Bump: The pre-order link in the first post is now active.

I have long hoped they would come out with some stripped-down mixes of Carpenters music but it looks like we'll be getting the opposite.

I would love that too, but considering Richard runs the show, I don't see him ever agreeing to anything which would strip away or dilute his arrangements.

I have heard from a reliable source that this album contains at least one alternate vocal performance from Karen, so really excited about that.

Thanks for that intel on Karen’s alternate vocal. Have generally stayed away from these but may have to grab this one.

The listing has vanished again, but it will return, hopefully at the same URL. (AnyWAN who pre-ordered while the listing was active should stand pat for now.)

There's the expected selection of "froof editions". The lithograph and so on.

Don't worry, this is definitely coming back to Amazon as a general release CD (without the memoralibia or exclusive bonus tracks or whatever else might be planned).

In fact the CD is back up for pre-order right now, at the same URL as before:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J35TBQ4/?tag=imwan-20

Here's the description and tracklist from the shop.carpentersofficial.com website:

Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra pairs the revered original melodic-pop recordings of Richard and Karen Carpenter with brand-new symphonic arrangements composed, produced and conducted by Richard Carpenter himself. Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, Richard’s fresh orchestrations coupled with Karen’s timeless vocals marks a historic reimagining, making for an essential collection of signature hits and beloved favorites including “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Yesterday Once More,” “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” “Top of the World” and “Superstar.”

TRACKLIST:

1. Overture
2. Yesterday Once More
3. Hurting Each Other
4. I Need to Be in Love
5. For All We Know
6. Touch Me When We're Dancing
7. I Believe You
8. I Just Fall in Love Again
9. Merry Christmas Darling
10. Baby It's You
11. (They Long to Be) Close to You
12. Superstar
13. Rainy Days and Mondays
14. This Masquerade
15. Ticket to Ride
16. Goodbye to Love
17. Top of the World
18. We've Only Just Begun

Release date is in two days. There are "exclusive" bonus tracks on both the Japan and Target Stores editions. "Please Mr. Postman" is the bonus track on the Japan edition (almost sold out), and it is still officially unknown what the bonus track will be on the Target edition. Educated speculation points toward "Those Good Old Dreams" since it is known that enhancements to that song were recorded at Abbey Road.

my advice regarding this release?
buy it NOW, before Richard goes-in and dinks around with the mix in a few years.

Update: Target bonus track is the same as Japan, "Please Mr. Postman"