rerecorded by them ten years later in a slick pop/disco style. Infamously unavailable as one of several songs considered for single release on an album which never made its debut. Yet, it would eventually debut on television.

The duo does disco in 1978!

There is one connecting point of interest. Paul Riser, who did the arrangement for the original Motown version also arranged the 1978 recording by the Carpenters. Does his name sound familiar? It should. Paul was also the arranger for the duo's 1978 single release, (and yet another turn in style), I Believe You.

First officially heard on the duo's Space Encounters television special, Dancing does have a nice swing to it and ends with an impressive saxophone fade out. The television visual is a little odd, sort of sock hop meets disco hybrid. Richard looks like he's having a bit of fun, and Karen seems to be enjoying herself, weaving in and out of the dancers.

Being an oldie, there's some similarities in production to a later recording, a remake of The Marvelettes' Beechwood 4-5789, the same group that brought Please Mr. Postman to the public's ear. This Motown oldie was found on the Carpenters comeback album, Made in America. Aside from hearing the very smooth background vocals in each of these two songs, Dancing seems a bit fresher in comparison. That said, Tony Peluso does some great guitar work on the 1981 recording, but Postman bests both. Upon several listens to the song on the CD, I wondered if a full length version exists, although I'm sure Richard would have put it out as such if it did. Especially since this is a mini-boxed set of rarities.

Since this is a compilation of rarities from the duo's work, the disc skips past Karen's solo album and heads into what they recorded once it was decided her album would not be released when intended.

Clearly thin, but she looks very elegant.

Perhaps Richard tired of trying to join in on the musical trends of the day or what worked in the past. His decision to record songs from the Great American Songbook was a stroke of genius- and a huge step ahead of other artists who would one day make doing so a rite of passage.

For fans of the duo's excellent television special from 1980, Music, Music, Music, the collection of songs on the disc would be more than welcome as several selections finally appear here. There was no follow up video release of the much admired but lowly rated broadcast. The only previously released song from the show was When I Fall in Love- which finally made its way onto the 1989 release Lovelines almost a decade later.

Guest stars on the special would be Ella Fitzgerald, and John Davidson, and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. The arrangements of Nelson Riddle would take center stage in the music for the special, giving the whole presentation a timeless feel that Richard worked hard to achieve. Given the year it was created, this was a bold move on his part. Bravo, Richard!

Beginning with the full version of Without A Song, their famously layered vocals create quite the opening cut. Karen completes the song taking on the Ella Fitzgerald lines, and Richard confidently tackles John's part and reminds us his voice can be a capable instrument as well. Even the choir belongs here. This recording is well done, making the listener forget this was originally a group effort that also included John Davidson, a likable man but with star quality much less than those in his company.

It's well known by now that Karen and Richard had pressed copies of the songs from this television special onto vinyl as a gift for their family, friends, and closest associates. It's unfortunate that they and A&M Records couldn't take a leap of faith with the music and release it at the time of the special. Always tasteful and rarely indulgent, both Richard and Karen shine on these all American standards. It would have made an excellent follow up to the freshness and bite of Passage and the timeless charms of Christmas Portrait. (Just imagine if Karen's solo album had been released when originally intended and was included in this line-up of albums. Talk about versatility! The only other artists I can think of with this eclectic album styles are Madonna and Sting, both who constantly reinvent themselves.) Unfortunately, it would take Linda Ronstadt releasing "Whats' New" in 1983 to give other artists the courage to record a full album of these timeless classics. (Was Linda a fan of I Can Dream Can't I? from 1975's Horizon? Or was she watching Music, Music, Music at home?)

Time for a little George and Ira Gershwin. This piece was intended to be a bit campy and fun as well as giving Karen a chance to show off some drumming, a la Live at the Palladium, but the opening vocals are just lovely. There are times when Karen could crank up the power, and there are times when her voice glides effortlessly through a melody. I Got Rhythm succeeds because of the arrangement choosing the latter approach. Richard wisely lets Karen sing and keeps the instrumentation to a minimum. Among many special songs found here, this one is an unexpected gem.

