Carpenters – Now & Then (LP) Gatefold A&M SP-3519 1973 VG/VG Soft-Rock

Pressed in 1973 at A&M’s Hollywood plant, Now & Then pairs chart-toppers like “Sing” and “Yesterday Once More” on Side A with an oldies-radio medley that fills the entire flip side. The glossy tri-fold jacket depicts Richard’s Ferrari cruising past the Carpenter family home in Downey, California—a photo fans still make pilgrimages to see. This copy grades VG vinyl / VG sleeve: several light scuffs visible under bright light, but play-tested with only faint background noise; the gatefold spine is intact with modest edge-rub and minor ring wear (see photos). A&M tan labels read SP-3519, and the dead-wax matrix ends in ⋆1•• denoting a first pressing. Cleaned in an anti-static sleeve and ships boxed in a new mailer. Perfect for soft-rock spins or completing a 1970s hit-album shelf. Item Breakdown: - Artist: Carpenters - Album Title: Now & Then - Format: 12" LP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo - Label / Cat.#: A&M Records – SP-3519 (US first press) - Release Year: 1973 - Genre / Style: Soft Rock, Pop - Country: United States (pressed at A&M/Hollywood) - Jacket Type: Tri-fold gatefold cover with car-house artwork - Matrix / Run-out: SP-3519-A / SP-3519-B (⋆1•• etch, denotes 1st) - Condition (vinyl/sleeve): VG / VG – light hairlines, moderate edge wear (per photos) - Notable Tracks: “Yesterday Once More,” “Sing” - Sleeve Notes: Includes musician credits, illustrated portraits gatefold inner - Speed / Size: 33 ⅓ RPM, 12-inch - Barcode / UPC: N/A (pre-barcode era)