Carpenters – Christmas Portrait, A&M Records SP-3210, VG++/VG++

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A seasonal classic from the golden age of vinyl, warm, nostalgic, and unmistakably Carpenters. This Indianapolis pressing of Christmas Portrait (A&M SP-3210) is an early 1980s reissue of the original 1978 release, featuring the iconic vocals of Karen Carpenter and lush arrangements by Richard Carpenter. From the delicate overture to timeless renditions of “Merry Christmas Darling,” “Silent Night,” and “Ave Maria,” this LP blends reverence with easy-listening charm.
Track listings and information:
A1 O Come, O Come Immanuel Adapted By – Richard Carpenter 0:28 Overture (4:38) A2a Deck The Hall A2b I Saw Three Ships A2c Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Written-By – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane A2d God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen A2e Away In A Manger Written-By – Carl Mueller, Jonathan Spilman, Martin Luther (3) A2f What Child Is This A2g Carol Of The Bells A2h O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) A3 Christmas Waltz Written-By – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn 2:15 A4 Sleigh Ride Written-By – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish 2:39 A5a It's Christmas Time Written-By – A. Stillman*, V. Young* 2:53 A5b Sleep Well, Little Children Written-By – A. Bergman, L. Klatzkin A6 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Written-By – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane 3:55 A7 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Written-By – Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots 1:05 A8 Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) Written-By – Mel Torme*, Robert Wells (2) 3:39 A9 Silent Night 3:19 B1 Jingle Bells 1:10 B2a First Snowfall Written-By – P. F. Webster, J. F. Burke 3:35 B2b Let It Snow Written-By – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn B3 Carol Of The Bells Arranged By – Nick Perito 1:39 B4 Merry Christmas Darling Producer – Jack Daugherty Written-By – Frank Pooler, Richard Carpenter 3:05 B5 I'll Be Home For Christmas Written-By – Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent 3:48 B6 Christ Is Born Written-By – D. Bartolucci, R. Charles 3:13 B7a Winter Wonderland Written-By – Dick Smith (3), Felix Bernard 5:31 B7b Silver Bells Written-By – Jay Livingston-Ray Evans B7c White Christmas Written-By – Irving Berlin B8 Ave Maria Adapted By – Charles Gounod 2:36
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records, Inc.     Copyright © – A&M Records, Inc.     Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis     Record Company – A&M Records, Inc.
    Arranged By – Nick Perito (tracks: A2)     Arranged By, Conductor – Billy May (tracks: A4, A6, A8, B5, B7), Peter Knight (5) (tracks: A2, A3, A5, A7, A9 to B3, B6, B8), Richard Carpenter (tracks: A1, B4)     Art Direction, Design – Tim Bryant (2)     Bass – Joe Osborn     Drums – Cubby O'Brien, Ron Tutt     Engineer – Dave Iveland*, Ray Gerhardt, Roger Young     Guitar – Bob Bain, Tommy Tedesco, Tony Peluso     Harp – Dorothy Remsen, Gayle Levant     Illustration – Robert Tannenbaum     Keyboards – Pete Jolly, Richard Carpenter     Management [Personal] – Jerry Weintraub     Mastered By – Bernie Grundman     Oboe – Earl Dumler, John Ellis (3)     Producer [Associate] – Karen Carpenter     Producer, Concept By [Conceived] – Richard Carpenter     Tenor Saxophone – Bob Messenger     Vocals – Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter, Tom Bahler Chorale
RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis pressing denoted by "R" printed on labels adjacent to A&M logo and by "I" stamped in the Runouts.
This is a 1980's reissue of SP-4726.
The Matrix/Runout data indicates that this release was pressed using lacquers or metalwork that originally had been used (or intended to be used) for pressing the original, 1978 release, SP-4726. The latter had been assigned the matrix numbers, SP-5189 and SP-5190. For this reissue, the old matrix numbers were scratched out and replaced with new matrices, SP 3210A and SP 3210B., and the album then was released with a new catalog number: SP 3210.
    Barcode: 07502-13210-1     Matrix / Runout (Label - Side A): SP-03210-A     Matrix / Runout (Label - Side B): SP-03210-B     Matrix / Runout (Runout - Side A - Stamped, except A&M and F etched, and SP-5189-RCA-2 etched and scratched out.): A&M S̸P̸-̸5̸1̸8̸9̸-̸R̸C̸A̸-̸2̸ SP 3210A 2 I Λ3 F     Matrix / Runout (Runout - Side B - Stamped, except A&M and I etched and SP-5190-RCA-1 etched and scratched out): A&M S̸P̸-̸5̸1̸9̸0̸-̸R̸C̸A̸-̸1̸ Λ4 I SP 3210B I     Pressing Plant ID (Stamped in Runouts): I     Pressing Plant ID (Printed On Labels): R     Other (Pressing Ring): 25mm (1")