Dizzy Fingers. I do like Richard's instrumentals, but I so wish he would have included Slaughter on Tenth Avenue instead. It may have been a concession to time restraints on the disc. Dizzy Fingers is frantic, melodic and relatively brief. Richard clearly enjoyed the keys and that simple joy of making music is evident here.

With John Davidson on the Music x 3 set.

Irving Berlin wrote the next number, You're Just in Love, another song that made it's debut on television before it did on disc. Richard stands in for the performance by John Davidson, doing a more than decent job, but creating a "brother knows best" scenario versus one of two young lovers speaking. It's old fashioned, dated, charming, and one of Karen's loveliest vocals. She goes into her rich lower register often, reminding us of her ease and greatness in front of a microphone. The lyrics briefly give Carpenters fans a bit of unfortunate double meaning, but Richard's arrangement is appropriately old school fluff and very, very effective. One of my favorite cuts. Even the choir fits in well!

Ella meets her match.

If a casual or curious music fan needed one reason to purchase this disc, the next selection is it. The Karen / Ella medley showcases two American treasures. Pairing Karen with Ella Fitzgerald was another stroke of genius by Richard. This decision alone probably did more to cement Karen's place as one of the 20th Century's greatest singers as much as all the duo's hit singles combined. You just had to take Karen much more seriously when she could hold her own with one of America's most respected and beloved vocalists.

Creating well-crafted medleys was always one of Richard's strengths. It's no exception here. Richard may not be present vocally, but his skill at bringing out the best in Karen is in full presence here. Certainly his strength in song selection plays out well, but in this cut, it dawned on me that perhaps Richard was also Karen's vocal coach. And to what great result! The medley begins slowly, covering This Masquerade and builds from there. The ladies sound like they were meant to be together, each shining as well as allowing the other do the same.

I've read several reviews where My Funny Valentine is pointed out as the strongest piece, but I see it (hear it!) a little differently. Someone to Watch Over Me highlights everything I love about Karen's vocals. It's warm and intimate, tender, and full of yearning. When she croons "I'm a little lamb whose lost in the wood, I know I could always be good to one who''ll watch over me", I'm totally disarmed. Almost as if I'm hearing her for the first time, I can't believe what I am listening to, and I am instantly a life-long fan again. I rejoice for what was, and I grieve for what could have been. What a talent and what a loss.

The sweet playful side comes out for Miss Piggy.

Chronologically, the last selection is the most bittersweet. The lyrics make it this collection's Look to Your Dreams. While recording for Made in America, Richard selected the now classic Paul Williams tune, The Rainbow Connection. Wisely, it did not make that 1981 disc, and it should have been held for a children's or movie themed album. Fans heard of it and soon were practically demanding its release.

Here was the woman who loved Disneyland and Mickey Mouse singing a song made famous by Kermit the Frog. The performance is befitting the sentiment. Even though Richard says Karen really disliked it, I believe this song was just as much a part of her as My Body Keeps Changing My Mind. She was a complex woman, full of varied opinions and even contradictions. In the context of a career and life cut way too short, this song is a timeless and powerful slice of Carpenters history.

All good things must come to an end.

There are many personal connections to this disc, so playing it takes me places I do not always want to go. It's much like how I view the life and career of the duo. They are wrapped into the fabric of my life, and I associate certain albums and songs to joyful or difficult eras. The music found here covers so many of them. I guess I'd honestly say I prefer my music to have emotional and spiritual impact than to just tickle my ears. If you're new to the Carpenters or just made it through this massive article and are still reading, let me encourage you to dig a bit deeper into their catalog. Karen and Richard successfully touched hearts and continue to do so almost 50 years after they'd only just begun.
-------------

This is part of a continuing series of posts on the albums of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are also numerous stand alone posts highlights different aspects of their career, recordings, and life. 

Below is the list of my initial reviews and then my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews a decade later. 

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Why I'm Choosing California Adventure Instead of Disneyland This Christmas

Was this even necessary?

There's exactly one day that I can spend this year at the Disneyland Resort. One, and I had better choose wisely. So, I'm choosing California Adventure. The "whys" behind that choice may come as a surprise.

1- Freshness. The timing of my travels and the rebirth of California Adventure means I haven't seen it during the Christmas season. That alone is a big draw. What music do they play? What special treats are available? What's the entertainment like? The decor? As much as I hate to admit it, Disneyland is feeling old these days.

Christmas cuteness!

2- Less Overlays at California Adventure. Honestly, I'm tired of Haunted Mansion Holiday. Very tired of it. I absolutely love Small World Holiday, and it is right in tune with the season.  Jingle Cruise just doesn't ring true with me. What's next? Santa's sleighs taking over Space Mountain? I've been to Disneyland many times during the Christmas season, and there are few places as charming during the holidays, but the truth is, sometimes less is more. Until the day comes that "Jingle Shells" moves over to Ariel's Undersea Adventure, I'll be thrilled to ride that Omnimover ride over and over.

3- Crowds. Yep, they will be there, that's a given. However, nothing can be worse than the "Small World Crush" of crowds after the parade. It should be illegal from a safety standpoint. If there was ever a fire, some people would not be able to leave safely. 

4- Buena Vista Street. Disney Imagineers wisely poured on the charm here, and I have yet to really explore it at a leisurely pace. The way it used to be at Walt's park decades ago. Can't wait!

5- Cars Land. This will be a major calling card for me for many years. The Cadillac Range is stunning, and everything they've done to the area is a work of Imagineering art in the old school highest degree. Toss in the mix of unique merchandise here and the pending loss of Luigi's Flying Tires (which I have yet to ride), and this a must do destination.

(Photos copyright the excellent Magic Eye website.)

Star Wars Celebration Lands in Anaheim

Too good not to come back and post for! The Star Wars Celebration hits California in 2015. Here's the official poster for the four day event scheduled for April 16-19. 

With activities which be familiar to fans used to celebrating at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, the event will hopefully culminate in an announcement by the Walt Disney Company of what and when Star Wars Land is coming to the parks.

It's know all over that the Studios will be its home at Walt Disney World. The location for Disneyland, however, looks to be up in the air. While Tomorrowland would be a natural and needed choice for a makeover, insiders say Mickey's Toontown is that actual location for the Moon of Endor and more. Perhaps time in April will tell!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Losing Steam

Pretty worn out today. Might take a bit of a break and refresh. The bitter cold should let up today. That's a good sign! See you all next week.

For the Love of Money and Kim Kardashian

Look at this woman. She's quite attractive, right? Well, right now, just about everyone all over the world is looking at her, showing off her backside totally exposed.

May I ask, "What is wrong with Kim Kardashian?" Ultimately, she is just another person engulfed by the need for celebrity and money. She's a reflection of a world gone crazy, a world so impacted by sin, both individual and corporate, that she has forgotten she must answer to God for the way she has handled her life and her resources.

Let's face it, in some ways, she's trading off her body for fame and fortune- just like so many others. No different than what is done behind closed doors. Kim's choices are leading men down the dangerous path of pornography and sex addiction- and her choices are influencing other young women to compromise themselves for a buck.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 

Kim's no different, just more, um, visible. Thankfully, Jesus has paid the price for her sins, your sins, and mine. May she come to know him, turn from her ways, and live free for God. The only way to eternal life with God is through His Only Son, the payment for our penalty of death: Jesus Christ.

(Photo by Karwai Tang, Wire Image)

A Day in the Park

Just received this adorable photo from my youngest daughter, the mother of these two kids. It was taken a few weeks ago, before our record low temperatures for the last few days. And snow to boot! Aren't they cute? I just had to post this photo for my records. We have many grandchildren (all cute!),  and we love them all! They truly are a gift from God who is always good.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Redesigned for Little Kids?

In the planning stages for Disneyland Paris, then EuroDisney, Imagineers designed a smaller, kid-friendly version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The cuter-than-cute named Lil Thunder never was built, but it sure would have been fun!

Just imagine a runaway train for the littlest of varmints, traveling on rickety rails, heading off for a journey they would never forget. Of course, this was a Disney attraction, so the theming would be top notch. At least back in the late 80's when it was first imagined.

Cacti, critters, and a landscape similar to that of  Disneyland's famous Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland. It was all there. Just like that long lost gem, the ride would have concluded with a journey into the stunning Rainbow Caverns. Hopefully complete with the beautiful soundtrack, at once ethereal and melodic.

As many tales go, this attraction also never made it past the drawing boards. A replacement was found in Fantasyland's Casey Jr. ride, where young guests zoomed along the French version of the Storybookland Canal Boats, miniature houses and landscapes from fairy tales replacing the Wild West of Frontierland. (Guess that also means the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train won't ever come to Paris!)

Even though the park is rightly criticized for its lack up upkeep, Disneyland Paris does have the most incredible of Frontierlands. It's unfortunate that the land doesn't include the adult version of the mine train, the pack mules, the canoes, and everything else that made Walt Disney's plans iconic. All that would make it the ultimate take on the West... unless Marc Davis' Western River Expedition would ever get built. But don't count on it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Some Gave All

Thank you to all who serve and have served in the military! Your hard work and sacrifice protects our freedom- and earns the freedom of those around the world. We are blessed by God through your hands!

Key to the Kingdom

A couple of years back, my family arranged for a pretty special- and funny- birthday present.

After a very delicious breakfast at one of my favorite New Orleans styled cafes, we drove over to the Disney Store at the mall. One of my daughters, her husband, and then two kids, met us there. It was just before opening time.

Much to my surprise, a Disney cast member came out and announced a very special guest would be unlocking the magic this morning. I looked around and saw a dozen or so very cute little kids, fully expecting one of them to do something charming.

Wrong. It was me! They had arranged for me to be the guest of honor. Of course, my wife thoroughly enjoyed seeing me turn red faced as I walked forward when my name was announced. The payoff, however, was this little plastic key. Something I've kept in my desk drawer ever since. A little reminder of a family who loves me and loves to tease about my love for many things Disney.

Tomorrowland Attraction Poster: Metropolis Science Centre

When it comes to photography, I'll admit it: I'm no Tom Bricker over at the Disney Tourist Blog, but every once in awhile, even a blind pig can find an ear of corn- or something like that.

Here's a shot I took in 1999. Made even more special now with the passing of Robin Williams. 

Timekeeper, a Circle-Vision 360 presentation adapted for a new audience, was a great centerpiece project of Walt Disney World's New Tomorrowland. Gone was the old "let's take an earnest look at the future". In it's place was a world where aliens and humans alike co-existed in harmony with robots and technology. (That is, until the frightfully wonderful  Alien Encounter revealed the truth.)

This poster for the Metropolis Science Centre was too cool a piece of art for me to pass by. I do wish it was available for sale- and that Robin Williams was still around to sign it.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Big Hero 6 - A Huge Hit!

Big Hero 6 is a hit! In fact, it's such a huge hit here in Denver, that we couldn't get tickets at all... time to try again tomorrow! Bummer...

Family History in Photos

Me and my sister circa 1962.

Quite by accident, I stumbled across a batch of old photos. Some were of me as a kid, others of my family when we were all younger- and one was a photo of two of my grandsons. Quite an assortment, I'd say!

If you find other folks' photos of interest, then please do take a moment to glance through these. If not, consider this a post for my family to find sometime in the future.

Here they are in random order of their scanning...

Two of my grandsons with some bearded gentleman.

It's almost Christmas, so I guess I'll begin with a more recent photograph. Here are Gabe and Parker last year. Their looks tell me they are not all that thrilled to be sitting on Santa's lap! If you remember, Parker is our miracle. Doctors told my daughter and son-in-law that he'd probably be disabled due to part of his brain being undeveloped. They encouraged them to abort, but thankfully, his parents' refused. Even up until a week before his birth, scans revealed his was abnormal. Of course, he was born fully normal. Like all of us, God has a plan for him!

All the kids with my grandmothers.

Skip back to about 1992. Here are my kids and my sister's kids with my two wonderful grandmothers. Boy, I miss both these ladies, but I was blessed to have each of them in my life for 50 years. Each lived to be in their 90's!

Son Josh and baby brother Timothy

1990 was a pretty special year! Our son Timothy was born. Our eldest son, Josh, (now a daddy himself), so wanted a baby brother after having two sisters. His prayers were rewarded. (If I remember, our youngest daughter wanted to name him "Choo Choo Train"!)

Me in 8th grade with a full head of hair a la Donny Osmond and David Cassidy. I recognize the location as being my grandparents' trailer home. In some ways, they were old before their time. But it never stopped me from visiting them.

A new life, a new beginning

Getting baptized in 1977. I had just become a follower of Jesus Christ and decided I wanted to be obedient to the Bible and get baptized. Sure, it was Fall in Southern California, but that didn't mean the water was warm! Look at that perm (yes, they were popular then!) and look how skinny I was. The 'stache was nice, too. Tom Selleck, eat your heart out.

Flashback to my high school graduation in 1976. My Dad had the perm thing going too. I was fairly fresh-faced and optimistic. But only on film. We did not get along until I was about 35 years old. My Dad was tough, hard headed, and prideful. Just like me! We were quite a match. Now, we get along wonderfully and I trust him and value him like I should have all those years.  (You too, Mom!)

How many times my grandmother (a widow at 39) had to intervene. My Dad's Mom must have loved me a lot to put up with all the arguing and lived with us through it all. I was 13 when she moved until my aunt's home. She was my hero in so many ways...

The lure of the islands never wore off.

My sister and I were friends once I left high school, and she realized how awesome I was! (And visa versa!) At 20 and 18, we took off for Hawaii to have a little fun. Did we ever!

Two young and handsome Tafts.

My oldest son and I. First time Dad at 25, I was not very good at it. I'm still not, but I am older and wiser- and more importantly, God is gracious. He was an adorable kid and incredibly smart. Still is- he is a college professor now with a wife and son of his own.

Middle school and the snow. I looked like I was having fun, but even then I hated the cold. Great hair, though.

Me and my Nona. She survived a lot living in our house.

It wasn't until I was much older that I realized not everyone gets to grow up living by their grandparents. I had both my grandmothers, and we were close. (One grandfather, and we weren't close at all. But he did love music, so for that I thank him for passing it on.)

Here's my Italian grandmother. Her real name was Velia, but her friends called her Val. She and my Mom's mother were best friends. Pretty rare.

Young, in love, and married less than one year.

My wife in our first apartment in Brea, California.  Country Woods was the name. Last visit or so, we discovered our apartment complex was still there! The trees had grown in well over 30 years, and the rents were still out of our price range. I remember thinking $490 a month was robbery in 1982. My wife is still this beautiful.

Church dinner. No dancing allowed.

Here we are before we were married. I was in a church I really loved. It was a little old school, though. Dancing wasn't an option for this young adult event. When our kids were young, we held dance parties in the living room. I showed them!

Memere at 90.

My Mom's mom lived close by, so we were always 15 minutes away. I spent a lot of my summers with her at her house. We always laughed playing games on her porch- after the chores were done. She had a second grade education as she had to stay home and care for her siblings after her mother died. She said the funniest things, and she never understood that many times we laughed as much at her as with her. How I loved her! After she died at 92 (after surviving a heart attack at 91!), my Mom wanted to write a book about all her sayings, "Geralda-isms" after her name.

She had this great ending to her life. She's fallen down, hit her head and was in a coma. Non-responsive to anyone. One morning when my aunt's husband was visiting her, she sat up, looked up to heaven, smiled, and held out her hand to Jesus. Died immediately. What a witness to His love in her life. 

Pie anyone?

Once we moved to Colorado in 1989, one of the first orders of the day was finding a church. Eventually we landed at a good church that was more fun but still solid when it came to holding to historical teachings of the Bible. Here's my youngest son hitting me with a pie during our 50's Sock Hop. Dancing encouraged!

London, a boy, and his cannons.

Too long of a story, but our kids know it anyway. We had saved to go see our family in California. In 1998, British Airways began service from Denver to London offering $99 fares each way. It was cheaper to go overseas for vacation. Off we went. My kids still talk about that trip. (My first time at Disneyland Paris, too.)

Making a wish in 1996. One of my all-time favorite photos. Innocence and Hope all in one shot. 

My apologies to my daughters. Even though they are in a few photos, this stack was son-centric. Maybe the next one will be different.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)